Letter No. 20 France Oct. 30th 2 a.m.
My dear family,
The time of night will indicate to you that I am on night duty. This is my third night in ward M, the influenza ward. Up to this time have been in ward B, surgical. Never was crazy about night duty always preferring to be awake with the rest of the world. As far as work goes it is very much easier nights as every man sleeps unless desperately ill and I have none such. About all there is for me to do is hand out gargles, cough syrup, and lozenges. One boy had his tonsils out, Margaret, the first tonsillectomy I have been near since I was with you. He is very quiet but not sleeping.
The last two days have been beautiful Indian Summer and the nights clear and frosty. We have stoves up in our barracks now, two in each corridor, and they are bring out in the wards. As coal is $100 a ton we are urged to be economical. Haven't a fire in the ward tonight but we might have if I wished one but the patients have plenty of blankets and each night I have added an extra garment until tonight my 'extras' consist of a woolen union suit, M.G's woolen stockings and over them bed sox two pairs of tights, two white woolen sweaters, a grey sweater, and when sitting down my long blue coat. So far tonight I am very comfortable, last night had cold feet hence the addition of the bed sox. Glad they furnished us good size shoes. Have a third pair of tights if the thermometer goes much lower, and I am knitting a grey sweater, slip over, but in which I will put sleeves and wear under my apron.
Monday morning Mrs. Naysmith, the night Supt., and I cycled over to Verdun. It happened to be Fair Day and we regretted we hadn't a Kodak to get snapshots of the peasants, old men in smocks, and wooden shoes leading a horse or a cow, and peasant women wearing big bustles displaying geese, chickens, and pigs.
Ann Nyquist and another nurse are going on sick leave to a nurses home near Nice and one of the doctors who has been ill with pneumonia is going to Nice.
Received word of the death ten day ago of one of our nurses who left us at Blois and was with a mobile unit. She was a Duluth girl but graduate of Asbury. Have heard no particulars. The enclosed from Ferris came yesterday. As you have not mentioned them I take it Mr. and Mrs. Frees did not visit in St. Cloud.
Wrote to Frances a week ago sending her my Christmas coupon if she cared to send me a box of hard candy. It is not obtainable her at the present time. Many of the boxes will not reach their destinations and if mine doesn't whoever gets it will appreciate it. Sent William a Stars and Stripes and Herald yesterday. We missed receiving them the previous week.
I hear a train and it sounds as if it were coming up on our tracks. One is due I believe. We are not always notified when one is coming and even if we are cannot depend upon its coming at the specified time. To be sure it doesn't make any difference as we are always ready. Believe it was Colliers who had several months ago a very good article describing a red Cross train.
Arrangements are being made for a Halloween party fort he nurses Thursday evening. Large gatherings are still banned. How terrible the influenza has been in the States, evidently worse than here. Take good care of yourself, mother, and escape the grippe again this winter.
Have had very good rabbit for dinner the last two nights and Sunday had goose. Sorry to hear jam is considered a luxury and that no more will be shipped over when the present supply is exhausted. Have a young man for a cook now and he treats us to a pie occasionally also corn fritters, doughnuts, and cookies.
One day last week four of us had last hours and walked to Verdun having dinner at the café there. We enjoyed it not having been away from camp for some time.
Have just been out taking a short brisk walk to warm up and passed the time of night with the guard of the Huns' barracks. We have one working in the nurses kitchen and as you know he is worth 6 French women and even several Yanks at cleaning.
Your letters of September 26th and 30th reached me just after writing you last also Alice's and Fan's.
Friday morning Nov. 1st.
It is time I was getting this off to you. Received yesterday Margaret's of October 1st with Art Thomas enclosed, a card from Alice, the enclosed from Alphonse, and magazines from Uncle, Mrs. Pearce, and Fan, so I'll now proceed to read myself to sleep.
So far have had a ride every day. Yesterday morning to Verdun to do a little shopping for the girls who were making costumes fort he party last night and the previous night Mrs. N and I rode halfway to Beaune. Hope the weather continues.
The party last night was a huge success-ghosts, witches, gold dust twins, Lieutenants, privates, Huns, French Marquis with his page, Dinahs and others. We night nurses got over for part of the time. Had the usual Halloween stunts. The mess hall was prettily decorated with foliage, Jack-o-lanterns, witches, etc. and this morning it is truly a mess of a hall. The boys of the unit also had a big dance beginning with a goose dinner and one of their stunts was a mock wedding. The Bishop furnished the geese.
How well John Kalkman has done. Do not believe Alphonse will see service while Charles must be in it.
My allotment is $25 per month and May would be the first. We are getting between $70 and $75 per month. I have plenty of money. The only way of spending it in Verdun is for apples, grapes, roasted chest nuts, etc.
Hope mother's chickens are doing better. Yesterday was market day in Verdun. Saw a peasant woman selling hens for 15 francs and eggs are about a dollar a dozen. We have goose frequently as great droves of then are raised here, We will have goose here this Christmas but next we will all be home if the news in regard to Austria is true.
Will write again in a few days. Affectionately, Jane.