Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-02

they had ever had in their lives, and We
had better breakfasts than we had since
being taken prisoners, whereas the in
SpeCtor. who had been counting on these
eggs for his own meals, grew more per
turbed every day We made the horri-,
bic mistake Of taking all the eggs VIC
| could fiud and a large paddock was put
on tho pig pen
Toward the latter part of August par-
GELS began to arrive for all the Cana
dians who had been taken prisoner on
June .. The Canadian Red Cross par
cells were particularly welcomed by those
men whose families were not in a posi-
ton to keep them supplied with "A con-
tinual stream Of food Those of us who
had friends in England were especially
fortunate in receiving parcels both from
this source and from our homes in
Canada.
The Englishmcn cnvied the lot OF the
Colonials, as they said that We were
looked after better than they were, both
in France and in Germany. Any lit
tie uncvenncss in the distribution OF
parcels was overcome by the generosity
Of those who received more than their
share, and men who did not get Suf
flCient food to supplement the rations
issued by the hospital, and any new
prisoners who arrived destitute and hun
Crt, we're always taken care of by their
more fortunate friends. Many Of us
received parcels Of bread sont twice
a week from Switzerland. but. unfortu-
natelN. owing to the fact that the CEN
sorship at VAIN was So slow, in most
cases the bread arrived in a moldy con-
dition, Prisoners in camp received the
Swiss bread in excellent shape. as the
ma pr,plg direct SWjtzprtan1
to the various camps. where they were
censored and at once given to the adj
dresses. ON rare occasions we received
n loaf or two of bread in perfect con-
dition. although very hard and dry, and
1hen we celebrated accordingly. But
more often | have seen parcel of Swiss
bread which had been in VAIN for a
month arrive with the center all eaten
out and sometimes containing rats
nest.
II was well that our parcels had be-
gun TO arrive at more frequent intervals
as the hospital rations We're cut down
owing TO the great shortage of food and
the failure Of the potato crop in Ger
many. Horse meat was "A luxury, which
We got very rarely, and fish appeared on
the menu moro often than ever. Another
substitute for meat was n species of
ShuSht' ''llNhllillS hi'S'iN p'hc'
and gristle and made from all the other
wise ,inusahle parts of an animal It
seemed 10 us that there were about
eight meatless days in every week.
Loefelsind. the little German who had
charge OF the hospital linen, and whose
home was in Cologne, told me that,
short as our rations were, we got more
and far better food than was allowed
the civil population of the city. He had
wife and three children, and their
weekly allowance of meat was not
enough to make n decent meal for the
average man, while the supply OF milk
and other nourishing foods was not
enough TO keep the children healthy.
This state of things prevailed in every
large city in Germany, but the farmers,
in spite of strict regulations as TO re-
porting the total output of their farms,
managed to secrete certain portion,
| and live fairly comfortably.
SHARED GOOD THINGS
Noodle had told us a month or so
before that some one had sent him a
small phonograph and records. We had
been eagerly looking forward to the
time when these should arrive. and about
the first of September the parcel came.
We happened to be in the middle of a
meal put ioou was Forgotten Tor the
time being, and we played every record
through behind doors and windows and
with fine needle, as we had not re-
ceived permission to use the phonograph
in the ward: We knew that trouble
might ensue II this were not obtained.
and did not dare ask permission as we
were 'in wrong" with the hospital au-
thorities, and knew that II would be re-
fused on some technical grounds. such
as that of disturbing the other patients
In the hospital The phonograph and
records were always kept carefully hla-
den under, a bed when not in use. From
that time on II was worked overtime.
and always with the greatest care II