Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-17
VETERANS MADE HAPPY
IN CAPE MAY CANTEEN
"Ace High and Then Some!'
Their Appraisal of Home.
like Rendezvous

Wounded soldiers from the base hospital
and sailors from the naval section base enter
the canteen at Cape May. put their caps on
pegs in the front hall and enjoy the COM
forts of home.
They act for all the world like men do
when they enter their own homes and provo
that it is not surface happiness by saying
that the canteen. operated by the New Jer-
sey National League for Woman's Service
is real and genuine"
That is a big tribute from the men in uni
form. for unless they approve of an organi-
zation they are either silent or are extremely
bitter In their attitude. Soldiers. and particu-
larly the wounded veterans from overseas,
do not indulge In niceties and are not keen
for fattery. When they say that an organi-
zation is -four square" with them. that 1t Is
real and not a bluff." you may rest assured
that their appraisal Is cbrrect
Ask any service man at Cape May II he
patronizes the canteen and he will lose no
time in telling you that he does. and a ma
jority will qualify that statement by adding
that 1t is lace high and then some."
Catering to men in uniform has proved a
big problem with many welfare organza-
tions, but II the. statements made by the sail
ors and soldiers in the little Jersey resort
can be taken as any criterion, the New Jer-
sey National League for Woman's Service
has solved the trouble '. r..
The solution is so simple. SO modest and
SO lacking in outward display that civilian,
until he gets the viewpoint of the service
men. is in a quandary. In the canteen for
merly used a summer hotel, the civilian
finds hundred or more men. Some are
playing games, others are being served with
tempting food in the cafeteria and others
are in the writing rooms. But wherever you
go you find an atmosphere of comfort and
freedom You find men who are happy, and
despite. the fact that you are in civilian
clothes and bit out of place in the midst
Of such distinguished company. you catch the
spirit Of the canteen and find yourself at
home. -"
No Talk About sacrifces
There is no hostess to greet you and dwell
upon the awful sacrifices of the dear boys"
and no card-index man who expresses a de-
sire to learn your nationality and religion
In word you are at home. The canteen
is yours.
"The boys" explains Mrs. E. e. Pringle
Of Germantown. who holds the official title
of assistant hostess, seem quite pleased
with the place. We don't coddle them, be-
cause they object to that. We don't fuss
over them either. for they object to that
I can only explain their happiness by saying
that we let them alone With the exception
of the food served in the cafeteria everything
Is free, and despite the expenses the place
.s on a paying basis. We have found that
the boys want to pay for what they get but
that they are adverse to being robbed. In
Mrs Wv. r. Royce, the hostess, is ex-
tremely popular with the service men. Off
cally she is the hostess, but never does sho
exercise the commanding prerogatves of that
office. To the boys she is like a sister whose
one object in life is to make her brothers feel
at home when they visit her..
To do that she must make sure that the
coffee is not bitter; that the ice cream Is not
soft and that the cakes and wonderful pies
contain all the sugar that Mr.. Hoover will
allow. Mrs. Royce does not do this work
herself but she superintends 1t and finds
that Il takes so much of her time that she
has little left for drawing-room ceremonies
In the cafeteria soldier can obtain a
splendid meal for thirty cents. II 1t is din
ner the meal consists of soup, meat, two
vegetables coffee. bread\and butter
Should a hero of Chateau-Thierry desire a
lighter repast he can make his selection from
an attractive menu. Nearly. everything
served. with the exception of meats and eggs.
are sold in five-cent portions. and the por-
tions are ample '..
Civilians are privileged to patronize the
cafeteria. but are charged trife more than
the service men.
ChAunours Chic and DashinE
To offset the bumps and bounces, for the
beach road is none too good. the canteen
ambulance is driven by dashing young
women. They are dressed in snappy uni
forms, and with trench hats to match and
shiny puttees, they make attractive chauf-
feurs. +lss
Commenting upon the support given to the
canteen by residents OF Cape May, Mrs.
Pringle says: I'VE are getting wonderful
support from the townspeople and partcu-
larly from the women. They are giving US
all the assistance that Is possible and are
ever ready to do more"