The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-09-06

good use of them. We could not get
along very well without them. They
give us writing paper and ink. The
boys go there to write great deal.
Nearly every evening they have
some amusement for us. On the Sab
bath there is Sunday school and serv-
ices in the morning and also serv-
ices in the evening There is also
large Knights of Columbus build
ing where they do a great deal for
the boys. Then the ladies from Jack
sonville come out often and give us
musical entertainment. So you see
We are pretty well supplied with
amusement. There are a good many
canteens in camp where they sell
tobacco, ice cream and pop. They
have a good business as long as the
boys have money, but that don't/1ast
long as they don't get much.
/ took trip to Jacksonville last
Sunday. Started from camp at $50
a. m. and returned at $3.50 in the
evening. l had a good time sight
seeing. I visited a small park where
they have an alligator about fifteen
feet long. Quite curiousity and many
people stop to look at it, / called at
the enlisted mems club to see if
there was any one that knew there,
but did not find anyone. Then we
took the ferry boat across the st.
Johns to South Jacksonville, here is
skating rink, dance hall and swim
ming pool. They are visited consid-
cradle by the boys, but are closed
70
lunch and then found jitney to
take us to Pablo Beach about twenty
miles from the city. 1t is beautiful
ride out there, here was the first
time l had seen Old Ocean and it was
certainly a fine sight The beach
slopes nicely and good many people
were in bathing. l wanted to go in
but there were so many standing in
line for bathing suits l gave it up.
There is large pavilion here with
all kinds of amusement The other
buildings are old looking cottages
and bath houses. We came back to
the city at five o'clock on the train
and from there to camp on the street
car pretty tired out but had fine
time.
You wanted to know something
about the boys l tent with. There
are five of US in our tent and we
get along fine. Don't like the idea
of being separated but suppose We
will when we go to the barracks.
Mack Williams from Texas Eve call
him Mack he is previous service
man, when we want to know any,
thing about the rules of the army,
ask him, Mike Hunter from Claysville,
Pa, he likes to write letters, / suppose
to his sweetheart mostly and he
turn. Then Orville Haley from PeOlia
Ind, he goes often to the ''Y' to
write letters and drink ice water.
The last but not the least is A.
Nordlund from Akron, Ohio, black
smith, and the youngest in the lot.
We still have to sit on the sand and
eat our meals but you know the old
saying "you can get used to almost
anything" The boys get to be ex-
perts at washing their dishes and
clothes and don't mind the job very
much. 1t is very hot here, 10 in the
shade Still as whole the boys are
well and getting fat. l am feeling
fine and gaining some in flesh.
don't have the hay fever here, no
weeds to amount to much, only
| trees and brush. n i&l {!
There is billy goat running
around here which the boys have a
good deal of fun with. Someone sent
him to lieutenant as joke.
l received The Mankato Free Press
which you send me and certainly en-
| JOY reading. 1t has more war news
than the Jacksonville papers besides
| the home news must close this long
| letter. Hope you are all well. Kind
| regards to all the neighbors and
/ friends With love, Harry H. Holmes