The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-22
By ROBERT II. MoULToN.

! : !.
AR brought the men of America to
the camps of the country. It
AE brought the women, too-mothers,
~ IN wives, sisters, aunts, sweethearts
@V The government had made its
W. plans for the men, but it had made
them without thought of the
Then the women came to Wis
it their soldier relatives. The camp
commanders looked at the stream of femininity
coming steadily toward them, and asked what was
to be done. Then the war department began
to think of the women, and finally it asked the
Young Women's Christian association for help.
The Hostess house the answer.
Eghty-five of these unique establishments
are now either in operation definitely
der construction They put up only at the
direct request of the camp commandments Some
at first to the practicability of the scheme.
Now these same officers asking for second
and third Hostess houses in their environments.
Wherever colored troops are stationed build
ings erected for their use and social well
fare work under trained colored leaders is car
rfed on.
These centers of hospitality are under the
supervision of the war departments commits
sion on training camp activities They
a part of the governments work. The war
work council of the Young Women's Christian
association promotes them phase of the
associations work for the country in this ma
tional emergency.
Since women are allowed to come to canton
ments to visit their soldier folk, places must be
provided for their recreation. Camp Lewis at
American Lake, Washington state, is seven miles
long. Camp Lee Virginia contains 10000 men.
Each camp covers acres of ground laid out in
the bewildering monotony of company streets
lined with barracks.
The discomfort of the camps for visitors is
often extreme. The thermometer went down
to 81 degrees below zero at Camp Devens, Mass,
last winter. The Kansas mud at Camp
Funston could be put in mucilage bottle and
used for glue. Camp Doniphan, Okla, some
times hides itself in dust. And as for
heat in summer, visitor has been able to
decide where the thermometer goes the high
est The Hostess houses refugees for the
elderly parents, worried wives, and admiring
friends whose love of the soldiers draws them
to the camps.
One phase alone of the Hostess house work
would justify their existence. Each house is
a directory, a street guide, map a telephone
exchange, finding bureau, and a writing
for visitors. When a soldier is under orders
for France his family come to bid him good-by
if it is within coming distance. At one canton
ment father, mother and three sisters came
hurrying. Their particular soldier was not at
the entrance where they meet him. Like
sensible people they went straight to the Host
ess house. There they learned that the camp
had three entrances.
The hostess by the aid of telephone and mes
senger PACED each of these stations. The man
found at of them and brought to the
Hostess house
This is surely a great improvement on the
game of "cross tag" so often played by excited
families with their impatient soldier sons among
the barracks. At Balboa Park CAL they call
the hostess ''the lady who finds your friends"
An interesting feature of the Hostess house
is that the architects in charge of the construc-
ton women. Miss Julia Morgan is on the
Pacific coast Miss Fay kellogg has charge Of
the Southern field. Miss Katherine Budd builds
in the middle West
The general plan of construction is the same
adapted u local conditions. a large room Is
usually divided into two parts by huge Chin
ney with freplaces both Sides In winter
leaping fire gives cheer and warmth In sum-
mer evergreen branches fill the big stone open