Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-06-20
bly, will be dead by the time they

ably will be dead by the time they
reach America.
1 went up to the city the other
day and while there went out on the
Wilmington" the U. s. gunboat
anchored in the river in front of
the consulate to protect it in case of
trouble. It is sthe largest gunboat
here at Canton; 1T looks good to see
it looming up IN the river, with the
stars and stripes floating from it's
mast. 1t is not large, compared with
"a battleship, but is large for river
gunboat. It was built, especially, for
the Amazon river, So, is pretty big.
They have crew. Of hundred
and eighty and mount eight inch
guns. They could stir up an awful
mess with them. They took us all
over the ship; the sailors are. pref
ty good lot-above the ordinary type
of sailors, In the evening they have
moving pictures on deck, so they in
vited us out. We all went out and
had a fine time. We are going again
some time. They have new films
each time. Uncle Sam takes care Of
his sailors mighty we'll. They get
good feed, too; 1t is all very inter-
esting, but at the very, best it must
be terribly monotonous life. Every
where on the river are house boats
with their families; that is the only
home they will ever know, just lit
tie row boats, too, with bamboo
roof. The little kids are either tied
with long rope, like we tie up a
mother hen, or else they have float
fastened to their backs; both are for
the safety Of the kid If he falls into
the water. They look so funny trot-
ting around with the big wooden
blocks on their backs. There is no
doubt about the sun Shining all
the grease out ofsnyou" here-it
makes you sizzle; but upon the
whole, unless you areain the sun, the
heat is no more noticeable than at
home-not bit; but when you get
out in the sun it is altogether diff
ferent proposition; it seems like a
fierce enemy that is just stamping
the life out Of you. 1 use an UNI
brella a great DEAL SO get along
swimmingIy (by the, way, that's a
good figure of speech to use, for you
can nearly swim in your sweat.)
My freight came the other day
everything, was in fine shape, moth
ing broken or spoiled in any way.
MY books and together have been
clear around the world, for they
started east and I started west and
we kept going till we met, so we
have circumnavigated the globe. You
know they went to New York, then
went east, and south clear down
across the equator, around the
southern tip Of Africa and up here,
and here are my books on my shelves,
just as they were at home, and
can't imagine they've been around
the world. At Webster City ] sadly
parted with comfortable old pair of
Eshoes. The other day / was want
ling them badly, when 10 and behold,
day or two later two coolies came
into the room with my box, and
took out my shoes and put them on!
This transportation: stunt is wonder
| full.
Our nights here are wonderful.
The stars are so beautiful. The
Southern Cross, The Scorpion, etc.
are all so plain. You never see the
Southern Cross at home. We have
had some great times this week. Fri
day night I, with several Of the
young people here, went to the city
to a dinner party. All the "swells'
were there, as usual, but they are all
mighty nice and sociable, and in
fact very few people out here act
like "swells" in the least, for it is
more like one big happy family. We
had great dinner, topped off with
ice cream as usual, and then went
out in boats, up the canal into the
river and had fine moonlight row.
/ 1t was beautiful out on the water!
We sang and hoated and talked and
enjoyed 1t to the full.
Last night DR.. Woods gave q
launch party and We took moon
| light trip way down the river in the
launch. I and several others sat up