The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-08-15

From Fern Grosndyks, Who IL Now
In Washinston. D. c.

Dear Folks At Home:
/ will try and tell you something
of my trip, and Washington.
The train was late out Of Liberal.
/ had a pleasant ride to Hutchinson.
There were lots of soldiers on the
train. They were going from Arizo-
ma to Ohio. My train did not go
from Hutchinson till IL :35 a. m, so
had. all morning. Saw friend who
was leaving at this same time, being
drafted. There were some soldiers
from Deming on, and as l knew one
of the boys it was all right for me
to talk to them. Some of them were
certainly good looking soldiers-tan-
ned and strong. l sure had fine
time. just love to talk with them.
learned so much never knew. They
were on as far rs X. c. This side
of there, there were some sailors on.
l waited two hours in X. c., but never
went outside Of the station. At st.
Louis l got acquainted with little
woman who had come from FL Paso.
We went and got our breakfast and
walked around. (The aeroplanes are
making so much noise right over the
house that l can hardly hear myself
Think We rode together to Cincin-
natti, which is her home. Oh, yes, l
crossed the Mississippi river at st.
Louis. 1t isn't quite as wonderful as
the ocean, but is quite little stream,
nevertheless. The farther east / came
the more trees there were. The
fields are mostly just little patches in
between the trees and hills. 1t was
very beautiful and wonderful-so
different from the middle west. /
must tell you, saw some wonderful
corn; some in eastern Kansas, and
from there on east. Lots Of it 8 and
10 feet high. In western Ohio and
West Virginia the crops are not SO
far along. Climbing the Allegheny
mountains was nothing like climbing
the Rockies. It didn't seem like we
were very high and Of course we
were not. AS we came through Cum
berland Gap talked with girl who
got on at Cumberland. She was
coming to Washington. Her sister
lives here. She says 1t was the farth-
est away from home she has ever
been. She was never OIL horse
said she was afraid of them. saw
a place where two rivers flowed to-
gether, and was just the color of the
ocean, and some was almost yellow.
I'm telling you the truth, they just
flowed along side by each and didn't
mix bit. 1t sure looked funny.
There are some beautiful rock for
nations in West Virginia and Mary
land-just like it tells about in the
geography, but it never seemed real
until saw them. ! saw a good many
women in unionalls working on the
railroad, also as switch "men" at
the stations. Negro women do most
of the work that Negro men used to
do in the big stations. haven't seen
many women laborers in Washington
except, Of course, in the government
service. Just before ! came into
Washington got to talking to a lady.
I told her about not knowing anyone,
and not knowing where I was goinl
to room, or anything. She was just
coming home from spending q weeh
at their cabin up in West Virgins
| in the mountains. She said to &c
ahead and report, and then II was
too tired to see about a boarding
place, just to come to her house and
stay until l could get a good place
She gave me her name and address
and phone number. went ahead
and reported-but I'm getting ahead
of my story. When / came into the
great Union station, which is a won.
derful place, ! went to the womans
room. l rented a private wash room
which is just almost like a modern
bath room, hot and cold water. and
/ took bath, changed my clothes-o1
course they didn't need it at all, but
then you see / was going to report
to the government. This wash room
was furnished with a towel, soap
comb and furnished all clean as q
pin. I'd like to have you guess what
the charges were, but haven't time
| they were 10 cents. You know
you've heard how they charge sucf
enormous prices for everything ir
Washington; well, that's q sample
went to report at the Ford build
I, ing. It was the Ford Motor car build
ing, but was turned over to the gov
ernment. Here l was given lot Of
papers to fill out, had to go to tht
vaccination room, where lady look