Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-04-24
start just as soon as the weather


warns up is playground work.
am getting together a little group
of young fellows to help in that
work. Between now and spring am
going to teach then, games, ETC., so
that they will be able to act as sort
of instructors for the rest. l have
my eyes on several vacant lots that
will just be the thing to fix up rs re-
creation grounds if we can get them.
We've moved into our adorable lit
tile home, and you can't imagine how
happy we are to be here. 1t is really
the prettiest home ever saw and
we'res awfully proud of it. We're
practically the only foreigners with
home, and you can imagine how much
demand there is for it. Pm in terri
bic state of mind all the time trying
to locate enough food to feed any
number of hungry men. Last night
we had a little dinner party, ut which
was the only lady, and there were
ten men. One of the new secretaries
looks so much like Ewart. His name
is Stafford, and he owns the fourth
largest bakery in New York City. It
was such fine group of men that
were here last night that it was GER
tainly privilege to entertain them,
and / was glad we had such good
dinner. We had roast goose, mashed
potatoes, gravy, cabbage salad, dress
ing, bread and butter, and cranber-
ries for the first course. Then we
had fruit compete (mixture Of pears
and peaches) for the second; and fin
ished up with coffee and cookies.
Doesn't that make your mouth water?
We have piano and Victrola, and
they help lot with the entertain
ment. On every Sunday we have a
regular Y. NJ. meeting at our house,
and the men seem to enjoy them very
much, especially the sings afterward,
and more especially the food that
comes still later. One time served
doughnuts, and you should have seen
them disappear. They were the first
I've ever made, although I've just
been dying to do it ever ssince we
came to Russia.
We've been so busy socially lately
that we're dreadfully tired. The Eng
lish officers hold social function ev-
cry week, and they are quite pleasant
affairs, and the officers are fine men.
We're anxious to get better acquaint-
ed with them. And then our circle of
friends is so large that we are kept
busy every minute It really has
come to the place where we'll have to
decide which our own special circle
will be, because there are too many
foreigners to attempt to be intimate
with all of them.
Today is the beginning of theButter
prznik or macleneetsa or Butter holi-
day. It's the last time before Lent
begins and fasting is necessary. Ev-
cry one eats to the limit, and the
choice dishes are doughnuts, etc. To-
morrow there is to be celebration.
The Americans have agreed to serve
tea and run picture show. Satur-
day we are invited to attend con-
cert given by the British, which is
expected to be very fine. They real
ly have given some very fine enter
tainments so far, and we are anxious
to hear this one.
On Sunday this whole crowd of men
will be here again for supper, so you
see life is much the same on this side
of the world as on the other.
l must stop now, but will write
again very soon. forgot to tell you
about the billiards we had not long
ago. They were really terrific. They
claim that eighty people were frozen
to death between the station and the
city. ! can easily believe it, and lots
of people couldn't find their way
home right in the city.
Goodbye, and bushels of love to ev-
cry one of you. Please keep we'll and
good, and don't worry about us-from
all can gather, we are about as safe
as you are. | am thinking all the,
time about how and when we're going
to get home.
Ruth McGavren- Compton.
n