The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-01-25
Letter from w. E Honey.

The following letter received by Geo.
Vasentine from VIM. E. Honey. form.
, erly an employee Of The TIMES, now
with the Shirley hospital unit in France
of which DR.. Geo p. Sackrider ia an
officer, will interest their many friends
in this county.
December 90, 1917.
Somewhere In France.
Dear Friend George
Your package of candies came yester.
day and sure wish that 1 could tell
you how much it was appreciated.
There was nothing that could have
touched the spot as they did. Candies
OF all kinds are at premium here in
our town. Our unit is mighty fortu.
nate in being stationed where we are,
fortunate In having building already
for as to move into and change it from
hotel into hospital and not have to
stop and build our hospital as some of
the units have, and our fellows have
been lucky in having fairly good
place to sleep and most of the time q
real place to eat When we first came
here we were fed by the French people
and 1t was pretty slim feed every meal
but a soon as our own cooks got on the
job we were all right. In the room l
am sleeping in now l have electric
lights, fire place, private bath with
tub, double wash bowl and other things
necessary about the bath room, 80 you
zee we are not altogether out in the
wilds.
1t was wonderful Christmas we had
here. Real feeds, concert, movie show
and dance. The chef got number
OF us fellows together and we had
feed of our own down in the kitchen.
We started out with fine co:aial, then
cream tomato soup then some red
wine. white wine, stewed rabbit. veget.
ables, mashed potatoes roast tender. r
loin steaks, real butter, apple pie.
cheese, then considerable champagne
and some French drip coffee to wind up
the meal. Some feed, and the total cost
was only 81 francs apiece, or about
81 20. We can get the very best cham.
pagne for 10 francs, and the cheaper
kind for as low as francs; some differ
ent from the eight to ten dollar prices
We pay back in the States. We should
have had turkey for the dinner but it
did not arrive in time 80 We are to have
the real Christmas dinner Sunday.
We are all working hard now and
have been on the jump every minute
since we landed. Had our first patients
just four weeks from the time we
landed; opened the second hospital
four days later. l am working in the
second one, have charge of all clothing
of our patients and am responsible for
all of it, also have TO oversee all the
fatigue work of our building and about
seventeen other things besides, 80 I am
sure on the jump every minute of the
day and sometimes of the night. 1t Is
one big job to get one of these places
into smooth running order. All of our
patients SO far have been medical cases,
that is We have not receiyed any from
the trenches. Most of the boys we
have had in here so far have been from
Alabama and Texas, and this climate
Is rather severe for them 30 much 30
that have been called upon to do
little work in my line-embalming.
The first three weeks we were here
my opinion of the Sunny France I had
heard 80 much about, did not amount
to much, because the sun was only out
about twenty minntes on two different
days, but since it has turned cold it has
been very wonderful weather. Very
little snow so far.
Do not get chance to talk with
Lieut.. Sackrider very often no as he
ls stationed in another hospital; it sure
seems good to be able to talk with some
one occasionally about some things
back home. Must stop now and go
down town and mail this, then come
back for short arm inspection. Will
write again as soon as can get to it.
Thanking you again for the candy.
Would like to bowl couple of games
with you tonight. Would be glad to
hear from you at any time.
Sincerely yours,