The progress-itemizer., 1918-03-02
THE HOSTESS HOUSE.
Place Where Women Relatives Nett
Their Soldiers.

But it is on Saturday afternoons
and Sundays that the Hostess House
reaches the zenith of it's usefulness.
says Hildegarde Hawthorne. in Les
HES. Then the women relatives of
the soldiers come to the cantonment
in thousands. seeking brothers. sons
and husbands. Each Hostess House
saas different conditions to meet, ac-
x.prding to the section of the country
where the cantonment is located; that
at Camp Upton is a sort of Tower of
Babel on visiting days, for the great
city has sent men from many nation
aiitieS TO its rows on rows of bar
racks. and many Of the women who
pxu,. out on the trains all day long
spaalS any OF s half dozen languages
Except English. Naturally they are
Aewiidercd. even frightened, under
standing little of what has come TO
pass. Very often they don't know
even how to ask for the man they
hive come to see. and have not the
slightest idea what company he be-
lsyngs to, or so much as the regiment
10 which he has been assigned. But
the Hostess House, through its corps
eff women servers. makes light OF
such difficulties as these, and q hun
frcd Others There is some one from
the house To raeet each train. Ne
woman is left to wander about the
rau<onment uncuiaed, and when she
as not met by the soldier she is well
coined at the Hostess House and he
is sent for. This sounds simple. But
to convey what it mesns TO countless
women women visitors would take
move words than could be crowded
into fat book, let alone an article.
Remember, we exist for the sake
Of che womcn,' said one Of the host
.ess workers OF Camp Uptor. The
me-, have found us out ard found
thxt we mean home to them; but the
woxnen would be pretty badly OF
without US. You cart think OF all
the snarls we have to untsngle on
visiting days. We have been assign
ed a couple OF couriers on motor
cycles, and they are on the go ev-
cry monument, hunting the men for
the women who have come to see
them. Then. girls can feel comfort
able here, waiting till their man has
leave to meet them. Without this
house, they would have to walk about
The cantonment. not only cold and
cheerless occupation, but undesira-
ble for other reasons. Rere when
their soldier comes, they can have
ten together, or sit in comfortable
chairs and talk"
Isaw for myself and the sight was
wofth looking ata long, agreeable
rcpan, with its huge chimney in the
center, SO that there were two great
hsnrtl,s to gather round. Every
ss1eAre were groups, soldier and 2
rira. u soldier and mother, little
isnslv parties, laughing clusters of
sunuE men and maidens, here and
silere a2father, looking at his Khaki
lid son with pride, listening eagerly
t. what he had to tell. Outside q,
Wild wind blew scant snow against
H. windows, and the newcomers. :cons
st1nt1y arriving, entered with 4 rush
III rAillx air and their checks red
Hnum the weather N s. 81 6s II
s4I3o you know, says An anxious
laced young man. as you settle near
HIN, knitting in hand, for be looks
lonely, II tell you, this place saved
my 1ife. / was near crazy till one
Of the boys brought me here, and
nsw I get in every day for q while,
md it's fine. Hts made me like the
rest Of the life up here. Even the
discipline You know. never had
~ discipline till got here Ny
flher just let me 90 whatever /
hlNed, and no ones ever interferred