The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-04-04
LETTER FROM OLNSTED'
FORMER GARDEN CITY MINIS.
TER HASCHANGED CAMPS
He Is Now Doing Y. N. C. A.
Work At Camp farragut,
Great Lakes, III.

Camp Farragut, Ninth Regiment, Y.
NJ. C. A, Great Lakes, H., March 20,
1919.-To The Free Press: You will
please note that l have been trans
ferred from the Twelfth regiment,
Camp Paul Jones "Ys' TO the above
address so all my mail should be
changed accordingly.
Conditions are absolutely different
in-the two camps. AT Paul Jones
there were two regiments, the twelfth
= and thirteenth, made up of sailors who
have been here from six to eighteen
months. They are disconnected and
want nothing so much as to get out.
They are for the most part cussing
everything and everybody. Some of
them confess that, when they have
been at home on furlough they have
found themselves biting their tongues
as they were about 20 swear or say
some foul, smutty thing in the pres
ence of mother or sister. So you see
how the vileness of barrack life fas-
tens itself upon them unawares. Fell
lows who say they used to disdain
profane, dirty language have fallen
into the habit here Mothers, wives,
sisters ard sweethearts, you can help
them by writing them sweet, encour-
aging letters, putting their minds on
better things. Here in Farragut we
deal orly with incoming recruits who
are mostly mere boys. They are very
enthusiastic over what they are going
TO do and it puts vim into us secre-
taries to deal with them. Some HUI
morous things happen here.
Sunday morning boy in civilian
clothes said to me: How long are~we
here before we get a furlough?" !
asked him how long he'd been here
and he said: Il came Thursday" He
hadn't even received his uniform yet
They are held in this camp twenty
one DAYS to test out their health, then
if they pass they are sent to other
regiments or this station. Dad Hop
kins, the building secretary here in
Farragut, has been at this one camp
since last June He SAYS in that time
there have been 10000 boys pass
through his hands and he has dealt
with each one more or less in per-
gather in any large numbers in this
detention camp on account of possible
contagious so our work is mostly in
, the barracks. We have no large as
sembly room for movies, concerts, etc.,
as the other '-Y'' huts have.
Now that spring is opening up we
are beginning to have some omen air
meetings and my guitar comes in very
handy. Right next to our shack is
what is, called ssThe Ravine," which is
really a deep ravine with fine wild
trees for shade and 4 little stream
running through. There are little
bridges here ard there-and a fine rus
tic stage in the center. The banks
from top to bottom are covered with
seats like a great amphitheatre and
we will soon be having great gathers
ings there. A man who has lived in
South Africa twenty eight years, but
is now doing "Y" work from camp ia
camp over the United States told us
at our general "Y" conference this
morning that never have men and ev-
en- ~Y" mer. had such opportunities as
are now looming up. So perhaps our
labors shall not be in vain. We are
swell. Our only sadness comes in
reading of so many sorrows among
our friends in Blue Earth countyH We
wart especially to express our sym
pathy for Mr. and Mrs. Bert Gates in
regard to the recent tragedy in theiI
home and to all others who have had
grief come TO them. May the all wise
one be their portion.-J. G. Olmsted