Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-10-31
GLEN TURNER WRITES
Somewhere in France
Sept. 80 1913
Dear Friend:

Dear Friend:-
have been home just little over
two weeks and will try and write yoA
about my trip to Aix-le-Bain 1
was there for exactly seven days and
] became pretty well acquainted with
the place. On July 9Th number Of
the boys from this camp-myself in
cluded-left on leave train for
seven-day furlough.
Aix-ies- Bains Is city of about
90OO population but during the sum-
per season it is easily sweiled to. be-
tween 25O0O and 5Uuvv. 1t il To-
eated among the famous French
Alps. just outside Of the city lim-
it's to the east is Mount Reward with
an altitude slightly over 5000 feet
while to the west lies Lake Bourget
10 kilometers in length and from two
to three in width. For centuries
past this beautiful city and its sur
rounding country have been the play
ground Of the. princesses and princes
Of the old world and in recent years
many distinguished Americans were
numbered among its guests. Previ-
ous to the war it rivaled Monte Carlo
and some people ara of the opinion
that it surpassed the famous resort
of the Mediterranean.
One Of the chief assets Of the city
are the hot sulphur springs that flow
out Of the mountain within the very
city limits. It is known far and
wide on this side Of the Atlantic and
is to Europe what Hot Springs Ark.
is to the United States. A great
bathing establishment is located here
and Thousands Of people cure their
rheumatism and other similar all
ments at Aix-les-Bains every year.
Besides usiIk the water for bathing
they also drink it every evening be-
tween FIVE and seven o'clock vast
crowds can be seen sitting around
the public fountain drinking the
water as per direction Of their physi-
ciian. II is almost second religion
with them and 80 firm is their belief
in this treatment that It is little won-
der they are greatly benefited by it.
The American Y. M. g. A. is the
headquarters for the boys Of the A.
E. F. and is located in the "Grand
Cefcle." It is mammoth buildins
and wonderfully suited for the pur-
pose. Before the war it was no.
torious gambling joint where games
Of every description were played and
/ am informed that in most Of the
stmes the "sky was the limit" l
was also told that the main building
was erected in about 1925 but since
then the increase in business has
made several substantial additions
necessary two great wings having
BEEN added. The left ,wing was
used for dance hall and a larger
restaurant while in the right are To-
Gated a theatre with a seating capac-
ity of more than 1000 and reading
writing and lecture room. A great
terrace overlooking beautiful park
filled with gorgeous flowers extends
across the rear Of the building. The
main section is one great large room
the ceiling Of which is supported by
100 meters Of giant colonnades. It
is indeed wonderful building and
the Y. NJ. c. A. and the soldiers of
the "A. E. F. as well are indeed for
tunate that such place was avail
able.
Practically everything for the en-
tertainment Of the boys on leave is
in charge of the "Y" and consists
mostly of sightseeing excursions.
Will try to tell you about few that
I took. The first was Climb up a
mountain to a place called "the Cats
Tooth" Just why SO named have
never been able to find out for
it resembles anything else that you
could think Of more than it does a
cats tooth. This is the way the trip
is made. You rent bicycle or as
the French say 'bicyclette" and ride
out about mile from town over a
splendid road and you think the trip
is fine. Then you start going up
grade for short time and the nump-
ine gets ti-esome SO you get of and
rush in order to get rest. From
then on it is pushing about nine
+r-.h. Of the time until final]v about
hrr wav =, hn'-' -~d c'f, 80
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