Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-04-17


following letter from her nephew, J.
w. Shaw. who is in France:
Advance Mobile Park, Briey.
March IL, 1919.
Dear Auntie and All:
Just returned from my service leave
yesterday noon and found two letters
from you in addition to several others
and sure was very glad to hear. Sure
glad you have been having such a
mild winter. Saw in the paper
couple of weeks ago, however, that you
had big blizzard, but hope it did not
last long. We are not attached to any
division. No. never had any coolies.
We have always lived in new barracks
and were never bothered with them.
u guess we have been pretty lucky in
that respect. Was hoping when | got
back from Monaco that there would
be some news about going home, but
there is none. They are going home
fast now and L suppose they will get
to us before very long; hope SO, at
least. Very sorry to learn that you
have not been feeling very well, but
hope you are feeling better before now.
Will have to tell you about my trip
now. Did not get to write anything
but cards while down there, seemed as
if there was so much to see that had
no time for writing We left here two
weeks ago Sunday, so were gone fif
teen days. Took us three days to get
down there and was an interesting
trip, only rather tiresome before the
end. Went from here to Nancy, from
thee to Toul and on to Dion, where
we were held up about a full day
waiting for a train, but were glad to
get nights sleep. The accommoda
tons i'll the coaches over here do not
compare very favorabiy with those
trains is pretty near unbelievable.
We were supposed to spend our leave
in Nice, but the hotels were all full
there, SO we were given the option Of
going to Monte Carlo, Monaco, or Mem
ton, France, right on the Italian Dor
der. We decided to take a chance on
Monaco and got off there.
Arrived there about the middle of
the afternoon Wednesday and were as
signed to a hotel right away. | was
lucky in getting good one. | got a
front room on the fourth floor with a
balcony overlooking the harbor, which
is very beautiful, and in fact the whole
place looked Ike piece Of fairyland.
The table was fine and my appetite
was normal, which means, as you very
we'll know, considerable Had as good
accommodations in all ways as the
civilian guests and sure seemed good
to get away after being in these bar
racks and mess halls over here, for a
little change. Were there until Thurs
day night, so we had about eight days
and half there and was sightseeing
most Of the time Took an automob lie
trip to the Italian border and crossed
over the line. so that I can now say
that | have been in Italy. Took the
trip in motor boat to Mention on the
Mediterranean. Went up to the top
of the mountain overlooking Monaco
on the cog railroad, which gave good
view over the sea and the shore. Went
to Nice one day on the trolley car.
That was beautiful trip. The noun
tains on one side looming up pretty
high. many a day the clouds would be
below the tops Of them, and the sea
on the other side. 1t did not seem to
: be at all rought while We were there,
and is very blue. The vegetation is
well colored now and the orange and
lemon groves are full of ripe fruit
The sun shone practically all the time
we were there; one>small drizzle one
morning was the only reminder that
we were not out of France. They say
the climate there compares favOrably
with California or Florida. Wish you
could see it some time. 1t would be
the best place in the world to spend
winter in. The Y. M. G.. A. has leased
one of the finest buildings in Monte
Carlo which was used formerly for
an art gallery and grand opera and
is beautiful place, and have got it
fixed up fine. Have vaudeville show
every evening and | only, missed one
evening, / think, when | went to bed
early after trip. They had some
thing doing all the time, and that GER
tainly helped to make the stay there
enjoyable. They also had trips over
the town with a guide, and there are
some fine old sights all over the old
town. 1t is an independent state ruled,
over by the Prince of Monaco and is
about eight miles square, and most OF
that is too steep to be inhabited even
by goats There are very few private
dwellings in the town, everything be
ing hotels. All the natives seem to be
either in the hotel or shop business or
government service. The country has
standing army of 125 men. The ca
sino, of course, is the main center of
attraction and the prime pal source Of
revenue 1t is open now and seems
to be doing good business. | went
through it one morning. 1t is some pa
latial place They only allow Ameri-
cans in uniform to visit it from $50