The Dickinson press., 1917-10-13
liver Seine, which runs through the

river Seine, which runs through the
city, and it is lovely, lined with beau
tiful buildings and trees and crossed
about every two or three blocks by
wonderful bridges, each a little more
beautiful than the last.
I went down to Versailles one Sum-
day afternoon, filled with all kinds of
anticipations of seeing the wonderful
Palace which one of the Louis q
think it was Louis XIV built for his
various wives, legal and otherwise,
but I was disappointed; it was closed
and even though I talked French ca
to the guards I couldn't get in-may-
be that's why they refused. How
ever, I strolled around and believe me
that is some Palace, and the grounds,
terraces, gardens and fountains are
quite beyond description. The inside,
you know, is said to battle description
and a chap I met here who deals in
French antique furniture and decora-
tons, told me that the value of the
works of art, furniture. %statuary, etc.,
in that Palace could not be estimated
it is worth millions.
All the sightseeing I've done has
been after office hours and Sunday
afternoons. Every Sunday I've gone
some place, and in a different direc-
ton, and everytime l see an open
door I go in. A great many interest
ing things are to be seer that way,
George.
Jess would simply have fits I've
the wonderful things you see here IN
the shops, and to walk down the Ave
nue. de POpera or the Rue de la Pa1x
(which is the great jewel c%enter) is
a treat, and a discouragement. Never
have I seer such jewel displays. Or
course things that are worth while
cost like sin. Living here now is
frightful. For a very ordinary room,
without running water, and breakfast
served in my room dread and choco-
late only) I pay the equivalent OF
$4,000 a month, and you simply can
not get a decent meal for less than
5 francs-$1.00. The only bread you
can get is war bread, a dark brown
coarse bread, very much like rye, and
you seldom get butter. On Mondays
and Tuesdays you get no meat at all,
and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays no
pastry of any kind; all such shops are
closed and you simply cannot get it.
I get awfully tired of the food, and
yet I'm picking up wonderfully, and
my face looks like a full moon.
Pastry and ice cream is a luxury.
The other day I paid $1.00 for a dish
Of ice cream and three small pieces
Of cake, but I had to have it. I can
not get along without cake and candy
at times. I drink chocolate more
than anything else. They make it
grand here and I like it.
In regard to your request for some
pictures and things: If I can l in
tend to bring back some things, but at
the present time we are strictly for
hidden to send anything in the picture
line or anything else out of France
even postal cards are barred, so
there'd be no use of my attempting
to send pictures or stuff, for it would
never be passed. The chances are that
I shall soon leave Paris, although I'm
not sure, nor do I know where l
will be, but when this picnic is over
land God grant it may be soon), #
1 have any money and can get back to
Paris I want to get several things to
bring back. However: believe me,
when the time comes that can return
to nv native land, I sail not tarry
ere. and if ever I liked America and
Washington I like it 10000 times more
now. If you want to really appreci-
ate your own country, just come to
Europe. Not to say I haven't enjoyed
it all, and the splendid trip and every
thing, because I have, but I've also
had some darn blue and melancholy
days, and more than once I've wished
myself back at my desk in Washing
ton. .
No, I have not learned French and
reckon / never will have mastered a
grand List Of food stuffs, for Icon-
Guided I'd have to eat, whether ]
talked or not, but to converse is be
yond me. However, one has no diff
Guilty in getting along. There W so
many Americans and English here
now, and in most Of the shops you
find. English-speaking clerks, and lots
Of French people speak more or less
English. At the hotel no one speaks
English, but I never have any diff
Guilty in making myself understood,
and in fact some of the maids have
picked uD considerable English.
Women here have taken the place Of
men in lots of linesthey drive street
cars, coal wagons, clean streets and
cultivate the land, and you see them