Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-26
Our BOYS
| Write from
over THERE

| 7
! Extracts from a letter just received
from Horace Parlin Of Hallowell by
his sister, Mrs. Gertrude Choate.
Bonar Bridge, Scotland.
| Jan. 8, 1918.
| ! went to London for my weeks va
cation and feel very we'll paid for 60
! ing. 1t is some ride, being 700 miles
by rail. l left here Saturday at / p.
NJ. and arrived in London the next
day at 1880. So you can believe
was some tired Of riding. The cars
here are much different than in the
! L. s. A., as each car is cut up into
compartments seating s people. Each
is entered by separate door on the
side. The doors are locked on the
outside between stops. and sometimes
! they forget to unlock them at a
standstill. Refreshments are served
at important stations. consisting of
sandwiches, buns and tea. Arriving
in London we went to the Eagle Hut,
| american Y. NJ. c. Al and after
booking our beds for nights, we went
out to see the sights. At II A. NJ.
Monday we took a Rubberneck car
riage drawn by a pair of horses and
went to the celebrated Tower where
so much history has been made, and
went through it. Saw all the Royal
jewels worth 40,000,0O0 dollars. Saw
the Crowns used at Corona lions. The
largest diamond | saw was Oh the
j handle of a sword and weighed 900
carats, as large as hens egg. You
may believe they were well guarded.
After lunch we started for West
mister Abbey, and the Kings stable at
buckingham Palace. Saw all the
Kings horses, even to the one he rides
himself. There We're over a hundred
in the stable, and others were away
/ i'll other parts of the country. Also
! saw the carriages in which the King
and Queen ride on state occasions.
They We're of carved oak. gilded all
over and trimmed with red. On
! Christmas day, Tuesday. went to
special service at Saint Pauls Cathe-
dral. swhicks"was very fine. Went to
! the Zoo atsRegent's Park and put in
a whole day. There We're SO many
things to see. Saw a game of Eng
lsh football, and 1t was very interest
ing, as they do not run with the ball
hut kick 1t, and it takes a lot Of skill
to be able to play. | was sorry there
We're no air-raids while I was there,
! 60 but saw where bombs were dropped
! in last German raid and it was
some sight. They certainly do lots of
damage when they explode. Went to
some of the best shows and to the
Zig Tag at Hippodrome. There seemed
TO be ten soldiers to every civilian
where we went. and were from all
American soldiers. We got great
meals at the Eagle Hut. and it. was
served in American style. 1t was
some treat for US lumberjacks. There
must have been $50 men from our
units in London last week, and one
unit had ~ men out of 80 there.
Walked through all the noted streets.
! Picadilly Square is a very fashionab BILE
place. and most of the large stores are
located there. 1t is much cheaper
riding on the omnibuses and in the
tubes. than in America. as you can
ride long, way for one penny. or two
cents in our money.
Left London Saturday at p. M.
and arrived at Bonar Bridge tired but
happy at $50 Sunday evening. Got
some sleep coming home by crawling
into a baggage rack. having hired q
blanket and pillow before we left, for
4S cents. and they We're worth it. Sam
Tuition. "a former Hallowell boy)
went to visit his uncle for the week,
100 miles distant from London. near
where he used to live. We found it
much colder there than in Scotland
and we ali got a nice cold. but are
nearly over il now. Mr. roommate lost
two pairs of shoes. and a watch and
chain, but had all l started with eX-
cept coin. Our assistant manager.
Mr. Hackett has just returned from
the U. s. having safe voyage over
and back.
Got the Odd Fellows box last night
and it came in very handy as my to-
bacco was rather low. Must say good
night.
Your brother.
! Horace.