The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-19

and shirts. In Paris these supplies
were supplemented with more blank
eJ and more warm clothes, special
attention being given to this matter
for men called into the colder dis
tricts. For certain points. where 1t is
said to snow sometimes in August. the
secretaries were advised to take sleep
ing bags with them and big coats
lined with wool or sheepskins. The
advice was accorded careful Rtten-
ton and was followed to the letter.
Some secretaries departing for SER
vice points reminded one forcibly of
arctic explorers setting out for the
North Pole.
Every effort in made by the Y NJ.
c. A. organization in Paris to econe-
mize in time. The urgent need of
secretaries in the field keeps the
whole establishment actively, and al
most feverishly, on the move. From
the moment OF their arrival the men
are impressed with the Importance Of
getting to their posts at the earliest
possible moment. Sightseeing, for the
large majority, Is reduced to the van
ishing point They land in the city,
take hurried peep at d few famous
buildings and streets. and then with
might and main proceed to hu5.le In
the work of preparing for and jour
neying to their huts or foyers. Sight
seeing may come In later. X certain
iy does not come In now.
Men who go into the French work
have a singularly interesting though
difficult task set before them. Each
OF them has a foyer all to him.lelf.
and there, under French direction,
he must be the master OF ceremonies.
and he must sink OF swim, fail or
succeed, in accordance with HIS own
initiative and energy. II ne speaks
French many obstacles or difficulties
are srnoothsd away; II he does not
speak French. he must trust to PAM o.
mime or the align language until the
needed words and phrases in French
come 20 him. The large majority OF
men assigned to this work have a
considerable knowledge OF French
and are able 20 make their way coTr-
versationally with each. Activities OF
the Y. NJ. c. A. among the FNrSnch
have been 80 successful that the Az
ISOLATION. acting in response to the
cordial invitation OF tho Frsnch au-
thorities. IL extending its work In this
neid on large scale.
In American huts the aim is TO pro-
vide a full organization OF secretarie s
with assistants both mon and women.
to carry out actively the 7. NJ. G. A.
program of recreatics@. study. etc, and
TO operate a post exchange and s. de-
partment for RENTING the money of
the soldiers to friends or relatives at
home. The post exchange is the old
army canteen. now taken over by the
Y, NJ. G. A. and broadened materially
in it's scope OF operations.
In Paris the z. NJ c. A. has sew
eral large buildings some for ofT1cea
some for hotels or club houses. and
others for special lines OF work. Al
IL Rue d'Aguesseau. situated in
the very heart OF the busiest section
OF Paris. headquarters is maintains ed.
and from there radiate the various
branches that cover the entire deld.
At No. 81 Avenue Montaigne in g
large and handsome building. g club
house and canteen are maintained.
and there every night some kind of
entertainment 10 given. Soldiers stop
ping In the aviation building on Ave-
nue. Montague and soldiers from
many other points IN Paris attend
these entertainments. patronize the
canteen literally, and generally make
themselves perfectly at home. A
large reading room with books and
papers and a library are features of
the building.
Al Hotel Pavilion there are always
large number OF enlisted men and
there every night in the week. Sun
day excepted, an entertainm is
given. A stage has been erected there
and this adds materially to the faciH-
ties OF the program makers Concerts.
vaudeville, stunts by the men. lee
lures and dancing by wen-known
dancers, not to mention q numerous