TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LITTLE RIVER NEWS NOVEMBER 6, 1918 PP. 1, 2
“With the Colors” October 27, 1918.
Dear Friends:
I was asked by one of the Y.M.C.A. Secretaries to write a letter to all my friends through the Little River News in regard to the $100,000,000 drive to be launched by the Y.M C.A. the week of November 11th. Nov. [unknown due to fading] and sure there will be no use in anyone writing you folks about your [unknown due to fading] is this drive to raise funds that the “Y” may continue the great work they are now doing among the boys in camp and in France, because I know Little River county will be one among the first to go over the top.
All you who know me will please remember that I am not a speech maker so I will in my own way tell you a few things the “Y” is doing in Camp Pike.
First, you will be asked by a number of people in rural districts, what the Y.M.C.A. is? In what way does the Y.M.C.A. help the boys in camp and in France? Why does it take so much money? Also various other questions. The questions. The questions may be answered in this way: The “Y” is the Soldiers home all the many accommodations, (some of which will be mentioned in this letter) are absolutely free of cost to the boy in uniform. What does the “Y” do for the boys? I will only give a brief outline of the many things the “Y” furnishes the boys in camp, so that you may draw some idea as to what it really means to visit the “Y” Building after a hard days work. Well, first we go to the “Y” for a social evening. Each building is furnished with a piano and Victrola for the soldier boy to use at any and all times. We play all kinds of games, it furnishes a full equipment for base ball, foot ball, basket ball and tennis games. Also one of the secretaries acts as a coach in any game the boys want to learn. Each building has a nice library, reading room with real home like chairs both straight and rockers, library tables, in fact everything is as nearly home like as can be arranged to accommodate so many men. We find all kinds of religious booklets which are given to us free of cost. We find free wrapping paper and the cord for the sending of packages, each building keeps a supply of stamps for the accomodation of the soldier which very often saves him a 3 mile walk to and from Main P.O. to get a stamp to mail a letter home. Any “Y” secretary will gladly do a favor for any soldier just for the asking. We all feel perfectly free to go to the secretary with any troubles or for any favor. Each building has a private room for the accomodation of lady visitors. Any soldier can have his mother, sister or friends to visit him at the “Y” building, there she will find a private place to spend the time with sons, brothers or friends which is certainly appreciated by each soldier boy. At the Y.W.C.A. Hostess House which is located only one block from the railroad station here, we may register our name and company if we are expecting lady visitors, on their arrival they will be well cared for and made to feel at home, with the accomodation of a rest room where they are made welcome till the soldier arrives in the evening or at fixed hour for his arrival, these and a number of other things are provided through the “Y” for the soldier boy in camp.
On Sunday morning at 9:30 o’clock a Bible class is taught in each building, at 11 we have a sermon by some of the camp Chaplains or by some visiting preacher, also preaching at 8 o’clock Sunday evening. At “Y” No. 37 3rd Reg. on each weekday evening at 7:30 a Vesper Service is held. You, none of you, will ever know what that means to one who tries to live the Christian life, to go over each evening and join in a service of a few songs in prayer. At 8 o’clock the service is turned over to some kind of program. All kinds of programs are rendered at each Y building. Readings and music are most always furnished by the ladies of Little Rock.
On Tuesday and Saturday evenings a free picture show is given, which is equal to most any picture shown in the cities picture shows.
We also enjoy the boxing and wrestling match which often proves to be very interesting.
I will tell you something of the meeting at our “Y” on last Sunday evening. Over 600 boys were present and after a real old time song service, Chaplin Mallony delivered they very forceful sermon at the close of which 36 young men gave their lives to God and united with the church and said with Gods help we will fight in his name and should we fall in battle on French soil he who has saved us will take us to our home in glory, 36 American mothers will be made happy this week when they learn the glad news that her sons have found an accepted Christ as their Savior.
One boy who is dressed in the American uniform when he first began to attend “Y” he cared nothing for it only as a means of attaining free writing material and the nice writing table he always found furnished with pen and ink, after he had come in a few evenings the secretary began insisting upon his coming into the auditorium to attend a meeting which was being given, so he did so and on his return to his barracks he told his pal where he had been and decided to write a song, the chorus read thus:
You can picture me every evening
At the close of the day
Writing a letter,
At the Y.M.C.A.
Don’t worry, mother darling
For a while the sky is gray,
I can find a little sunshine
In the Y.M.C.A.
This is not fiction, it is real facts the song was written by a young man who is serving today in our great American army. This soldier, when he wrote this song spoke the sentiments of hundreds yes thousands of young American hearts. We all find a little sunshine in the Y.M.C.A. The only thing we ask for the folks at home is to put up your money that we may always have the Y.M.C.A. in our midst. The man in the gray shirt is the “khaki” boys’ best friend.
At each “Y” building a language class is being taught. All who will may attend and through this training the Y.M.C.A. secretary gives the boy at least some knowledge of the French language before he sails for France. At each building a large group of boys meet on two evenings each week to study the French language.
The last and most important feature of the Y.M.C.A. is the spirit in which the secretary goes about his work.
Well, you say all my sons and brothers are in France. Only last week I talked with a young Englishman who served 18 months on the Western front, who said the “Y” accomodations are the same in France. They are doing just as much for your boy in France as they do for your boys in the home camps. Now, which place would you rather your son would spend his evenings, at the “Y” and join some kind of religious entertainment or out with some east side New Yorker, or some other low character, of course he may not want to be in such company, but in the army he will be forced to associate with them if he don’t spend his evenings at the Y.M.C.A. That is the only place he can know he he is out of reach of the thief and gamblers.
Just one word to the colored people, this is your organization, don’t think when you pay your money into the Y.M.C.A. that you are giving it to the white folks. You are not, your (MISSING WORDS) same as the white boy. It is (MISSING WORDS) while in the army.
(MISSING WORDS) at home got only a sketch of what the Y.M.C.A. is doing for the boys. Of course this great government is working wonders for the boys physically but the government hasn’t the time to consider a man’s soul or spiritual welfare. If we get the “Boche” That is the duties of the Y.M.C.A. workers, and you may rest assured they are doing all they possibly can for rich and poor alike.
The money is needed to build new huts or chapels and to repair old ones, To buy books for your boy as well as others to read, to pay for stationery and envelopes, which is furnished the soldier for the asking. It is useless to dwell on the expense account, you all know it takes money to keep any great organization moving. The question is are you people at home willing to put up this money that the Y.M.C.A. may continue this great and good work among the boys in camp and “over there”
Now so many of you tell how your heart goes out for the boys at the front how you sympathize with them, that is one mistake you made, the boy don’t want your sympathy, instead they all sympathize with the home folks and having to undergo so many hardships while they are away. I am sure if the fathers and mothers could be in camp and see your sons hiking to the station leaving for France while the bands play “Over There” the boys waving hats and yelling, right then your sympathy would cease and you would be proud of the boy who has a chance of going over, and when the drive is launched and the committee comes around they would not have to ask you for your pledge that the work may continue to spend our evenings at the Y.M.C.A. in some one of the many religious entertainments that is being rendered every evening. Don’t be over optimistic and decide the war will soon be over and the boys will be at home, if you have that in mind change your mind, change your mind right now, please, if the war should end this winter as so many are predicting, the critical moment will have just begun for the boys who are in France. Then they will have but little to do only to think of home folks and their pals who have fallen in battle. Mr. Hunter, state “Y” Sec. says after the war is the time when the Y.M.C.A. will be needed most and will do its greatest work all over Europe, of course we know the work can’t be carried on without funds. I am sure Little River county especially Ashdown and Richmond districts will loosen up on their purse strings in this campaign just as you have in all previous war work campaigns and put Little River county over the top by a fair margin.
There is so much more that could be said in behalf of the Y.M.C.A. but time will not permit. Then I am sure is this should pass waste basket and be printed, that you were all still tired reading such a disconnected article.
If the editor will be so kind as to give space in the columns for this article I hope it will be the means of at least one of my friends giving cheerfully to this fund, that the man in the gray shirt may continue his great and noble work with the boys in the home camps and those who are over there.
Your friend,
A.C. Willingham,
Infirmary No. 8 3rd Training Regt.
Camp Pike, Ark.
NOTES: This letter was written by A. C. Willingham
TRANSCRIBED BY LOGAN YANCEY
“With the Colors” October 27, 1918.
Dear Friends:
I was asked by one of the Y.M.C.A. Secretaries to write a letter to all my friends through the Little River News in regard to the $100,000,000 drive to be launched by the Y.M C.A. the week of November 11th. Nov. [unknown due to fading] and sure there will be no use in anyone writing you folks about your [unknown due to fading] is this drive to raise funds that the “Y” may continue the great work they are now doing among the boys in camp and in France, because I know Little River county will be one among the first to go over the top.
All you who know me will please remember that I am not a speech maker so I will in my own way tell you a few things the “Y” is doing in Camp Pike.
First, you will be asked by a number of people in rural districts, what the Y.M.C.A. is? In what way does the Y.M.C.A. help the boys in camp and in France? Why does it take so much money? Also various other questions. The questions. The questions may be answered in this way: The “Y” is the Soldiers home all the many accommodations, (some of which will be mentioned in this letter) are absolutely free of cost to the boy in uniform. What does the “Y” do for the boys? I will only give a brief outline of the many things the “Y” furnishes the boys in camp, so that you may draw some idea as to what it really means to visit the “Y” Building after a hard days work. Well, first we go to the “Y” for a social evening. Each building is furnished with a piano and Victrola for the soldier boy to use at any and all times. We play all kinds of games, it furnishes a full equipment for base ball, foot ball, basket ball and tennis games. Also one of the secretaries acts as a coach in any game the boys want to learn. Each building has a nice library, reading room with real home like chairs both straight and rockers, library tables, in fact everything is as nearly home like as can be arranged to accommodate so many men. We find all kinds of religious booklets which are given to us free of cost. We find free wrapping paper and the cord for the sending of packages, each building keeps a supply of stamps for the accomodation of the soldier which very often saves him a 3 mile walk to and from Main P.O. to get a stamp to mail a letter home. Any “Y” secretary will gladly do a favor for any soldier just for the asking. We all feel perfectly free to go to the secretary with any troubles or for any favor. Each building has a private room for the accomodation of lady visitors. Any soldier can have his mother, sister or friends to visit him at the “Y” building, there she will find a private place to spend the time with sons, brothers or friends which is certainly appreciated by each soldier boy. At the Y.W.C.A. Hostess House which is located only one block from the railroad station here, we may register our name and company if we are expecting lady visitors, on their arrival they will be well cared for and made to feel at home, with the accomodation of a rest room where they are made welcome till the soldier arrives in the evening or at fixed hour for his arrival, these and a number of other things are provided through the “Y” for the soldier boy in camp.
On Sunday morning at 9:30 o’clock a Bible class is taught in each building, at 11 we have a sermon by some of the camp Chaplains or by some visiting preacher, also preaching at 8 o’clock Sunday evening. At “Y” No. 37 3rd Reg. on each weekday evening at 7:30 a Vesper Service is held. You, none of you, will ever know what that means to one who tries to live the Christian life, to go over each evening and join in a service of a few songs in prayer. At 8 o’clock the service is turned over to some kind of program. All kinds of programs are rendered at each Y building. Readings and music are most always furnished by the ladies of Little Rock.
On Tuesday and Saturday evenings a free picture show is given, which is equal to most any picture shown in the cities picture shows.
We also enjoy the boxing and wrestling match which often proves to be very interesting.
I will tell you something of the meeting at our “Y” on last Sunday evening. Over 600 boys were present and after a real old time song service, Chaplin Mallony delivered they very forceful sermon at the close of which 36 young men gave their lives to God and united with the church and said with Gods help we will fight in his name and should we fall in battle on French soil he who has saved us will take us to our home in glory, 36 American mothers will be made happy this week when they learn the glad news that her sons have found an accepted Christ as their Savior.
One boy who is dressed in the American uniform when he first began to attend “Y” he cared nothing for it only as a means of attaining free writing material and the nice writing table he always found furnished with pen and ink, after he had come in a few evenings the secretary began insisting upon his coming into the auditorium to attend a meeting which was being given, so he did so and on his return to his barracks he told his pal where he had been and decided to write a song, the chorus read thus:
You can picture me every evening
At the close of the day
Writing a letter,
At the Y.M.C.A.
Don’t worry, mother darling
For a while the sky is gray,
I can find a little sunshine
In the Y.M.C.A.
This is not fiction, it is real facts the song was written by a young man who is serving today in our great American army. This soldier, when he wrote this song spoke the sentiments of hundreds yes thousands of young American hearts. We all find a little sunshine in the Y.M.C.A. The only thing we ask for the folks at home is to put up your money that we may always have the Y.M.C.A. in our midst. The man in the gray shirt is the “khaki” boys’ best friend.
At each “Y” building a language class is being taught. All who will may attend and through this training the Y.M.C.A. secretary gives the boy at least some knowledge of the French language before he sails for France. At each building a large group of boys meet on two evenings each week to study the French language.
The last and most important feature of the Y.M.C.A. is the spirit in which the secretary goes about his work.
Well, you say all my sons and brothers are in France. Only last week I talked with a young Englishman who served 18 months on the Western front, who said the “Y” accomodations are the same in France. They are doing just as much for your boy in France as they do for your boys in the home camps. Now, which place would you rather your son would spend his evenings, at the “Y” and join some kind of religious entertainment or out with some east side New Yorker, or some other low character, of course he may not want to be in such company, but in the army he will be forced to associate with them if he don’t spend his evenings at the Y.M.C.A. That is the only place he can know he he is out of reach of the thief and gamblers.
Just one word to the colored people, this is your organization, don’t think when you pay your money into the Y.M.C.A. that you are giving it to the white folks. You are not, your (MISSING WORDS) same as the white boy. It is (MISSING WORDS) while in the army.
(MISSING WORDS) at home got only a sketch of what the Y.M.C.A. is doing for the boys. Of course this great government is working wonders for the boys physically but the government hasn’t the time to consider a man’s soul or spiritual welfare. If we get the “Boche” That is the duties of the Y.M.C.A. workers, and you may rest assured they are doing all they possibly can for rich and poor alike.
The money is needed to build new huts or chapels and to repair old ones, To buy books for your boy as well as others to read, to pay for stationery and envelopes, which is furnished the soldier for the asking. It is useless to dwell on the expense account, you all know it takes money to keep any great organization moving. The question is are you people at home willing to put up this money that the Y.M.C.A. may continue this great and good work among the boys in camp and “over there”
Now so many of you tell how your heart goes out for the boys at the front how you sympathize with them, that is one mistake you made, the boy don’t want your sympathy, instead they all sympathize with the home folks and having to undergo so many hardships while they are away. I am sure if the fathers and mothers could be in camp and see your sons hiking to the station leaving for France while the bands play “Over There” the boys waving hats and yelling, right then your sympathy would cease and you would be proud of the boy who has a chance of going over, and when the drive is launched and the committee comes around they would not have to ask you for your pledge that the work may continue to spend our evenings at the Y.M.C.A. in some one of the many religious entertainments that is being rendered every evening. Don’t be over optimistic and decide the war will soon be over and the boys will be at home, if you have that in mind change your mind, change your mind right now, please, if the war should end this winter as so many are predicting, the critical moment will have just begun for the boys who are in France. Then they will have but little to do only to think of home folks and their pals who have fallen in battle. Mr. Hunter, state “Y” Sec. says after the war is the time when the Y.M.C.A. will be needed most and will do its greatest work all over Europe, of course we know the work can’t be carried on without funds. I am sure Little River county especially Ashdown and Richmond districts will loosen up on their purse strings in this campaign just as you have in all previous war work campaigns and put Little River county over the top by a fair margin.
There is so much more that could be said in behalf of the Y.M.C.A. but time will not permit. Then I am sure is this should pass waste basket and be printed, that you were all still tired reading such a disconnected article.
If the editor will be so kind as to give space in the columns for this article I hope it will be the means of at least one of my friends giving cheerfully to this fund, that the man in the gray shirt may continue his great and noble work with the boys in the home camps and those who are over there.
Your friend,
A.C. Willingham,
Infirmary No. 8 3rd Training Regt.
Camp Pike, Ark.
NOTES: This letter was written by A. C. Willingham
TRANSCRIBED BY LOGAN YANCEY