The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-09-09
The 7. ii. c. A. Hostess
House AT Camp Meade

Throughout Maryland. in fact,
throughout every State in this great
country, there are many homes from
which one. or often several, of the
young male members of the family
are missing.
These missing members are in the
camps. some over there, others in the
camps at home preparing to play the
more important part in the great
theatre on the other side.
And in the homes there are moth
ers. sisters, wives. trying to be brave,
but worrying over the idea that the
boy is away-that he is perhaps hay
ing a hard time, and many a quiet
tear is shed Sometimes these Wo-
menfolk remain at home, sometimes
they journey to the camps to see
their boys.
These mothers, and wives and sis
tiers and sweethearts who follow their
boys to Camp Meade always find their
way to the Hostess House conducted
by the Young Women's Christian As
ISOLATION. and ever after. much of
the load Is lifted from their hearts,
for. as many of the mothers express
it when saying goodbye to the Dlrec-
tor Hostess. Dr. Florence NJ. Dyer,
they are so glad that the boy has
a bit OF homie right in Camp"
The Hostess House at Camp Meade
was dedicated last December, but it
was in operation before that time,
and the first meal to be served at the
cafeteria in the building was on
Thanksgiving Day. There are Sc of
these houses located in the various
camps, but it is doubtful if any of
the homes are more attractive and
delightful than the one at Camp
Meade, to which the Maryland boys
have access.
The principal reason for these
houses in the Camps was the need
felt for some place where the boys
could receive their visiting mothers,
wives, sisters and sweethearts, to
say nothing of the cousins and the
aunts. When the Officers Training
Camp at Plattsburg opened, there
was a great rush of feminine visi-
tors and the officers in command
turned for aid to the representatives
of the Young Women's Christian As
sociation.
OF course, the organization respon-
ded-and there quickly followed
houses in many of the Camps, of
which the one at Camp Meade is
among the most delightful
The Camp Meade Hostess House is
charmingly situated in little clus-
ter of trees. 1t is painted sort of
khaki brown, but is gay with win
dow boxes in which varied colored
blossoms nod gaily to the approach
ing visitor. The big porches are
screened in the summer time. After
you get inside one of the most strik
ing features is a great red brick tiled
chimney set in the center of the big
living room, with an open fireplace
on each side-in winter time that
living room is wonderful.
At the desl1 one finds DR.. Florence
Dyer, the director hostess, a woman
with the sort & exquisite maternal
charm of mann" that is not really
described by her formal title. To her
come the boys with all sorts of re-
quests and questions. and she re
ceives and watches over the feminine
guests of the house.
THE Hostess Houses are suppos
ed to be for the convenience of the
girls and women who visit the
Camp she replied in answer to
question, but the boys use it also
in fact, so many come here that on
Saturdays and Sundays We have to
make a rule that before six o'clock
no man who is without feminine
guests is admitted
Its very hard to have to do this,