Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-19
LOCAL GIRL
AIDS WAR BRIDES
Miss Mary C. Clendenin, of
This City. in Charge of
Y. w. C. A. Camp

Miss Mary C. Clendenin. of this
city; Miss S. C. Seymour, of Camden,
and several other women Of Penn
sylvania and New Jersey are among
those in charge of the Y. w. C. AS
Brides Camp" at Brest, France,
from which the foreign brides of
american enlisted men are being
sent to America. The following de.
scrlption of their work was written
/ py Anna L. Harlow, secretary of
publicity for the camp:
Inc l.. w. c. a. secretary sat in
the reception office of the bride camp
at brest and tried to keep awake. II
there had been a clock on the wall
IL would have said 1890 P. Al. The
secretary had risen with the dawn
ana every minute from that time
nao peen busy with the hundred ant
one Things that fall to the lot of q
7. w. secretary on duty to he done
allowing, of course, time for hurried
mess. Pretty soon she stified a big
yaWn and sat bolt upright. then
Jumped TO her feet to greet the new
arrivals. The army car had como
from the railway station with n new,
Ioad OF brides and they must lie
cordially received and put to rest
i0i the -IlSnt In barracks
II was motley procession that
t.p "ppedreu IN the doorway, as soldier
nsIafhes ~ Ines OF the camp deposited on
Ii ne moor the assortment of baggage
FIRST came a self-possessed woman
vi some thirty years, with a gen
erous err coating of liquid pearl, topped
Pienty OF rouge, and eye,ash
oiacklng. She eyed the place sus-
plclously but stepped forward tn tbe
uesk upon invitation and gave her
name Next came younger woman
WIN neat little hat and n trin,
costume that just escaped discIos-
ing ner knees. She had an engag-
,ms sinlIe and she put down a hand
90 olie' too' passed in review.
Along Came Germaine
Next was rewedded widow. with
d rat daughter of some ten wears
VINO olinked sleepily while she cIInp
oi 70 the maternal side. And
naJ came Germaine, with a big
Ups and pearly teeth, a slim of
chlid, who at once crept into the
neart or the secretary on duty
iittie black dog followed pulIine h,,
me ieash MS owner, q young woman
with big feathered hat who carr,aa
a wicker basket from which sba ecu
iree @ little yellow and white cat
strange TO say, no parrot an
peareo that night The fippant sol
oler on guard remarked in under
zone wait till the midnight train
and goat may come
But the brides are bv M
al departed for America. and v W.
=. A. secretaries cannot he 6is
turoed, no matter who or what 80
IiVes at the camp. They have grown
past the surprise state and onIv ao-
cept what appears. This was tEa
entire collection of arrivals for th.r
oooklng. The cat and dog were fed
ana gwen quarters. their owner u.os
assisned to cot in suitable bar-
racks likewise the other women
mere SHOWN to cots, after the secre- |
mental note of just how thew sbnn,d
De disposed of to the best advontaro
as far as Keeping, figurativeIv smell
Ing, ing, the sheep and goats separate
me mother and child were ASSIGNED |
10 10 quarters In the nursery barracks
Ihese duties over. the secretary re-
turned to her desk to wait tha MA
nlght detachment of brides and fo CO |
'hroush similar program of action
Everyday Scenes
Such scenes as these are be,rs
enacted every day and night at tbe
bride camp at Brest. and the nonth
OF August has been the busiest in |
the history of the camp, which Is
the only one of three remaining oner,
now, those at St. Nazaire and Bor.
deaux having closed with the direc-
tion of embarkation toward the port
of Brest.
From Brest alone about I aoo
brides and 100 children have gone
since last May. every one of these
having been registered at the Y. w. |
c. A. hostess house, and nearly ali |
of them having been entertained !
there for various lengths of time |
The hostess houses care for tie
wives of the enlisted men. They |
make no attempt to care for the |
wives of officers. though upon re- |
quest they have often given assist |
ance In one way or another.
Mrs. s. C. Seymour 579 State
street, Camden, n. J.. has charge of
the camp activities. and at Brest.
under the direction of Miss Mary
Fay, of Beacon street. Boston, Mass.
chief executive. there is staff of a
dozen Y. w. secretaries.
The Young Women's Christian
Association undertook, the direcfion