The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-09-06
LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS in ARMY CAMP

An extract from letter which
Mrs. Earl Giryin received from her
husband Lieutenant Earl Girvins who
is now in base hospital No. 80, Camp
Greene, North Carolina::55i9 S.
Enroute IN to Charlotte N. c., Au-
gust q, 1918. I had very interest
ing day today and wished many times
that you had accompanied me this
far. The ticket agent in Battle
Creek gave us the wrong schedule
for the trains and consequently had
the whole day to Spend in Washing; :
ton, d. C.
We reached Washington about 8:
20 this morning after eating break
fast with second lieutenant, l start
cd out to see the sights.e l went first
to the capitol which isYeonly short
way from the station and went all
through it. Went into the senate
chamber and house of representa-
tives and saw great xmany famous
paintings and statues pictures of
which you will find in the package |
sent you today. No one is allowed to
take pictures on the capitol grounds.
Congress didn't seem to be in SEES
sion when l was there so missed that.
The capitol and grounds are surely
beautiful and l hope that some day
we can take the trip again and en-
JOY it more.
After leaving the capitol l walked
down Penn avenue as far as the
White House. Took a picture of
Sherman's monument in the distance.
Walked over to Washington's monu-
ment and took picture of it at
close range.
Could have gone through it and up
to the top bit it was twelve o'clock
and | wanted to go out to Mt Vernon.
| caught a car and went to Mt
Vernon, going through Alexandria,
Va. and crossing the Potomac. Mt
Vernon surely is beautiful spot and
it's no wonder that Washington
loved il. Civilians are charged to
enter the grounds but evidently not
men in uniform. / went through the
house and saw all the furniture as it
was in Washington's time and the
bed in which he died 1t gives one
queer feeling to go through the place
and / noticed people were whispering
instead of talking aloud. The rooms
having old furniture in, had iron
gratings across the door so no one
could handle things.
Went into the kitchen which is a
separate building just to the left of
the house at the back and there saw
the old fireplace and cooking uten-
sils used in Washington's time. AS
l went down toward the tomb, pass
cn tho stables and carriage house and
saw the coach Washington used.
There are two tomb5. the one he
was buried in UP to 1871 and the
present one. / took a picture of both
and will send them to, you. In the
present tomb you ear. see. the marble
vaults set up on the floor in which he
and Martha are buried In the back
part of the tomb there are seventeen
members of his family buried. The
front of the house which took pic
ture of faces the Potomac and more
beautiful sight I never saw. The
river is very wide there and you can
bee LII iullCo OOWn IL. uC lOuoC
stands on a hill quite a ways above
the river. 9.,oa
took look in the. spinning room
and saw all the old spinning and
weaving machinery and then went to
the servants quarters, X the green
house end the gardens. The gardens
are certainly beautiful. = ~
After coming back, to the city this
afternoon l locked IN some souvenirs
ard pictures to send to you and the
folks. IN
We shall arrive in Charlotte at 7:25
tomorrow morning. | have, met
medic who is going to base hospital
No. 90 and Wen report together.