The Ordway new era., 1918-10-11
a WALLED CITY
OF WOMEN

side OF the city wall is u long norfni-
tory for single women. There are many
more of them than of the families In
the drab little houses. The village Is
full of women-od. young. middle
nged-whose faces. hands and hair
slowly are turning yellow from the
powder which II Is said will eventually
affect their lungs. But most of them
are refugees and the fact that they
are giving up their good looks. their
health, and perhaps their lives in the
munition factory. Is of little moment to
them They have come into the walled
town from ruined villages md devns-
tafcu farms with their frightened little
children. their despairing old people.
carrying all their earthly possessions
in tiny bundles. In their Individual
lives there is no future: in nll their
world there is no Interest bui the con-
quest of the Hun.
No one comes into this little war
community that centers around the big
new munitions plant but those who
work Because of the danger aud the
Iblghting yellow powder. the work Is
highly puil and all the workers are
volunteers.
The women wear overalls or apron
dresses some of black sateen. some
nondescripi The dun garb harInonizes
with the yellowing faces and despair
Ing eyes
Into this modern walled city of de-
spair the Blne Triangle has flashed the
first message of hope. The Y. w. c. A.
foyer Is The only recrcatiOnal center
within reach. The cars which find
cafes at the end of the line Il mile
AMY. stop running ut seven O'Clock to
save fuel. The city Is three miles
from the factory.
My problem" writes the Y. w. C.
A. secretary In charge. 'is 10 keep the
women occupied in the evenings. to
give them good healthy amusement so
that they will forget their sorrows and
- to bed and sleep. physically tired
ont from playing"
She goes on TO tell of some of the
women and girls who come to the
foyer:
There Is pretty little round. rosy
checked girl here who is just beginning
10 show the effects of the powder, The
roots of her hulr and her forehead are
Il pule yellow. The palms of her hands
are deep burnt orange and her hands
and arms a bright ycll"w.
There Is an ex-professionnl dancer.
an interesting girl VINO enjoys the
foyer and helps entertain the other
girls There Is professional pinnist
who does her bit at the noon and eve
ninr hours. There Is one rough-and-
ready girl who speaks English. whose
rither was an innkeeper In northern
Fr,nce. There is a pretty little girl
who. is engaged to French soldier
who still is rejoicing over the five min
utes she hnd with him recently during
ali air raid. His mother is the care
a. or here and he is one of six sons in
the war. Two of them are German
military prisoners. two are civil Spris-
uiers In Germany and two are soldiers
in the trenches. Her home In the
north of Frnnce was destroyed and she
,.s,.; ped with n small bundle of such
things us she could carry In her hands.
There is sweet-faced girl who
wns lncemaker In valenciennes. who
s9me direct to US from the German
ridden section after a hard experience
in getting away"
These are the women the Blue Tri-
angle Is helping to forget--perhnps
only for an hour at tlme-the hor-
ror~ that have blackened their hearth
stones and darkened the world.
MY foyer" the secretary writes.
Consists of hall and TWO large rooms
with cement hoers. One has n writing
table and paper, pens and Ink sewing
machines. n cupboard with teacups in
1t. II large table with papers and maga-
zines. ensy chairs and my desk. The
other room has n piano, more tables.
cilairs Ironing boards and victrola.
There nre unframed French pictures
and American and French war posters
around the room. The walls are paint
ed gray and white"
Saturday evenings they sing md
Ounce. First they have chorus"
writes the secretary. such as lie Reve
Pnsse' or the 'Hymne des Amateurs or
something equally thrilling, and at the
final notes of triumph voice at my
ears begs. I'm polka, mees.' The polka
finished. there is call for the 'Hymne
Americain' and we sing the Star
Spnngled Banner lie Drapeau Etoile)
In two languages"
These foyers have been established
In several munition centers In France.
Each one has n cafeteria. recreation
ball and rooms fitted up as rest
rooms. writing and sewing rooms. At
night these rooms are filled with
French girls learning English. book
keeping or stenography, that they may
work In the offices of the American
Expedtionary Forces. In connection
with each Is a large recreation field or
park.
AT the request of the French minis
try of war the Young Women's Chris
linn association hns Openeh club.