Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-06
LIFE At ARMY CAMPS.
Hugh A. Orchard Tells Interestingly
Of Fosdick Commission Work.

direction of the F'osdick commission,
were told of by Hugh \. orchard, or
the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, In
most interesting and entertaining way
before a good sized Searchlight Cup
audience at the Y. M. c. A. Tuesday
evening Mr.. Orchard spent three
months in entertainment work at
Camp Pike, Little Rock, Ark. Ut was
the first evening meeting of the club
since it had voted to discontinue the
dinners and the wives OF members
were invited, more of whom were pres
ent than were the members
The Fosdick commission, Mr.. Or
chard, who is a professional speaker
and entertainer. explained was APP
pointed by Secretary of War Baker,
WHO originated the idea. The commits
sion was placed in charge of the or
ganization, direction and control OF
the camp activities-other than mill
tary-for the entertainment, welfare,
education and morals inside the camp
and for the regulation of the commit
tees in the neighborhood Of the camps.
The commission was divided into sew
eral departments, representatives OF
each department being stationed at all
Of the camps.
Thus the red triangle" branch OF
the Y. NJ. C. A. which operates only
with the army, came under the com
mission. Other branches of the work
were entertainment, physical actVNleS
Of all kinds and social activities. out
side the camp the commission aims 20
keep the communities clean of vice,
provide entertainment and recreation
prevent proflteering on the trade Of
soldiers. and establish means of con-
tact for the civilian and soldier popu-
lations.
A good many of the activities inside
the camp came under the immediate
direction of the Y NJ. C. A. At Camp
Pike alone there are thirty-five Y. NJ.
C. A. secretaries devoting all their
time to the work. Under their direc-
ton the several Y. NJ. c. A. buildings
are operated, classes in rudmentary
English for those who could not read
and write the language were organ
lied and classes in French We're
formed. Thirteen teachers from Little
Rock are contributing their services TO
teach French. Much of the physical
recreation in camp such as football
~.
wrestling with professional trainers
at the head of each branch OF sports,
comes under the supervision of the
Y. NJ. c. A.
Several auditoriums. one seating
5000, and a huge theater, were built
for gatherings of all kinds. A surrey
was made for talent among the thirty
odd thousand soldiers to search our
those capable of providing entertain
ment and nearly 300 men were found
who had been professional actors,
performers or musicians. Some OF
these had appeared on the Orpheum
and Keith vaudeville circuits. the
task Of organizing entertainments from
such an array Of talent was matter
Of short time. These entertainments
are given regularly.
At Liberty theater dedicated at
Camp Pike short time ago, plays that
charge admission of from 81 TO $50
in cities show for Is and 80 cents be-
fore packed houses. some of the plays
remaining for a weeks stand. A pro-
fessional chorister Is employed at each
camp TO organize and train the singers
and in each camp there are several
=.
which contribute their share to the en-
tertainments. Every night there are
entertainments, vaudevilles or exhibit
lions of physical proves in some OF
the auditoriums and the theater. In ad-
ton TO frequent lectures, some OF them
by the most noted men Of the country.
Talented people Of Little Rock have
contributed their services and fire.
ouently entertainments are given by
civilians, including especially young
women.
In it's work in the community out
side the camp the commission, with the
help Of the military authorities, has
effectually controlled vice profteerin3
on soldiers, unsan!tary eating places.
and dirty movies and theaters, by
placing such places under guard Of the
provost. An example Of how this con-
troll worked illustrates the effectiveness
of the method One storekeeper over
charged a soldier $3.50 on purchase.
The soldier complained at camp.
provost guard was posted at the store
entrance and no soldier was allowed to
enter the store. The owner Of the
place soon sought the camp authorities
for the cause of the soldiers being bar
red and was told the reason. refunded
the overcharge and the guard was re-
moved At one time, Mr.. Orchard said,
such guards were posted at forty five
different stores in Little Rock. The
overcharging soon ceased. Guards
were similarly posted at eating places
that were unsanitary. at picture shows
and theaters' where dirty shows were
being produced. A special vice squad is
aiming to control that evil 1t has
driven from Little Rock 200 women,
and has had as high as sixty such
women in Jail at one time.
Lodges Of Little Rock Joined in
establishing a soldiers club in the city
for the exclusive free use Of soldiers.
The quarters were large and well fur
nished. In order to furnish a point Of
contact between soldiers and the peo-
pie Of the homes Of the city society
women were asked to serve tea and
cakes each Saturday afternoon at this
club. They did SO. The first Saturday
afternoon something oyer 100 soldiers
attended. The next Saturday after
noon more than 500 were there, and the
third Saturday afternoon. which was
week ago last Saturday, more than
1000 came. Acquaintance were formed
there and many Of the homes have been
opened to soldiers.
The aim Of all these activities Is to
keep the soldiers busy and occupied to
prevent them from Incoming homeSick