The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-27
EDITH TALLANT, FORMER RICHMOND
WOMAN "ANGEL" TO BOYS OF A. E. F.
by EMMA 1. FErTA

az EMMA -. ELM
A real live angel, doing everything
from sewing on buttons and service
chevrons to helping fellow feel cas-
Ter about love affair back home or
young wife and new baby whom he
has not seen, is the description given
OF Miss Edith Tallant, former Rich
mond women, and now head OF the
social and library department Of Geni-
court Embarkation Camp No. 2.
short distance from Bordeaux, France,
by the local boys who have seen her
work
Miss Tallant is the only Richmond
woman doing this sort Of war abroad,
although Miss Amy Horton was until
recently engaged in theatrical and cam
teen war work, Miss Emily Fletcher
is connected with moving picture CEN
sor work under the Y. nj. C. A. and
Miss Wilma Wallace Is a Red Cross
nurse in France.
Miss Tallant Is a graduate of Vassar
college, formerly an English teacher
in the Richmond high school, and the
daughter of Mrs W. n. Tallant. now
resident Of Columbus, .. She is wide
ly known in Richmond, and her father,
the late w. N. Tallant, was connected
with the administrative department OF
the Sennsylvania railroad. Their
home was at 80 South Eleventh street.
Was Popular Here.
She was known as one Of the most
popular teachers ever connected with
the local hgih school Her interest
and influence with the young men Of
the school was said to be nothing
short Of remarkable Carrying her
keen personality and administrative
ability to France, Miss Tallant has
made a remarkable success OF her
work as a camp mother, all there
with heart and hands"
Roy Reynolds, OF the Richmond
postoffice, and who only recently re-
turned from fourteen months service
abroad, visited the Genicourt camp
scribed her as "the angel of the camp,
who cheered and encouraged thous.
ands of men. who gave them material
help by sewing on buttons, divisional
insignias, chevrons, and so forth
who got them the right sort of stories
to read, and who helped them with
every conceivable sort of troubles
and advised them right every time
THE work Miss Tallant is doing is
wonderful and she Is doing 1t wonder
fully" said Reynolds.
II had an opportunity to watch the
work and | know that she saved
many lad in one way or another.
lot of fellows were brought dowr
there and retained for some time be
fore sailing for home. There they
were deloused; there they changed
clothes. but. they didn't see much te
the cheer in camp. Most Of then
were dreadfully homesick. they sim
ply couldn't wait to get home; they
were tired and sick of war anl
France. In other words they came
out of their clean up at Genicourt
sanitary and refreshed, but in thu
depths of gloom.
Worked Wonders.
The social life the Y. NJ. c. A. of
fered was all there was in the wa,
of decent entertainment, and Mis-!
Tallant as head of the social depart
ment and the library. worked won
ders with the men. They all admired
her. in fact they were all crazy
about her, in the way one Is abou
his mother.
In letter written to friend il
Richmond. Miss Tallant, herself, de
scribed something of the condition
confronting her.
The boys tell me things whicI
have been dragging at their heart
and making them miserable for man
months, perhaps" said she. "Mayb
1t is that sweetheart has marie
somebody who stayed behind. If tn