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THE TWO TIDES

SOLDIERS ON LEAVE IN LONDON

Y.M.C.A. VERSUS STREET

PESTp

(By "Triangle.") One night, in London some time aso a member of the New Zealand Field Artillery, youthful, broad, and handsome,' was carried into the Y.M.C.A. Iviosk on Trafalgar Square suffering acutely from the effects of a, malicious practice that has hccomoall too common since oversea eoldiere with well-lined pockets commenced coming to London. He had been drugged. This sort of thing usually happens in one of the low-class hotels that abound near the principal highways, A soldier enters with one or more companions, has "just one," then another, and possibly a third. The harpies—both male and female—are watching their chance, and while his attention is diverted the contents of a small packet are poured into his glass. Although he becomes sufficiently fuddled for his pockets to be gone through he does not actually collapse until the hawks have had time to fly. The New Zealander in question had vralked some distance down Charing Cross Road before the slow-working poison caused him to fall heavily to the pavement. A .Y.M.C.A. official quickly had a. motor-ambulance in attendance, and very soon the hospital staff were' making the ;customary pronouncement— "Doped again," said the doctor. "We had a bad New Zealand case here the night before last This ie the kind of thing that is causing the New Zealand Y.M.C.A.—and its kindred associations—. to redouble its efforts in protecting the mou on leave in London.

Sunshine and Shade. Apart from the large Y.M.C.A. buta all over London, there are smaller structures which serve, as places of inquiry. Here the soldiers come to ask their way, write the London letter home, or rest wliiile Tvatohißg Ithe ceaseless flow of traffic outside. Each little'bureau could provide many etories of mirth and tragedy, of the laughter that follows wholesome pastimes, and the silence that occasionally broods over a fellow in distress. Looking in one evening last week at the kiosk in Trafalgar Square, the writer ■viewed a homely scene .such as would delight the hearts of many New Zealand mothers. In an ante-room sat a lady who ia well known in. our North Island, and seated around her sipping coffee wero a dozen or move soldiers who had come 14,000 miles to fight for King and Country. Gathered together promiscuously, this happy party chatted about Maoriland and mutual friends until the long twilight ended. In striking contrast had been the'scenefoutside. A3 on any other evening dozens of soldiers were lounging about tho watorless and unpicturesque—and it was not the ii' Spiring figure at the head of the Nelson Column, that claimed their attention. The brazen street ftjappers saw to that. Perched on tho encircling etone wall beside the soldiers, with dangling feet and unwomanly actions, they defied bota police and public. None bothered except the Y.M.C.A. -workers, who moved about inviting the map to partake of supper or visit one of their many establishments where music, song, and story are to be enjoyed -without charge. The Delilahs of London have a bitter grudge against the Y.M.C.A., because it so persistently stands between them and. many fine, young Samsons, who might otherwise be shorn. But in the years to be many a mnn will breathe a prayer of thankfulness for the timely warning.

Saving Human Lives. Quite recently, a New Zealand • boy,' slightly under tho influences of drink, was induced to leave the"company of a questionable female character in tho open space of Trafalgar Square. The story he told to the Y.iI.C.A. secretary is particularly sad. Coming from l''rance on. leave a few months ago, he fell in wilh a drinking crew, in London and paid the penally of lengthy isolation. After Migration he was again in London on his way back to irance, and almost against his will had unco more got into bad company. Questioned about his home life, he said he had'a good .mother, of whom ho had been proud, and for her sake ho had iu the earlier stages, played the game. A quiet talk, a friendly supper, and a walk to his sleeping quarters did much to set the chords of Memory vibrating. The la:l realised how close ho had again approached to the [>recijiice, and befoix; leaving for France on Ihe morrow gsve promise of a smccoo endeavour to "rise on stepping efones of his dead self to higher things." This is but one illustration of the salvage in human lives that, is constantly taking place in the midst of London's whirl and bustle. Here a soldie; , has sometimes to put up juet as Btilf a fight as in the line trenches. One night not long since a New Zealander rushed into the Trafalgar Square Kiosk vvi'h an indignant protest against the actions of a female whs had followed him to the very doorway from an East End Hotel. He" ,hnd got into a motor-Uus and she had followed. lie jumped out at the cext stop and darted down an underground stairway, hut ui taking ft scat in the train found the apparition still at his sido. It was only the shelter of (he "X.M.C.A. that cave him freedom from a harpy who had observed him drinking and had therefore concluded that he was fit game for the wolves. This New Zealander c.mes of a family r,f five soldier sons, of whom threa hiivc "f.one West," leaving two atill lighting in Fraucc. Men of this mottle are worth eavirg.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19171004.2.103

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
911

THE TWO TIDES Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 8

THE TWO TIDES Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 8

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