The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-30
MARGARET WILSON
HELPS BRIGHTEN LIFE
In GArb Of "Y" Worker She Spreads
Sunshine In Wrctchcd
Europe
SINGS FOR THE SOLDIE II
Works Up Enthusiasm Among the
Boys and Brightens Their Life al
the Front with Sweet Voice and
Charming Manner.
SINGS FOR THE SOLDIERS
by Hortcnsc Mcdonald.

Paris. Dec. 29.--When President
Wilson inspects desolated France, he
will have no better guide and advisor
than his eldest daughter. Miss MarEa-
rot Wilson, who. In a month OF singing
ito the men OF the American Expedi-
tionAry Force, has motored through
the land which the Boche laid bare.
from Paris to Verdun. In the uniform
Of 1 Y. NJ. G. A. entertainer, the presi-
dents talented daughter has sung in
"1'', huts. hospitals and In the open,
giving rs many as four concerts day.
Wounded men hobbled to the concerts
to hear her voice in the songs they
loved, and generals and foreign lead
ers have done homage to her. Miss
pld. with little folding organ. has
gone with the presidents daughter
everywhere. while Mr., David's tenor
voice has been a brilliant acquisition
to the program.
At all the places where she appeared
Misc Wilson won the enthusiastic ap
!. prevail OF her audience. Sing the
sh.yas with me- - S,ae seyE- and lIs.s tsssil
rings with the music OF some favorite
dong. Following each program. Miss
Wilson usually distributes Y. M. c. A.
ciEafettesetp The men n, her audience
saying a personal word to the fellows
{
swathed in bandages
| Alta base hospital near. Toul she
sang before an audience Of 1000 mer.
Her dressing room was a screened-off
corner OF the hospital theater her
dressing table AN upturned box hold
| ing a small mirror flanked by two
Pickering candles. Doughhoys who
had overlooked the hall formed a
small circle around her. She was
| 9owned In blue tulle. embroidered in
gold and wore n bandeau in her hair
Following the concert. she was the
Guest OF honor at dinner served In
tho officers dining room.
| During her stay at the front, Miss
Wilson made her headquarters at
Nancy and the residents showered her
with Attention. Her room was kept
fliied with flowers. These were fire.
4ucntly brought TO her door by little
girls wearing the black velvet bodice
and the quaint headdress OF that par
ticuiar section. The project Of the de-
partment OF Mcuse ct. Moselle. Mon
sieur MirnAn. extended every possi-
BILE courtesy So insistent were the
demands made on her time that 1t
was found impossible to adhere strict
~ to the schedule previously mapped
out.
''vivc rAmcriguc.'
Nancy held a fete in celebration OF
the signing OF the armisticc and the
daushter Of President Wilson natural
~ took an important part In the fes-
tivities. All OF Lorraine journeyed In
to town that day wearing the pictur-
esuuA costumes and carrying flags and
flowers. The r NJ. c. A.. which as
an Institution. Is regarded with great
affection by the people OF Lorraine
was iauded In. orattons made by the
speakers. Tribute WIS paid 10 Presl-
dent wilson and all tho allied leaders.
Throughouf the day the "Y" hut was
fslled with happy excited crowds who
came in to kiss the Americans on both
cheeks and sing. "vive FAmerique"
Miss Wilson showed lively inter
est In the proceedings. declaring over
and over again that II was the happi-
eat moment Of her life to see France
liberated. The celebration continued
long into the night French soldiers
and civilians. who had survived the
tong terror OF four years In a city N, en-
aced constantly by Roche bombs. link
ed arms. and swinging lighted Ian
terms, paradcd the streets until mid
nirht. singing "Madelon."
The next day Miss Wilson and her
party. including Major Newman. mill
tArv escort. Mr.. aud Mrs. Ross David,
Il. e. Goodwin. rcptona! secretary OF
the y. NJ. e. A. AT Nancy. an1 Cnarles
Steele, OF the Paris Office of the
NJ G. A.. started gu. tor trip TO st.
Mih;ei and the historic ground in that
vicinity held by the Germans until
last August.
They visited enemy dusouts. find
Ing them equipped with manv mod
ern comforts that seemed TO indicate
that they had been built with view
to permanency. That region OF total
Oscillation. with it's rutred villages.
long stretches Of mo Mans Land"
covered with tangled harbed wire. its
abandoned ammunition dumps and
mud-fii,ed trenches, brought forth
many ordinations OF horror from
Miss Wilson.
6he was appalled, 1t the extent OF
the Hun devast alton. saying II had
been impossible to visualize even
from the gTAphic accounts sise had
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