Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-29

Cunteen somewhere In France. ]
can ladies? Go in and get an American
SMILE" We took over the canteen at
once ad proceeded to dispense cigarets
and chocolate with our best small
jokes and would Nbs friendliest smiles.
There Is one thing Of which have an
entirely new conception ana that Ia the
meaning in the abstract OF American
womanhood to our men. 1t makes one
both pretty humble and pretty proud.
They say that the canteen frequenters
changed instantly from disorderly.
pushing. rough talking mob to an
orderly decent spoken body Of men at
the appearance of the first lady. one
night was returning in a dimly light
ed car sitting in a obscure corner
when a group Of soldiers who had been
of on bat got in. One particularly
was calling loudly for him who had
the Jug" He must have the jug. Soon
l heard one whisper is that an Ameri-
can LADY," and with giSsle speak
to her" ! asked some question about
our troops and YOU should have seen
the rougher ones pile out OF that COM
partment after one look at me. The
other three chatted all the way back
thru wind and water. They delight to
tell us especially about their lady
friends and show pictures OF their dear
ones. One young Greek insisted upon
my reading French letter to girl who
would not let me skip one OF the 'inllle
caresses'' with which he had peppered
the truly billet douX. We are amply
provided with the human interest and
covet no womans job
We have a y. NJ. c. A. STAFF OF men
and women who make up fine group
OF people. The women concern them
selves with canteen and library WORK,
French history. or Bible classes. all
with the end OF being as good friends
as possible and in the hope OF sug-
costing home restraints and influences.
The men for weeks have been de-
voting themselves to hut building from
the minister to the physical director.
We have just gotten into the first haI1
o. one. 1t boasts a huge fire place at
one end of its hundred feet and can
teen counter at the other. Back OF the
canteen is kitchen, dining and store
rooms. II has a piano. victrola ana
some other instruments and at present
holds the library. Put when the build
ing is completed TIE books will go to
the other side where will be also BILL
lard room, rest room. etc. Times have
changed The men play checkers ana
chess on Sundays in the Y. NJ. hut and
when practicable .he physical director
gets I'D a ball game. You see we must
fxnt the devil with his own attractive
instruments at least in part. We aim
to be more attractive than the sordid
little village nearby filed with un-
American women and bad wine.
have charge Of the canteen above
mentioned and serve chocolate Drew
in goodly quantity far superior TO
cheap wine. Anyway the boys Ike II
and when they say 1T takes ike
America" know the compliment to be
q genuine one despite the French cor
ner on delicious chocolate. l had one
moving experience. Just before the
BOYS went forth to the trenches the Y.
N. c. A. held a communion service in
tho old hut. 1t was conducted by two
young ministers In the Methodist fash
ion-everyone going forward to the
rail to receive the sacrament. l knelt
the only woman with those men who
knew not what awaited them.
thought a Roman Catholic acquain-
lance knelt near me but ! am not sure.
After the service We departed post
haste TO O city some miles away 10
serve no. coffee and leafs" all night on
the quick TO the men before they en-
trained BY using relays we kept open
from Sunday morning till some time
Tuesday. AS we sped along the lower
part OF the road we saw picture
which I would gladly remember vivid
~ always. A truly French road with
the sparsely leaved trees one sees so
commonly In pictures. On the road
slow moving line OF lead colored can
mons, and ammunition wagons conduct
ed by men IN lead colored helmets too
weary to speak. and beyond the trees
a field mellow In the light OF the moon
just appearing.
You know Y. NJ. c. A. men and wives
can not work together neither can they
both come over according to the latest
DEGREES following army practice. Conse-
oiently Frank agitates himself In one
part OF the country and l In another.
He has been division superintendent
with a number of villages with soldiers
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