The Young Women’s Christian Association has entered the open door for work among the women.  In one place where a young girl from the country had been led astray by the temptations of this new and monotonous life and had committed suicide, the Young Women’s Christian Association has erected a large hut to provide for the moral welfare of thousands of other girls faced by the same temptations.  Oh, the dreary drudgery that faces these tired women!

  “Rattle and clatter and clank and whirr,
  And thousands of wheels a-spinning—­
  Oh, it’s dreary work and it’s weary work,
  But none of us all will fail or shirk;
  Not women’s work—­that should make, not mar,
  But the Devil drives when the world’s at war;
  And it’s long and long the day is.”

The Y W C A has adopted the sign of the blue triangle, to distinguish it from the red triangle of the Y M C A. The huts bore the touch of deft women’s hands in the decorations, flowers, and signs of cheer and comfort which the ladies have provided for these hard worked girls.  Before the huts were erected some girls had to sleep in the streets all night in the unsanitary communities about the works.

Both the government authorities and the Association workers have seen a large open door for social service among these millions of munition workers.  For the work here is permanent.  These great buildings will remain as manufacturing centers of some kind after the war.  The huts will still be occupied.  Already a new and growing body of legislation is being introduced to improve the conditions of the toilers of old England.

It is little wonder that the whole nation has responded to this work so boldly undertaken on such a large scale.  From the first gifts have been pouring in unsolicited.  His Majesty the King, patron of the Young Men’s Christian Association in Britain, has inspected many of the buildings, and sent in his contribution, with the following note:  “His Majesty congratulates the Association on the successful results of its War work, which has done everything conducive to the comfort and well-being of the armies, supplying the special and peculiar needs of men drawn from countries so different and so distant.  It has worked in a practical, economical, and unostentatious manner, with consummate knowledge of those with whom it has to deal.  At the same time the Association, by its spirit of discipline, has earned the respect and approbation of the Military Authorities.”

The Queen Mother donated the Alexandra Hut in London, which makes provision for the accommodation of soldiers on leave in the city.  She was seen recently serving tea behind the counter in the Association hut to the happy Tommies who had come back strained and tired from the front to “Blighty” once more.  The Princess Victoria has been most tireless in opening Y M C A huts, and has given unsparingly of her time and effort for the men.