The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-23

and mingle: with folks who look like
home folks. -, ..s,s,..t :. ~:
After the furniture was installed
and the home touch of easy chairs and
warm coloring given wherever"it was
possible and social evenings, enter.
tainments concerts, dances and COM
munity sings were; started. the .ques'
ton was what the boys wanted to
do with their leisure time when none
Of these things were gong on: AS
an initial step it was decided that
nothing should be "verboten, that
there should be no don't" signs any.
where, but that the clubs should' be
the soldiers own to-, do as they
pleased, THIS does not; imply ullbri,
died license for our young soldiers,
for in almost every club there is the
restraining influence of women act
ing as hostesses. As one worker put
It: AT first the club lacked charac-
ter and attractiveness, but since we
have had hostesses the place has had
soul" ''.".. ~.
At many OF the clubs different social
organizations take charge on differ.
ent nights. At New Rochelle, Y. Y,
a group of young men known as the
Might Owls" attend to the assigning
of rooms after II o'clock in order to
see that belated soldiers who cannot
get back to camp that night shall have
a clean and respectable place to sleep
During the. daytime there are games
to play, chess, checkers and cards,
~ik koh OF ioh 70 70 1n&
tiers home, pool tables, pianos, piano
players, victrolas and temperance
bars.
Other facilities which are offered in
the various clubs are telephones,
reading rooms, shower baths, lunch
counters, shooting galleries. bowling,
shuttle board, rooms, dormitories and
audttoriums for the entertainments
and music. Not all Of these facilities
are to be found in, each one of these
clubs OF mushroom growth. Some OF
them have on file the daily papers
from the soldiers home cities, and in
others the visiting women repair
sweaters and clothing for the boys.
The clubs in. warmer ;climes are apt
to have a swimming pool for the sol.
diers, and at several there are open
air #theaters. Some clubs have type
writer's for the soldiers use and many
have rapidly growing Libraries or
branches of public libraries. Cigar
| stand and soft drink concessions are
numerous. Shoe polishing stands,
hammOcks, barber shops, current mag
azines, trade and technical publica-
tions are features of many Of the
| clubs. ." -..... ~"
The number of clubs has been in.
creased by some which are entirely
for Jews or other religious sects, and
there are many separate clubs for the
colored soldiers. Almost all of them
become or maintain information bu'
reaus, and some in the larger cities
furnish guides to the industrial plants
and other points of interest. The SOL
diers themselves take an interest and
help At Mt. Clemens, Mich, they
made the lockers for the club, andl
non-commissioned officers are fire.
quently assigned to maintain what dis.
| cipline is necessary. The adage that
truth is stronger than fiction is proved
| NY IuC l0CJ VuoC Ill 0uIS ASAAuA.s
the local plumbers promised to repai!
the plumbing and heating system OF
the old Minnesota club building, which
was turned over to the War Camp
Community Service and to charge the
work to patriotism!
Community workers know no hours,
and encounters and solve many sud.
den and unusual strains on the club
facilities. At Rockford, ILL.,, last win
ter ninety snowbound soldiers slept
1 in club chairs all night Home-like
Christmas celebrations were a fea,
ture OF last December in the clubs and
in st. Louis, Mo-, a soldier guest was
| married at one of them. Wherever
they exist they have proved equally
welcome to the soldiers and towns
people, and have brought about 3
closer understanding and sympathy
4 between the two. %tfs
ASK YOUR GROCER.
Ask your grocer for Driscoll cream