Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-23


appeared like home. =: they had the lit
tie table to eat at and they had just lived
at the Hostess House and that tomorrow
ne was to leave for duty overseas. Bishop
Lawrence said he felt that they would
both be benefited by maybe this. their
only touch of home life.
One day to the Hostess House came
young Italian woman, very much
distracted. and carrying in her arms
her baby. She said that her hus-
band had deserted her and she
thought he might be at one of these
army camps. The baby was put to
bed in one of the cribs which are al
ways in the Hostess Houses and the
secretary went out to search for the
husband. He was soon found and
when upon being asked if he would
like to see his baby he eagerly said he
would, but could not understand how
they knew he had baby and that the
baby was right there in the camp. He
was taken. to the House and there
found his bsby. Then he met his wife
and after they came out of the room
together he thanked the secretary and
said that he did desert. but that they
could not realize his appreciation for
bringing them togeth-r again.
rather numerous sidelight, but
clear example of the wonderful work
being done, was when a very bashful
soldier at Portland fort approached
Mrs. Thompson and timidly said that
his friend was coming from Michigan
and wanted to know ii they would care
for her. Mrs. Thompson said that
they would and then lie said that they
wanted to be married She was eX
pected on the following day and they
wanted to be married about three
hours after she arrived. That could
be arranged, Mrs. Thompson assured
the soldier, but she wanted to know
what Kind of a minister, they wanted.
The soldier had forgotten to ask the
prospective bride. but he said, have
three or four on hand" So the next
day when the girl arrived the soldier
telephoned up from the station and
said: She's come and she wants a
Methodist minister" So, as they had
called several ministers and told them
TO be ready to be called they called
the Methodist minister and the cere-
monE was performed. Then the soldier
had to leave the next day and he was
assured that his wife would be taken
care of and they would see that she re-
turned to Michigan safely.
In speaking of the Y. w. c. A. work
overseas, Mrs. Thompson told Of early
receiving from Gen. Pershing the tele-
gram, which came to Cen Edwards.
and which he brought to a meeting of
the DSCnpiafipr, which Io1xl n
! land Springs. to the effect that Ameri-
can women We're needed over there and
needed at once. 1t was explained that
two places would he offered them, not
right at the firing lines. but just the
second place back of the firing lines
with the Red Triangle and then an
other position just outside of the firing
! lines. Already four French towns have
( been taken over by the association.
The work is also being carried to
Russia. one great need was recrea-
ton for the Red Cross nurses. Being
constantly in The hospitals, seeing
sickness ana death all the time, many
We're nearing insanity and the work
Of the Y. w. G. A. was to create en-
, tertainment FOR the nurses to take
time. a finer set q more loyal more
SELF sacrificing body Of women are not
! to be found than the Red Cross nurses
said Mrs. Thompson
Another part of THE work is lookins,
after the thousands and thousands of
English speaking women who
are left behind when their hus-
I hands are called to war Their
husbands are gone and they can
not understand the reason why.
| Thief oreign workers of the asso-
citation, who are always busy, even in
peace times. are put into the work Of
talking to the women every day and
. lnstilling in them some Of the patriot
ism Which they should feel and eX-
planning, day by day. why their hus-
bands are gone. Now pleas are COM
ing from England and from France
for the Y. w. c. A. to send over their
trained workers to help in the work
and this is being done.
Mrs. Richard Goodwin of Chandler
street has the pledge cards which may
be obtained to help in Augustus quota
for the work and the War Fund Com
mittee is also taking the matter in