Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-01

was pleasant to see the pretty little
villages nestled in the valleys with no
signs Of war, but this soon changed
and We saw scattered little settle
ments which had been shelied, trees
that had been shattered. and finally
a whole town that had been complete
ly demolished. The Aeople had al
ready returned to some Of the houses,
the French are certainly very plucky.
and even in the most hopeless ruins
they find something worth saving
and building upon
Was very glad to leave Paris for
active work, admit that / miss the
comforts, but am glad of the oppor-
tunity to be here. And it is an OPP
portunity. If you could spend one
day here behind the lines and see the
wounded men as they come in, and
note their gratefulness for the help
Of the Red Cross which you good peo-
pie in the States are making posi-
BILE by your contributions and your
work, l am sure you would not think
twice when the day comes for your
work at the Red Cross but go at
once and help.
Until I came here, there had been
no chaplain with either this hospital,
the Mobile section or No. ITO, SO the
men were most cordial in their well
come to me, just as YOU were on the
Christmas Eve when I came to Au-
gusta. Tonight after sunset,
buried five men on the hillside. and
thought of the poor people at home
to whom I must write such words of
comfort as / can. Tomorrow / must
go the rounds of the sick words and
make out reports for the Home Ser
vice Bureau at Paris so that the rel
atives may be written to, and to these
men l take bar chocolate and cigar
cites. We haze sort of canteen
here in our tent, and just at present
we are all out of smoking materials
and chocolate, the little we have left
must be kept for the wounded men
and this is given to them free Of
charge. 1t is not pleasant to have to
| tell the men as they come in that we
| are all out, but it is almost impossi-
! bic to find any such supplies.
| How good the reports are. we are
making steady progress and everyone
! is most hopeful. One hears the
greatest praise for our men, the
| French people are simply wild with
left the hotel in Paris, the proprietor
Ga fairly young man who had been
! invalided home) threw his arms
around my neck wishing me a safe
! return. This is the attitude Of all the
French people and they offer US ev-
cry courtesy and attention.
Augusta 23rd. Have just returned
from dinner and the Major next to
whom I sat at mess, told me that he
was married at st. Johns Church,
Boston, several Of his relatives are
priests of our Communion. while he
himself is the seventh in his line of
descent to act as warden Of one of
| our Maryland churches.
Last night one Of the enlisted men
came in and after talking for a few
minutes, he asked me if l did not
come from Augusta. l knew him
when he said that he did some OF the
electrical work in the Rectory when
it was repaired two years ago. Later
on he brought in another fellow, they
are both members of FIR. Decary's
parish, and we spent pleasant time
wandering through the Rectory and
the streets Of Augusta. They were
| not wounded men but part of the hos
pital section.
We need magazines badly in all the
camps, when a call is made, or better.
do not wait for the CALL but put all
the magazines that you can into the
mail, put on one cent stamp and
hand into the post-ofice without any
address or wrapper and it will be sent
to the soldiers. Saturday Evening
Posts, Leslie's Golfers and any Of the
story magazines are desirable. Pop
ular Mechanics are good, too. Books
they do not care for.
When return, hope to find that
the choir boys have been as faithful
during my absence as they were while
was at home. If it is possible q am
| not quite sure that it will he. but
from reports I believe that it can be
done) when ! come back I will bring