Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-07-25
CANTEEN WORK ABROAD
Sisters of Secretary of State Lansing
Give Interesting Accounts OF sIhls
Work-yisit Rheims Cathedral.

Miss Emma S. Lansing anad Miss
Katherine E. Lansing, sisters of the
Secretary of State, have ben working
with the American Red Cross IN
France since last September. They
are now conducting canteen in a
village near the front, where they
are often under fire. Following are
extracts of letters addressed to Secre-
tary and Mrs. Lansing in March and
April:
Thirty bombs were dropped here
last night. Those of US who were not
on duty at the canteen last night sat
in cave belonging to the Sisters of
Mercy listening to the popping of the
mitrailleuse, the roaring Of the cam
non, and the bursting of bombs, but
feeling pretty safe so far under
ground.
"Iiarch IA, at the eanteen, 4 a. NJ
Last Saturday night the clocks we're
all set ahead one hour and | assure
you, when we leave the canten a
little afetr in the morning it is still
very cold, although the weather is
" wonderful-full of sunshine all day.
had only four hours sleep last night,
as we had an alerte and had to stay
dressed, fearing our evening visitors,
who are frequent They come about
the same hour each night-a little be-
fore g. Our orders are never to go
out after the alerte sounds, except to
get to cellar Very near the canteen
the French have built an abri for US
which will hold about fifty persons,
and only two doors from here is an
excellent cave, to which the Sisters of
Mercy have given US key.
A Glimpse of the Canteen.
"April II, $3.50 a. MI am writing
at the canteen, where I am on the
shift from midnight TO 7 o'clock. |
wish l could give you an idea of the
atmosphere here at night. In front
of me group of French infantry
with one Zouave is playing cards.
Near by is one Of the blackest of
negroes I have ever seen, in the blue
uniform of the French. walking up
and down to keep himself awake. An
American ambulance man is playing
the piano: an Italian is sitting at
table eating bread and cheese; and
the whole large sale is filed with SOL
dierS sleeping, talking, or listening to
the music. My letter has been inter-
rupted a number of times; cnce by an
American soldier who wanted to tell
me how he happened to enlist, all
about his family, ami the girl, and he
wished to show me their photographs:
and again by French soldier, who
wanted to tell about his family.
Rheims Cathedral.
"Anay 10.-Yesterday made a
visit to Rheims. We approached it
from hill: so long before we reached
the city we saw the cathedral out
lined against the sky, majestic and
apparently perfect, We approached
over camoufaged reads and through
city forsaken-a city of the dead The
cathedral is still lovely in its state
Of semidestruction. The beautiful out
lines are there and the towers are
still standing, although badly weak
ened. Two large shell holes are in
the roof, while the altar is completely
destroyed. As we drove away we got
out of the car and mounted a little
hill by the roadside and looked back.
and out of mist that was filling the
valley we saw the city, so beloved by
all France, rising like dream city. I
sha never forget it."
A Well Equipped Hospital.
"Last week I went all over the hos
pital here. 1t is wonderfully well
equipped and has accommodation for
1000 beds. There is fine corps OF
surgeons in charge rho all use the
new apparatus of the war. | have
done good deal Of visiting in the
hospital in my spare moments and l
love it. The soldiers are so happy to
see us and so grateful for every little
| gift of paper, flower, or cigarette.
One Of the doctors | found carefully
cherishing post card picture OF
President Wilson and he is anxious for
a better picture. Will you get one
for me to give to him? Another sur
geon wanted map of the United
States. He says he -.cc,s many doc
| tors who tell him where they live in
America and he would like to study a
map"