Letter No 48 Allerey May 31st, 1919
My dear Family,
The last news shall be the first. This my last letter from Allerey as we nurses leave at midnight on the All American Express for Vannes near the ports of Brest and St. Nazaire. I hope they do not keep us there long. There are already hundreds of nurse there waiting to sail-- among them the thirty who left us two weeks ago. I met some of them in Paris.
I returned yesterday afternoon. Fortunately, I had packed everything before leaving for England, so spent today washing the laundry I brought back with me. Have had a shampoo and am now sitting out our baggage. We have just bid Mlle Chapot an affectionate farewell a la Americane and a la Francaise.
Found a big bunch of mail awaiting me-your letters of the last week in April and first two weeks of May-also two Minneapolis papers.
To return to where I left off….
I reached London Friday night. Saturday went with a YMCA party through the parliament buildings, saw the changing of the Horse Guards in front of Whitehall, then went to the Abbey to watch for the Royal Family. Saw King, Queen, Prince of Wales and Duke of Connaught, then got a seat in the Poets Corner for the Memorial concert in Hyde Park. In the evening visited the wax works. Sunday morning witnessed the Changing of the Guard in front of Buckingham Palace, then went out to Aunt Margaret's. Got no response, so thought they were not in, but found out later the bell did not ring. In the afternoon went with a party to Hampton Court going up by boat from Richmond. Returned by bus. The gardens are beautiful.
Monday I spent at Windsor and Eton with a YMCA party. Phones to Harry Skelland that evening and the next morning went out. Was too late to see Harry, who now goes to work at ten am, but had lunch and a two hours visit with Auntie. Had to be at the Waterloo Station at 4:45. Called at the office to see Harry for ten minutes. Both he and Auntie look as they did five years ago.
Slept through my trip across the channel and reached my hotel in Paris at 2 pm Wednesday. Attended Grand Opera that night, hearing Faust. I went more to see the interior of the Opera House than anything else. In the PM, had a short tome in the Louvre. Thursday morning spent around town. In the PM went with a YMCA party visiting Luxemburg Gardens and Pantheon. It being a Holy Day, many places of interest were closed. Met a number of nurses I knew, some who belonged to Base 26 and were detached from us at Blois. They are at Vannes enroute home, so we will probably sail with them. We do not anticipate a pleasant trip.
Left Paris Friday morning reaching here at 3 pm to find our orders as related.
Later….
Just going out for a farewell walk. Will send you cards enroute. Don't go up to meet the train until I phone you from Minneapolis.
Affectionately, Jane