Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-21
Editors Table

'-FOfSOtten FIRES by Faltn
Jayne Hinckley. A story of the
memories of a Y. NJ. c. A. girl who
went through the World War side by
side with our soldiers, sailors and
marines. Illustrated with snapshots
taken during the war of groups of
our boys in uniform, especially in
teresting because of the possibility of
finding in the pictures the face Of a
friend or dear one.
This is not story of the war. but
from beginning to end it follows the
life of the writer, Y girl during the
war, from the time she sailed across
the water to her work over there"
until the war was finished and the
last transport came into New York
ftarbor and the last returning soldier
had gone to his home.
Written from the heart of a girl
who, from association and conrad
ship with the men in the Y huts,
knew and understood our boys as
few can ever know and understand
them, this book will appeal to the
great majority of readers. There are
not many but who knew and loved
someone oyer there" and will eagerly
read these little incidents of their
lives and surroundings in France as
tciu ny hkS3 I1luChkSE. O1e CAN
not read Forgotten Fires" without
better understanding the men who
came back with an outlook upon life
bound to be different from ours.
Especially interesting is this book
to Maine readers, because the author
is a Maine girl and is "a resident o,
Hinckley. Proud indeed are we of
this girl, who answered the call to
duty and offered her life for her
country as surely as did any man
who was in the service.
In the fall of 1917 Miss Hinckley
went to France and In the first chap
ter of the book one gets an idea of
what the trip across the water was
like during the war. One can feel
the thrill with her at the first sight
of the stars and stripes on one of
our conveys after the long, danger
Gus voyage. Her impressions of
France during those first few days
are most interesting. including her
first Sunday in Paris, q visit to
Notre Dame and to an American
church. This all under the cloud of
war. which was even more evident in
the places of worship than on the
streets.
Then came year with the Service
of Supplies. Miss Hinckley was
located in a Y but at the Great
MllttaryScamps where she welcomed
the conveys of soldiers and sailors
as they went over to play their part
1t was here. as she served hot
chocolate. smokes and sweets to the
boys. acted as mother, sister, con-
hdant and conrade that she learned
to understand the men in the SER
vice. Incidents during this year are
told, not of herself, hut mostly OF
the soldiers whom she served. Many
are humorous little incidents. while
some will bring tears to the eyes and
an ache to the heart This chapter
Will leave no doubt in the minds of
the readers of the importance of the
3. o. s. in France.
From there the Y girl was
ordered to the advanced sector.
Stationed back of Metz she was
under fire and faced with the men
the grim realities of war While she
was there. the Armistice was sign
ed. 1t Is very interesting to read of
this event in Forgotten Fires"
Back to Paris after the Armistice.
she was in Leave Area. This was a
place where the men waited. after
the Armistice. to he sent home. A
time of unrest when they needed
more than at any other time the
kind, understanding influence Of the
Y girls
Throughout the book, the holidays
are made much of. Nearly every one
on the calendar is mentioned. 1t
was at these times, when the
thoughts of the boys wandered with
longing to loved ones at home, that
they especially needed cheering and
caring for. And the little girl did
her part.
Instead of coming home as she ex-
pected. Miss HinckIey was sent back
to Germany with Pershing's Army of
Occupation. 1t was during this three
months that she again found her
very own captain brother, from
whom she had not heard for so long.
This period on German soil, her
ideas as expressed on the German