Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-05
CANTEEN WORKER
TELLS HER STORY
Miss Julia Stamm Is Home
After Service With the
Y. M. C.. A. in France


When Miss Julia Montgomery
Stamm was asked this morning to tell
something about her experiences in
Y. NJ. C. A. canteen work in France,
she modestly said nothing thrilling.
had come her way, that all the girls
had much good. hard work to do. and
they did it as bravely as the men.
Miss Stamm arrived at her home,
Thirteenth and Reese streets, yester-
day, after landing in New York with
the passengers of the Graf Walder-
see on Monday, carrying 4096 troops
with the Eightieth Division. Each
transport has Y. NJ. c. y. head on
board, but Miss Stamm was the only
canteen worked on this boat. al
though there were many nurses re-
turning. Each day, she assisted in
serving candy, chocolate, chewing
gum and cigarets to the men. arrang-
ing the sing-songs, the Sunday SER
vices, etc. The RED Cross had a repre-
sentative on the boat, also.
Miss Stamm started abroad last
November just after the armistice
was signed. and was first stationed
with the Y. NJ. C. A. canteen in Eng
land. going to the Riviera later and
locating at Cannes, France in the
leave era work. She mas had a wont
derful experience, for the historic old
Casino in Cannes. the exclusive gam
bling place of the Riviera, has had
to harbor men from all countries and
ranks in life after years and years of
visits from only the wealthy and
great.
AS Base Hospital No. 93- really
, three hospitals-was in Cannes. the
soldiers just lived at the Y. NJ. G. A.
headquarters and the workers be-
came thoroughly acquainted with
many of them. Miss Stamm says the
girls were on duty as in hotel shifts.
for the sightseeing trips, dancing, in
the library, letter writing. ETC., and
in the canteen, but remained in the
Casino all day long, getting one
days leave every two weeks There
were Sunday afternoon parties when
the refreshments were free and other
diversions.
One great pleasure was the picnics
for the boys, going out in the coun-
try in trucks and trans for real
holiday. The Y. NJ. e. A. furnished
the eats and there were games, con-
tests and resting places just like a
big school picnic
Only Kindly Criticism
When asked her own view of the
Y. NJ. C. A. work. Miss Stamm said:
"Of course, 1 know personally. only
of the leave area section; there it
has done a marvellous work, and l
think you'll find that unkind criti-
cism is only of isolated cases. which
Will persist in clinging to ones mem
ory. Many of the boys, themselves,
who wrote home at first of things
they felt were unjust as found in the
camp life, told their home folks lat
err when they had become adjusted
to conditions and had experienced the
care and generosity of the Y. NJ. c.
A. in this leave area that everything
is done for us, ana nothing is too
much trouble Everyone who got
to Cannes and the Riviera will give
a glowing account of their reception
and treatment"
The days were filled with hard work
with now and thfen a trip to some
special place of interest. The people
of Cannes, wealthy Americans, Eng
lish and French families threw open
their homes and beautiful gardens to
the men in service and did much for
their comfort and entertainment.
Easter morning the service in charge
of Chaplain Stewart was especially
beautiful and the Casino marvellous
in its gala array of Easter lilies and
spring blossoms.
The Y. NJ. C. A. was for enlisted
men only and thfere was also anof-
ficers' club in Cannes, which proved
most popular.
work AImoLt Finished
The Y. NJ c. A. work abroad is
practically finished, except for can
teen folks with the Army OF Occu-
patton in Germany, and at the en-
barkation camps. Girls are being
sent home with every transport, and
those here on leave have been noti-
fed they will not be returned. At
Brest, where Miss Stamm was with
the embarkation camp for month,
there was no opportunity to get in
close touch with the men, who were
hurried through. They saw plenty of
MANNED men, but no horrors. Most
of the serious cases of the United
States men were sent home at once,
and they did not visit the French
hospitals.
One day on a trip to Chateau
Thierry Miss Stamm says the new
cemetery was beautiful with masses
of forget-me-nots, banding the
graves, making it like a lovely gar
den. A deep touch of pathos came
when one found a grave bearing a
bottle, inside OF which was just a
post card photograph of cute boy
on which was written; How do you
like Bunny with his new hair cut?
nc 1tll III lIlt plNSh anu hehb hhS
time of my young life getting him
fixed up" There is no name. and
this is the only means of identifica-
tion for the one who lies below the
grasses.
To he an autumn Bride
In the midst of her war activities,
Miss Stamm, one of the most popular
of Harrisburg girls, met, at the.
home of Henry z. Davidson, of New
York, head of the Red Cross, Captain
George Comyns Thomas. of the Three
Hundred and Fifteenth Field Artil-
lery. Finding they had mutual
friends, the young people began
real romance, which will culminate
in their wedding here in the early
autumn. Captain Thomas arrived in
Newport News last week, and is ex-
pecting his discharge at any time
now.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. Carson Stamm an
nounced their daughters engage
ment to Captain Thomas a few days
ago, and congratulations and good
wishes are being showered on the
young couple.