Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-03

Terhune and Margaret EQlLn lernuue
son and daughters Of Mr.. and Mrs. Ber,
Terhune, 1901 East Main street. Nc
doubt all the Juniors know that Miss
Elder is Mrs. Terhunes sister. We
hope some of the Juniors will write
letters to Miss Elder through the
Courier Junior. If they do we will see
that she gets the paper in which they
appear. The best letter will bring the
writer surprise prise.
Miss Elders wonderfully interest,
Ing letter follows:
Somewhere in France y
April 2. 1918.
Dear George, Mary e. and Margaret D.
think Of you all SO often and wish
you could see some Of the things have
seen since left home.
We really had fine weather for our
trip across the water.
We saw lots Of big fish and one day
they seemed to be racing with our boat.
They would jump high out Of the water
and then swim close to the top when
we could see them. They were just
about as big as you are, George, and
some larger. Our life belts we wore on
the boat were not like the ones told
you about but we wore them over our
heads, one section on the back and two
in front and they were tied with straps.
The front pad was supposed to be right
up under the chin and the back pad
across the shoulders as far down as the
straps would let it go. We had to wear
them or days all the time and they
were very warm. Our unit had big rub
her suits to wear If we had needed
them but we were very thankful that
we did not. OF course we had lots Of
IRE drills and we never knew whether
It was real trouble or drill. Some ex-
citement.
There was little paper printed on
the boat that told us the news that was
received by wireless every few days.
We were sure very glad to step of
on land again. Some Of the men were
sick when the water was rough and
they said they never would go back on
the water II they ever got on land
again, but think they will change
their minds and take q chanceawhen
The time comes.
The trains here are not like the G. b.
q @. The cars are small and they are
divided into compartments. There Is
supposed to be eight in compartment
and there are no toilets in most OF
them. They lock the door and you are
in until somebody from the outside lets
you out. The engines are very small
and the freight cars are marked to mold
forty men or eight horses SO you
know they are small
It was interesting to see the air raid
on Paris. It was a clear night and with
the big search lights we could see the
airships and hear the guns. None OF
the bombs came very close to us. There
was sure lot Of noise for q while.
The day we got here the people
set their time ahead one hour so as to
save light so now we get up at a. M,
lt 10 really five. They say we are about
seven hours ahead Of you folks at
home, so you must be about having
supper now.
Miss Thompson and visited girls
school here one afternoon. We just hap
pened to go to 1t and 1t was very in
tereSting to see their work and try to
talk to them. We use our feet and
hands both to talk over here. They
Allowed us an American flag that they
had drawn and colored and one nurse
Of her waist so she took it out to show
them and the teacher thought she
wanted to give it to them, 80 she took
II and pinned 1t upon the wall. We had
o laugh on the nurse who lost the flag,
but she said she was glad for them to
have 1t. 1t was small silk flag. The
teacher went out and gathered some
flowers and gave them to us.
The children wear wooden shoes here
instead Of shoes or rubbers, They wear
moccasins and just step into these
wooden shoes when they go out. They
make some noise when they walk. 1t
has been raining here several days so
most every one has their wooden shoes
on and the nurses are wearing their
rubber boots F,
The houses are built so close to the
IL, 70 Lots COZ RI.
ing. The hall that leads to the living
room is used for the cows and horses
to 60 through too Some keep the stock
down stairs and live up stairs.
Door knobs are pulled off here when
the people leave and want to lock the
doors.
The roads are fine here but we do not
see any cars, only the government autos
ana trucks.
George you would be interested to
see the way they farm here. They hitch
one horse in front Of the other and
have three or four to plow and the
woman holds the handles of the pillow
and the man walks by the horses with
q whip to guide them. 1t is sure a slow
way to pillow for we saw some people
blowing for several days and only had
q very small field done.
Well, this letter is getting quite long
I thought I would write long before
this but have been quite busy. I am
still on night duty and perhaps will
finish this month. Our first patients are
in good condition now, but I suppose
We viii get some more real soon. Our
boys have some very interesting stories
to tell about the front and the expert
ences they have had since they are
here. We are all hoping that we won't
be needed over here very. long.
Now I want you all to write real
often and tell me all about your school
work and everything Be good and help
mamma for that will be your bit that
you should do while we are over here.
I sent Halcyon a card but have not
written any letters only to the home
folks. Hoping. to hear from you real
soon, am,
Yours with lots Of love, Aunt Mary.
Kiss Bill for me.
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