Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-21
PERSONAL--SOCIAL
LIFE in FRANCE
SO INTERESTING
Miss Marian Watts Writes
Home Folks What to
Send to Our Soldiers

sunday, november 20, 1917.
Dear Home Folks:
We left Paris on Friday at the
crack of dawn escorted on the taxi
by small elevator boy who chatter
ed for us. carried our bags and put
us on the proper train. The train was
very full of officers and we passed
several troop trains-hurrying to the
front.
hope Italy can hold out, and be-
lieve they can.
The French people and soldiers
thrill me down to the ground. They
are so plucky and so wonderfully po-
lite. We mutilate their beautiful
language and they bat an eye, but
have endless patience in trying to
understand. The men and the chill
dren have such lovely skin. The men
as a whole seem small, but when
large at all are very tall. There are
many, many little children.
This Is the most fascinating old
town. Mr.. Cleveland, our division
secretary, met us at the train, with
a soldier to hustle bags, run the au-
tomobile, etc. He also brought a
Y. M. c. A. worker, who is working
for the American nurses. She is q
Miss Notman, of New York city. She
was most polite and took us to tea
at the hospital that afternoon. 1t is
the Detroit unit. We are to stay
here in this town until some time
spent yesterday morning at the Y. NJ.
c. A. rooms cleaning shelves, arrang
ing and rearranging supplies, peck
ing up generally and setting things
to rights. The rooms have been
open about six weeks and run by
two men most of the time. Poor
dears, they are so grateful!
Our hut secretary's name is Owen.
He lives right in camp. Last even
ing we took charge of the sales
counter here in town while the Sec
retary had his supper and we got
on finely. Bird did the selling and
the talking After supper we went
to small camp near -- about
two miles -- and Gary Reynolds,
a piano shark and singer, entertain
ed the men. 1t was the first fun
these men have had and they could
hardly rise to it. They have been
working, working every second. If
the people at home only realized the
importance of our getting here ahead
of the men they would give their last
cent and their best men. Later we
came back to the Y. NJ. G. A. here
and Gary" again performed. He
goes about from place to place al
ways travelling and is a wonder. He
makes the men sing and delights
their souls. He reads poetry very
we'll and when he sings alone sends
the shivers running. 1 wish any
man who can sing would realize the
work to be done here. The music is
the biggest attraction and holds them
for hours.
Yesterday afternoon we motored
with Mr.. Cleveland to our CAMP
lovely ride. A tire had to be chang
ed, SO Bird and l walked part way
and came upon our little town of
cream-colored homes with red tiled
roofs, nestled close under a hill. We
are to live with the family of a law
yer-a Madame and a Miss. The
son is, of course, fighting. 1t is an
entrancing place, but we will write
of it later when we get there. We are
crazy about out camp. We have a
huge frame hut nearly finished and
we will have charge of 1t. We are
so eager to begin.
This morning at 100 there was q
fiagraising at the hospital. 1t was
very beautiful and impressive and
thrilled us very much. We sang My
Country, Tis of Thee" and 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner" to q cornet. I
could have cried, the bugler played
so beautifully. Mr.. Cleveland came
back with me and he, Mr.. Reynolds,
Miss hoffman, Mr.. Bachman and 1
had dinner together. Mr.. Bachman
is from Easton.
This afternoon we went to the Y.
NJ. c. A. where Gary Reynolds en-
tertained again.
The enclosed is q list of things
that any one can send at any time.
Speaking of things-I do believe 1
have used every ones presents.
My love to all those whom I love
Always devotedly,
MARIAN B. c. WATTS.
Suggestions For Gifts