The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-11-03

were first to be outiitted with libra.
ries, but September more than 2OO
points had them. At General Head
quarters there were forty-threc' cas-
es, more than 5000 volumes, which
investigated. But the men were
Unsuitable, they howled for more,
They never before had so much time
Tor reading--it was light until 10
o'clock on summer evenings. Con
sequently it was almost Impossible
to keep the books on the shelves. SO
the men at headqua, scrs called for
5000 more books because the first
5000 always were i'll use.
THE Robinson Crusoe" Joke.
Recently the Paris office OF the
"Y' sent down photographer TO
take a picture of a soldier reading d
book to show the folks back at home
that their contributions were appre-
ciated. The Paris secretary respon-
sible for this move was delighted
to see, when the print was made, a
photograph OF soldier reading
Robinson Crusoe." He had select
ed several copies OF that desert island
story for this library and gloated
over the visible proof OF his good
Judgment. Then the photographer
brought him down out OF control by
explaining that the soldier who
posed took the only book lett in the
library excepting four other cSpies
OF Robinson Crusoe!' Why poor
RobilNon was neglected, no one
could explain unless it wa sthat ev-
cry boy had read it in early youth.
The books sent to hospitals are
strictly light, literally and literary.
The wounded man wants nothing
that will rest heavily on either his
nands or lis brain. Scrap-books,
when well-made, will lie flat when
open, are popular Anything to read
is especially appreciated in the con-
tafious wards where no entertain
ers or visitors are allowed. The
man demanding and receiving the
biggest number OF books in one hos
pital recently was just recovering
from spinal meningitis. Although
the books are burned so 500 mas he
has finished them. he never lacks a
supply, for he lives in a glass case
with none but his nurse, for fear OF
contagion.
The Y. NJ. c. \. library force cell
ebrated the Fourth OF July in a typi-
cal act OF service. 1t ploced on ev-
cry American ambulance train in
France case OF books to be used
not only for the men whose wounds
are slight enough to permit their en-
joying reading, but for the train
crew and nurses who spend their
time travelling back and forth and
otter have tiresome hali-hourS TO
while away.
Swapping Books on Destroyers.
One secretary at a small port town
where American dcstroyers put iii
and ont constantly. obtained ten
cases OF the most popular books and
distributed them to the warshipS.
When the crew of one destroyer
finishes reading a case it swaps cases
with the next destroyer which it
meets. Now some OF these impro-
vised outfits are going down to the
American fighters in Italy.
American soldiers in German pris-
on camps are reached by these trav-
cling libraries. Probably because it
helps to keep the men quiet and thus
more easily taken care Of, Germany
has permitted books to be sent in
through Switzerland--books written
before August, 1914, and which CON
tain no aspersions on the Fatherland
The aim of the library bureau is to
ship one book month to every pris
oner in Germany. At first only 250
were needed. but this number has
increased.
Contrary to the prevailing belief,
the prisoners do not prefer fiction.
Each prison camp is organized into
groups and has selected 4 central
committee through which all re-
quests for books are sent to the y.
NJ. c. A. These prisoners asked
first of all for German-E English, die
tionaries. then French English die
tionaries, biographies, histories,
books of general reference and books
for the study Of special subjects. For
these men are trying to occupy their
minds with something which not
only will help them endure their
present conditions, but which will
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