"SHADOW HUT"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 191, 2 May 1918, Page 8

"SHADOW HUT"

RED JERSEY WORK IN FRANCE. | "Yesterday I pai_d a visit to one of our huts where the accommodation has lately been doubled," writes Staff Captain Mary Booth, of the Salvation Army, in Franco. "This camp might weli be called Shadow Gamp, and the ono across the hill Sunshine Camp, because the men stay at the one when they are going into the trenches, and at the other when going on leave. Here, one might say, are the men that pass in the night, for often they only stay the night, i.wi i sometimes only a few hours. My heart i ached as I watched them, such a crowd, passing from the 'somewhere' at homo .to the 'somewhere' out here, where men are. but numbers; sumo passing never to return. "Here our ufiicer has to think in rushes anil ileal „Vn vv.sn.es. During Vast J month 40,000 men have entered the 'hut for refreshments, but ha Hilda time to bless them. Picture our meeting! The. hut is crowded; men are sitting, standing, filling every corner, tho lights uro dim and we cannot quite sec those in the back rows. The only decoration is our beloved .Salvation Army flag, which hangs over tho platform. For the Salvationists and backsliders, this, iu it-1 tstlf is a moving sermon. J "One of tho speaker* tries to cheer the ; men and succeeds admirably, except that a, little joke 'What is a homo without mother?' falls Hat,'for these men have just been through it. Tho effect is like touching an electric button. One feels tho thrill go round; hundreds of hearts beat faster, hundreds of eyes and cars see and hear, not the speaker, but the last good-bye, and tho ftnttering handkerchief, waved by some bravo mother, wife, or sweetheart. Hundreds more wish that war was a dream and home a reality. Then tho singing gets better, and even in Shadow Hut Iho men not only smilo, but laugh." Sunshine and Shadow Huts! Tho contrast is vivid, but mi each side of that hill tho work of tho Salvation Army goes steadily on. To keep it, and to ensuro that it shall continue to go on, turn a sympathetic ear to tho Red Jersey Appeal. Help the Army that helps our soldiers. "How do you know .Tack is in lov« with you?" "Wo camo home in a taxi last night, and ho didn't look at tho meter once."