Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-01

1 do how much the Y. M. c. A. is do
ing for the men over here.
In an American Camp
Some days there is a constant
procession of cannons going by my
window on the way to and from the
front. Many of the men who re-
turn come to the huts and gather
round the piano and have the best
time imaginable for the first time in
many a day. 1t is a source of con-
slant wonder to me to see how many
yesterday n detachment of men came
in. On of them had a violin and
he began to play while another ac-
companied him. Fritz Kreisler him
self could not have poured forth
more wonderful music than came
from that violin. The whole hut be-
came quiet as a mouse and when 1t
was over there was a great outburst
of applause. I Immediately went up
to shake hands with them and found
that the player was Ismael Michelon
of the Opera orchestra at Paris. The
man with him was a chef d'orchestra
from Paris and he said he had an or
chestra of 80 men with him who had
just returned from Verdun.
We have now three huts and if we
had ten we could fill them all. We
are fortunate in having a general
who sympathizes entirely with us
and who does everything in his pow
er to help us. The Y. NJ. C. A. is
going to take over the Post exchange
which will enlarge our field tremen-
dously and give us much added re-
sponsibility.
The French soldiers have been
wonderfully kind to us and especial
lNr 70 90 y hnn mr. Nct
faithful to my French classes. He
has been wounded several times. Last
night he said to me, You know life
used to seem so dreary here but 1T
seems quite different since you men
of the Y. NJ. c. A. came here. 1t
seemed to me a great testimonial of
what the Y. NJ. c. A. is accomplish
ing in France.
French Girls Work Hard
The girls are doing a fine job.
They serve hot chocolate, coffee,
lemonade, tea, sandwiches of cheese.
canned beef and confiture. They
have a constant stream of men COM
ing all the time from 1880 at noon
till $40 at night. How they manage
to hold out don't see. Mr.. Chesley
has telegraphed for three more wom-
en- to help them out.
Americans Cheer French Troops
1 must speak first of all of Mich
elon, the French violinist, whom
have told you about before. Last
week he gave us a concert. 1t was
his farewell to us. The next day he
and the other musicians were to
leave for the front. l wish you could
have heard him play in the first
place and heard the cheers that al
most raised the roof when the
A II. H. ut
ing French. We all cheered our
selves hoarse. The next morning the
troops marched past my window and
soon l saw dreamy-eyed Michelon
come marching along with his be-
loved violin fastened to his KNAPP
sack.
At the concert dozens of the
French came up to say good-by and
thank us for what we had done for
them. Michelon said, You know,
the only thing that makes us sad
about going away tomorrow is that
we must leave you Americans" The
other French agreed with him very
eagerly l told them not to worry,
we would soon be with them. You
have probably read that the Amer
leans are in the First line trenches.
Another wonderful thing has hap
pened to the camp. Bishop Israel
of Erie, Pa, has been here. One of
the most impressive times was the
communion service which he held
the Sunday he was here in our bar
rack.
Tells of American Women
The American women, God bless
them, are making a great place for
themselves, l assure you. Our own
have been working day and night
Finally their hands became so blis
tered and they became so worn out
through lack of sleep that to-day
they closed up the canteen and will
keep it closed until they get the prop
er help. They made hundreds of
sandwiches daily, cutting the bread