Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-06-20

shall say nothing. Women and children.
old and young. but even in this bunch we
have been able to find those to whom the
Y. NJ. C. A. message Of brotherhood has
made it's appeal.
You folks at home must not forget us.
for our task is not going TO be pleasant.
Every day makes 1t appear that we nave
a task to teach them to understand that
we are simply here for their own good.
with no political aims. But II Will not be
easy. and prayers as we'll as other forms
Of encouragement will be necessary to
keep our line strong In Russia.
Day before yesterday approached
fne fellow who has seen service IN France
and who had pair Of 'sapoks.' or long
legged boots. Speaking as we'll a. l could
In Russian. asked him some questions
about them, ana engaged him In converse
ton. Soon few others gathered around
and listened 10 my attempts To make my
self understood After a bit. another
fellew In civilian clothes Joined the group
and began to make fun Of my attempts,
all the time appearing to try to help me
and that he could not understand me.
Finally he started round to the fellow to
whom was talking and said long string
of Russian. lowering his voice 70 that l
could not hear what he said and made
some suggestive gestures OF striking ana
throwing to the ground. One OF the other
boys had come near, and when this start
ed he got away and waited outside the
circle, did not like the leeks Of the Whole
AFFAIR but what had ! donef Tbs only
thing was TO laugh II eff, which ! did
and stayed q short time, then left to join
the other feilew Of our party who stood
where he got the drift Of the fellows talk,
which was that we we're Spies and his
gestures we're what they would do when
they got US to Russia. simply tell yeu
this that you may know that we really
recognise that we have to Use all the
tact and COED nature we have In this
crisis, and whatever IL before us, we are
SURF that from hdviees we have from
Washington. as we'll as from the lips Of
John n. Mott himself. who met Us In
London, we are going out not only to rep
resent the Y. M, G. A. but also friendly
mission from the people Of the United
States to the people Of Russia carry
personally a letter signed by some Of the
biggest people Of Great Britain. both Of
labor, capital and church. az well as state.
a paper which has been passed by the
censor, from the Christians Of Great Brit
ain to the Christians Of Russia.
"Our trip 80 far has been very pleasant.
We are on ship taken from the Germans,
with the German language written all
over Il. the name Of which I know both
now and what 1t was before the allies got
| her, but she Ia new serving us, Our party
Of IL Is divided in three cabins. We have
had whales along side spouting and this
morning we had quite q little snow. II
Is bitter cold and the little Riddles are
suffering from sea sickness and cold.
The stcerage ] fancy IL unbearable. and
SO they have the run Of the ship. The
boat Ia quite steady and we have no fear
but that we shall reach our port. have
undresssd every night, somehow feeling
that God. whose work this ia, will oon-
slider the end for which we have 80 far
come and from which before this we
would have turned aside had It not been
His will to look after us.
you cannot tell how I would like to
have gone to France to be with Or. Ben
ton. Byron, Roy and the other Vermont
men. but I have felt my task was here.
and a wonderful opportunity I am sure.
you ask about the future. We do not
know where we are going to land. only
some northern port and you will have
to consult your map and guess the rest
For address, while 1 am not at liberty to
say where our national headquarters will
be in Russia, I may say this. that OUT
mail should be addressed to me care OF
the American consul-general. Moscow. and
L suggest that all who will write me there
will see you and get q copy Of the Russian
signature. which I send you, which should
be OH all mail. Could ask you to receive
any mail that friends might send who
| were not able to get the signature per.
sonally, and would you put 1t on 80 that
the Russians, who do not read English
may be able to send the mail forward
When get It that will be another matter
know you would redirect any such mai
to me, and you may we'll guess how glat
will be to get every bit Of it.
Success to you at Abnaki. Tell Byrol
that when come back will try to brinl
back some stuff also for the Abnaki mu
scum. Shall miss my own camp Thu
year, and how miss the good old U. s
you may we'll imagine. Write me, ant
ask all who will to do the same. Their
Is no turning back now, and this week vii
find US on Russian soil. From which
hope to get of letter to you from TIM
to time.
Goodbye. good luck. and don't forge
us. Remembrances to all my friends I,
Burlington and the State.
Sincerely yours.
ERNEST L.. RAND.
Any person desiring to write to Mr.
Rand should communicate with Mr.. Nc
Govern at State Y. NJ. c. A. in the loca
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