Letter No. 40 Saturday 2 PM, March 28th, 1919
My dear Alice,
I was made happy this noon by receiving your letters of March 7th-the first and only mail this week. Have come over to the nurses' hut for the afternoon leaving the French maids to have full sway in our apartment scrubbing.
It is a miserable day, cold and pouring rain so that the roofs leak and our ball room floor has several big wet blotches.
Yesterday's Herald tells us of the arrival in New York of two officers and 3 men of Base Hospital 26. Suppose the other officers are being sent home in charge of detachments. The last letter from the nurses was March 23rd from Brest. Then were confined to camp there, but did not know when they would sail. We though they had gone but it must have been the male personnel instead.
Rather quiet here at present. Believe several thousand men are coming in April 3rd to the Agriculture school. The troops who were stationed here temporarily have returned to Beaune.
We had a dance Wednesday. Had the hut prettily decorated with colored paper streamers. Several bags of confetti were broken over the dancers during the "Paul Jones." Fruit salad, sandwiches, and coffee for desert. Informal dances are held here nearly every evening. In the future camp 108 entertains every Wednesday evening. Misses Watts and Morrissy, formerly with Base 26, have charge of the hut and arrange for the other dances and for the serving of tea every afternoon at 4 o'clock.
We play bridge occasionally. Last evening walked to Verdun. We would do more walking if the sun would shine for twelve hours at a time. I still find my flannels very comfortable and have used my sleeping bag every night since last October. We have no idea how long we will be here. I suppose until the school closes.
Believe we are getting three hundred patients from Beaune today. I suppose their beds are needed for students as practically all the University is there and I believe they are badly crowded.
I believe you are very wise to spend the next two years, since they are to be your last in the noble profession, in Sauk Centre where you are enjoying yourself socially.
So Otto M is married. I had forgotten his attentions to Lydia. Are the Perkins to remain in Washington? I expect a great many stenographers are being discharged.
It is rumored that President Wilson and General Pershing are to honor the AEF university at Beaune with a visit. I hope they call on us here.
I must write Mrs. L.D. Brown. Have owed her a letter for a long time.
I wrote home a few days ago but you might send this on and write me again soon.
Affectionately, Jane