Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-04-03
MISS WATTS SENDS
NEWS FROM FRONT
Interesting Letter Written by
Harrisburg Girl Working
With Army in France

McchanicsDurg,' Pa, April "a
; letter full of interest came to Mrs.
Watts from her daughter, Miss
, Marian B. C. Watts, who is doing
. cantonment work in France and who
has n host of friends both in Har-
risburg and Mechanicsburg. A por-
ton follows:
AN ambulance train filled with
soldiers went through here a few
days ago. Bertha, Mr.. Edwards and
II rushed out with boilers of hot
chocolate and gave them all they
could drink. and L fervently said,
Thank God l have it ready" The
Isoldiers SO appreciated 1t. as they
do everything we do for them.
Bertha says l am the social secre-
tary, as L am always being called on
to entertain, or listen to, war corre-
Ispondents or visiting officers. l must
say 1 enjoy it. They are all so diff
Iferent and so intensely interesting.
Monday (part of is supposed to be
our day OF rest We spend it in va
rious ways. Once a month we go
to the city of D. and then enjoy
the luxury of a bath, as where we
live there is no running water, but
we do not fret over that, Everything
goes! Last week when in D, sitting
at dinner, who should come in but
unmistakable dignitaries-five of
them with service ribbons on their
fronts and West Point heels! They
were barely seated when one arose
and came over to me. Who do you
suppose it was? None other than +.
McC. He invited us to have coffee
with them, and we had a lively time.
They also invited us to drive out to
the hut the next morning. which we
did. / wish you could have seen their
faces when we arrived for the start!
High boots, packs on our backs, eX-
ira coats, bundles and large net bag
filled with all we could gather from
the stores, 10 take back to the hut
to eat. AS you know, we cook our
own meals. Well, those dignitaries
thought us plain crazy, and we. be-
ing IN a gale. laughed so uncon-
! trolably they were forced to laugh,
too. Have just had another awfully
nice letter from Bill S. They are
not far from me. Am hoping to see
them soon. Tell anyone coming over
| to ask for me at the First Rest
, camp. Am just across the flats and
when you tell me of anyone you want
me- to look up, be sure to tell the
regiment number as there are thou
sands here of the same kind.
Try to make every one who has
been so good about sending me
things and writing, how much L and
we (for l always share my things
as long as they last) enjoy and ap-
preciate all they do for us. If they
could only understand how hard it
is for me to write, they would see
why am not writing to each and
every one.
The Sixteenth Engineers are from
Detroit. We also nave the 125th In
fantry, n. G., from Detroit. and all
such fine boys. We are having bitter
cold weather again and 1 am so
| thankful for every warm thing l
have. We had an opera singer here
to entertain the boys, also Miss
Ives and war correspondent who
had been through the Russian revo-
! luton; also another who was with
the Battalion of Death and, hideous-
| ly interesting. And last, but not least,
Sothern! 1t all seems so strange
| these people should come to this out
of-the-way spot. 1 was hostess to
| Mr.. Sothern in my big blue gingham
apron and sleeves rolled up! 'Tis now
Mr.. Lincoln's birthday and my
Christmas box from home just ar
! rived. 1t was such a thoughtful box.
! The tea is a precious thing-we were
/ just out OF il and what We can buy
is not fit to put in ones stomach.
The crackers, too, were perfectly de-
/ licious and we deal them out very
carefully. You can't know the utter
craving we have for home-taste of
things. Do send magazines-any
number and the latest out! We work
/ fearfully hard from $50, when we
arrive at camp, after walking two
miles from our lodging place, till $50
! p. m. If you can imagine yourself |
waiting on a table all day at church
! festival and then after the last one
has eaten and gone, turning in to
wash up all the dishes, pots and ket-
ties, you will have an idea what part
of our work is every day and every
day.
Have 1 told you how nice the
/ hut looks with the red curtains at
Ithirty-six windows and counters all
covered with white oilcloth?
| lone red curtained window back
of the counter had big holly tree
covered with red berries beside it
and a big bouquet of red flowers we
| bought in the city. At Christmas time
we had all candles and they looked |
so pretty that one soldier who was
detailed to help in the Y. NJ. c. A.
and who is a Roman Catholic, said
1
during the Christmas entertainment
our counter in white and green's and
candles looked like an altar.
I'VE are always cold, but love ev-
cry minute of it and would endure |
twice as much for the privilege of
helping the men. 'Tis an Engineer
| ing Regiment stationed here and they.
work fearfully, but you never hear a
word of complaint. We make gallons
and gallons of chocolate which we
serve to them. Had most thrilling
evening on Sunday. Our Y. NJ. G. A,
chaplain had just come. We felt the |
need of one, fearfully and yet we
trem bled lest he could not get it over
| to the men. His first sermon so ap-
| pealed that the boys stood up and |
applauded and applauded! Coming |
home one evening from the city we
were detained till late on account of |
French soldiers being conveyed on |
| the cars, and when we finally ar
rived at camp the boys yelled, Wow, |
put them in the guard house!" Poor |
boys, they were so glad to see us, it |
was pathetic-they feared we might |
| be staying on a visit. If you do not |
get my letters regularly do not worry, |
| but know / am perfectly well. Good |
night and God bless you for what you |
are doing for me and mine.
MARIAN"