The sun., 1919-10-05

SWarmS OF little naES were
stuck into it everywhere-"until we
ran out Of flags" explained the Y. w.
c. A. secretaries. When completed It
/ will show the home spot to which
every European war bride has been
taken by her American soldier hus-
band.
I'VE shall stand by them whenever
they need it," says the Y. w. c. A.
Good. Perhaps they may not need 1t.
Buddy also is standing by his buddy's
bride Of romance from "over there"
Say Just one word In praise of home
girls, and they soak you on the bean
with blazing loyalty. The thing is
beautiful l merely wrote that, after
eli. the heart of the A. E. F. was true
10 Poll-the vast majority, you know:
and this is how they handled me in
letters to the editor:
Say where does your correspon-
dent get his line of bull about the
failure of the American soldiers to
fall for the French girls? They GER
tainy did fall, and with an awful
crash, about 10000, II he cares to look
up the statistics. The French women
have some characteristics which the
American women never did have and
never will For one thing they are
far more feminine. Evidently your
correspondent must have spent most
Of his time at the French debarkation
ports or in the s. o. s. 1 was nearly
nineteen months in a combat unit and
know that most of his statements
are mostly bull
A. V. S. SOLDIER,
Camp Meade, Nd"
So Here's the Plain Tale.
So here must be a story without
'bull," a final and Photographic tour
Of those same debarkation ports where
(only) one is sure to meet the brides
en- route or watch their steps where
they have stepped. l, who have spent
thirty years in a combat unit (the old
Expatriates of Paris) where there was
femininity to burn, may wonder, per-
sonally how the A. E. F. could let a
single one OF those Y w. c. A. girls
sail homeJard single feminine charm
with all the glamour of the home; and
the thought strikes me, did theyO.
witness from Camp Meade says 10000.
We shall see. The play, 1 seem to
remember, pleased not the million;
twas caviare to the doughboy.
Some doughboys wanted to taste
caviare.
And there you are.
How did you court her?" we asked
one who spoke no French and she no
English.
"Oh she speaks with ner eyes, ne
answered. Some one said 1t might be
all right for a few evenings. but in
the long run
mo-" said a sweet girl secretary
later, 'the most heartbreaking thing
! saw at Bordeaux was two such kids
leaning over their dying baby and un-
able to comfort each other in words
because neither spoke the others lam
guage. And yet real love, ah, yes!
This couple, with their little infant
5 months old, had not yet learned
to talk to each other. They were so
|. helpless!"
No-there's no place here for bull"
The things too deep.
The Y. w. c. AS Big Job.
Yet all were helpless without the
Y. W. C. A, which. on impassioned
request of G. H. O., undertook the
whole affair of the brides. They put
their secretaries in the passport bu-
reau and their chaperons on the
boats; they housed the brides in ports,
washed their babies and taught them
now TO pronounce their own names
and their husbands home town. One
bride had IS. -I1l just telephone my
husband in New York." she said; and
he was out in Portland. Ore. A BRIDE
groom came into the office at Brest
with bags and baggage and a bride
and put her in a chair and started out.
Wait" said the secretary. "Do you
know the rules? You cannot come to
see your wife again until 1880 p. M.
because they have their classes"
Well" he answered, "that is soon
enough for me-"
(And there was the girl, all smiling,
proud as Punchi)
AT Brest in twenty-four days they
mad 2ls brides, nine babies, FIVE rela-
yves OF brides, five flancees and six
\. W. c. A. transport workers. At st.
Nazaire in one month they had 476
brides. Brest had 110 in one convoy
ana 500 at one time. At another period
tnere was maintained average of
twenty-five babies, going and coming,
In the nursery.
The brides came from all walks of
me- One girl of 22 had worked in a
muhition factory for fifteen months
On night shift, and. Nas consequence,
was blind for one month and even yet
rad difficulty with her eyes. The girl
next to her was the only child of a
french titled family. She had never
uohe a days work in her life, and
iound army barracks a great contrast
=" chateau exceedingly beautiful on
beautiful Lakeland yet who was
much more game" than many others.
uhe' for example. was bawling for her
husband. II desire mon maril"
The Countess Used n Hatpin.
80 do Il" spoke up the little Coun-
.ess mildly. Which was a good bluff,
Ueeause she had just chased hers with
hatpin.
All kinds. Some awfully nice girls.
s Some Just shy little country things.
me boys had married them out OF
ser homes. At st. Nazaire, the sta
soheu personnel were marrying at the
iste of'eight per day, and all stayed
thelr families until ready to sail.
soihe boys had hearts big enough TO
aNe widow with four little children
al@