Letter No. 37 Friday pm March 7th, 1919
My dear Family,
This is a most beautiful balmy, sunshiny, spring day. The first without rain for weeks and weeks. If it only continues! How I'd like to be out walking with my patients instead of guarding their empty beds. They all took walks this morning and again this afternoon. Some have returned and are playing cards in the rear of the ward-very likely for money, though when I just called down "Is any money changing hands?" they replied "no." They know it is forbidden but do it when not watched and I don't like being MP. Let them lose their few francs if they want to is my sentiments. It is the only excitement outside of movies and minstrel shows.
I enclose the program of a show I attended last night-the best we had eve though it had its usual number of "out of bounds" jokes. The boys seem to thing they are needed to give it snap.
We bade Base 26 bon voyage on Tuesday March 4th. Just eight months to the day we arrived in Allerey. How we wondered then just how long we would be here. We stayed at the depot from one until the train pulled out at 3:30. Base 70 went with them. The men were going to Nantes and the nurses to a small place near St. Nazaire. It would be a hard trip-two nights and one day-and the accommodations were not of the best. Side door Pullmans (8 hommes and 40 chevaus) for the enlisted men and only one first class car for each unit and the rest third. I hope they do not wait long for a boat. The unit leaving here consisted of about 32 nurses, 20 officers, and 130 boys. The senior medics left last week for Paris and were going from there into Germany to work in Russian Prison camps. Other left to attend universities in France and England. How fortunate will be those assigned to Oxford! Two of our officers were made Lieut. Colonels, eight were made majors, and several captains just before leaving.
Send me accounts from the papers telling of their arrival etc. The next day the nurses of #49 and #56 left with the exception of 7, so you see how deserted the camp can seem the last few days.
It is rumored that tomorrow four thousand troops come in-students for the agricultural school which is to be here and the rest of the college at Beaune.
We are no longer a base hospital, but Comp Hospital 108, with 79 nurses. The latest regulations require 65 nurses in a camp hospital so some of us may be ordered elsewhere.
We received considerable salvage from #26 in the line of furniture-also sugar, corn syrup, and nuts. Have been using the latter for Divinity for the patients and it is much appreciated I assure. We have been expecting a D train in for the last week to take out patients. Our future patients will be those from the college.
Received Margaret's letter yesterday telling of Mother's return home. Nothing so far this week. Perhaps my frequent change of hospital has caused some confusion. It should not as our #26 post master has gone to the Central Post office here. Sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Fryeson.
Did mother visit the Schaefer's? How are Mr. and Mrs. Pearce?
Eggs are getting cheaper, six francs a dozen. One of the patients has just brought in some and is boiling them on the office stove. We have 17 such nice lads in this ward. How are your hens laying?
Lent is upon. Isn't it nice to have spring so near? The winter has not been so bad as expected-milder than last.
Time for supper so I must run. The captain has just been in and censored some envelopes for me. Do wish they would do away with it.
How pigheaded Congress has acted. Hope Wilson has his way with it. Wonder if Harold Knutson has his ticket for Europe. I hope he calls at Allerey even though the unit has departed.
Must send Uncle a card so he will not make a futile trip to New York. Hope a letter comes tomorrow. Haven't been outside the camp since I joined #97 as it has been so rainy. Had a severe electrical storm with hail Wednesday evening.
Affectionately, Jane