The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1918-11-14
A WALLED CITY
or WOMEN

inside q high wall in France villain fnF
last year. It's square laf houses stand
IN straight even rows and along one
side Of the city wall ie long lprmi-
tory FOR single women. There are many
more Of them than 81 the families in
the druh little houses. The village is
fun Of women-oid. young. middle
ared-whose faces. hands and heir
slowly are turning yellow from the
powder which &C. is said win eventually
affect their lungs. But most of them
are refugees and the fact chat they
are giving un their good looks. their
health. and perhaps their lives ln the
muniton factory. ls ~ little moment %
them. They have come into the walled
town from ruined villages and detas-
tate,i farms with their COL -iHencl ltle
children. their desrair'n- Ola people.
carrying aI their earthly possessions
An tiny bundles. fn their Individual
lives there Is 40 future. On aii their
world there O. no interest bar The con-
quest Of the Hun.
No one comes into ibis little war
community that ccufers around fhe big
new munitions plant huf those who
work. Because OF the danger end fle
biiehfin- yellow nor-der. che work IS
highly paid and an the WORKERS are
volunteers.
The women wear Ovfrrils OF apron
dresses. some of black sateen. some
nanleserint TOE dul GARD mrmonizes
with the ye'.ow.ns faces aud despair
lnr cyes.
Into ibis modern walled ciiv 90 ie-
srair The Blue Triangle hes Dashed Ire
frst messHee of hope. The y. W. T.. A.
foyer ls ihe ou'E r.crauuoual center
within rcnch Tho cars which nrd
cafes az the end of the lne q mile
away. stop running at seven o'c.oca 20
save fuel The city O. three miles
from the factory.
-ME problem. writes fle S. W. O.
a. secretary in charge Els io Keep the
women occupied in Che evenings, to
give them good healthy amusement so
that ilcy VIII forget their sorroNs aud
90 o. bed and sleep. physically Tired
out from playing
She goes on to tell Of some Of the
women and girls who come % the
foyer:
"There o. pretty little ro1nd. ro7y-
checked rirl here who is fust beginning
% show The effects Of the powder. The
roots OF her hair and her forehead are
a pale yellow. The palms OF Der hands
are a deep burnt orange and her hands
and arms a bright yellow.
aThere o. nn professional dancer.
an Interesting girl who enjoys the
u. b. Ha.
girls. There is a professional pianist
who does her on at the noon and eve-
ming hours. There is one rouEh-and-
ready girl who speaks English. whose
father was an innkecper in northern
France. There Is a pretty little girl
who o. engaged to q French soldier
who sim is rejoicing over fhe i've milne
utes she had uith him recent during
an air raid. His mother is the care
tuker here and be- o. one of SIS SONS in
the war. Two uf them are German
military prisoners. two are ciYl pris-
oners in Germany and two nre soldiers
IN the trenches. Her home ln the
north OF France was destroyed and sire
escaped with a small bundle Of such
thines as she could carry Oh Der hands.
AANA" H"'N H.NNH
was laremnker ln Vaieuciennes. who
came direct 20 u.s. from the German
ridden section after hard experience
On getting away
These are the women the Blue Tri-
angle is helping 90 foreet-rerhap
only Tor an hour at time-lhe hor-
rors that have blncfened their hearth
stones and darkcned tho world.
~My foyer the secretary writes.
Consists OF a han and two large rooms
with cement floors. one has a writing
table and paper, pens and ink. sewing
machines q cupboard with toacups In
O.. large table with papers and maea-
zines. easy chairs and my desk. The
other room has 81 piano. more tables.
chairs. ironing boards and Ficfroia.
There are Unframed French pictures
and American and French war posters
around the room. The walls are paint
ed gray and white"
Saturday evenings they SING and
dance. "Iirst they have a chorus
writes the secrciary "such as IL Reeve
Pusse' or The Iivrre fes Amateurs or
something equally rhrliirs. aud SO the
final noies of triumph a voice ut my
ears heEs Tn POLKA. mees.' The polka
finished. there is a cHn FOR the Hrmne
American aud we sing the star
Srnnried Banner Gle Drapeau Etoi'e)
In two languages"
These foycrs have been established
IN several mnnition ccniers On France.
Each ono has o. cafeteria. a recreation
han and rooms fitted up as rest
rooms. writing and sewing rooms. AZ
night these rooms are hlicd with
French girls learning English book
Keeping Or stcnorrnrhy that they may
work iu the offices az The American
Eyredliionary Forces Ia connection
with each is large recreation heid OF
park.
AZ The request a. TIE french minis
try ~ war the Young Women'- Chris
tinn association bias opened club
rooms FOR the sixteen thousand French
women employed in the offices az the
a