The Marietta journal and courier., 1918-08-23
FROM A NURSE IN FRANCE
July 5, 1918.
No. Canadian General Hospital
B. E. F. France.


cal, and it is very splendid and up to
date. Wednesday it was formally
given over to the French, and we had
some very distinguished visitors, be-
ginning with President Poincare, Lord
Derby, Sir Robert Borden and others
two numerous to mention. Clemen-
ceau was to have been here but some
thing prevented, for which / am very
sorry as he is the biggest man IN
France to-day in spite of his years.
Our hospital is near Paris, we go
in on the train or tram, we are near
the famous Bois de Vincennes, which
aside from its beauty is where Bolo
was recently executed. You may re-
member that it was Clemenceau who
had the courage to bring this traitor
of France to trial The others knew
about him but did nothing. France
more so than any other country has
certainly been unfortunate in her pol
itics.
We are living in beautiful old
chateau. How | wish you could see
it, | am enclosing a card but rather
hesitate to do SO as it gives so little
real idea of the place. There is a
lovely stone verandah in the back,
about fifteen feet wide and very long
overlooking a beautiful sloping gar
den. all this also overlooks the Marine.
We do not get great deal of sleep
as we are visited by air raids almost
every night. l am getting so l can
almost sleep through any but the
worst. First we hear the siren
whistles from the city, and they have
the most dreadful wall like soul in
distress, then along comes the fire
men blowing a bugle. The people
then leave their small houses for shell
ters provided by the city, it is these
running past my window which usual
ly awakens me. Then the search
lights are sent all over the skies to
trace the Hun machines, then they
begin firing one at the other. One
sees the flashes of the gun fire meet
ing, it is very thrilling. These men
are wonderfully brave who go up.
When it is all over the man again
blows the bugle and the churchbells
ring and the people return to their
homes. To listen to them one would
think they were returning from a
party they are so gay and yet they
really take it all more seriously than
any other country
Yesterday there was a great time
in Paris celebrating the Fourth of
July. The whole city was almost
smothered under large and small Am
erican flags. There was a parade OF
American and French soldiers but
missed that. This was to celebrate
the remaining of street to that of
President Wilson, although l don't
see how the French people will man
age to pronounce it, as the letter W
is the one they use the least. The
papers must have informed you of al
this by this time. 1t was splendid
to have seen it first hand. | later
went to the American Woman's Club
and had a nice time, am getting
ready for my leave and expect to
spend it in Touraine which is known
as the garden of France, alco as the
chauteau country because it is noted
for it's many beautiful chauteaux.
Speaking of bread, every once in
a while l have little upset time of il
you know we eat the very dark wal
bread 1t is now almost two years
since l have eaten white bread, and
sometimes this bread gets sour and
then we do not fare so well, other.
wise the food is very good. We have
a splendid French cook, how l long
for some cornbread, l almost believe
/ would sell my soul for some Mary,
land fried chicken. Do not worry
about the clothes you sent to the
Red Cross, l know from experience
that they are months and months
reaching this side. There is a gir
here whe has just had word that
things sent her before Christmas
have just arrived at the French ware
house. AS it contains cookies anC
such like she is wondering what they
will be like when she opens the box.
This afternoon we are having sew,
raj American nurses to tea, they are
from Seattle, Washington. | think
they look so neat in their dark blue
sits and black hats.
would love to join over if could
go on taking care of the French.
You must try and agitate rank for
for the nurse if you possibly can, it
really means a lot, surely America
is not going to let Canada and Aus