Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-05

first thing to do. This involved the
completion and bringing into opera
ton of my present Red Grossly. M. G..
A. hut at Base Hospital No. 101. 1t is
the first hut of its~kind to be COM
| pleted and dedicated in France. The
dedication services took place on
Sunday, January q, with DR.. Edward
| Devine, formerly head of New
York school of philanthropy, giving
the dedicatory address.
Perhaps this new work is appro-
pirate and logical sequence. I came
to France fresh from participates
in Wapello county's first Red
Cross drive. i have no fault to find
except that my first job was to my
| liking and the present one is too COM
Portable. Possibly some of the OF.
tumwa folk who gave so generously
to the Red Cross may find satisfaction
in knowing that their gifts are keep
ing me in comfort and giving me the
finest hut in France in which to do
for khaki boys sick and convalescent
! where formerly had to do with them
hearty and well. Both kinds need
what we can give.
my first hut was somewhat barn
like and primitive. My 'cubicle' or
room was little more than hole with
bunk in it. Ny present hut is hand
somely built in the midst of shrubs,
poplars and tall pines on the edge OF
a one time college campus. My room
is comfortable and sunny. l have
even real bed and mattress instead
of an army cot and actually sleep be-
tween sheets once more. l am en-
WED in my present high estate, but do
not intend spending all my days in
France in such comparative luxury.
For our boys are sleeping on the
ground and in the trenches.
Y. w. c. A. HAS PLACE, TOO
1.-The Red Grossly. M. c. A. huts
are the result of fine cooperation
which avoids duplication Of effort and
waste of money. The Red Cross
builds and equips these huts. Eight
of them are now built or approaching
completion. They are then turned
over to the Y. NJ. c. A. for manage
ment. Johnson de Forest, son Of the
vice-president of the Red Cross, is
Red Cross secretary and has been
most congenial co-laborer during re-
cent days. We are three-fold en-
terprise The Red Cross has two
| rooms in its building but Mr.. De For
est's work is outside and in the hos
pital. At the north end Of the hut
the Y. w. c. A, through its secretary,
Miss Amy Gordon, maintains rest and
recreation rooms, and nurses club.
Right here let me pay tribute to the
Red Cross nurse. The boys in the
trenches are heroes. These nurses
deserve the Cross de Guerre as much
as they do And the boys themselves
would be the first to admit it.
IN CHARGE OF BUILDING
'The entire building is in my
charge and it's largest part devoted
to the usual army Y. NJ. c. A. activi-
ties Being a hospital hut we go in
for some extras. Curtains adcrn the
windows and even sofa pillows can be
found in the billiard and game room
French railroad posters are works OF
art.
"a gift from friend enabled me to
purchase some to brighten up the
walls. Another gift received today
from the First Church White Gift
Christmas will add some other COM
forts. Our aim is to make the hut
homelike and productive of good
cheer
IN MOVIE BUSINESS
1.-THE Y. NJ. C. A. secretary has free
access to the hospital. But his work
is mainly in the hut ministering in
one way and another to corps boys,
orderlies and patients. The canteen
to my regrets the major attrac-
10 1h0 70
candy and biscuits! Let news go out
of shipment of American goods re-
ceived and continuous stream passes
in front of the counter until l must
say 'finis.' The boys are excusab1e.
At best army mess is monotonous.
81 am in the moving picture business
once more. The Red Cross furnishes
us our own (S450) Pathe machine,
operator and film service. By this
means Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pick
ford and Douglas Fairbanks do their
bits over here. And it is no small SER
vice. Movies are in class by them
selves and seem. best suited to get
minds off of the monotony of army
life. A good laugh, romantic thriller
are veritable God-sends. Our machine
must be truly foreign. With charac-
teristfc linguistic agility 1t jerks
French titles and explanations through
at such a pace the novice has hard
task to read and must Overwork his
imagination.
l. Other recreations are in mind. We
shall have basket and volley ball, ten
mis- and the great American game. Box
ing and wrestling are not so much for
the sick and ,convalescent.
But all such enterprises are only
means to an end, vital brothering
of the soldier boy. This is better than
preaching. And the great thing is
the promotion of group activities. So
debating and dramatic club is form
ing and a Washington birthday stunt
is in prospect. An earnest group is
formed for bible study. Tonight will
be our first evening Y. M. c. A. Sing
song followed by an address by DR..
Crawford of Allegheny college who is