Thursday evening May 23rd
Dear Mother,
As you see we are still here. Everything is packed but we have no idea whether it will be hours or days before leaving. Possibly the latter though we would like to go tomorrow as have had a most delightful send off this evening.
Had to stay in most of yesterday for various reasons. In the evening we all went to the Armory to watch young recruits of the National Guard drill.
This morning we drilled ourselves for an hour. The young Lieut. Is quite interested in our unit and would like us to drill every day.
This afternoon we had tea at a very nice club. Miss Johnson, head of the Army Nurse Corps is in the city and was the hostess. Had talks by several nurses-Miss Maxwell whose textbook we used in school being one of them.
At 6:30 Unit 26 met at the St. Nicholas Club for dinner which was given by members of the Dutch Reformed Church of St. Nicholas. During the day the club is a cafeteria. No one can go however, but members of which there are 500 working women and always a waiting list. Dr. McCloud, the minister, was pleasant and both men and women of his church acted as host and hostesses and others waited on tables. We sat at small tables seating 4,6 or 8, and the host and hostess progressed up between courses. We had two at our table each time and as there were 4 courses had eight different people. They were all prominent people and perfectly charming. Such diamonds and pearls that some of the women wore! This church does a great deal of work for soldiers and sailors entertaining them frequently in church, clubs, and homes. They all acted as if they were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Several prominent NY doctors were there. The only hosts name I remember is Mr. Kingsbury, Vice President of the N.W. Telephone Co. He and several others made delightful after dinner speeches and a lady recited two humorous selections. This is the church Helen Gould attends. She was in for a few minutes but did not stay fro dinner. The menu was plain but good-soup, meat, potatoes, string beans, tomato salad, ice cream, cake, coffee, and salted almonds. Had music during dinner and the party ended with general singing. Everyone came away feeling fine. If here, we shall attend church Sunday night to hear a member of the Gordon Highlanders.
No mail today, but yesterday letters from Margaret, Uncle and Julia La Buda, a St. Barnabas nurse.
The whistles blew 17 times at 3 PM which meant 17 million for NY. Guess the will get their 25 million.
Stopped at the Public Library this afternoon and got 4 books to take over. They are asking each nurse to take several to the soldiers. There were thousands of volumes in the basement that had been donated and volunteers busy sorting and packing them.
Today's paper mentions the bombing of British hospitals. Nearly midnight so I must roll in.
Love and a kiss, Mother. Jane