Letter No. 23 France November 20th 2 a.m.
My dear Family,
Since writing you a week ago I have received a letter from each of you, October 24th being the latest, also magazines from M & F, Mr. Pearce and Uncle. The mail seems to be coming through more regularly now. Hope they soon do away with the censorship.
How terrible the influenza was in the States. We hear of more deaths with every letter. Two of our nurses have lost sisters. Too bad Fan you did not get a week vacation out of it. Are you letting up on Red Cross work or do they feel a good many supplies will still be needed on this side this winter?
I am 'floater' these nights being in different wards every night or two. Tonight have my old ward B and the officers medical A. Am quite enjoying the night work now as we are keeping better fires and I am also getting acclimated. Sleep well days. La guerre est finis so will have no more convoys of freshly wounded men though we will still get convoys from the evacuation hospitals as they will be the first to close up. Heard today that the camp had had in it more patients than any other in France.
We are all wondering what is to become of us, how long will we be here, where and how we will leave. Many rumors lacking foundation afloat.
Miss Carlson and I expect to take a two-day jaunt the last of the week to a very interesting old town Beraneon east of Dijon. A number of nurses and officers have been. Each nurse is also getting a seven day furlough. Several have been and others are now away. Paris and Nice have been the favorite places so far. Nice however closes to nurses December 1st but believe Mentone, Cannes, etc will be open to us. Haven't decided when or where I'll go, the Mediterranean I fancy as the climate appeals to me.
Had a slight fall of snow today, hardly enough to whiten the ground. The last week has seemed like Minnesota weather, clear and dry with beautiful moonlight nights.
Glad to read you are living on wheat bread again and the sugar ration raised. We are having good bread again after several weeks of sour. Don't know what was amiss the cook, the flour or the yeast. We have very good meals-goose and pumpkin pie for Sunday dinner. The meat lately has been very tender and sweet, horse we are old. It is really very good but the fat has a peculiar taste unpleasant to me. We usually have cauliflower or Brussel sprouts for vegetables and bread pudding is a frequent dessert. Have a young Yank for a chef with two others to help him and a Hun does the cleaning. Several French maids prepare the vegetables and wait on tables.
Mrs. Barr, the searcher, was transferred to one of the other units some time ago but I see her occasionally. She left last week for a several week visit to her old home in Scotland. We of the army are not allowed out of France so I doubt if I see England again as if it is possible to do so. I'd like to sail home from Italy.
I've started French lessons again as I know you will be disappointed if I haven't acquired a few French phrases. Sent William a Stars and Stripes today, particularly good this week. Hope you save a few of them as they will probably be my only souvenirs.
This will reach you about Christmas time. I hope you have a happy one. I shall miss your plum pudding and almond custard. Suppose Miss Sherrill will see to it that we celebrate in some way. Isn't it grand to know the war is over and Germany has had to accept the Allies terms? It doesn't really seem possible that the world is at peace again. There must have been a great celebration in the cities here from the tales told us by members of our personnel who happened to be in Paris, Nice or Lyon.
There is a patient in the ward from near St. Cloud, lives out near Brockway and has been through Clear Lake a number of times! Quite delighted to find I hailed from so near his home.
Heard from Mrs. Wald of Hastings. The Doctor is here in the Army and has been promoted from Captain to Major.
The first report was 'dry' for Minnesota and the next night Herald had it 'wet.' C'est dommage! Glad you are making use of my old coats. Who s getting the serge dress? Think of the complete new wardrobe I'll have. Hope the prices drop a little. Perhaps like the soldiers we will be permitted to wear our uniforms for three months after demobilizing.
Bernette and Marie wrote me such nice letters. Why haven't I had one from Harold?
Have seen no casualties among St. Cloud boys. Rather strange with so many of them in 151 artillery.
Mack's father is sick again so I'll probably be in Minneapolis as soon as she is. No, Irma White is not here to my knowledge. Hope Kit is better.
Alice sent me Charley Stickney's letter. He seems to have been in the thick of it. Hope his good luck continued up to the last. Floss will quite enjoy Florida now the danger of Ben being sent over here has passed.
Many thanks for the stationary but do not send me any more as I have no difficulty now in getting it here.
Have I ever sketched for you the inside doors on the barracks and wards? They were made by the French I believe out of odd pieces of lumber, boxes, etc. The barracks come from Switzerland and are made in sections numbered and ready to put together. This shows the latch on the interior, on the other side the other end of the peg only. Lift up the latch and walk in! Only do not pull on the peg as it slips out quite easily.
My letters are terribly stupid but there is really nothing to write. In my next I will tall you about the trip to B----. Misses Reid, Angst, and Thompson spent last Sunday and Monday there. Miss Nyquist goes to Pairs this week probably to get teeth. She had to have several extracted because of pus pockets.
A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.
With much love from Jane.
Received in C L December 18th, 1918