The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-15
News of Society and Activities iGi of Women

VINO improve the spirit and moral of
 our wounded and sick fighting
 S men by providing such diversion and training as will contribute to their recovery. and to keep the able-bodied personnel caring for them in a cheerful frame of mind are the objects of CO., operative plan adopted by the office of the surgeon general of the army and the American Red Cross. These recreational activities will be conducted in the 40 re- construction hospitals now being oper- ated in the United States.
 The general direction of this under taking throughout the country has been given to pr. Ebert K. Fretwell, head of the department of recreational leadership, Teachers college, Columbia university, who has started on a tour of the recon struction hospital along the Atlantic seaboard. pr. Fretwen has been granted an indefinite leave of absence from Co., umbia university. He and his assistants will visit all hospitals where physical reconstruction is being carried on, and with the approval of commanding of ficers, will standardize as much as pos sible the recreation programme.
 The worthwhileness of a work of this kind under expert direction is officially recognized by the surgeon general, who has directed commanding officers to ex- pedite it's construction by all means pos sible. Existing facilities will be utilized wherever advisable, but a co-ordinated plan on national scale has been worked out.
 The Red Cross will be primarily respon- sible for social recreation, furnishing equipment and trained personnel for that purpose. while the surgeon general s office will look primarily to physical education, and consider both as the case demands.
 Following are the phrases of the re- creational programme for which the American Red Cross is responsible under the new arrangement
 The maintenance, in convalescent houses, through the American Library association of a library of technical works, approved fiction, current maga- zines, periodicals and newspapers (home- town papers when practicable), organiz- ing of story telling hours; training in amateur theatricals; providing leader ship for the development of bands and orchestras and supplying instruments and music; and for the development of singing, individually and in groups; fur nishing a supply of writing materials; maintaining an equipment of indoor games such as cards, checkers, chess, dominoes crokinole, etc., furnishing player-pianos and photographs, with rolls and records therefor; stereoscopes and educational photographs for them presenting entertainments at regular in tervals, such as motion pictures, profess sional talent, concerts, musicales, organ izing and supervising social functions such as dances, receptions, etc.. supply ing fruits, smoking materials and ap- proved refreshments and supervising winter evening" recreations such as popping corn, roasting apples and marshmallows.
 In wards where the sick and wounded are bedridden all of these entertain ment features will be provided in modi-' fled form or to the extent feasible and advisable. For outdoor recreation, the Red Cross provides tools, seeds, etc, for the planting of flower gardens, window boxes or plants, vines or trellises about convalescent houses. It also makes pos sible automobile rides and carries the convalescents to and from the enter tainments.
 For the able-bodied personnel the Red Cross provides reading and writing fla ciities; games entertainments, debates, lectures, social functions. As a supple mental service, it arranges at the re- quest of the individual patients, for per