The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-20

1.-THE road leading from camp to the
village is lined with stores, booths,
wine parlors and other kinds of sepa-
rators for the benefit of American
soldiers. The benefit lies mostly on
the side of the French, however, for
they soon learn over here that If the
millionaire soldiers as they call us,
want anything they will pay the price,
whatever it may be.
Went to a picture show the other
evening in tent on the midway and
saw what believe is the original NOV
ing picture, at any rate it was of very
ancient vintage. Charley Chaplin also
performed thru one reel of his very
earliest comedies.
Our trip from Camp Doniphan
was started in standard Pullmans, but
those good old days are over. Our last
move was made in box cars, lately
used to transport horses. In fact all
the railroads seem to be government
property as they are marked 'Etat'
Every box car is labeled 'Hommes
36-40, Chevaux, g. meaning Men So
40, horses 81 These French box cars
are not much larger than q self-re-
speeding army truck and as for smooth
riding, they make an American box
car ride like Pullman de luxe Don't
mind it a bit, tho, for it's all part of
the game and besides it beats walking
all hollow
In an earlier letter dated June 80
Mr.. Bowman said: I'VE had very lit
tie excitement on the water save for
sighting a couple of subs. One of
them Immediately disappeared. but
the second came up right in our
midst. Said sub didn't have a chance,
tho, for we were so well guarded that
1t had no sooner appeared on the sur
race than several guns were trained
on 1T and several shots fired. The sub
will never again bother anybody We
landed at Liverpool, Eng. and then
mad very pretty trip by train across
England to our first rest camp near
Romsey. From there we hiked to
SOUTHAMPTON and stopped for a day.
we crossed the Channel at night, but
the start was made early in the even
ing and the first part of the trip down
the river and out around the Isle of
wight was very pretty. We landed at
LIE Havre. That is as far as we are
permitted to describe the trip. We
are now just somewhere in France
The New York Herald and the Chi
cago Tribune print European editions
IN Paris OF their papers, telling all the
iatest war news so we are able to
Keep up with what is going on
Detachment, 100 Field Artillery,
American E. F.. Frar ce."
X X X
A letter concerning a former Topeka
girl, Miss Frances Storrs, now Mrs.
James c. Johnston, of Edinburgh,
scotland, was written by a Junction
City boy who is over in Europe He
speaks Of Mrs. Johnston's interest in
the American boys and the good work
she is doing among those who come to
Edinburgh. Mrs. Johnston is a sis
ter of Mrs. Ralph H. Cav and DR.. w.
d. Storrs, of Topeka. She was reared
In Topeka and has often visited here
since her marriage. She has a degree
OF NJ. d. and was a practicing physi-
clan when she was married. "A few
weeks ago Mr.. Johnston was here
! visiting Judge and Mrs. Cav and Doc
tor and Mrs. Storrs.
The following is quotation from
the letter concerning Mrs. Johnston:
Last evening 1 had a breath from
4 home and such an enjoyable evening I
have never before spent. 1t happened
in this way. One of the ladies who
! voluntarily works here casually IN
/ quired as to my native state, and
I when I answered Kansas she said,
Another Jayhawker' She was born in
Kansas ana is a sister OF DR.. Willis
Storrs, of Topeka. She invited me TO
her home for dinner and I accepted.
Her husband is :. C. Johnston, a
I Scotchman, who went to the United
/ States in 1874 along with w. J. Tod.
/ OF Maple Hill. He went west as a
cow puncher and grew to be a cattle
fixing in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming.
Dakota and Kansas. nanag ing the u.
q j. ranches of La -Junta and the
'Matador' Cattle company of Texas,