Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-12
100000 KHAKI BOYS
FED BY WOMEN HERE
Red Cross Canteen Committee Is
Giving Valiant Service
to Troops
Pictures illustrating this article appear on
the back page

When troop train pulled in here today
the boys looked out of the windows rather
dismaly and Strengthened up suddenly
They had sped sign. and the word can
teen service passed down the train quick as
a flash
BY the time the coaches came to full
stop every man had jumped to his feet with
the cry. "Hooray for the Red Cross"
The Philadelphia Red Cross Canteen com
mittee sets an example to the country in the
swiftness and efficiency of its service and in
the constancy with which the members watch
for incoming soldiers.
The Philadelphia canteen committee. which
has fed 100000 soldiers since it's organize
ton, gets quite much pleasure as the boys
themselves in passing around refreshing
fruits or ice cream or sandwiches.
And as for the boys,
Eating is the thing we're fondest of"
"A Husky Bunch"
You see fellows are pretty husky
bunch, one boy said. and need lot
of food to keep US going But its not only
the food I'm thinking about. It's the source
of the food Every man among us is learn
ing to bless the Red cross every night when
he says his prayers. Maybe YOU don't think
we are praying lot. but a good
many things didn't used to be
Some of the boys We're very shy as the
train stopped and the bue-bonneted white
aproned figures came fitting down the track
with their baskets of peaches and cigarettes
and their pitchers of ice water. one young
fellow from the country said. THANK YOU.
ma am: I'd like peach. Ho" much do YOU
ask for them?"
When told they wer" a gift he blushcd.
After ten minutes pause Will" many of the
men piled out to stretch their legs, he had
fallen quite into the spirit of the occasion
and the bugl. called them back to the
ira In he stopped long enough on the step to
give soldierly salute to brown-Clad motor
messenger girl who gave him friendly an
Swer with hand raised to iauntN
Wait Long. but Patiently
The Canteen committee had waited since
early morning for this train 1t was much
delayed in arriving. Standing with baskets
filed they chatted happily among themselves,
and one. with better forcthOught than the
rest, drew stocking from her apron pocket
and knitted "A bit.
The women had met in canteen 'hoadquar-
ters at the DreXel residence at Eighteenth
and Locust streets, given over for the time
being to canteen service.
Miss Keller, secretary to the committee,
gave instructions for the departure of the
groups to two stations. They filled the auto
mobiles and division Of ten went TO the
BaltimOr" and Ohio Station. TWenty-fOurth
and Chestnut streets, and the remainder to
| North PhiadClpha
Captains for the day directed their aides.
| Two women We're given car numbers and
| baskets of food For the workers must be
| prompt and fast. one day this week a hurry
| call announced that train was already in.
Within twenty minutes "Canteeners' had
| made the trip across town and distributed
| rolls, jam and cigarettes.
| ServerackinE Work
| "It is the hardest work. the most nerve
| rackng. and yet the most satisfying of all
the war work there ever has been" eXclaimtd d
| the captain of the day at the Baltimore and
/ Ohio Station.
| can a woman keep a. secret?
| Well, just look at the canteen committee.
| They are the only persons to whom the rail
road men will contde troop movements. And
see if you could get one of the women ON
| duty any day in the little canteen house
! back of the Baltimore and Ohio Station or
| in any other station, to tell YOU anything
! whatever Brightly she will smile and an
! swer, Il really don't know.