Letter No. 31 Allerey January 22nd 1919
My beloved Family,
I was made happy yesterday by the arrival of you letters of December 29th and January 3rd with Emma's enclosed card from uncle from St. Augustine, Florida. The Herald had informed me that you were having the usual January weather. Having mild weather so late will make the winter much shorter for you.
I returned last Wednesday evening from my ten days furlough and found several letters from you. The next day I sent you a postcard letter in a Base censor envelop showing you some of the places visited. It was a very strenuous trip as the trains are so crowded. Fanny knows what sitting up in a French train all night is like. Fortunately our fellow passengers were usually Americans.
It rained two days while we were in Nice but we took auto trips those days and it really did not interfere with the pleasure of the trip. Later in the spring Nice must beautiful. The enlisted men are fortunate as they have all expenses paid and may stay in Nice seven days. The casino taken over for them by the YMCA has all conveniences-canteen, reading and writing rooms, post office, and theatre. Usually a vaudeville from 8 to 9:30 and movies from 9:30 to 10:30. Dancing from 9:30 on.
The evening of the day I left one of our nurses met Joe Mosser at a dance. He is a Sergeant. She says he is a handsome chap and was stunning in a tailor made uniform. I met nurses from his unit in Paris enroute for Germany and they told me Jo had been detached going with their former CO to Tours.
Paris is such an interesting city even in winter. Hope I have a chance to go there again.
All patients were evacuated while was away and some of the nurses were detached. I have been also but not to the unit I wanted to be with so I am still here while it is being changed. Of course the army is so indefinite that we may gain nothing by being changed. In fact may get home before Base 26. Six of us have been over to see Colonel and if a call comes for nurses we will be sent. Both 26 and 25 are ready to leave and the order may come any day. I do not fancy a trip across the Atlantic just now.
It is clear and cold here but we have nothing much to do but stoke the firers. Ambulances for to Beaume and Chalon twice a day for the conveniences of nurses and officers. I went to Chalon at two o'clock yesterday returning on the 5:30 train as the ambulance leaves here at four.
We have a movie at the Red Cross hut two or three times a week. Enjoyed the Mile of Smiles though I missed seeing many I knew. I went through so fast that unless one knew just where people were they were gone before you recognized them. Minne Paterson was very good.
Received letters from Mae, Herold and Bernette a few days ago. Hope Bernette can go to St. Cloud to visit Frances.
How nice to have Mattie Henry in Curtis Court. I hope Mack and I can go back there to live.
Poor George, I cannot see that he is any better are as well as he was last spring. I haven't heard from his mother. Suppose they have been out to the lade all summer and fall and very likely were with Emma while waiting for someone to vacate their appointment.
I hope Charlie Stickney has been heard from ere this. If not I am afraid he is among the lost.
What is the problem with pro-Germans in Glencoe? Just wait until the boys get home and they will crack the skulls of the pro-Germans.
A number of girls went up to Besancon last night on a four day leave. Yes, it is still a watch making center. We gave Miss Gosman a watch from there for Christmas.
I haven't been dating my letters recently but fancy you get all of them though two are three weeks ago a heavy mail was destroyed near here in a rail road accident.
The azalea must be beautiful. I suppose Herman runs the farm after George departs. Too bad you missed the pralines. They are delicacies new to me. Cream cake would tickle my palate as well as anything right now.
The Wilsons are having a grand and glorious time from all accounts. They passed near us enroute to Italy. We saw their residence they occupy in Paris. I trust the USA is not going to the dogs while the President is away!
Sunday several of us had tea at the Chateau with the Comtesse Maistre and family. The Comte was a prisoner in Germany for some time and then entered in Switzerland. He has now been released and rejoined his regiment. She is a very nice looking woman of not more that 45. Has seven children of her own and six of her sisters. The sister died two years ago and the father is a colonel in the army. As soon as he is released they will return to their home. She has been to tea several times. Monday the whole family was here.
Col. Ford and Col. Law occupied rooms in the chateau last summer. She took us through part of it. Many of her rooms are closed because of lack of help.
Hope to go through Dijon tomorrow for the day. There is a very fine art gallery there in the palace of the Dukes of Burgundy. Haven't been up since last summer when we were sent up on duty only to be recalled that night.
Am mailing another Stars and Stripes. I think the last numbers have been particularly interesting.
Am enclosing snapshots taken by the girls around here.
Must scrub the floor as Mrs. Naysmith returns tonight. The stove is in her room and the floor gets so black from the coal. Keep warm and well.
Affectionately,
Jane