The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-03

take the Americans to their hearts
at once, and It Ii now no uncommon
sight to see a whole family at a rail-
way station bidding goodbye to a
Yankee guest. the mother frankly
weeping at losing the boys she has
learned to love In the short time they
have been in her home.
|, a hory ,3ntQ thA ia eIA, Hut in
~ ~: sss>>r7i 81 W Il! I'D y : I
to the FIRST secretary he saw. There
was disgust in every look and move
ment.
'Say. Mr.. Y man." he began, I'm
sick Of this business OF batting around
by myself or with crowds OF others
like myself. I'd like to see the inside
OF real home before i go back to
the ship. I want to sit down at the
table with a woman who looks like n
mother, and l want to spend an even
ing with some girls who look like
sisters What can you do for me?''
Come back here to the phone and
I'll fix you in five minutes" said the
"Y' man.
The boy looked incrcdulouS
'.Honest?" be asked. II was Just
trying to get rid OF my crouch. ]
didn't suppose it really could be done -
II can do 1t for you," said the "Y''
man.
fsut We BVt PAL Win me.
"Ail right: I'll put YOU both in the
same home"
The boy shook his head In disbe-
| lief. bat he followed the secretary to
the phone. The third home on the
list proved available. he was directed
to the proper bus, and ne and hts
shipnate went away happy. This
| morning he popped up again, all
smiles.
Say, Mr.. Y man" he announced.
They've got three daughters at that
house you sent us to--regular girls
believe me-and they want another
| fellow out there to even things up
A pal Of mine IL due here today or
leave and I'm going 10 take him there
We're all to spend week with the
family"
Expert Judges.
In arranging for these invitations
for the boys tho ~" secretaries have
become experts in judging candidates
| They have learned to siae up home
sick lad two minutes after he enters
Eagle Hut or one of the kiosks. In
| stead OF assigning him to bed In
| barracks or a hotel. they talk to him
; just enough TO confirm their judgme n I
OF the case. Then they get busy on
the phone to find a real home for him.
; There Is an old Scotch gentleman
! living up near the southern shores OF
+. Loeb Iomond who has been n delight
TO hundreds Of American soldiers and
| sailors. Three times O week the
American Y. N. c. A. in Glasgow
, takes sightseeing parties up TO the
! north end by rail. then down the en-
/ tire length of tho loch by boat
| Very frequently the old gentleman
accompanies them. pointing out the
: ha {nf ivsxr eli n ia ~ Sr n
| has been familiar all his life. and
getting acquainted with the boys. Al
the end of the journey ne gives then
/ an invitation to his home. which is
nearby. tor = cup of tea Will the
/ boys go? They Will
| When they arrive at the house thes
| always find that the old gentleman
has sent word ahead and that his wife
| by phone, has ma naged to get a pretty
1 turns the tea into feast that inva
riabiy lasts until the older heads IL
the party have to take charge ans
drag the rest away almost by maif
force.
Recently many of the big LondoI
shops have joined the hospitali'.
> movement SeifrIdge's. the birges
department store in London. has reg
. uiar Friday night dance. tn which
! hfi AIIcIatoE Guys are Ihfheu. In
shop girls are most attractive host
esseS, and these dances are among tn
most popular features or leaves il
London nowadays.
) Five hundred boys 8 week are sen
} to the various dances by the America
: IL" The theatres, too. are helPin
out. The Palace runs "a free variet
! show with the best talent every Sun
: day night for men in unform. TIN
National Sporting Club has a fire
, Wednesday night show for the men
: and practically every other place o
amusement in the city sends the ~
= blocks OF seats thfee or four times
! week to be sold to American boys .
half price or less.
But the home feature r. the on
$ that gets the biggest hand OF all. !
! has meant a tremendous amount o
: preliminary work for the y. NJ G.. a
J but il was worth IL. for the association
is now almos. at it's goal--a homo 70
every Yank in England. Surely, tn
) world do move,