Letter No. 40 Friday evening April 5, 1919
My dear Mother,
A year tomorrow since I left Mpls. We had dinner at Hurds a year ago this evening, mother. In some ways it seems a long time ago and in others very short.
Have been fortunate this week in the mail line. Letters from Lydia, Edith Mackay, Jessie Campbell, Mother's of the 4th of march, and Margaret's of March 10th, so I think I have them up to date.
Base Hospital 26 is still on this side or was on the 31st, with no prospect of sailing. As they are practically confined to quarters they think Allerey was not so bad after all. I prefer staying on this side until the grand rush is over.
Sorry to hear of the death of Philip White. Mr. White will be quite heart-broken. Wonder if they know where and in what hospital he died.
Hope Fred is okay again. Glad Leo is relieving him of the shop.
Base hosp. Reached here the first week in December. They come from all parts of the US.
Believe I told you I sold my chair. Decided it would not pack in my trunk. My uniform will be relic enough. Have just put in a request fro a new one.
You must have a "tres bon" minister if Margaret will walk up to church to hear him.
Was there considerable excitement over the election that you were so mysterious as to who were on the ticket, Margaret? How is Clear Lake fairing dry?
My French will not be enough to impress anyone. The lessons did not last long as Mlle Chapot goes home every other night and the evening she is here she is out walking with her Sgt. The knowledge of French is not so necessary here as one might think. To live with a French family is the only way I could learn it.
No, I have not met my affinity. The war should have come about ten years earlier for me.
The films spoke of were lost I am sorry to say.
Tuesday PM April 8th
This letter not off yet! I left it Saturday night to attend an enlisted men's dance-for the third successive night. The order came out Thursday revoking all previous orders in regard to nurses not associating with enlisted men and how happy the men are! It is hard dancing on the floors of their huts but they enjoy it so much it is well worth it. As the number of men far exceed the nurses we dance a straight program.
Last evening the officers of Co. A 310 infantry gave a dancing party for their company inviting us over. It was a great success. The boys rather bashful at first, but soon got over it. They saw active service and since the Armistice have been on guard duty at various places the lat being Beaune and here. This was the first dance they had had with nurses. They leave here tomorrow enroute home.
Their officers entertain us at Nurses' Hut tonight. They chaperoned the party last night and are very popular with their men.
The enlisted men always resented the order forbidding the nurses associating with them as they had to talk with someone and there was no one but the French girls of whom they do not meet the better class. One boy told me the other night that the revoking of the order had killed a lot of homesickness already.
Horses have been brought to camp and some of the girls had started riding but it is now forbidden as Miss Watts, a Red Cross worker had a runaway Sunday. Fortunately, she escaped with only small scalp wound and was thrown from her horse. They are all army horses about which no one knows anything. They look bony enough but apparently have plenty of life left in them.
Base 26 was still at Prest April 1st. All leaves here are cancelled so I'll not get to Rheims for the present to my disappointment.
Went to Beaune last Wednesday morning to do a little shopping. Gen. Pershing was there Thursday morning but hadn't time to favor us with a visit.
Several changes have been made here-our commanding officer, chief nurse, and two doctors having been transferred to Beaune. The assistant, Miss Harding, is now our chief.
Sunday afternoon seven of us took a five mile walk to the village of Chivigny where we went through a small chateau, then had supper at a café-omellette, French fried potatoes, bread, butter, cheese, and coffee.
Have been having a little dental work done-one large filling and three small ones.
Washed my hair this afternoon and Miss Cooper made Divinity.
A small box of equipment has come in. I have drawn a blue silk waste which I needed badly.
The enclosed scraps one of the boys gave me saying they were part of the gas bag of the Zepplin L 49 brought down the French upon its return from a raid over London. Wasn't that over a year ago? I remember reading of it but have forgotten when it occurred. A French woman gave them to this doughboy.
I'd greatly enjoy a ride on the Ford this evening. Suppose it is still in the garage?
Picked beaucoup violets Sunday afternoon. It was a beautiful day, the sun actually hot. We seldom have two days of sunshine in succession however.
I hope tomorrow brings a letter from you. You will be glad the winter is over even though it was milder than usual.
Where are the Doergler lads? Wish they were here in the farm school.
Affectionately, Jane