The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-08-12
Miss Mary B. Dickinson
Writes Interesting Article
For American Paper
Tells Of The Work Being
Done For The American
Soldiers Over There

A Mt. Vernon girl, Miss Mary b
Dickinson, is at the information desk
at the Liberty Hut, Coblenz, Germany.
Miss Dickinson is the daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. A. c, Dickinson.
'If there is anything more complete
in the line of recreation houses in the
entire A. Z. f. than the Liberty Hut
in Coblenz 1t must be because it is
located some place nearer home. That
is the only thing that Is lacking to
make the Liberty Hut one of the
finest recreation houses in the world,
and even on that point it comes the
closest to being home, for some thou
sands of Amarocs, than any other
place in Germany. The hut is located
in the front yard of the kaiser's pal
ace officially called Schloss Platz."
Thus writes Miss Dickinson in a
most interesting article for the only
American newspaper published in
Coblenz "The Amaroc News"
Other extracts from the article
written by Miss Dickinson for the
Coblenz newspaper follow:
Mary Wood Hinman, who comes
from Chicago, Illinois, and Mrs. Bruno
Hebbs, from Denver, Colorado, de-
serve the credit for making the hut
the big success it Is. With untiring
effort and splendid cooperation from
their staff of assistants they have
added feature after feature until it
is now equipped with everything pos.
sible. to make it pleasant "hangout"
in the idle hours. When these two
women took over the operation of the
hut, 1t was just one of the regulation
portable buildings, with a stage in one
end, and two basketball posts in the
middle. A piano and few chairs
finished off the place and it was call.
ed recreation house.
Fresh from Neuenahr, the two wo
men rolled up their sleeves and start
ed in on a campaign to make the Lib
erty Hut the best in Germany. It is
that and more today and the sleeves
are still rolled up and work is still
going on. When the Festhalle closed
in Coblenz and the other centers went
out of business this was left the sole
place for the use of the men who are
stationed in Coblenz and those who
are on leave here Thousands visit
the hut every day and make use OF Its
facilities.
At the hut there are attractions
that fit any need the soldier ma,
have. II he wants to read he will fine
the American Library Association Ii
brary open and ready to lend hin
books and magazines of every style
School books, works of poetry ant
prose, fiction of every variety, an,
research volumes that tell him any
thing he wants to know. EXPERT II
brarians are on duty to help him ant
find what he wishes. If he has tim,
to read and no place to go, he will
find comfortable chairs and settees
and a cozy reading room set asid
for that purpose. He may not hav,
time to sit and read but he is allow
ed to take the book away with hin
There are few cases wherein this las
privilege is abused, as the men realiz
that by keeping books they are dc
priving "buddies" OF their use.
In one corner of the hut may b
found an information desk. Here ca
be answered almost any question
Here also is shipping departmer
where articles may be wrapped an
then weighed and mailed or express
ed to the States. Writing paper an
envelopes may be obtained here an
: in another part Of the room are wri
ing desks. No excuse for not writin
home with all these accommodation
at hand. A big table in the center {
the room is loaded down with shol
verses and various pamphlets wri
ten by prominent men on vital su
jects of the day.
In another part of the room is
piano and plenty of sheet music. A
effort Is being made to organize a
Q impromptu band and any players WI
= want to get into training for it wi
: he supplied with their instrumen
o for the asking.
4 The staff that is on duty at the h
d are congenial and ever pleasant. Th'
have made friends with thousands
men with the American Forces
Germany and are anxious to nal
n more friends. They are very anxio
y to meet men who come from the
q home cities and are always willing
N sit and chat about the old town pun
" and the new alderman and TO {
d. change condolences on the person
opinion of just how the old city cou