Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-08-16
BY ROBERT II. MouLToN.

J ; : !
AK brought the men Of America to
II the camps of the country. 1t
VI brought the women, tOO--mothers.
IN wives, sisters aunts, sweethearts
MV The government had made it's
\A plans for the men, but II had made
! them without thought Of the wOm-
Then the women came to WIS.,
II their soldier relatives. The camp
commanders looked at the stream of femlnnlty
coming steadily toward them, and asked what was
to be DONE Then the war department began
to think of the women. and finally 1t asked the
Young Womens Christian association for help
The Hostess house was the answer.
Eighty-fve of these unique establishments
either In operation or definitely I'M
der construction. They put up only at the
direct request of the camp commandments. Some
Of the commanding officers were little doubtful
at first as to the practicabilty of the scheme
Now these same officers asking for second
and third Hostess houses In their cantonments
Wherever coored troops are stationed. build
ngs are erected for their and social well
fare work under trained colored leaders Is car
ried
These centers of hospitality are under the
supervision of the departments commits
sion on training camp activities. They
a part Of the governments war work. The
work council of the Young Women's Christian
association promotes them phase OF the
associations work for the country In this ma
tional emergency.
ments to visit their soldier folk, places must be
provided for their recreation. Camp Lewis at
American Lake, Washington state, is miles
long. Camp Lee, Virginia. contains 10000 men.
Each camp covers of ground laid out In
the bewdering monotony of company streets
lined with barracks.
The discomfort of the camps for visitors Is
often extreme The thermometer went down
to p degrees below at Camp Devens, Mass,
last winter The Kansas mud at Camp
Funston could De pnt in mucage 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 are 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, street guide, map, q telephone
exchange n finding bureau and writing room
for visitors When n soldier IL under orders
for France" his family come 10 bid him good-by
If It is within coming distance At one canton
ment a father, mother and three sisters came
hurrying. Their particular soldier was not at
the entrance where they to 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
was found at one of them and brought 10 the
Hostess house.
This is surely great improvement on the
game of "cross tag 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 are 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 to local conditions. large room is
usually divided into two parts by huge chin
ney with frepaces on both sides. In winter a
leaping fire gives cheer and warmth. In sum-
mer evergreen branches fill the big stone open.