Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-08-28

to tue soldiers, Tor l "a. ,a,.t H., usaes
chocoiste myself whs9 me ean,..r ~
but did not nave al ..,s. - N''ssi
gave out an hour b. fore the c,a, pY
closed, and had only te.sryss -, sa
TOT the two ordesties. a no had ,,
very bard. inside our canieen as -
light but one small candle al first 49,
obtained second one, and that 80
suffice Tor pouriag out lie g, g..
change and keeping count. ". m.Aa
strange spectacle, J ,hink, the three q,
ia the dark corner.
Jan. 1.-THE La; taw DAYS h,v.
very busy ones. on Friday, our frs, ~
day OF the canteet., g served az run. :.
chocolate and lis .is ~ rel rrs.,'
quite good deal, considering our vs,s
limited facilities. These hot drinks ..,r,
sFesl need. The soldiers obyiou.ty -
pFecihie the comfort and good thew b,,,.
Jan. lion OF ne grenadisrs who nas
helped us In TIE TO, sr went bsrk N -.
trenches tss days ago. He asked ma ;.
visit ham there, as sometimes the lie sv.s
on the irsi iine, is dull and mono,onou.
Shortly after I started of ON a bievel.
The roads ~ere very muddy and N.
bicycle was much too small for me 40
had to so very slowly and walk up sliths
hills
After about fifty minutes, howevs,
had gone az fer az one could 20 m
bicycle. The road was bsrrioaded and
you had 10 walk for couple OF hundred
yards on wooden walk through wood,
till you came to the colonel's headausr,.,.
1 was then given a guide. and Nas taksn
through the deep, hidden CONNECTING
trench to the post OF the cumnsndunt
He welcomed me cordially ana invited ms
TO lunch with them. He took me to m.
grensdier vas looking for, ~ho IN turn
took me to the front line trenches and
outposts 1, was OF course mos, interest.
ing for me.
AT II O'Clock had dinner with the com.
rnandant in bis underground post. fhs
dining room was not very light nor very
large, but the commsndant and his otFion,,
were delightful men 10 meet, and the
dinner was excellent. The grenade,
also seemed pleased 10 see me, and 80 did
nauy OF her men OF the regiment whom
had the, at the foyer, Altogether 1t VS.
an experience would not have missed for
great deal, and which think very .eE
OF our men have had, certainly not tho.e
with the American army.
jan. AL want to tell you Of a great
need that has become very obvious here.
49,
next to actual material comforts, Is ente.-
talnmsent, relaxation. They eAnn0; DO
much themselves. They are tired, and
there are few IL any professional or even
suiateur entertainers among them. There
are the singers. readers. etc, OF another
ing both ways, to help 10 QUE last concert,
but they can come very seldom, and here
we seem TO have no talent.
When firsg came was told the timer
ant army cinema came TO IA on its regular
rounds once a week. In the arsi tao
weeks II really did twice, and we also had
one concert in that time. though; Ne
were doing very we'll. But Tor t~o seeks
nos everything has tailed. The cinema
has not come, Twice It vas announced
and the soldiers crowded our foyer, only
to be bitterly disappointed. You saoalt
have seen the look in the eyes Of some Of
the tired, comtortless ones when they
asked, lis there to be a cinema to- night'
and then seen the look when their hopes
we're not realized.
MAS in the trenches al the from; last
week, aud ~ss down in the dar& holes
wherc they live. The men need light aud
beauty and wholesome fun. Tdc French
director " no NAs here before the present
one hsd a moving picture ouihs Of as
own, which he took a~sy with him, and
now wish could get one which ! may
use a. zee 1T. There are camps nes'
here which a, present have not even
ioyers. There is a vast number OF men
eager tor the Joy and relaxation Of good
moving pictures. II had a machine
under my control could do great deal
OF good with il.
The men need entertainment, some sen
OF pleasure to break IN upon the daA
monotony OF their life. 1t u mud ana
broken trees and wire entangemenls ana
darkness at the front. The cinema means
beauty and laughter and romance oil
different kind than that grim romance Oh
endurance, discomfort and hero'sm II
which they are living. 1t would give lie
infinite Joy il could render tins serves
to them.