The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-09-13
IN M ID "a n n n N n ~
IA LETTER FROM LAWRENCE N
IA COUNTY RED CROSS NURSE M
n IA n "a n n N M N M

n "a n IA n n N M IA M
Somewhere in France. July 2.
Mrs. Sarah F. Skaggs,
Terryville. Ky.
| Dear Mama:
When we set sail for France and
saw our country fading from view, my
heart filled with grief. But a second
thought filled my heart with great joy.
thought OF the great mission we were
l fulfilling. sailing across the sea to
care for our American soldiers who
were fighting for freedom. fighting for
you and for me. We sailed a few days
when we could only see water and sky
meet in the distance. We were not
allowed on deck without our life belts.
The last two nights we were not per-
mitted to undress- On board ship
some were dancing, some were playing
cards. did not dance, neither play
ed cards, for | am still as you knew
me at home, never indulging in worldly
sports, for life is too short and our
mission too great to be filled with such
pleasures. There was one thing l en-
joyed on board ship, the Easter Ser
mon. / was glad when we came in
sight of land. without any accident
whatever. for l knew the enemy had
lost great prize.
We had a beautiful. though tire
some journey, over land on board train
to our location. have seen beauti-
full cities filled with we'll dressed peo-
ple:- and / have also seen small viii
lagos inhabited with poor peasants,
wearing wooden shoes, walking the
muddy streets. Mamma, 1t would
have amazed you to see us wading the
deep mud, wearing rubber boots, rain
coats and rain hats. When we arrived
the weather was very rainy,
We nurses are getting used to
soldiers life. When we reached our
location 1t was amusing to see us
standing one hundred in line extend
ing far out in the street. with soldier
mess kits in hand, which consisted of
tin plate, cup, knife, fork and spoon,
to receive our food which was dished
out on our plates as we walked up
in line Then we marched to our ia
bles, which were made out of undress-
ed lumber, without any table cover,
with one rough bench on each side.
One table would accommodate about
10 IuIBCS. nO 5lCpl AZ DhiiaSho
contained about SO nurses each. The
barracks contained one large room.
Though after spending few weeks in
the above state, we now have nice
dining room with tables having covers
and chairs. We have French II lids
to serve us. We also have new BAR
racks made, separate in rooms, con-
tanning two nurses each. The streets
have been fixed and we have less mud.
We only have about five hours OF dark
ness. 1t is dark about 10 p. m. and
daylight about a. m. Though the
day be warm and sunny. the night is
very cool. We sleep under three heavy
wooden blankets Civilian clothing is
forbidden on all occasions. which is ex-
actly right. We have also been given
several lessons in drilling, learning TO
march as the soldiers. Through all
this we are smiling bravely, for we
know 1t will not be forever
Our hospital is opened and we are
on duty every day. We have patients
wounded by shell, some gassed, and
some sick from exposure. They are
soldiers from the United States, some |
from nearly every state in the Union.
They have been in the trenches and |
1t is wonderful to hear them tell their |
stories of war. When think OF our
situation and gaze upon the wounded |
the words OF some author expresses
my feeling exactly when l think OF
the blessings which America has con-
ferred upon us who are native born, |
and upon the stranger within our
gates; when think of what she has |
done in defending human liberty and |
human rights: when l summon into |
view the triumphs of justice over des-
potism and freedom over tyranny; and |
when see how God has guided us and |
laid His hand upon us and has blessed
us, | want to kneel and kiss the soil |
beneath my feet, and / feel wave of
courage and of daring and of patriot
ism sweep through me and over me
which all other patriots feel, too, and
know that we shall fight TO the end, |
until human liberty shall be safe and |
democracy shall settle over many |
lands which have never known 1t be-
fore. and then, we shall bless the dead |
and bind up the wounds OF the living |
and honor the scars received in bat |
tie, and we shall care for the MANNED |
and the widow and the broken-heart-
cd and the orphan who have paid the |
greater price; and our glory shall be
that, when the world was on fire, we /
had that great love which made us
willing to lay down our lives that lib
erty might live among men,
With love to all.
vESTA sKAGGS.