Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-22
Miss Farnsworth Tells of
Army HOSPITAL Life

Life in the base hospital at Camp
Custer, Battle Creek, Mich, is de-
scribed in a letter from Miss Nellie
Farnsworth, former government
food agent in Omaha, who resigned
| this position to serve Uncle Sam as
| dietitian, when there was a great
scarcity for these trained workers.
When Miss Farnsworth arrived
there were 1000 "hu" cases in the
hospital. The number has been re.
| duced to 800 since the quarantine
was established.
II am very comfortable in Room As,
Barracks A. 1t is tiny room with
only the necessities. The walls are of
| some heavy paper which is stiff and hard
as a board should have said partitions,
for of course the outside walls are Of lum-
Der. I have a nice hospital bed. dresser,
table and rocker-the floor Is oiled and
I have tiny rug to hop out On when
the bugle blows.
1--WE have steam heat, electric lights. and
the bathrooms are provided with every
convenience and loads OF hot water. We
| take care Of our own rooms which does
not mean hard work as we have no dust
collecting bric-a-brac and only the plain
est of furniture.
Our meals are served by soldier boys
in a large dining room for the nurses
We eat at Long tables covered with white
oilcloth-another conservation.
1--WE have an abundance OF we'll prepared
food but I have seen no white bread
since I came. We eat oatmeal and corn
bread. II we get the last seat at table we
draw tin spoons and often cups without
handles. 3 But that Is a small matter.
When We finish the meal we take our
oh % lit i,,ln-
the nurses quarters and the Red Cross
recreation house are very comfortable.
There we find easy chairs, writing desks.
reading tables, library, piano and VIC
trola.
I'VE all wear the white Dix uniform
land caps 1t seems strange to have to ap-
pear at table, church. the movie and
but such Is the rule. The government pro-
vides each one with a very attractive MILL
tary cape; those of the nurses are navy
blue lined with scarlet flannel, while die
ttians and technicians wear gray capes
lined with black satin. The Red Cross
furnishes sweaters to each one.
1.-THE day begins with bugle call at 10
minutes Of and at 10 p. m. lights are
supposed to be out.
There are four dietitians and we
change off in our work. The duties con-
sist Of planning officers mess. nurses
mess. patients diets, including regular,
light, liquid and specials. and in super
vising food preparation, sanitation and
the serving both for the wards and in
the wards for the trays. I have been ward
inspector for the past week. We have
the finances to consider also for We are
allowed just so much for a ration.
II surely feel sorry for the soldier boys
they look so lonely and we are not al
lowed to talk to privates except on busi-
ness.
There are about $50 nurses and . class
Of student nurses, aDout SO in number, and
they are called Buds
THE ~ furnishes entertainment every
night We went to movie Saturday
night which was very good Americas
Answer We paid no entrance fee or tax,
neither did we have comforta BILE seats, only
benches without backs. They get pretty
hard and tiresome before the six reels are
over. 1t really is wonderful what the
" X. c. and Red Cross and other Or
ganizatiaons do for us. There are people
Of every nationality, from nearly every
state in the u s. A. and every walk of
life. 1t furnishes an interesting study to
see how each one adjusts herself to the
new conditions. ! should not care for
military life as permanent thing but am
glad of this opportunity to know all about
1t In such an intimate way.
Each day we have hours off duty and
each week half day. Then after hav-
ing been here a month one Is entitled to
a whole day."
Miss Farnsworth plans to pass the
holidays at her former home in
Valley City, S. Oak, if given leave.