Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-12-18
T.E. CONNOR NOW
OVER IN FRANCE
Decorah Man Recently Chosen as a
knights of Columbus Secretary
Has Arrived in France
WRITES US A
VERY INTERESTING LETTER
Had Tnssel With the Flu in
New York City Before Sailing
For France
AT Sea.
Mr., John McAndrews,


Mr., John McAndrews,
Decorah, Iowa.
Dear Friend:
1t is now just one month since | left
! Deeorah and it has been one of varied
experiences for me. Before | left De-
corah told many of my friends that
would write of my trip to New York
City, as j was not positive at that time
whether would go overseas. Leaving
Decorah in the evening as | did, | ar
rived in Chicago the next morning at
1880 Some of the recollections which
have of that part of the journey are
memories of sweet dreams of home.
4 left Chicago at 1880 over the New
York Central, it being the first time
that | was east of Chicago over the
MY. C., | was naturally interested in
the country through which / passed.
was very much disappointed in the
appearance of the country for about
lS0 miles east of Chicago, much of it
Ibeing low and marshy ground or sandy
elevations; but this ground must be
good for something, as there are many
different railroads through there. We
Twill say that it is ideal for building
roads over which Iowa products may
lbe transferred.
Lake Erie looked beautiful, as the
day was bright. Darkness set in when
was at Columbus, Ohio, SO did not
see much of Pennsylvania, as I passed
through the state during the night.
| n awoke on Wednesday morning at
Syracuse, Ny. The landscape, trees,
lplls. and valleys looked similar to
those OF Iowa; however, there was an
evident difference in the occupation and
customs of the people, the large or
lcfards, the truck gardens, the many
different railroad systems, and the
large !, buildings with their mighty
smoke stacks all indicated manufacture
ing and business on a large scale.
New York State resembles Iowa
somewhat. had delightful trip
down the Hudson valley. | got a
iglimpse of West Point, an institution
that undoubtedly has caused the Kaiser
much serious thought in recent days.
also saw Sing Sing prison with its
cold, dark walls. The Hudson valley
resembles that of the Mississippi, the
distant wooded hills stand out more
majectic and awe-inspiring than those
of the Mississippi
! Syracuse, Shenandoah and Albany are
beautiful cities o, came near for
getting to tell you that when | was
about to take breakfast near Syracuse,
| discovered that the beautiful wrist
watch which was given to me by the
boys at Decorah, you among them, was
one hour slow, but it was not the fault
of the watch. As | was travelling east
ward | got out of what | might call
my home longitude, and therefore had
to turn my watch one hour ahead, and
as | did so | thought that that was the
second time the Kaiser indirectly inter-
fered with my time
arrived in New York City at 3 80
Wednesday afternoon. ard within an
hour had reported to the Knights of
Columbus Committee on War Activi-
ties After being accepted, | immedi-
ately began to arrange to go to France
on Saturday. Meanwhile was seri-
ously thinking of the welfare of the
folks at home and congratulating N.Y.
self that | had escaped the ''flu." How
ever, it was of short duration, as on
Saturday | was taken sick and re-
mained at my hotel for three days and
on Tuesday went to St. Vincent's Hos
pital and remained there for nine days.
1t being the first time | was under a
physicians care it was a new expert
ence. for me. | am now well and
happy far out on the surging sea.
did not see very much OF New
York City One afternoon / spent
several hours at Battery Park looking
at sthe numerous ships move about in
New York harbor. | was also at
Central Park. imagine it occupies
several hundred acres near the central
part of the city,
The Suriday before left the city |
took dinner with the Misses Salon,
cousins of M. R. Courtenay of Bluff
ton township, at their commodious
home overlooking the Hudson.
Victory celebration day in New York
City was one of the greatest of its
kind ever Witnessed there. No words
of mine could describe it. The vast
thousands paraded the streets, particu-
larly 5th avenue and Broadway, from
| early morn;n1 t,nt;j very iate, az n;oht