Letter number 7 Juillet 16
My dear Frances,
Your letter of the 17th reached me at last Thursday and of the 23rd of June this morning so you see they are between 3 and 4 weeks coming over.
I am shocked to hear of Mrs. Scaefer's death, and am anxious for particulars. How unfortunate Emma was still at home. I suppose it was a return of the trouble she had several years ago. Lydia will resign her position there now, will she not?
Clara, is having a very short vacation. I do not envy her the summer's work, but she may do well at it. Is Arthur still in Minneapolis? Take a snapshot of the baby the next time you go up and send it to me also any other pictures you take.
Handed in three more photos to the French Government the other day which leaves me only two. I wish you would take the last of the films I sent and have a half dozen printed and send me. They will do as well for identification purposes as the more expensive photographs. I may need them.
Strange that you had not received the card that was released upon our arrival.
This is the day you return from your week at the lake. Did you enjoy it as much as last year and how are you now diving?
There was a sad accident here last evening. The men of another base hospital joined us. It was a very hot day and they had had a long trip on the train. so soon after their arrival went to the river for a bathe. One was caught by a strong undercurrent and drowned. After considerable searching the body was recovered. I know no particulars bit have heard he was from Oberlin College and is a corp boy in the unit.
There was an accident in our Unit on the way from Blois. One of our nurses fell while descending from the car at one of the stations where we changed trains fracturing a bone in her ankle. She is getting along nicely now, has the leg in a cast and sits up in our comfortable arm chair.
Mrs. Barr, a Red Cross worker, arrived last week and the has room next to Miss Carlson and me. She has been assigned to our Unit and I know we shall enjoy having her with us. Believe she is from New Jersey.
Yesterday morning four of us walked about 7 miles to a neighboring village and return. It proved to be a very hot day and we were burned as red as beets. The village is larger than this and has several beautiful homes. In one lives a wealthy French woman and her son both of whom are in the states at present. She is visiting and he an instructor in one of our camps.
The river here is beautiful, quite wide and winding with plains on either side, The greater part if which are meadows or grazing lands. Low dykes are built to keep the river in bounds. Every herd of cattle has its boy with dog, and big flocks of geese one sees with the goose girl and her big stick.
The farm buildings here are awful, one half of the building being the house and the other half the barn with the carefully stacked manure pile a few feet from the door.
If we only had bicycles! They will not rent shops, repairs, are so high they say there is no money in it. We priced them yesterday while at G***over. $70 with the big government tax one must now pay. Madame J, the school mistress, said she could get me two to tale a trip to a good sized town about ten miles from here. I hope she succeeds and that we are paid on the 20th as we missed last months pay and are dead broke. Heard from Miss D ho is enjoying her work in an evacuation Hospital. They hear the guns continually and air raids are common events. They get the men from the dressing stations and after two or three days send them on to the hospitals. No patients here as yet so you see we are having a much easier time that you are. We are all very anxious to get to work and feel guilty at being idle. However, I believe all bade hospitals are light at present and we will be ready for the next big drive if it comes. We hear the guns occasionally at night. We sure they are guns at the front and not at an artillery school. I can see plainly from here where Uncle urged us to spend a week four years ago.
We celebrated in fitting French style 'la grande fete Nationale.' The officers of the unit entertained at dinner about 30 guests in the mess hall after which the nurses were served. Do you think this sounds like a war menu? Vegetable soup, roast veal, baked ham, new potatoes, cauliflower, tomato and cucumber salad, shrimp salad, white bread, corn meal bread, and delicious pumpkin pie. We have been living on hard tack since. Champagne was the principal drink although coffee was also served. The nurses dud bit have their Champagne until their supper at seven, a half pint each and it really was very good. You know we simply had to drink to France whether we liked the champagne or not! By the way do you know where the best champagne is made in France? Sports were held on the river flats the body base 26 against the engineers of ****. Baseball, tug of war, three legged race, shoe race, etc, in which base 26 succeeded.
Have had a visit with James Brooks who looks very well and is happy. They are kept very busy about the camp.
According to the NY Herald the USA is having a bumper wheat crop. I hope Clear Lake is included.
The summer here is similar to Minnesota. The sun so hot but the nights are cool and one or two blankets necessary. The camp is on a field so we have no shade. There is usually a cool breeze so you are comfortable if not in the sun.
Does Mrs. George Doerfler know where Madame Bouciant, the proprietor of the Bon Marche was born? She started kufe as a goose girl and died worth 70 million so the USA is not the only place where you find self-made men and women. We read about her in French class. By the way, Bon Marche means 'Good Bargains.' I'll surprise you with a little French letter some day. Cannot say I am making very rapid progress. The French are very anxious to teach us for the little extra money.
Haven't heard from Marion Collins. Hope Dorothy is well again. Don't suppose she will go to camp now. Her brother-in-law was stationed at Tours while we were in Blois. He received his cousin's letter and made the trip to see her under many difficulties only to find we had left a day or two before. Believe he is now a Lieutenant but do not know in what branch. Is it aviation?
Heard from Marion D this morning. She hopes to come over to do canteen work. Heard from James and Mrs. Whitelaw also attended the luncheon.
Don't you think the group well arranged. We do look ugly. Miss Jossman told us not to GRIN and that was the result.
I am expecting another letter the last of the week. Do you see much of the youngsters?
Love to all. Affectionately,
Jane (Received Aug. 8)