Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-03-20
FRANKLIN BOY IN FRANCS
Writes Interestingly of Trim An.
and Life Near the Front.

terestingIy to friends at home. IA ..-
in part:
For once we got started on time a..
marched out OF the yard 100 strong. A.
electric car took us to the depot, ana =.
got on the move for n. YC. We rsach,s
the dock, and after wait of ahnn, =
hour, marched on board -Four ~ l.
who intend to stick together by eoos
luck received the best cabin. IL hsa ton.
hunks, plenty of dressing room and. NM,
important OF all, port hole which
afforded fresh air when any OF us we,,
forced to take to our hunks.
We all stayed up to see the LAST Of The
baggage and coal come aboard. Then mn
went the gang plank and we were warras
out of the dock. Everybody STAYED ON
deck to see the last evidence Of America
aud tase of our hats to Miss Libertv
Then We vent to explore the mysteries q,
the hunks.
The first morning out the water Wa,
quite smooth and the time was given Ia
going over the ship and examining the
fellow passengers. The most in evidence
were the Y. NJ. G. A. workers, Ia few hmm.
bred strong ex-ls~yers, professor.
clerks, etc.-who are impressed with the
tremendous mission on which they are
going. Forward are 600 Poles enlisted in
America for service in France. talked
with one of the officers. and learned thu,
they are part OF 10000 men which Pad.
erewski has pledged himself to raise and
equip for service. They are handsome
chaps in their blue black uniforms, and
all full OF fun and song. There were ies
Red Cross nurses and quite a few French
women returning to their country.
Every night we run in complete dark
ness. We aren't allowed to smoke even a
cigarette on deck after dark. To-day at
8 We had life boat drill so that each one
WOULD know his station. I've already laid
out my course in case anything does
happen and know Just where to run, etc.
After the second day the journey be-
came so mopotonous that there was
absolutely nothing to write Of, and
now 1t is Sunday and Pm going to
cover the whole trip. We expect to sight
land any minute and dock perhaps to-
night. After the first three days the
water got rough and rougher. 1t was
lucky that we had those first hours to get
our sea-legs in. | missed only one meal,
and never have been really sick.
.. The last. two nights there have been the
usual hushed whispers and hurried feet
in the dark ness. understand the y. NJ.
al ii tf hall la ntO
and the night before. Most OF the sailors
were up, too, guess. We four did go
as far as to keep. our clothes on, but we
all slept as though.we were home. This
boat hasn't been encountered in fourteen
months, and we figured the chances were
good. OF ourf getting by. We picked up
a French patrol boat this morning, but
she wssi too slow and fell behind, but
guess Eve are out OF danger now. We shall
all be glad to get ashore, even though We
don't know our destination. A
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE.
e We arrived at our new quarters Tues
day night, They aren't great many
miles from where we were before, and
don't worry about that. / like the place
very much. There are seven OF our
bunch here, and, thanks to the wisdom of
the chief, We aren't bothered much in the
conduct OF the work. Our iirst-cisss men
knew their business. and We viii all work
for them as We wouldn't for someone else
perhaps.
The town.is iabout like Franklin. only
the petite fiies are little more plenti-
full than there. The people are bit
different from those where we were be-
fore. l didn't speak to girl there, but
here we speak to them all. aud they GER
tainly are nice to US.
station. It.wss my first chance to see the
country. byl.dsylight. The land is quite
different, tfrom.wbst / expected. For the
most part il seems wet and low, though
that maybe because this is the end of the
rainy season. The fields and vineyards
stretch inirolling plains for miles on each
side.
You never saw such carefully laid-out
work as has been done on the vineyards.
The vines are supported by little sticks,
and no matter which way you look across
the fields, the, sticks line up perfectly.
wonder what your idea OF vineyard lie?
Mine was acres OF arbors like we have in
the back yards of New England. Ii took
me some moments TO realize what the
French vineyards were when / first saw
them.
The vine lis single. stock about two
inches in diameteriand six or eight inches
high. From it two smaller branches
grow, and from them in turn two more.
That is one whole vine. They are never
allowed Ito grow more than three feet
high, and at this season of the year they
are being cut to about eighteen inches
One sees them everywhere, and can
understand iwhy the French never drink
water. I'm not especially fond of their
wine, because it lent sweet bit, but the
boys like.it.
We have fun going out at night and vis-