Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-25
LETTER WRITTEN
BY MISS WATTS
Harrisburg Girl Sends Inter
esting Description of Ex-
periences in France

Mechanicsburg, Pa, Jan. 25.-In
recent letter from Miss Marian
b. c. Watts, who is doing Y. M. c.
A.. work somewhere in France" to
her sister. Miss Anna NJ. Watts, of
Mechanicsburg. she says in part:
Mothers letter came yesterday,
dated November 8. You can believe
was glad to have it. Bird had two
the day before and we had known
for five days there was American
mail IN. Ask mother to send along
any letters of interest. This is q good
way for me to keep even. Ask any
one to send big, good looking pic
lures Tor me! Our walls are big and
bare and the boys want home things.
The things they say most are, THAT
makes me think of home" or Say,
that looks like home" Birds pink
check gingham apron is a top notch
success. She was washing the win
dows when one boy came up and
said: Miss, that reminds me of
mother!" No one need ever think
that the boys forget them for one
minute. L heard a boy say last
night, Il wrote to my mother on
october 20 and not again until last
night" L smiled at him and said:
Don't let it happen again. I've just
for letters over home" He came
right up with his hand out and said,
as he shook hands, Thank you,
Miss, I'll try not to. 1t will be easier
now that the "Y' is here. You can't
write much with eight fellows in the
tent"
Another boy said: do you re-
member, Miss, the first day you
came here? l looked up and saw
two ladies-American ladies they
were. l felt you had come right
every hour and, every day. We live
about two miles from the Hut. In
the home of a French family. Our
room opens right on TO a garden,
with French windows. We do not
have to go into the house at all,
simply come through q big iron
gate, up a stone path and and over
stone terrace and into our room.
The garden is enhancing, with
large block gazing hall. Our room is
about the size of mothers room.
We have two walnut beds, a ward
robe, q bureau, q table, washstand,
two small stands, three funeral
chairs, arm chair, stove, two trunks,
several bags and our two large
selves. We take turns in breathing.
We have one small lamp and two
candles and are lucky to have these.
We have a dear little Georgette, who
comes in shortly after o'clock,
lights our fire and brings each cup
of chocolate and two pieces of brown
bread toast. This is breakfast. She
also brings us pitcher OF not
water. When we are dressed, we
put on our coats and start on our
two-mile tramp, Cold? My gracious!
l am wearing three pairs of stock
ings and thinking of the fourth. 1
don't know what / would do with
out my fur coat-literally use 1t
night and day. l then put on my rue
sack, night and morning. If 1 had to
carry my bag, my hands would
freeze. We have to pay for every
stick of wood we burn.
In every stage of our journey so
far we find some particularly nice
somebody to belong to. On the way
over it was DR.. Ladd and DIR. Percy.
In Paris, Mrs. Bowles. In town, Mr..
Cleveland and the dearest old chap
lain of Base Hospital IT, and out
here, Major Beale, who came to the
"Y" the first night and told us to
command him at any time. profess
sional or otherwise. So you see, the
Lord has us in his keeping.
Our days are hectic-five thou
sand things TO do all at once. we
have three boys from the regiment
detailed to help us and they are
very good: so polite and thoughtful.
Gertrude is coming down tomorrow
and I will be delighted to see her.
We had a funny time tonight when
we came back to our rooms. Madame
sent a polite invitation for us to visit
them. So we went over and such a
sputter and talk! Pa, Ma, daughter
and we two. They with as much
English as 1 French. I can assure
YOU it was rich. Our little Georgette's
husband was killed last spring.
When she told US and showed his
picture in her locket we all cried.
Can't you see us? She is 21 and
so pretty and eager to make us COM
Portable. We come in half frozen
to find pur slippers on the wee por-
celain Stove. Isn't it sweet of
her?
1 wish we had more time, but you
can tell Miss L. I can rattle off the
money at great rate now. Be good
girls now till I get back. With love
to each and every one,
MARIAN b. c. WATTS.