Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-29
EVENTFUL TRIP
IS DESCRIBED
CHARLES WEIpMAN TELLS OF
VOYAGE AND ALSO OF
LIFE IN PARIS.

An unusually interesting letter has
been received by Mrs. j. E. Arnoid'
lis South Benton street, nom her
cousin, Charles Weidman, who Is ousl.
ness manager of the Army edition OF
the Chicago Tribune, published III
Paris.
The voyage across was very event
full one, according to Mr.. Weldman.
who tells of meeting a camouflaged
raider, which pursued them for three
quarters of a nhour. During the trip
Miss Cudahy Of Chicago leaped over
board, and one girl went insane from
worry.
Mr.. Weidman says that the cost OF
living is exceedingly high in Paris,
due partly to the expensive tipping
habit which prevails. He finds that
it costs about $35 week for ordinary
living expenses. Excerpts from the
letter follow:
"Guess It is about time I should
have been writing you but when ten
you that I have been working for
twelve hours every day including Sun
day since arrived in Paris you will for
give me. Well, I left New York on the
14th of October safe and sound for
which l am glad. Had a very eventfui
trip across"
Meet Raider on Voyage.
when we were out five days or
right in the middle Of the Atlantic we
met a camouflaged raider about $50
in the morning and it stayed with US
for over three-Quarters OF an hour. we
kept going around in circle to avoid
her, having our guns trained on her all
the time, and believe me everybody
had their life belts on ready for an
emergency.
"They finally would not give US
their identity and our captain hello
graphed to her that he was going to
fire on her if she did not beat and
at that she beat it. and l guess we
we're all glad, as would have hated
like mischief TO have had to get over
board that morning with the sea run
ming high; it would have been almost
impossible for them to have launched
life boat in sea as rough as it was.
Leaped Into the Sea.
"A few days after that Miss Cudahy
Of Chicago leaped overheard and was
lost at sea about S:15 at night. You
undoubtedly have read Of this account
in the papers in the U. S. A. 1t was
my account of the story that went to
the United States, although l did not
get credit for the story. We also had
four other deaths or the boat besides
the Cudahy affair.
"Then, too, we had one girl go in
sane and she had to be placed in the
ships hospital. I did not get seasick
one bit coming across, in fact I sur
prised myself as I was thinking for all
the time before I sailed that I certain
~ would be a sick kid for the eleven
days across but did not miss one sin.
gle meal and enjoyed the trip very
much.
Tipping Worked Overtime.
STAYED at Bordeaux over night and
came to Paris on October 25 wanted
to see the country by day. Now for a
little of Paris. l don't like it one bit
and wish was back In the states. IT
costs like Sam Hill to live over here.
am paying 1880 francs per week and
the chambermaids and other help
about six francs per week. IL COSTS me
about s35 per week for room, board,
laundry and tips. The tipping system
over here Is certainly a crime-it really
is a curse to the French people. Com
mission here and commission there ana
tips here and tips there. To give you an
instance we have to pay $50 francs per
ton for wood and then We have to pay
II francs to have 1t brought upstairs
to the Office.
when the mail man brings in q
registered letter or postage due letter
he collects for It and then he must get
his tip which Is 10 to Is confines. The
other day the mail man came IN and
wanted his Christmas tip which in.
cidentally was rs francs, and the next
day the special mail came in and he
got 10 francs more. could go on and
enumerate you q hundred instances
like the above but will wait and tell
you when I return.
Strict Food Conservation.
1--WE will have bread cards the first
Of the year and that only allows u
pound day Only get butter in the
morning now, and sugar-they only al
low one pound per month to each per-
son. They can't get any more. Did I
write you before left that the Trib-
une had sent me over here as business
manager OF the Army Edition they are
publishing for the benefit Of the Amer
lean soldiers that are in France. am
grateful for the experience but not for
the situation. It is some job IN a
strange country and strange ways, ETC.
Wishing you all merry Christmas
and a happy New Year and lots OF love,