Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-08-07


real fellowship, cooperation and brother
hood The army officers here are too
busy to look after the morals OF the men
of duty. such work is now left almost
wholly to the Y. NJ. c. A. Then, finally.
the women Of Europe are wondering - hen
some American boy will take the place Of
their boys "a no have heen away 10 long.
"Are our men coming TO bring hope, to
bring new ideal,sm, to bring the spirit OF
Chrlst into the midst OF stricken peoplef
We want 10 make our uniform badge OF
excellence and to make the Y. NJ. G. A.
emblem mean the greatest thing Of all.
The Y. NJ. {. A. is nov great inclusive
institution. We are here on national ser
/ vice. 1t is the spirit OF an army above ali
that counts. An army with high ideslrsm
will fight iorty-eight hours without food,
I v hereas without this idealism IL would
/ lay down its arms. Our task is to see that
I the coming OF the L. 3. troops hssiens a
/ lasting peace. Our task is to see TO 1t
/ that our army is a blessing to France
and not a curse; that 1t is blessing to
/ our own men and not a curse. This has
not always been so before. II is for us to
make it so now. A new type of idesIism
should be born out OF our army.
.'The whole question OF the American
soldier on leave has been practically
turned over to the Y, NJ. z. A.
When we have a million soldiers here,
1000 will be on leave all the time. There
fore, centres of winter and summer recre-
alton at Chomouuix and AK are being ar
ranged by the Y. NJ. c. A. At these
places, in addition to sports there will be
all that the best American women, all that
abe churches can bring. religion and
sport eonspiring together to give = man
.'the time Of his life" In Paris we haye
our hotels and clS.bs for officer, and men.
AVE have launched out on great sd-
venture. Material difficulties may be
blessing, for they will make the funds-
mental thing a matter OF personality.
One OF the most important aspects Of our
work at present is the par, that women
are playing in It. The attempt OF the
association to take the place OF home In
wolves the use Of women, becsuse they
have something to give as efficient work
men as well as friends. There are certain
things they can do better than men.
Much OF our teaching OF French, the
playing OF the piano, helping in the can
teen, is done by women. There 10 moth
ing more helpful for the tined soldiers
than . womsn's smile. Many stories are
told of men who went Up In line for their
sixth and seventh cup Of coffee just be-
cause an American woman smiled st them
Amy village in France with 500 soldiers
in 1t Offers bigger chance tea man than
8 church or Y. NJ. c. A. st home, be-
cause here the man must bring and be
everything, church, club, entertainer,
providerr inspirer. u We do nos consider
1t big job our imagination fsiss. Tbs
men of imagination make OF il great
and heroic task"
Mr. Davis, Who is heed OF all our work
in the French army, said; "Let us come
to france a. 10 holy ground. France has
lost a million and half of her best Mood
and million and a half more are
weuuSed. Every able bloooed man be-
tween q and Is is al the front. The
felds ass titled by women, this trans sod
uzdergraand railroads are run largely BY
women. Th~ territory In the north OF
Frsnce is tevsssed- Let US be synpathetic
in our understanding. The French sol
diers have stood the strain OF tlssre win
tiers. Three years szo you could not in
trodus a foyer Snte she Prencs army.
The Fsneh gsnerat ssss that thsir SOL
diers were not to be susased but 70 fight.
Now they ask as to establish the foyers.
They say the greatest service Americs can
render the Allies il to. exrsnd the work OF
the y NJ. e. u Throughout the Ps<neh
army"
1t has been decided that I am to rerve
Nth the French, aud I sm CHAD of Fhss.
Ysere are many men and wensen to =~-ve
in our American eamps ssazong our usrn,
who a. yet bsve seen no reaa Fighting. asd
have not endured the horrors Of the grest
slaughter Of rncdera wsrfaxs- But thsre
are few of our nen whs understand
French well enough 10 serSs in the fogsr
at the neartsioDe of the frevrh. Ii takes
time to get the necessary papers and per-
Enission to go into the Fraaeh war zons,
however, so an still in, Paris. hope 20
leave IN a day or so and the Dsxi / write Il
will be from somewhere near she front.
think Of you all often and hope all Ia
well with you. haT@visits1 ,he home OF
the little girl our church and s. 81
adopted. Her father was kl4ied early in
the war and now mother and three chill
dreu are all living in one little rooua
The little girls are very dear, and 1t ie-
pathetic to see their situstion- do hopei
we can continue To. help asem. AS it IL
very cold here now, / went with Mrs
Jourde TO q store and bought = warm dress
for each child. Lnoie and Fernando only
having 8 light summer dress eeeh. todd
them of your interest and Of that OF tbs
children OF our Sunday school. They
smiled and seemed very spprecistive
and little Fernando kept saying
IN q very sweet way between the
ks.w. "a . - .rrt.. = d s-.s,a<~ 49, GsMar.,.