Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-24
AS ONE WOMAN SEES 1T
Social Service for Soldiers Has Many
Interesting and Unusual Aspects.
Work Of Kindly Women at
Home and Abroad
BY SARAH u. LOWRJE

BY SARAH u. LOWRIE
T'tilS summer I was dining with one of
Il the three men who were responsible
during the war for the establishment of the
canteen centers under the Y. NJ. G. A.
In France and Italy, and he told me that
the great stores of writing paper, games,
etc, that had been left on their hands at
the close of the war had been distributed in
variety of directions, leaving n goodly
balance to the United States Army chap
iains for future use at army posts and
frontier camps. He also told me that in
some cases when the War Department closed
the \. NJ. G. A. cantcens and Y. NJ. G. A.
workers were disbanded in those camps.
some Of the huts were left for the use of the
soldiers.
There seemed to bc great difference of
opinion among the officers Of both the army
and navy as to how much the outside social
service efforts on behalf of the enlisted men
were beneficial. Even the chapains were
at odds over the question. Some welcome
1t, some are indifferent to 1t and some
curtly refuse It. In some regiments the
commanding officer is apparently pleased to
corporate with responsible committees of
women in order that there should be monthly
and even weekly dances for the men. One
such arrangement has been in order at Camp
Dix. for instance, for one Of the regiments
since early spring.
nNCE n week all summer Mrs. John
" Thomas and her committee from the
Diocese of Pennsylvania took down two
great motorbuses of girls TO spend the eve
ming at the camp as guests of a regiment,
the Girls Friendly Societies of the different
parishes furnishing certain picked girls for
this kind and amusing purpose.
The girls enjoyed the motor ride and the
dance, and the men enjoyed their guests.
and the chaplain and the commanding Off
GERS enjoyed the very decided lift TO the
10 thnt thn
regiment. It is no easy task to make sure
of and to transport fifty girls once n week
and gee that they are all safely got home on
the return. But this Mrs. Thomas accom-
plished and is very CHEEKY over the expert
ence and ready for some months more of il
until the cold weather sets in and makes
motor rides for winter afternoons and eve
nings impractical for so long a trip.
The fact that the war is over and that
most Of US are occupied with other things
and that the I. s. \. has a good deal Of
red tape to protect the army from feminine
interference, good az we'll as bad makes it
easier to take it for granted that all is
we'll with 1.-THE boys in khaki and busy
ourselves with federation drives and garden
clubs and things thur welcome us with
gently smiling jaws when we offer first
aid.
HOWEVER. I was talking with former
IL overseas woman only this week who
could not get the boys of her old war division
out Of her mind, and when last year she
received round robin from forty of them
asking her to como down and G!"c :hem
lift. she moved heaven and earth-that is.
the powers in Washington and the army-to
be allowed to go.
Those forty enlisted men who had sent
for her so trustingly we're down in the Isle
Of Haiti Mt Port -au Prince. 1t appears
that during the war, in order to keep that
island and San Domingo free Of Germans
our troops policed both islands. And so
benefcent was their nolicing-at least that
is our version Of it--that they were asked
to stop on for ten years or so and protect
the natives of the towns and harbors and
civilized parts against the native bandits of
the hills. who call themselves revolutionists.
The United States Army accepted the very
polite invitation and sent n brigade down
there As a result the President of Haiti
has been able to keep his head for over two
years, a feat of no mean importance, for ms
n rule the President vas the official target
for pot shots from the rcvolutionists. nee
bandits.
The reason for his having remained
intact is TINT n marine guard always ac
companies him. as well as his native guard,
70 protect him from pot shots and to put
the fear Of the United States Of America
into the native guard.
THE commanding officer of the marines at
i Port au Prince and of the other rpgl.
ments stationed back in the hills could As-
tablish no precedent by officially accepting
outside help for the men, but he very wisely
saw the advantage 10 them Of some good
place for them to 60 when they were off
duty, and so in every way in his power he
and his junior officers and their wives have
made it easy for outside help to be given by
their unofficial helpfulness and courtesy and
appreciation.
Smith, to whom the round robin was sent
by the enlisted men. to accept their invita-
ton and go down TO Port au Prince. She
established herself in a commodious and at
tractive house in the town and turned it
into a homelike place for the men to gather
when off duty for reading and writing and
games and parties.
And what she has done there her sister
Miss Elizabeth Smith, IL duplicating in San
Domingo. under slightly different conditions
IS THE climate is very hot and damp and
"A enervating, these two women very
wisely come North in the spring and remain
at their home out in Gwynedd Valley dur
ing the summer. They are now on their
way back to their island posts, however
CALAMITY facing the heat and red ants and
native incnpacity for the sake of the men
in the camps and barracks.
Miss Smith rented her house from a we'll
to do Haitian. II Is Of stone and plaster
with Walleu RhTnpn, Inere is q screened
veranda lighted by electricity and an ample
living room and dining room, besides the
kitchen.
She has made her house very pleasant
stopping in place for the men Eight or
nine are generally her guests at dinner, and
from fifty to sixty are there every evening
until rollcall She is permitted to visit them
in the hospital and in the barracks and she
is the only white woman, besides the coloneHs
wife who Is allowed to go up to the en- ?
In tha tho