Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-12-14

never describe what this week has
been and could not stand another.
Two poor young soldats terribly
wounded, died right at my side. in
the beds next to me during the
night. two nights in succession. Only
the attendant and nurse there at
their sides, but breathed a PRAYER
for them as their souls took flight.
On, IN, "hat terrible thing war is!
ihe tragedy OF 1T had at that instant
been suddenly revealed, the sad
scene in the darkness of the night
with the mingled voices of pain and
suffering of the other wounded. made
an impression upon me that will
never be effaced. The horrors of
the war l have yet. to see on the
battleteld; this is the tragic part.
i nave been terribly depressed at
umes, and | need diversion to re-
neve my mind. 1 am glad there
are only two more days of it,
Ot the wounded left in the ward
some are still very low and moan
continually, while others are gain
ing strength. Every day one or two
are brought in and others moved
out
Mine is a case ne pas grave so I
do not go through the usual pro-
ceedure. Indeed I have been
treated exceptionally, the two little
French nurses have been wonderful
to me, doing lots of little things for
me, bringing bon bons, things to
read, etc. One of them, a young
girl whose fiance has been killed
in the war speaks a little English.
as much as I speak French, and We
get along pretty we'll Every one
over here has a heartache some
where. While she was telling me
OF her fiance, and her brothers now
in the war, she broke down and
cried. 1t is hard to comfort when
all carry a heavy burden in their
hearts.
Yesterday afternoon I was invited
to tea by the head French nurse.
the Infermiere Chef, who is a
splendid capable woman. She real
lied the state of mind I was in, so
l was very glad to go, even though
they were all French nurses, and
was the only American. There was
French doctor there who spoke
excellent English, so it was not
quite so hard, but I had a great
time with the nurses.
L have been getting up in the aft
ernoon for the last few days for a
stroll. There is an American oper-
ating team here at the hospital, four
doctors, two orderlies, who by the
way are young Princeton students,
and two American nurses. I usually
spend the afternoon with the boys,
which is quite a help. Several of
the boys have walked over from
camp to see me too.
The next word will probabIv he
from Paris. 1 have had no mail
70 rover two weeks, so there ougbt
to be a goodly bundle in a few davs
With much love to all.
HERBERT.
Tuesday Nov. 13, 1917.
Dearest Family
Well, at last I am back in the
big city, and the joy of being here
cannot be eXpressed-a good bed
with sheets, wonderful food and the
privilege of doing as 1 please.
I was detained at the field hos
pital two days longer than I had
anticipated, so that I was there ten
days altogether. It is customary
in French hospitals to give a man
as many days leave as he has been
in the hospital with certain limits
so that now I have ten DAYS per-
mission.
The trip in to Paris was rather
interesting for I had to travel on a
permissionaires" train on which
were at least a thousand poilus on
their way back home. Only officers
are supposed to travel in first class
compartments. but nothing daunted.
climbed into a first class coach
over few captains and a couple
or majors, etc, and they not know
ing my uniform and being an
American they showed me every
courtesy thinking I was an officer
100. The train left the hospital sta
ton at 1.30 a. m. arriving in Paris
$50 Sunday evening.
went Immediately to the Y. NJ.
{. A. hotel where 1 obtained q
splendid room with an excellent bed,
not and cold water for four francs
day. Before the Y. M. c. A,
leased the hotel it, was called the
Hotel Pavilion, which was consid-
cred very good hotel. There is n
restaurant and cafe with excellent
food at very reasonable prices.
Ihere are several boys here T
know so 1 have company at last
and to-day I expect my chum in
from camp on permission, Duncan
Welty.
The first persons I saw Sunday
morning when I walked in were
Franklin Etter and Meade Detweiler.
Sunday I spent in the hotel at
tending Y. M. C. A. service in the
evening which was a pleasure after
having experienced no religious at
mosphere for months.
Yesterday went out to 21 Rue
Raynouard to report to the office
and to the o. S. E. office which is
the Paris police who keep track of
aUorU pnrcnFr D.~s.