South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-27

" blSdt SA41iI7e III hIe NOAul-
ton OF American merchant
seamen wrought by the war Is
the manner in which the boy taking
his first sea voyage. and the veteran Of
many voyages as well. are cheered for
their work at sea by the thoughtrul
ministratons Of American women.
Time was when lad who wished to
ship for deep water service had to seek
diligently for the opportunity.
He came unaided to the seacoast
town. lived alone or among rough com
parions in a frowsy sailors boarding
house. and finally sailed. if he per
listed in his resolve to see the world.
alone and unnoted. on a strange yes
sci. in a rough. new life that seemed.
under the circumstances. far from be
ing as allurlng as he had dreamed.
Today all that is changed for the
American boy who would go to sea on
an American ship. and the change has
been brought about. very largely.
through the efforts OF a gently bred
woman who has given her time and
efforts to helping American sailor lads.
as a patriotic contribution to the de-
velopment Of the country's merchant
marine.
This woman is Mrs. Henry Howard
OF Boston and Brookliae. Mass. With
a home and social ties that might east
~ absorb all her attention were she
inclined 10 live for herself alone. Mrs.
Howard volunteered at the beginning
of this country's war activities to see
that the thousands Of American boys
who entered the merchant marne were
given before sailing. or on returning
from their voyages. the best company
and counsel that earnest. thoughtful
and motherly women could provide
for them.
That work. begun under war condi-
tons. is being continued now that
peace is here, and it is Mrs. Towards
aim TO make it a permanent adjunct
TO the present system Of manning
American ships with clean-cut. self
respecting American crews.
Goes Deep Into
Life Of Sailor.
The main field in which Mrs. How
ards work was done at first was that
Of social service centers created at the
various training stations where the
United States Shipping Board shapes
young Americans into merchant ma
riners; each center being developed
with the station to which it pertained.
through a central Social Service Blu
reau. But recently this field has been
enlarged, and the organization built up
by Mrs. Howard has begun to take
on a national scope and character The
social service centers at the training
stations are still maintained at their
full measure ot usefulness, but the
sailing from the stations of thousands
OF boys to every corner of the seven
seas. and their subsequent return to
widely scattered American ports, has
extended automatically the scope Of
the work begun at these centers.
One illustration of how this expan-
sion is taking place is found in the re-
cent opening at Norfolk, Va. of a non
institutional Merchant Marine Club.
the first OF its kind in an American
port devoted primarily TO the needs of
the American merchant sailor, wheth-
er he be an apprentice of a training
ship OF the Shipping Board, or a sea
soned seagoer just in from a distant
port.
Here Jack, the merchant mariner,
may stow his dunnage while awaiting
a ship for his next voyage. make him
self at home and spend his leisure in
a cleanly and cheerful atmosphere that
appeals very strongly to the present
day type Of American sailor.
Nor is the bureau OF which Mrs
Howard Is the head restricted 10 such
fair-weather help as this. II goes
deeper into the life OF the sailor. aim
ing 10 stand in the position of the
trusted friend that Jack likes 10 feel
he has on shore-the friend who on
occasion may serve him as a conhdant
and do him a good turn even TO the
point OF seeing that all goes well with
his family in his absence on a voyage.
Maintaining Family
Ties Is Considered.
Maintaining a connecting link BE-
tween the absent sailor and his family
has proven one of the strongest fea-
lures Of the work done by Mrs. How
ard. In this connection she has
stepped into an unoccupied field. Dur