Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-03-27


see your child you would not worry.
1t is a perfectly gorgeous place in
southern France, six miles from the
/ Spanish border in the Pyrenees noun
tains. We came from Paris to Can
terets, and from Canterets here on an
electric railway, and such scenery!
Nothing like it in the United States.
We were up thousands of feet and
could look up to tops Of mountains
and down into the valleys. Such beau
tiful colorings, mountain streams,
snow on top and around, yet not cold;
ferns growing and gardens fourishiLg
in the valley.
Oh. before I forget, must tell you
we saw President Wilson and wife in
Versailles. They certainly looked good
to us, and it was thrilling to hear the
"Star Spangled Banner" in France. It
is great to be an American.
The houses are so cunning, mostly
plaster and very attractively painted
in soft shades Of rose, yellow, etc, and
are all named, Villa de Benedict, Villa
de So and So. We passed through
Sourdes again, and it is wonderfully
historic place which we hope to see
later. There is a cathedral there and
lots of paintings. Miss Taft, a woman
of 40 or As, is chaperone and has
charge at Luchow. She is a charming
woman. a New Yorker, and we are
crazy about her.
This is regular summer resort and
watering place Of the SWEETEST kind;
is off the beaten path Of tourists. The
'Y" has taken it over until June. II
is called the Pyrenees Palacc-rooms
steam heated and electric lighted,
The Pyrenees Palace hotel rooms
are steam heated. electric GIFTED,
velvet carpets, crctonne hangings, ma
hOgany furniture, linen bedding, feath-
Ell beds, etc, and the soldiers come
he-e for a rest and recreation while
United States. The government pays
all expenses, railroad fare and every
thing, and the "Y'' provides the enter
tainment The Casino is grand place,
d large room to dance in, a French or
chestra, big sun room and big counter
tine at canteen duty each day. We OF
the "Y' 1--we in one Of the villas, have
everything modern and luxurious. It
belongs to a French family, and we
lave all the family silver, glass, linen.
beautifully embroidered, etc. Jeanne,
the caretaker and very superior
French woman, whose husband is a
lieutenant, keeps house, and her sis
ter cooks for us, There are seven of
us girls here with Miss Taft, and we
have every comfort, including warm
sulphur baths. The view from my bed
room window is worth coming to
France to cee The sun pours in the
easement windows, and one can look
up into the mountains, which tower
all around us, tiny villas nestlsng on
their sides. There are about 500 sol
diers at the hotel now, eleven "Y"
girls and fourteen "Y'' men.
saw Dickie boy from North Free
dom, also a Lusby boy who lives near
Leech lake. They were very glad to
see me. | told them everything [
knew in the way of Baraboo news. /
have seen a good many / knew, from
Iowa and Illinois.
We have a dancing class every
morning lat H. l assist in teaching;
have all kinds of entertainment for
the soldiers; movies, band concerts,
basket ball, billiards, reading and writ
ing rooms. We go on h kes; have
horses for horseback riding. One boy
said he had never had such good
time in his life. Today we served
ham sandwiches (home boiled ham,.
at 13c; cheese sandwiches at &c! sar-
dimes sandwiches &c; jam sandwiches
at SC; salad, sc; apple sauce, &c;
peaches &c; coffee, SC: cocoa, sc;
cookies, apples, oranges, chocolate and
gum.
It is really pathetic to see how glad
the boys are to get here. They tell us
over and over again how glad they are
and how they appreciate it and how
they like America and American girls,
and how crazy they are to get home.
They all say they hate to go when the
seven days are over, they pass so
quickly. The "Y" is doing a wonder
full work for the soldiers in these
"leave areas" and they appreciate 1t.
We all think there is nothing too good
for them. They have given me all
k nds of souvenirs. Will have to have
an extra trunk to bring them home, L,
am thinking. My address now is Bag
neres de Luchow, Ht. Garonne, France,
care Y. NJ. C. A. I get along fine with
my French Have plenty OF warm
clothing, so don't worry.
VIVIAN SMITH.