The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-08-19

Gu EpiUat. VINO DPEOTe the war was
prominent business man In New York
city, has the American habit of COINS
straight TO the heart OF things. He
called the ministry of war on the tel
/ ephone and, explaining his need to the
secretary, secured the necessary per.
mission within an hour. A few more
hours and the car was purchased and
We were on our way.
/ Because of it's unusual opportunities
the Foyer du Soldat has been able 70
accomplish particularly broad work
( y. NJ. {. A. work with the French army
was started Informally, and almost I'M
officially by the head of the French
Y. NJ. c. A. cooperating with Amert-
cans Many of the French officers were
frankly skepticai over what seemed to
them a senseless coddling of the SOL
dfer 1t was only after II had been
demonstrated by actual test that by
making the men happier. by putting
their minds at rest with wholesome en-
tertaiument. they are made more ef-
fective soldiers, that the high offic ais
Of the French government became in
terested
Another powerful influence was go
eral Pershing. who said that what he
thought the French army needed most
was the Y. NJ c. A.
Now the French government and
army heads give the warmest support
to the Foyer du Soldat They provide
buildings and furnishings. light and
heat, and detail soldiers to cooperate
with the American "Y." secretaries in
conducting the Foyers. The American
Y NJ c. A furnishes the American
workers and the money.
lyrical Foyer esta biishment con-
sists of two adjoining oarrack strnc-
lures of wood covered with tar paper.
each a hundred feet long and about
twenty feet wide Tables and benches
are furnished with the building: the
.'Y " adds tho rest. One. building Is
used as reading and writing room.
stationery, books and periodicals being
supplied
The other is the entertainment
room where there Is piano. phono-
graph, checkers and other games. In
formal entertainments are frequently
held Movies are secured wherever
possible It is never difficult to Sc
cure talent among group of French
men often the music lis punctuated
by the roar of the big guns and the
sound Of shells bursting close by.
At the end Of this room is the
canteen. which serves no such variety
as "" canteen with the Americans.
The Frenchman is content with ehoc-
olate. coffee. lemonade. biscuits and
you think that a Frenchman cannot
be happy without his wine you should
see how joyfully they gather in the
Foyers where no wine is served the
French government serves wine to its
men as a part Of the mess but dis
courages any further consumption OF
beverages even mildly alcoholic.
At the time the drive started some
500 odd Foyers had been placed In
operation Close to a hundred were
In the territory taken by the Germans,
together with three warehouses which
were burned by ~" officials to pre-
vent them falling into the hands of
the enemy New Foyers were estao-
lished rapidly In temporary locations
behind the new front and the work
carried on vigorously.
serve All Alike.
The Foyer du Soldat does not con-
fine itself exclusively to serving the
French At many points British take
the places of French where Foyers
have been established and the work
goes on among the British Arrange
ments are quickly made to add British
to the reading table and
tea to the canteen r'enu American
regiments are taking their places
among the French in constantly in
creasfng numbers and thew too, are
served by the Foyer du Soldat until
the American branch can complete its
arrangements to serve them The
ideal arrangement Is TO have an
American "Y'' secretary and French
secretary at each Foyer The present
shortage Of American Red Triangle
workers has made this impossible TO
date. but as the American y can
secure more men and send them 10
France this Will be remedied.
The secretary should be A man
and generally is a man--of the type
We term a mixer and a leader of men
He must minCle with the men in the
Foyer and get on terms of friendship
with them to help them. / watched
one Of these men talking to group
Of French soldiers who had been at
particularly exposed point and who
had borne the fun brunt OF the drive.
Natura1ly< their outlook was not the
most CHEEKY. They had not lost heart.
hut the prospect seemed dark to them.
and their faces were solemn. This
" worker talked to them telling
this and that cheerful thing, telling Of
the hopeful prospects from the allied
side giving favorable reports, and
counteracting unfavorable ones Grad
ually those mems faces lightened and
thew left him smiling and radiatng
confidence
The American Red Triangle work
attached TO the tfenCh army nave
long stood as visible sign to the
Poiiu that America is with him. BY
their practical service they have indi-
Gated that America is helping witt
men and with dollars. During the Ions
weary months OF the past winter and
spring these Americans In the KHAKI
Of Uncle Sam, serving the poilu WITT
equipment supplied by American dol
lars, sharing Mis- hfe, ana answering
his question. helped to keep hope ant
courage high
i had watched a poilu sidle up &c
one OF these men E.
when wnl the Americans be here
! to night with u.s. t
The question was a. natural on'
after more thas year of waiting
There was no sign of complaint. o
criticism. only Of eaGerness and o
hope. ~a.-e,
They are coming fast now" was thu
answer You know we have a ions
way to come. and there have been few
ships But many, manv big ships arr
being built, millions of men are read,
to come and soon they will be here
SO came question after question
answer after answer. The French sol
fdier gets little news and this comfor
and cheer went far to brighten him
i And now the Americans were begin
ming to arrive NJ the front with th
French, and promises were being born
out.