The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-01-10
LIFE ON THE ocean Deep
LETTER WRITTEN BY MISS
IDA MAY kEENE
Describes Her Journey From
New York to England; the
N0tabIes Aboard


mother Mrs. Abel Keen:
Dearest Mother:-My "h u n h"
was right. 1t scarcely seems true
to me even yet, that we are really
or our way. We have been out
about thirty hours with very
smooth sea. However, one of the
stewards said by tomorrow the din
nirg saloon crowd would be thinning
out So far we have all had good
"sea legs" We are lucky enough
TO be on one of the largest boats of the
English lines, ard it is so good 10
be treated like white folks again.
Every ore breathed such sigh of
relief when we left Hotel Albert be-
hind, with its confusion, crowded
quarters, nasty help ard its most
depressing atmosphere. The Brit
ish government is taking very good
care of us at present.
have spent most of my day on
deck, four ard half laps of which
make a mile, so we can tell just
about how far we are walking if we
care TO count This forenoon one OF
the girls read to us The Love Let
tiers of a Rookie" 1t was just the
thing for a trip like this-a lot of
laugh in IT.
The most serious objection |
have, just now, TO army life, is the
high collars we are compelled 10
wear. They are turned over so it
makes eight .hicknesses, and the
flannel waist makes me feel like my
face is pulled right out. l am sure,
by the time / am through l shall be
delicate old maid with cotton
in my ears, red flannel union SIits,
with ar extra piece of flannel for my
chest, abdomen and head.
They say Hoover ard young Taft
are on board. l have not seen them
yet.
am very sorry those pictures
were not good. If the work had
been better they would not have
been so bad, except that my teeth
looked as though they were stick
ing straight out. l lad time to get
one look at them before l left, and
that ore look was quite enough. |
do not woHder that Marcia talks
baby talk when she reads my let
tiers. They certainly do sound like
a child was writing them, and learn
ing TO write at that We don't know
where we are to lard. yet, but hope
it will be near the Kitchener hospi-
tai, so can see DR.. Reid. IL GER
tainly would seem good to see an
odd friensr -
Second Day. Well, l am still on
my feet and happy. / felt little
sick for about Gr hour this morning,
but some one was kind enough to
give me some medicine that fixed
me up alright, again. / have seen
Hoover and am still fond of sugar.
We had quite a little bit of excite
merit today, q burning boat was
sighted. We steared for it, but an
other boat was soon seen or its way
10 help them. The other boat got
to them first and took all on board
evidently, as we went on past the
two Of them. The burning boat was
small one, and l believe they cal
led il coaler. 1t looked pitiful TO
me to see the burning boat left there,
tossed around on the waves all
alone. | felt sorry for it.
We are lucky to have passage on
this boat-one of the fastest and
largest. l heard today that we are
going to pass boat that left two
three urits on it. For a very sell
fish reason | hope we do pass it.
for it has or it a unit that has been
held up to the rest of us as bright
and shining example. 1t was quite
a pet of the chiefs in New York,
the ore l told you was so unpopu-
lar. l should like to receive them on
the pier when they land. looking
just like Willie's little sister in
Seventeen, when she made faces
and unjointed her stomach. Did you
know your daughter had that kind
of a disposition There are quite a
few English people on board, going
back to their own country. When
corversing with them | find myself
about two words behind them in
understanding, and trying hard to
catch up. They speak so different
ly. ! do rot wonder they think OF
our speech as American brogue'
There are a number of American
officers on board too-as well as
English officers.
Wednesday Third Day Out: TIC
day is rainy ard cold, but / have
enjoyed myself, anyway. | believe
/ have walked ten or twelve miles
Most of the girls have been sick
just few left or deck. | brought
out my olive bottle, and as well as
like them thought best to let the
sick girls have them. | could not
open them, 1.-THE bottle | mean my
self ard the stewards were all busy
but two yourg Englishmen came
along ard pretended they were
nurses, and went around the group
of girls jn that part of the deck
feeding then olives. They and the
girls had lots of fun. They were
going to open the bottles by push
ing the cork in with their canes
but finally decided TO get it out will
their knives. They wanted to take
the girls temperatures after that
Tell Wilma did not need the olives
but they did a lot of good any
way. The girls felt better for get
ting something into their stomach:
and having good laugh.
In the forenoon, today ! brought
out my letters. 1t has been quite &
temptation not to open them before
as Rutt gave them to me before We
left New York. However, made III
my mind to keep them until | got t.
mid ocean, and / enjoyed them al
so much. 1t was just like having ;