The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-05-23
MOTHER LOCAL boy
HEADED FOR FRANCE
BEN ALLEN WRITES THAT HE
HAS ARRIVED AT CAMP
MERRITT, N. j.
PRAISES THE RED CROSS
GIVES INTERESTING DESCRIP
TION OF TRIP ENROUTE FROM
CAMP SHERMAN.

i
Ben Allen to his mother, Mrs. j. H.
Allen of this city.
Camp Merritt, N. j., May S, 1918.
My Dear Mother:
| Well | am in the state of New
Jersey in different camp and every
thing is fine. Sent you a telegram
this morning informing you of my
safe arrival. Had a great trip lasting
about 81 hours, every moment of
which was enjoyably spent. Didn't
get very tired as we had berths and
plenty to eat. Every place we stopped
| Red Cross representatives met us and
passed around apples and everything
else we wanted. A Philadelphia they
gave US quite reception and also at
| Washington, D. c.. / mailed you 6
letter from there yesterday morning.
After leaving Camp Sherman about
9 a. M, Friday we got going through
| West Virginia, sometime in the after
noon. It's hilly country with lots o.
mines and oil fields. Rather backward
| in appearance but in some places the
scenery is grand Their hills covered
with green trees and an occasional
shack of the natives makes one
think he is passing through some new
and undeveloped country. At Parkers-
burg, w. Va, a big crowd was out to
greet us and to wish us the best of
luck. Nearly every town showed as
much enthusiasm. Old Civil War
veterans would come running out wav-
| ing flags and hats and children would
yell their heads off. Quite a royal
| welcome and it makes a person feel
proud to be in a uniform. Woke up
yesterday morning at Brunswick, Md,
where our train ran parallel with the
| Potomac for many miles. Along the
side of it was canal on which canal
boat drawn by two mules was quite an
interesting sight. I had never seen
anything of it's kind.
I fell in love with Maryland because
| of it's apparent peacefulness. Every
where could be seen quiet looking vii
lagos and the farms with their
orchards appeals to ones desire for
an ideal place to live.
We arrived in Washington and stop
ped for an hour during which time we
marched out to the capitol buildings.
Didn't see much of them however.
| only the administration building and
few others, also the Washington
monument from a distance. The
grounds are very pretty and wide
driveways and large green trees adds
to its beauty.
After leaving our next stop was at
Baltimore 1t seemed as though our
train was on the outskirts of the city
for about all we could see was rail-
road tracks and buildings at a dis
lance. / remember going through
Chester, Pa, before reaching Philadel-
phia. Took an interest look at it be
cause I believe Father has told some
thing about it in connection with his
boyhood days. Or is it Wash McNeice
| who said that was the place they
couldn't set hen unless the wind was
blowing in the right direction?
| Got in Philadelphia about 8 p. m.
Stopped for a short time but didn't
get off the train. The Red Cross
there was very liberal for they passed
around candy, apples and cigarettes.
From there on to Jersey City very
few stops were made but going
through every town all the fellows put
their heads out of the windows to let
| yelled and waved their hands to let
them know that we were there. !
had bugle and made enough noise to
wake the dead. Just about sunset we
arrived in one Of the suburbs Of New
York City. Could see the Woolworth
building and several other tall ones
4 and with all the noise and crowds Of
peolpe could realize that was in
the biggest city in the world. Part Of
the time we were delayed in railroad
yards and near part of the Hudson
river. Could see several abandoned
sailing vessels that were lying along
| the cocks.
4 Arrived at Camp Merritt about 10 p,
m. and by the time we got straighten-
ed out it was midnight. Lots of the
barracks were empty and we located
enough mattresses so with my all
i pillow I had very good sleep. Got
| up about 7:30 a. m. and Immediately
started in to see the sights. This looks
pretty good, anyway, it's far better
than Camp Sherman for beauty and
climate. Lots of trees around cur
barracks so it doesn't seem so much
j like a jail. / really like it and am
glad / have left Ohio. Our barracks
4 is right near Y. M. c. A. and also
/ Merritt Hall where good eats are serv-
j ed. It's good deal like dairy lunch
and ate breakfast and dinner there
! today. Quite treat to eat when you
want it, but it makes you dig down in
your pockets to pay the bill.
After dinner we had inspection by
i regular old devil of a major. In look
ing at our trousers or shirts whenever
he would find tear or hole he would
rig it open and tell US to request new