Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-30
OTTAWA GIRL LANDS
IN ITALY; LEFT AS
WAR entertainer
MISS MABEL JANE CHAMBERIlN
WRITES LETTER TO HER FAITH.
Err, L. N. CHAMBERLAIN, TELLING
OF HER TRIP ACROSS OCEAN
INFESTED WITH U-BOATS.

Miss Mabel Jane Chamberlin, daugh-
ter of l.. NJ. Chamberlin, pf Clay
street, is safely across the Atlantic
and has landed at Genoa, Italy, ac.
cording to the following very interest.
ing letter telling of her trip, received
by her father:
Sept. 4th, 1918.
Dear Dad
We are now about to land at Genoa,
so | thought would write a letter
and perhaps will be allowed to send
it, hope So We have had won.
derfully exciting and thrilling trip.
and wish might tell you all about
it, but it will have to keep until after
the war.
We have been treated royalty by
the Italians who are in charge of this
ship, and | am sure the Red Cross
will be pleased to hear it. They have
spared nothing to give US everything
possible. They haye kept US as free
from anxiety as possible. When the
boat landed at Gibraltar we learned
that the captain called all his men to-
gether and they all knelt in prayer
and thanked God that we had arrived
that far safely. He has had very little
sleep on the entire trip.
We stayed at Glib" five days wait
ing news, and We had a delightful
time. The American boys were glad
% see us. 1t had been over year
since many of them had seen an
American woman. Every place we
went, we would have dozens of them
follow us around. We were invited
to dinner by the powers at Gibraltar,
and there was great scramble for
each boy to have an American girl
| never felt so popular in my life.
They bought us everything possible.
Took US to shows, boat riding. and
dinner. etc. At night we had them
over on the boat for dinner, danced
and sung everything we knew. II
was certainly a pleasure to see them
so happy. When the boat left Glib.
raltar every boat in the harbor gave
us many farewell songs and many Of
the boys got little launches and fol,
lowed the ship as far as they could
go. 1t was real pathetic Many Of
them cried as we pulled out Of dock
They said We could never imagine
now much we had meant to them.
The English boys were very nice,
too, and we were invited over to one
OF the boys for dance one evening
and had the English band play for us.
Then, one evening we went to shore
to an American band concert and it
was thrilling to hear the cheers when
the band played the Star Spangled
! Banner
We girls tried to divide our time
with them as much as we could. The
Red Cross men took back seat, and
they said they were glad when we
really sailed away from Gibraltar as
they then would get a little atten.
ton. Ha, Ha
There are so many lovely people
aboard and it seems as though we
always have known each other, and
there will be many sad partings when
we say farewell at Genoa, as some
go to Italy, France and Switzerland.
We have had French lessons every
day and feel like have learned a
little French. 1t is pretty hard t(
study, as just as you get comfort ahly
prepared for a chance to study, some
body comes up and asks you to prom
| enade or play cards or something in
teresting. have sung a good dea
! at church services, and that takes up
a good deal of my time, but I feel
that ! should do It as long as they all
like 1t so much, and the French peo.
pie on board have given their time
to us to teach us French
One Of the women on board ha
lost her mind think the trip has
been too much for her, and suppose
they will send her back. Everybody
else has been happy and have ex
pressed no fear, and we are all GLAD
to have had this experience. We al
sleep out on deck at night and the
air is delightful. We always keeI
our lief preservers close by.
: have three lovely cabin compan
ions One on a New Thought lee
turer, who is giving her services /,
| (COntinupn IN 100 coY N