The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-15
WANTS KANSAS AVENUE
Europe Has No Scenery To Compare
With 1t, Writes Ralph Davis.

sT have seen many wonderful
sights. historical places and interest
ing things; but after all Kansas ave
1ue, Topeka, Kan, will look mighty
good to me-" says Ralph w. Davis,
with the transportation corps in
France, in letter to his parents. Mr..
and Mrs. s. C. Davis. 1895 west street.
Davis tells considerable of his travels
from his-letter followsa
Paris is wonderful city. I saw
the Garden of the Tuileries. the
Champs Elysees. Eiffel tower, the
Wheel, the Arc de Triomphe. Notre
Dame Cathedral. They were just TAX
ing away the sand bags which had
been placed there for fear of a Ger
man invasion. The Arc de Triomphe
is wonderful piece of work. They
tured from the Germans. l saw the
Hotel de Vile, Bastile and several
other places of interest. The Arc de
Triomphe was built by Napoleon
/ Bonaparte to commemorate the vic
tories of 1S12-1815. I stayed at the
went to Lyons. the place where silk is
manufactured. The ride from Lyons
to Marseilles is truly wonderful. The
railroad follows the old historic Rhone
river and the Alps mountains are in
the distance all covered with snow.
The quaintest little French villages
are nestled in the hills. saw old
forts, -monasteries, castles and noun
tains close to the river just like you
read about in books. Marseilles is
the second largest city in France.
The next day we took a sight seeing
trip over the city. The Mediterra-
mean in the distance. The sea is as
clear as crystal. We went up on
| Dame cathedral We could see the
city down in the valley with the noun
! tainS around it. 1 also saw the zoo
| logical gardens which are wonderful
! That evening 1 saw Gaby Deslys in
| chin, Chin Chow" at the Casino.
|. The trip to Nice is great, and Nice
is beautiful city I am writing you
at fashionable club room. Every
thing is like summer. palm trees, roses
/ and oranges. The government pays all
| hotel expenses and I am staying at
| Hotel st. Barnard and 4 am living Ike
millionaire for q whole week The
Casino at Monte Carlo surpasses de-
| scriptfon- 1t is the most wonderful
thing L have ever seen. 1 saw the
J famous roulette wheel and the way
/ they gamble Situated across from
the Casino are some Of the finest no.
| tells in Europe.
i From Nice went to Mentone. very
pretty place. The butter there is
made out OF goats milk with no salt
and il is the finest butter I have ever
tasted Tomorrow I will go to venti-
| l1iglia. Italy It is no wonder the
French and Italians are artistic. They
+ have the climate, traditions and seen
cry to make them So. Even the little
children paint and sing. America has
/ to take second place in this matter.
This is my last day III beautiful
/ Italy. From here I go back to st. Ma
zaire via Bordeaux so as to see the
| Pyrenees mountains. I Will soon be
back home at St Naza:re. the only
home 1 have now. / am waiting and
longing for the day when 1 can start
for the good old L. S.A. have seen
many wonderful sights, historical
places and, many interesting things but
after al Kansas avenue. Topeka
Kan. VIII look mighty good to me- !
received my gold service stripe on my
birthday.