Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1918 — BED, BATH AND BOARD IN JUNCTION CANTEEN [ARTICLE]

BED, BATH AND BOARD IN JUNCTION CANTEEN

Brap Bera a Uttie Nearer ta aa American Sammie. A mother who is a Red Cross wortser In her home town gave to her chapter the following letter she bad received from her son tn France: “If you could have seen me yeeterday, when I left trenches which the rains have turned , Into open sewers* even you would never have known ma, I was mud from bead to foot, so covered with crawling things that the poorest tramp In the world would have run from me, and I fairly ached for rest. “You see, my first furlough had begun* and I caught a train for Parts, We were packed Into a freight car. Travel la so congested we spent most of our time stopping. At last, when night came, we were dumped out at a railway junction with the informaUon that the train for Paris would ba along the next day; Canteen Like Now York Hotel. “I tell you I was discouraged. Thea suddenly across the tracks from our station I saw an American Red Cross canteen, and all my troubles were at an end. “Lots of people must have the.eama Idea of these canteens that I used to have—just little shacks where you were handed out a cup of sloppy coffee. We are all wrong. These Red Cross places beat a New York hotel for variety of service, even if they don’t have the gilt furniture and tip takers. Here Is what happened to me: “First I had a bath, a real one. with plenty of soap and water. While I was getting clean my clothes, every stitch, were eleaned and sterilized. Then I bad a meal of real American cooking. actuaMy sitting down at n tar ble to eat it. After that I went Into the rmnteen barber shop and bad A shave • and haircut. Then, being a gentleman of leisure, 1 strolled into the canteen movie theatej and saw some good American films. However, 1 soon turned in for the night into a dean, dry bed that frit like heaven—or home “And oow this morning, after a lino breakfast, 1 am sitting to the canteen writing this letter td you and waiting comfortably, for my train. You just ota*t pesriMy Imagine what these Red Cross women are doing for us soldiers and for the French and English <•*«. Badi canteen takes 'care of thousands every day. “They make us feel like human beings onee again and give ns the nerve to go on with this game of Mrirtng the Kaiser Anc when we win you can give a good share of the victory to the American Red Croaa."