Trench and camp., 1919-05-22
THE SUNSHINE RETREAT
FOR COLORED TROOPS
Midway Hostess House Becomes
Real Home for the Boys
in the Lower Camp.
BY SECRETARY B. Id. CHURCH.

~ .
OF all the agencies established. for
the welfare of the troops at Camp
Meade there is perhaps-no other doing
g. more vital work for the colored bows
in khaki than the Hostess House af
the midway station. Late in getting
started, owing to the fact that Y. w.
c. A. was somewhat handicapped
through lack of funds when the camp
first opened. this work has alreadv
become the mecca for all the men to
whom it caters when they are in
search of social diversion. There ia a
reason for this. as for most other
things, and it lies in the fact that
while the equipment of the building a.
all that could be desired, there js the
transcends in it's appeal to the SOL
diers the most perfect equipment
This spirit has been engendered nv
the staff Of wisely selected ladies who
have been called by the association to
open up and carry on the work. A
one of the soldiers remarked, when
ne was shown the porch which is
called the sun pariOr. Gee. this
whole place seems like sun parlor
to me-"
Situated close beside the stati6n, as
1t Is, the mothers ofathe boys And NJ,
very convenient to, drop into the
building after the long trip from the
city, and as they enter the front door
every chair seems to beckon with in
viting arms, saying: PLEASE try me-"
The cafeteria is conducted along an
proved lines and as for real cooking
Well, words fail us. In cooperation
with the War Camp Community Serv-
ice the boys are provided each week
with chaperoned parties of girls from
the neighboring cities for their even-
ing dances. In fact, in every way no
pains are spared to make camp life
more agreeable for the colored SOL
diers and visitors. There are four la
dies in charge and glimpse into
their past attainments. will account
to some extent for their selection by
their organization for this important
service,
Husband a Teacher. "a
Mrs. M. s. Mayne, director, brings
to the work special fitness, as she has
had considerable. experience as q So
cial worker. She was an able assist
ant to her husband, Prof. ,. r. Mayne,
while he was in charge OF the govern
ment school at Muskogee, Okla. Upon
moving to Richmond, Va, Mrs. sMAyne
became actively engaged in the Y. w.
u "A WVEhs DO H1AT TKGQ~~W4&S m&kslAWAsE
cess that when the call came for
women to train as hostess uhoMee
workers she. was persuaded, to take
upon herself the task OF bringing
cheer and comfort to the. boys In
camp. The boys testify that she hS9
more than succeeded. y 4 S@
Mrs. Nellie qChilds Clark on LATHE
Rock, Ark, as cafeteria hostess has
won all the visitors by her genial
manner. Mrs. Clark has engaEe1 In
social service work for, number Of
years and during, the period OF the
war has concentrated efforts along
special lines Of war-cAmp seryicB.
Now and then, just to keep her hand
in, she dons the kitchen "epanG1ees
and turns out epicurean biscuits like
mother used to make. ssss = -
Miss Irene johnson of Pittsburgh.
Pa. .+cashier and business mAn@weE
has had wide experiences in shandltng
large affairs. Prior. to entering this
work, Miss johnson served for Ask
years as clerk to Secretary GenTGe
Cook of Howard University, the g0V-
eminent school at Washington, ID. O.
Her ability was shown by the manMer
in which she managed the vast busi-
ness entailed by the 8. A. +. G. at
Howard E
Mrs. A. r.. Dickinson of Warrington,
as information hostess. and coming in
direct contact at the desk with sthe
soldiers and their visitors, has made
a host of friends. The men feel that
in her they have aNsympathetic friend
and all newcomers ARE soon intro
duced to the information secretary.
Mrs Dickinson was for many years one
of the most widely known teachers In
the public schools of Washington. ~.
c. The knowledge of human nature
gained during these years scOntrlbntes
much to her success as social
worker. = z<sss :
No trip to this camp Is complete
without a look-in at the colOFed host
ess house ssssssT8 !.