The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-03-28

1000 cigarettes back to the boys of
our battalion in France out of my sur
plus stock. If I had undertaken to eat
and drink and smoke all the things
that were brought to me by Amer
leans just because I was an American
I'd be back in that hospital now only
getting fairly started on the job. It's
some country when you need it.
Wounded Get Great Welcome.
The wounded soldier getting back to
England doesn't have a chance to inn
agine that his services are not appre-
ciated. The welcome he receives be-
gins ut the railroad station. All traf-
fc is stopped by the boobies to give
ambulances a clear way leaving
the station. The people stand in
crowds. the men with their hats off,
while the ambulances pass. Women
rush out and throw flowers to the
wounded men. Sometimes there is u
cheer, but usually only silence and
words of sympathy.
The King George hospital was built
to be a government printing office and
was nearing completion when the war
broke out. 1t has been made q para
disc for convalescent men. The bare
ness and the sick suggestion and char
acteristic smell, so to speak, of the
average hospital are unknown here.
There are soft lights and comfortable
beds and pretty women going about
as visitors. The stage beauties and
comedians come to entertain us. The
food is delicious, and the chief thought
OF every one seems to be to show the
inmates what a comfortable and CHEEKY
thing it is to be i'll among u lot of real
friends. l was there from December
until February, and my recollections
OF the stay are so pleasant that some
times I wish l was back.
On the Friday before Christmas
there was u concert in our ward.
Among the artists who entertained us
We're Fay Compton, Gertrude Elliott
(sister of Maxine Elliott), George
Robe and other stars of the London
stage. After our protracted stay in
the trenches and our long absence
from all the civilized forms of amuse-
ment the affair seemed to us the most
wonderful show ever given. And in
some ways it was. For instance, in
the most entertaining of dramatic ex-
hibitions did you ever see the lady
artists go around and reward enthu-
siastic applause with kisses? Well,
fhOftS yJ.I.If yyN not ApI ~, ~,o,,J
to say that it was Miss Compton who
conferred this honor upon me.
At about three o'clock on that after
noon, when We were all having a good
time, n Of the Orderlies threw open
the door of the ward and announced
in a loud voice that his majesty the
king was coming in. We could not
have been more surprised if some one
had thrown in q Mills bomb. Almost
Immediately the king walked in, ac-
companied by Il number of aids. They
were all in service uniforms, the king
having little in the style Of his uni
form to distinguish him from the 9TH
ers. He walked around, presenting
each patient with a copy of "Queen
Mary's Gift Book" an artistic little
volume, with pictures and short stories
by the most famous of English artists
and writer's. When he neared my bed
lie turned to one of the nurses and in
CURED:
us this the one?"
The nurse nodded. He came and sat
at the side of the bed and shook hands
with me. He asked as to what part of
the United States i had come from,
how / had got my wounds and what
the nature of them were, how 1 was
getting along and what 1 particularly
wished done for me. I answered his
questions and said that everything l
could possibly wish for had already
been done for me.
Thanked by King and Decorated for
Bravery.
Il thank YOU" he said, "for myself
and my people for your services. Our
gratitude cannot be great enough to-
ward men who have served as you
have"
He spoke in a very low voice and