Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-11-12

Expefiencoo Of Salvotion Army LIS.
Geneva Ladd, who WAS one Of the first
Salvation Army lasses to 60 "over there"
writes : very interesting letter in regard
TO- her recent experiences on the
Western front with tho American dough.
boys. Miss Ladd 10 we'll known In
Maine and New Hampshire % for many
years she located ct Portland, Maine, and
made many trips throughout the Pine
Tree State In the interest Of the Saliva
ton Army.
Her letter In part says: I'VE have .
most interesting place here about four
miles from the firing line and not far
from the Swiss border. The country
around 10 simply glorious. A Miss
Rymer and Theresa Drummer 10 with me
and We are . happy family. Miss Rymer
10 an elocutionist and very good at on.
pertaining, and a. We have . good many
Southern boys here and she ID from
North Carolina, she fits In we'll. She
does tho csnteen work, while Theresa
and do the baking and other work.
We are serving lemonade all day now 60
We have four boys detailed with rs who
squeeze lemons and carry water and
cut the wood. We also have . French
maid who washes dishes, etc., and
another who does our washing.
I'VE have either band concert or q
minstrel show nearly every night. On
W ednesdays and Sundays, We have meet.
inRs and beginning todsy We are to have
Bible classes each Sunday morning. Oul
building 10 an old barn. The Germans
by the way, were In this section In 1914,
and. our barn was used by them fol
soldiers billets. 1t had never been
properly cleaned out since, and we have
detail who worked there three weeks
on the place before We could use It.
"The engineers built rs an outdoor
kitchen with all the equipment which ID
the pride Of the regiment. They built
rs dandy stove and tables and 1t II
screened 10 from the flies of which there
seem to be millions in France. Every
one that comes to town to study wal
condit ions, visits the Salvation Army
war kitchen.
"In the loft of the barn we have read
ing and writing room decorated with
flags and lanterns and We have electric
lights % we'll, so 1t 10 q very attractive
place and We are very proud of 1t. Two
weeks ago we had our opening night. l!
was great, and We had just completed
the place that day. We had the General
to speak and the regimental band and
orchestra to 6nish up with good music
"There were six chaplsins present also
representatives from the Y. NJ. G. A., K
of G. and from the Jewish Welfare
League, all of them spoke Of tho good
work that the Salvation Army il doing
10 France. We had the Catholic Chap
lain for our chairman. Isn't that good
co-operationP took lunch with thu
General the day of our opening and tolt
him of my experiences during the yeal
over here, 90 In bis speech that night, ht
told the boys all about me and presented
me with two silver bars which he statet
had we'll earned.
AT the close of the doings, We treated
the boys with $500 doughuuts and 81
gallons of lemonade which had beer
made that day In the new kitchen
and which made tremendous bit as yor
may we'll imagine. These boys ha(
never met the Salvation Army over herr
before and they have been coming ever!
day since. There 10 one who 10 the sol
of New York banker and he turns th'
doug bnuts for us and often carries
water. He IL 81 and makes real funn!
remarks keeping Us laughing oil day
The Y. N. G. A. secretary here 10 q bust
ness man from Pittsburg and has beel
guile iii for some time from eating U. s
Army chow, 90 l told him to eat with n
until be felt better. We made him soup
etc, and saved bis life, 90 be says.
"A representative from Washington
Was going through the town yesterda!
and game to the kitchen just as We wer'
| In the midst of the work. had s0'
dougbnuts ready for the fire and al
many more fried. Theresa was rolling
them and Miss Ry mer Was selling them
With the representative was q womsI
from New York who was travelling To-
the Herald and she 10 going to tell New
York people all about this particular
kitchen or doughnut wagon. She sait
that 1t was the cleanest place she bat
seen In the country. The great regre
OF all the people that visit this hut 1
that We don't advertise enough.
i VIC oio III VOL OhoootoB0e WV
doipgs here now. The eyes OF the worlt
are on this particular spot. 1t looks a
If It might be nearly through "ovel
here" this year. The New England
boys are doing wonderful work and VI
are mighty proud Of them. The tow
here is very quiet now, although We had
four bombs dropped here three night
ago.
I'VE heard the plane and were sitting
In the window in the dark when We saw
one bomb near by. The explosion wa
terrific and for few minutes the towr
was = glare of light. It was the frs
thing OF the kind that Theresa had seel
and she was frantic for q few minutes
Miss Rymer and I had not been undress
cd but Theresa had been In bed, 30 vi
started down the street to . dug-out
Theresa in.s bsthrobe and with bare feet
It was funny but there is not much tim
for preparedness on occasions such o.
these.
'sSomsons wrote me that this il tn,
greatest adventure in life, the gamble o
life or death, and that flts the situa
ton quite WE'LL"