Letter No. 2 2:30 PM
My dear Mother,
I sent you a PC notifying you of my safe arrival. Had arrived there the previous PM, spent the night on the boat, and docked in the morning going immediately to the train. So had no opportunity of communicating with Sarah Ann. The country looked beautiful and the girls were crazy about it. Many of the towns I had been through before. Forty miles was as near as I got to John and Nellie. Spent that night and the following on the boat in dock making the trip over here in the night. Spent the next morning on the boat in the harbor, docking about 3 PM. Boarded the train late that night and it looks as though we were due to spend a third night on it. Our men boarded it with us but they left us in the morning. We learned the nurses' quarters are not quite ready so the men have gone on and we are going elsewhere until they are ready. It has been a heavy train and we have traveled slowly. Yesterday afternoon we passed within a half hour of the town where Allice's friend is Dr. ----, and near the town where we four girls had such a time engaging the cab driver to take us for a drive. Fan will remember it. Had our breakfast and dinner today in the Red Cross Canteen in this town.
Have seen lots of American boys who have given us a hearty welcome. They all look well and seem happy. All the country is beautiful and crops look good. Saw James yesterday and gave him his letters but his box is in my roll. He looks well and says they have had a bully time.
Wish I could go into particulars of the last two days. We have had many a laugh. Our ocean trip could not have been more delightful. As I told you I was slightly indisposed the evening of the 4th day and okay the rest of the time. As you have read in papers and magazines life preservers are carried all the time, worn the last two days, and we did not undress the last two nights, but we were so well protected all the time we felt no anxiety and the trip was uneventful. It seemed strange to have so much company when a ship on the horizon was an event on previous trips.
Have seen only one paper so know very little of what is happening. Our train has finally pulled out and here is hoping we do not spend a third night on it. O know there must be mail for me somewhere, but fear there is little chance of me getting it for a while.
Blois June 22nd, 1918
We stayed on the train the third night getting in here yesterday afternoon. We are on the Loire river about 150 miles south of Paris. New rulings now permit our telling where we are if we are not it the Advance Zone. We believe we are here only temporarily until our own hospital is completed. It is in the Advance Zone and is being constructed of wood. Hope we soon move on to it.
This is a beautiful city, but so far have seen very little of it. We are divided among four hospitals and expect to go on duty tomorrow. By the looks of it I fancy the one I am in is several hundred years old. Wish you could see the 37 of us in one big ward getting settled with our belongings in our suitcases and hanging over the heads of the beds and trying to do a little washing and ironing on the side. The few modern innovations have been out in by the Americans during the last few weeks.
Old places are picturesque but that is all you can say of them. There is a big Chateau on the hill back of us formerly occupied by Marie Antoinette. Expect to go through it some day. Believe Joan of Arc met the King here once upon a time and placed her banner in a church across the river. Our hospital faces the river. Will write you again in a few days. Affectionately, Jane.
Received in Clear Lake July 11th