244
THE YPRES TIMES
THE Old House," known during the Great War to so many tens of thousands of
all ranks and classes who fought in the Ypres Salient, once more the property
of Toe H
As Punch described it: "That Haven of Rest midst the Hell of men's lives,"
again in occupation by Toe H
Yes, indeed, thanks to the generosity of Lord Wakefield of Hythe, the Old House
is once more to be used asthat is the problemfor what purpose is it to be used
Surely, for the training of the Youth of Toe H, and the future generations of Youth,
in the maintenance of that spirit of comradeship, fellowship, and service to others, so
nobly displayed on all fronts both at home and abroad from 1914 to 1918.
The Old House is therefore destined to receive hosts of the young members of
Toe H, and to imbue them with an inspiration only to be gathered amidst the sleeping
hordes of those who made the great sacrifice.
With that end in view, the Committee entrusted with its rehabilitation have very
nearly completed its responsible task. Visitors to Talbot House in the Rue de l'Hopital,
find there already an atmosphere of welcome and of cheerfulness. As one enters one
is greeted with some of the original notices, Pessimists Way Out a hand pointing
towards the front door If you are in the habit of spitting on the carpet at home,
please do so here and so on. On the left is the lounge and writing room, the walls
with many of the old notices displayed. In the garden, now cleared of its post-war
undergrowth, has been built a large bath-house and lavatories, supplied by an artesian
well sunk in the garden. Small tablets fixed to the walls record interesting war happen
ings. In the corridor, on the first floor, again old notices, and facing one on the door of
the Padres room, the old and familiar misquotation peculiar to Toe HAll rank
abandon, ye who enter here." The other rooms on this floor are simply furnished,
with beds for the Toe H members who week by week come out to Poperinghe, there to
imbibe that inspiration and insight into what Toe H really means.
And so one ascends to the second floor, and the great corridor running from front
to rear of the House. Here, at times during the war, men worshipped here, too, men
going on leave or returning therefrom rested. This has now been pannelled in oak,
and at one end stands the Lamp of Talbot House, rekindled on December 5th, 1930,
as the first of a Chain of Light stretching round the world. Here, too, stands a long
refectory table with many albums of interesting war photos thereon.
Out of this corridor leads the Library or Peace and Quiet room, with a large
number of the original books which formed the Talbot House library in 1915-18. Here
are held deep and earnest talks by the young Pilgrims and the few old sweats accompany
ing them on their pilgrimage. From the corridor leads too the flight of ladder stairs
to the Upper Room." That great big attic where so many tens of thousands wor
shipped and took their Communion, and where men were indeed baptised and con
firmed. The centre of Toe H from which has emanated, and emanates, that dynamic
force with which this great movement has encircled the Globe.
Here are services held again, and here Holy Communion is again celebrated. Thus
Talbot House, Poperinghe, is once more becoming the Shrine to which all its members
strive to wend their way.
Withal, however, it is not a War Museum, or in any way a Show Place," nor is
it a centre for excursions to the battlefields, rather is it a place of re-dedication, where
the young members can dedicate themselves to Fellowship and Service, and where its
