The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-29
II VyG1IRL OF GAYETY MARKS CHRISTMAS
 l SEASON OF MOMTGOMERY'S ARMY CAMP
ny RosAInE HAMPSTEAD HIGGINS

Fly HOSAiIE AHMISEEAD Hl1UlNs
 Montgomery, December 2s.-(speciaL)
 Christmas in Montgomery passed off in
 a whirl of gaiety, and the presence of
 the soldiers at the four army camps. Fay
 Tor field, Camp Sheridan. the remount
 depot and the aviation repair depot. added
 to the happiness of the Day of Days.
 It was truly wonderful, glorious
 Christmas Day at the canteen hut of the
 American Red Cross at the Union depot
 and the thousands of visitors, for there
 were several thousand during the day,
 marvelled at the good cheer and happi
 ness there and remarked one to the
 other that You don't have to go to
 New York to see a beautiful canteen
 hut and wonderful time for here is
 one. right in Montgomery. The hut, in
 all it's red and white newness was about the most Christmasy place in Mon- gomery for holly wreaths, and red balls
 were every where, with an abundance of Christmas cheer. For days before tho happiest day, in the year, the members of the canteen worked enthusiastically and as result 750 Christmas packages were prepared and not single soldier sailor or marine who passed through Montgomery Christmas Day failed to re- { en members of the canteen, with Mrs Frank Scott as chairman. went through every train which even paused in Mont gomery. and presented every man aboard in the service of Uncle Sam, with Christmas gift and message of good l.cheer There were many interesting vis- itors, among them a Hawaiian ukelele. to the delight of others at the hut. young woman in, the employ of the gov ernment, who otherwise would have had a lonely day, spent Christmas Day at the hut, adding to the happiness of others as well as enjoying herself implensely. And so the good cheer was contagious Civilians by the score visited the canteen hut, and carried off four or five sol diers to Christmas dinner at their home From early in the morning, until mid night the hut was thronged with the happy crowd, consisting of soldiers sta toned at the four camps around Mont gomery, boys on furlough who had missed their connections and who were late in reaching home and numerous others, while all the members of the canteen were present at different hours during the day. serving the 200 home made cakes which were donated, and the other delicious dainties given by the gen. erous- hearted public.
 Four soldiers with beautiful voices. wanting to help with the festivities, sang Christmas carols. off and on throughout the day. The spirit of serv- ice was truly abroad and everyone was eager to have some part in making tho soldier lads happy Mrs. Leon Well. commandant of the canteen service Of the American Red Cross. who was respon sible for it's organization, was most enthusiastic over the day and expressed herself as deeply grateful to the public , at large who helped make Christmas at the canteen hut so successful, and a ,, prominent New York 9nan who was a visitor to Montgomery, as he looked on in wide-eyed astonshment, exclaimed: i"I did no, know they did things like this outside of New York. Practically every state in tn, union was represented in the visitors at the canteen hut on ] Christmas Day, and all of them expressed their delight
 l Several days before Christmas. three ] most distinguished visitors were guests at
 the canteen hut They were Major Os-