The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-08-16
by ROBERT II. MouLron.

AZ brought tue men ot America 10
i: !: |: !: !: !:
the camps OF the country. II
brought the women too-inothers.
~ n" wives, sisters aunts sweethearts.
wv " \ The government had made its
M plans for the men, but IL had made
i them without thought Of the
en-. Then the women came To Wis
II their soldier relatives, The camp
commanders looked ut the stream of femnnity
coming steadily toward them. and asked what, was
TO be done Then the war department began
10 think OF The women, and finally 1t asked the
Young Womens Christian association for help
The Hostess house WAS the answer.
Eighy-hve Of these unique establishments
are now either In operation are definitely I'M
der construction. They put up only at the
direct request OF the camp commentaries Some
OF the commanding officers were a little doubtful
NJ trst as To the praeticabty of the scheme.
Now these same officers are asking for second
and third Hostess houses In their cantonments
Wherever colored troops are stationed build
lngs are erected for their use and social wei
fare work under trained colored leaders Is car
ried IN.
These eenters of hospitality are under the
supervision of the war departments commits.
sion ON training camp activities. They are
u part OF the governments war work. The war
work council Of the Young Women's Christian
association promotes them one phase of the
assoeintion's work for the country In this ma
tional emergency
Since women arc allowed To come to canton
ments to visit their soldier folk. places must be
provided for their recreation. Camp Lewis nj
American Lake. Washington state, Is seven miles
long Camp Lee. virginia. contains 10000 men,
Each camp covers acres OF ground laid ont In
the hewildering monotony of company streets
lined with barracks
The discomfort of the camps for visitors IL
often extreme The thermometer went down
To - degrees below zero ut Camp Devens. Mass.
last winter. The Kansas mud ut camp
Funston could be- put In a mueliage hottie 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
eat The Hostess houses refugees for the
elderly parents, worried wives and aamiring
friends. whose love of the soldiers draws them
IN the camps.
one phase alone of the Hostess house work
would Justify their existence Each house Is
directory, street guide. n mnp. n telephone
exchange, finding bureau and writing room
Tor visitors. When soldier IL under orders
for France" his family come 10 bid him good.hy
III II Is within coming distance. At one canton.
ment father mother ana three sisters came
harr,lng. Their particular soldier was not Mt
the entrance where they Mere TO meet HIM Like
sensible people they Went straigh, TO the Host.
ess house There they learned that the camn
hal threa entrances.
The hostess ny the alb ~ teienhnne and mes
srnger naged each ~ these stations The man
was found at aae of them and brought TO the
Hostess house.
This Is surey great Improvement on the
game af scFeSS tag often PLAYED by excited
families with their Impatient soldier sons among
the barracks. At Balboa pnrk Cal they cali
the hostess thu ady Who finds Your friends"
An interesting feature af the Hostess house
p thar the architects In charge ~ The eoaStruc.
tian are Mamen Miss Julia Morgan Is an the
Pacific eaast. Miss Fay keiiasg hAs charge Of
,he Southern nstl Miss katherine Ruad builds
In the middle Nest.
The general plan Ut construction il the same
adapted IN local conditions, 4 large room IL
l~uHlly divided into twa parts by huge CHIN.
ICY With href'aees hath sides. In winter A
eapng ire gives cheer and warmth. In sum.
eer sssrgfeea branches Till the big stone open.