KocKnranAii post-dispatch
MR. BENTON WRITES
Intensely Interesting Letter
From Rev. Bruce Benton,
Engaged in War Y. M. C
A. Work in France.
'Sept. 15, 1918.
Mr. Isaac S. London,
Rockingham, N. C.
My dear Mr. London:
According to a promise I made you
before I left home, I will endeavor to
give you a few lines bearing upon my
work.
I am located with a big aviation camp
not remote from Paris. This is the char
acter of field service I most desired, and
it came to me unsolicited. I can scarce
ly define tie character of my work.
Today is Sunday, the second I have spent
in camp. Last Sunday I arose at 6:30,
ate breakfast at 7, weni behind the coun
ter and sold cigars, cigarettes, gum,
tooth brushes and powder, talcum pow
ders, shoe polish, towels, soap, etc., until
9:45. I then atttended bible class till
10:-ij; preached at 11; ate lunch at 11:45;
came back to the hut and washed and
wiped chocolate cups, went into tne back
.yard and made chocolate (about 40 gal
Ions) in a heavy rain; served hot choco
late tiil 0:30; went to dinner at 6:45; re
turned to the canteen and sold stuff un
tii 7:30; then went to service in our hut
chapel; returned to the canteen and
worked until 10; then I was ready for my
bunk. That is about a day's routine
work.
I am a sort of utility man. At present
I am looking after the moving pictures,
and going into Paris for general supplies.
I also help look after the religious end of
the line.
We have four Y. M. C. A. men and
two women with our hut -all Americans.
And they are all kept busy. Our head
secretary has been here six months. To
give you some idea of the canteen husi
incss, we sell frcm $10,000 to $12,000
worth of stuff monthly. And we could
sen nearly dotihte that amount it we
had the supplies. We make no profit on
anything sold. In fact the boys get then
cigars, cigarettes, eta, at less cost than
you have to pay back home.
We provide moving pictures, have the
finest American stars as entertainers, the
best lecturers, and in fact, we get about
the best of all things for our boys. Last
night we had three American artists,
a soloist, a violinist, and an impersona
tor.
The roads are old and good. They are
paved with a kind of cobblestone. Other
wise there could be but little traffic. It
rains here with but little provocation,
and the soil becomes so muddy and
sticky you can scarcely get about I am
dteading this coming winter. Already
I sleep under four woolen blankets, two
of them double, and I awake before day
.as cold as a frog. The dampness is very
.penetrating. You may desire to know
how I am succeeding in making myself
(understood in French. Well, I manage
to get by in some way. If I cannot un-
tiers iana wnat tne frenchman is saying
(and I never do,) I simply smile and say
"ah, oui, oui." And he thinks I have
taken in all he has told me. If it comes
to the worst, I simply say 'Jenecomprend
pas." Then he will try a hundred ways
to, get me to understand. He will go
.blocks with me to show me a given point
whjch I may be seeking. I am having
some Jun with my trouble in trying to
understand the language. I have this
consolation, the Frenchman does not
understand my language any better than
I do his. And in my desperation I can
use sane choice American, dialect, non
speakable and non-printable in France.
And believe me, that is a bit of comfort,
tco.
But the French people are a great folk.
They are wonderful. They are cheerful,
active and apparently happy. Thousands
of women are dressed in black-some of
the marks of the war. But they are ar
tistic and beautifal even in these black
robes. I now see why our women have
modeled their fashions after the Parisian
models. Thuse women can take an old
piece of cheese cloth, or a black robe,
throw a few sashes of scarlet about the
. neck, put a little fringe on the garment,
ana nicy looked dressed for a wedding
feast. They are marvelous in their abil
ity to look well dressed even in common
materials. But after all, I think I may
add, that no women I have sesn, either
in London or Paris, can equal our Ameri
can women in charm and beauty.
Paris is a great city of beauty and art
At first sight, one blushes to see the
nudity of their statues and images, but
we soon become accustomed to these
things. One also blushes at the lack of
modesty of the men, and also to a degree
of the women; but he soon fcrgets all
that.
V fell. I have written too much. A word
about the war. It looks like the big
drive ' oa-iuf P94- I don't believe
there will be a let up until Fritz has been
put back into, hts own country. We bra
too longer afraid of his coming back.
Thft allies have him on sea, in the air,
' Mid now have him on the run on land.
I thought when I left home the war
might be over in 1919. I still think so.
It may be earlier. .No ona can telL. Jou
see I get very little news about the war.
You know more back at home than I do
over here. But we all feel over her naT
the Huns are virtually licked, rtf' jt is
only question of time as when they
will acknowledge their defeat
This is simply a personal letter. If
you find in it anything yen think might
interest the public, you may use it Give
my love and best wishes to all the people
of Rockingham and Richmond county,
I have not heard from Rockingham since
coming over. Any mail addressed to me
at 12 Rue d'Agnesseau, Paris,
France, will reach me if it ever gets over
the seas. Mail is very much delayed
coming this way.
I have seen no boys from home. I did
meet Mr. J. Locke Everett, of Monroe,
the other day, in Paris. I was with Mr.
F. L. Pickett and Mr. Hall, son of Dr.
J. H. Hall, for several days in Paris, I
do not know where they are stationed
w in write again wnen I get an op
portunity.
Cordially yours,
BRUCE BENTON,
12 Rue d'Agnesseau, Paris, France."
PERSONAL
Mrs. J. T. Lyon returned
Thursday of last week from
Rocky Mt.
Born, Sunday night to Mr. and
Mrs. John L. Everett, a daughter,
Miss Terrel Oliver, named for
Mrs. Everett's mother.
Mrs. Wm. Anthony White died
at her home at Duke Oct. 13th
She is well remembered here as
Miss Susan Rawlings, of Wilson,
Miss Lois Gibson returned to
her home on Watson Heights
Saturday from the Normal at
Greensboro, until the epidemic is
over.
Jerome Pence returned to his
home near town Saturday from
the University with influenza,
The quarantine at the University,
by the way, has been lifted. There
were 300 cases among the student
with only three death.
Glenn Garrett returned Mon
day from Raleigh where he spent
19 days taking the Pasteur treat
ment, ineneaa oi tne puppy
that had died was sent to Ra-
eigh and rabies was found,
Hence Glenn's going to Raleigh.
A number of cases of flu in the
family of Carrier J. D. Pence
prevented his making his Route
3 rounds this week. Carrier
Black and assistant postmaster
Rufus McNair have 'doubled up'
and have carried his mail.
As mentioned so often in this
paper, all letters and communi
cations intended for publication
must be accompanied by the
writers name; we have several
that could have been published
thisissne had the names been
signed thereto.
Miss Mary Cliff Bennett is visit"
ingher parents here, and will
remain for two or more weeks,
She has been home demonstration
agent at Wilmington, and expects
to go to Bellevue hospital, New
York, in November to take a
course in army dietetics, for ser
vice overseas.
S. S. Lockhart, of Wadesboro,
last Monday received this cable
dram from his brother, Lt Jas.
A. Lockhart, France: "Doing
well in base hospital twenty
three. Lockhart." It is presumed
from this that he has been
wounded.
Mrs. E. P. Covington and four
children returned from Raleigh
Monday night, where they had
been taking Pasteur treatment.
While there one of Mrs. Coving
ton's children was ill with ery
sipelas. Others who returned
Monday night from taking the
treatment were Mrs. B. W. Thom
as and two children. Mrs. Tohn
Jenkins and one child, Mrs.
Bailey and children, Mrs. Lum
Warner and child.
Miss Jennie Baldwin returned Saturday
from Biscoe.
Mrs. A. L. McDonald went to Flnrpnr
Monday to see her sick parents.
Ray Baiicom came Sunday from
Pennsylvania for two weeks' visit
"Billy" Covington was taken ili with
influenza Monday and is now at his home
recovering.
A new Food Administration ruling to
that soft, drink manufacturers will be
given only 25 per cent of the sugar nor
mally required in their business.
Mrs. George Brockenbotouglt came
from Charlotte Sunday night toTbe with
Mrs. Eugene Payne. Mr.Payac has been
confined to his bed since Saturday with
acute neuralgia., ; . . i
Continued iron page n Hf!"
The flu situation in Albemarle
is worse. The school has been
turned into a hospital. 1400cases
in that town, with 14 deaths
Tuesday. . m
The situation in the army A
camps is improving, especially in
the camps in North and South'
Carolina. To date the total cases
in army camps has been 298,650,
with 15,345 deaths. And right
here let us give the latest figures
for deaths in the fighting in
France: Killed in action (includ
ing 293 at sea) 10,350: died of
wounds 3,950, died of disease
5,140; died of accidents and other
causes 2150; this is a total deaths
overseas of 19,590, but only 10,350
were actually killed in battle.
The total wounded 28,900; miss
ing in action 5,950; or a grand
total of 54,440.
In Raleigh the deaths have
reached 115; in Pennsylvania 16,'
500.
teT" We deliver goods to city limits when requested.
Approaching Nuptails
ut interest to many mends is
the approaching marriage of Mrs.
Mary Dockery and Mr. T. C. Leak
on Saturday night at 8 o'clock,
The marriage will be solemnized
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.
S. Ledbetter, the ceremony being
preformed by Revs. J. H. Hall and
G. F. Smith. The only attend
ants will be Mr. F. W. Leak and
Miss Emma Gray Ledbetter, and
only the immediate families of
the couple will be present.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Parsons
entertained for Mr. Leak and
Mrs. Dockery at dinner on Thurs
day evening of last week, to
which six couples were , invited,
The decorations and other ar-
rangements for the dinner were
in keeping with the gracious
hospitality of the hosts.
On Wednesday evening of this
week Mr. and Mrs. J. LeGrand
Everett entertained six couples
at dinner complimentary to Mr.
Leak and Mrs. Dockery. The
guests were T. C. Leak and Mrs.
Mary Dockery, W. P. McRae
and Miss Emma Gray Ledbetter,
M. W. McRae and Miss Ssrah
Lilly Dockery, William Leak and
Miss Octavia Scales. Mr. and
Mrs. Frank W. Leak and the
host and hostess.
Smilax on tulle hung from the
ceiling of the dining room, were
held in place at the four corners
of the table by lighted candles.
The centerpiece was of roses.
At the bride-to-be's place was a
corsage of LaFranc roses, and to
her was given an Ostrich-plume
fan; to the other guests were
given ivory white fans. Eight
courses were served.
Mr. C. M. Hobbs. who last week was
. i j i ,
icpuneu oe desperately m, has so
much improved as to be able to be taken
to the Charlotte Sanatorium Wednesday.
ins sun. vnarne. came rrom tn Naval
1 raining btation at Charleston the 18th,
wuii luriuugn until tne 3utn.
The ONE Aim of
:eptieiison
-JBellc
Co,
is to please each and every customer; therefore we
strive to please you by giving you the best values
possible, considering qualities.
We realize that advertising through our
customers is the most effective of all advertising
schemes.
It is our ambition to increase our business in
the future as we have in the past.
Every department in our store is loaded
with seasonable merchandise at prices far below
their present value.
Our ready-to-wear department consists of
the season's snappiest styles in coat suits, coats,
dresses, shirt-waists, skirts, sweaters and every
thing desirable in the line of muslin underwear.
Steph
enson - Be.
Ik Co.
17 STORES SLL IT FOR LESS
Marriage License.
Lacy Pemberton and Evy Dum
as, colored, issued 12th.
S. M.Ingram and Pansy Col-
trane, colored, 22nd. (License
sent to Hamlet by mail.)
Fox Hound Lost.
Inst nhnnr fW 1
mouth of Naked Creek a male
fox hound, black and tan, short
tail. Any information leadinrr
to his recovery will be rewarded
iiucimiy. ivi. ii. Lraraner.iuierbe
Oakland Sensible Six.
For sale, at a bargain, an Dak.
and Sensible Six: SDassencer-
been run but 3600 milps P ;
Ledbetter.
Shep Pup for Sale.
For sale, a full-blooded Shep
herd puppy, 1 weeks old. B. F.
Palmer.
Typewriter for Sale.
One Remington tvnewriror 1
good condition at a bargain, or
will exchange for an Underwood.
Apply Western Union TWorh
I
I I
For the accommodation of our out-of-
town customers during the quarantine, we
announce the following schedule for meet
ing customers at the following points:
At Pee Dee No. 2 bridge 10 a. m. 2 p. m.
At West Rockinghaml . ,, 10:30 a. m. 2:30 p. in
At east end of Washington street, H. D. Baldwin's...... 11 a. m. 3 p.m.
AtS. A.Ldepot I2m.r 4p.m.
Phone orderf will receive our very BEST
attention!
s
office, Rockingham.