Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-08-24

port to the Foyer du Soldat. They
provide builungs ana furnishings,
night ana heat, and detail soldiers
10 cooperate with the American
'-Y'' secretaries III conducting the
foyers The American \. NJ {. A.
furnishes the American workers
ana the money.
A Typical foyer establishment
consists OF two adjoining barrack
structures OF wood covered with
tar paper, each 100 feet long and
about 20 feet wide. Tables and
benches are furnished with the
building; the "Y' adds the rest.
one building is used as reading
and writing room, stationery, books
and periodicals being supplied.
The other is the entertainment
room, where there is piano, a
phonograph, checkers and other
games. Informal entertainments
are frequently held. Movies arc
secured wherever possible. 1t is
never difficult to secure talent
among a group of FTencumen.
Often the music is punctuated by
the roar of the big guns and the
sound of shells bursting close by.
At the end of this room is the
CaHteen, which serves no such var
iety as a "Y" canIcen with the
Americans The F'renchman is con-
tent with chocolate, coffee, lemon
ade, biscuits and possibly one kind
OF cigaret. If you think that d
FTenchman cannOt be happy with
cut his wine you should see how
ioyfulIy they gather in the foyers,
where no wine is served. The
French government serves wine to
its men as a part of the mess, but
discOurages any further cOnsump-
( ton of beverages, even mildly al
cohOHc.
Operate Many FOyPrs.
At the time the drive started
some six hundred odd foyers had
been placed in operation. Close to
a hundred were in the territory
. taken by the Germans, together
with three warehouses which we're
burned by ~" officials to prevent
them falling into the hands of the
enemy. New foyars were establish
ed rapidly in temporary locations
behind the new front and the work
carried on vigorously.
The Foyer du SOldat does not
cOnfiHe itself exclusively TO serving
the French At many points Brit
ish take thetplaces Of French where
| fOyers have been established and
the work goes on among the Brit
ish. Arrangements are quickly
made to add British publications to
! the reading table and tea to the
canteen menu American regiments
are taking their places among the
! French in constantly increasing
numbers. and they, too, are served
( by the Foyer du Soldat until the
American branch can complete its
| arrangements to serve them. The
! ideal arrangement is to have an
/ American ~" secretary and q
French secretary at each foyer
/ The present shortage of American
/ Red Cross triangle workers has
made this impossible to date, but
as the American y" can secure
more men and send them to France
: this viii he remedied.
Should BE IA Mixer.
| The secretary should be q man
land generally is q man-of the type
, we term a mixer and a leader OF
men. He must mingIe with the men
in the foyer and get on terms OF
friendship with them to help them
I watched one OF these men talk
{ ing to q group of French soldiers
who had been at a particularly ex-
posed point andswho had borne the
fun brunt of the drive. Naturally
their outlook was not the most
CHEEKY. They had not lost heart
but the prospect seemed dark to
them and their faces were solemn
This ~" worker talked to them
telling this and that cheerful thing
telling Of the hopeful prospects