UNDER THE LIGHTS OF LONDON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3161, 13 August 1917, Page 7

UNDER THE LIGHTS OF LONDON

WELFARE OF NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS HOW THE RED TRIANGLE HELPS (Contributed.) He was a merry English Tommy in London ou "week-end leave, and ho waltzed his heavy hit towards tho entrance of tho Y.JLC.A. Hut at Euston much as a good-natured dancer pilots a weighty partner through a crowded hall. Tho hour was midnight, but in these - days or warfare ono hour is like another in restless London. _ < "Just over from France?" we asked, as we passed him outward-bound. His lilting song ended as with a ring of pride ho answered: "Yus, an' Im one of the Dardanelles 'eroes, too." Ono of the Dardanelles heroes, and still in the thick of the fight. Optimistic of the result on tlie Western f and bent on making tho most of the leave that had been won by months ot hard fighting. Already false friends had started him off in the wrong direction, but a glimpse of the bnghtlyshining Red Triangle had brought ami back to the "good old Y.M.C.A., and "mighty glad he was to be there. Tommy's case is typical of thousands of soldiers from all parts of the Empire who daily and nightly encounter the allurements and snares of cosmopolitan London. And here the YXC.A. is doing as fine a work as in the •• actual fighting zone. Soldiers are, after all, very human; they aro safest when they are busy, and times of relaxation are apt to drift with the tide.

Sign of the Triangle. Since the war began the. Hed Triangle •has become the most familiar of safety signs along the streams of lifo that ceaselessly flow through this vast, illusive, magnetic London. VTe have seen sufficiently during a fortnights leave-to make us realise why a distinguished statesman spoke of the Y.M.C.A. ns of the seven wonders of the war. that was many months ago, and the work is daily growing to bigger dimensions. Every centre of population throughout the metropolis and the endless chain or suburbs has its Y.M.C.A. Institute, with attractive exterior and home-like touches inside. Near the. big railway stations and other places of congested traffic ara Red Triangle Bureaux—rest nlaccs by the wayside—where soldiers mav read or write or learn hov.- to find their way about London: and places of interest are mado accessible daily to large potties' of 6oldiers "under tho guidance or ladies and elderly gentlemen who are "doing their bit" as voluntary Y.M.C.A. workers. Most especially are ihe women of England playing a magnificent part ill almost every phase of war-time -work. New Zcalanders First.

The Commissioners who caroo to England and France on behalf of tho Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand nave acted on tho principle of providing the best for those who arc farthest away from homo. They have succeeded in matins tho Shakespeare Hut-headquarters lor tho Now Zealand work—the roost attractive Y.M.C.A. soldiers' institute in.all England. At least that,,is our opinion, and wo have seen many. _ Wo came to London througo country that was aglow with the touch of early springfields that a fortnight earlier ■ had been under snow were ankle-deep in grass, the matchless English trees were dorminff their summer leafage, the wiping lane? were made picturesque by budding hedges and primroses by the million. and the fruit trees blossomed massively in token of a-bountiful jield. Truly, a country worth fighting for. From Waterloo Station wc were piloted by a Y.M.C.A. officer through tho mysteries, of tho wonderful tube system of underground railways to. that busy part of London, Tottenham Court Road, and thenc.o by a- very short route to tho Shakespeare Hut. That weok-end there wero 0110 thousand of our men on leave in London, and fully one-third were accommodated at tho Shakespeare Hut. The Now Zcalanders are very proud of their London Headquarters. The men inarched en masse from the station, formed a. quouo past the hooking office, aud, having secured their .beds, were given advice as to the best way of spending their four days' leave. Some went round in small groups with honorary guides, others went on tho Y.M.C.A. omnibus tour (seeing the principal sights of London at a coat of 45.), and others, again, went out in search of family friends. Meanwhile the Hut continued to bf the lively rendezvous of soldiers from all parts of tho Empire, and of members of all branches of tho service. • Although New Zealand troops have, preference, they ore by no means tho only users of the "best hut in London."

Spirit of the Times. The Shakespeare Hut is adjacent to the British Museum, and stands on a spacious corner allotment valued at not less than £70,000. Its uso lias been granted by. tho Shakespeare Society for tlie term of the war, and a specified period after. The style of the building is that of a huge bungalow, and the furnishings are as comfortable as the design is artistic. The main entrance leads into a spacious lounge, and an equally extensive cafe, separated only by a dividing lattice. Otf these radiate a quiet romn with writing necoinrc ati on for ninety or one hundred men'; a. billiard-room with three full-sized tables; aooncerthall (including a most. artistic stage) to'seat 500 or 600 soldiers; and dormitories containing beds sufficient. for 400 men. -Add to these hot and cold baths, cloalc room, hairdressing \salooii,' and other convenient appointments, and we realise something of tho bigness and completeness of the place. Memories of Home.

But there is a something about' .the Shakespeare Hut that cannot be described in writing. It is like the difference between a grand house without the atmosphere of a home, and a placo which, however plainly furnished, lias yet the homely touch. We realised tho cause oil the afternoon of our arrival. 'Xliere was a gathering of the honorary women workors for a presentation' of medals to those of their Dumber who had served continuously for a specified number of months. Out of a total of 330 in. attendance, no fewer than 200 received jnedals from Colonel Valintino one of the principal officers of the London mifilaTy district. To hear the appreciative remarks of tlio Colonel was to realise how highly the military authorities value the work which is, being done on. behalf oMlie. soldiers under.the auspices of the 7 Y.M.C.A. . Subsequently theso 330 vivacious hnglisli women, many of them from the best homes in London, assembled in the garden area for a group photograph. Iheir rue-tinted overalls and close fitting Mack, silky caps added colour to a picfiire such as ones sees rarely m a lifetime. These women are doing a noble worlv. They are on duty in turn throughout the wliolo twenty-four hours. Many have never needed to work in their own homes, but hero they dust ana polish, tidy and decorate, cook and. serve with the ardour of n strong patriotism, The cafe is conducted with the smartness of our leading plnces in New Zealand. and above all the ladies set ft standard which has a distinctly, elevating effect. The mothers. and sisters ot Now Zealand men canno't thank them sufficiently.