Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-04-02

for me. | was at a loss as what to
order and was bordering over this
fact when girl came to my assis-
lance. She could speak few words
of English, (this girl Ca course you
must assume of was waitress). She
asked me if | wished lamb chops and
potatoes about all that she could say.
ans wered Eyes" and added; eggs y
In the course of few minutes the
girl brought the food The meat was
about twice the size of our silver dol
lar, French fried potatoes, two eggs,
war bread and butter Then | asked
Tor glass OF water--she brought me
bottle of grape wine and do you
know the odd part of the wine was
that it was American bonded. Not
satisfied with anything American then
| ordered a bottle of champagne, and
yum, yum, but it was good and was
French bonded. Now during the
course of the meal my ship-mate and
[ were holding or attempting to hold
a conversation with two French girls
directly across the table from us.
Well you ought to have seen and heard
us. l never gestured so much with
my hands before. II seemed to en-
Tighten them good deal, and as usu
al we got by fairly well, as had
studiously STUDIED a French dictiun>
airy previous to our landing in port.
Now to the cost of the meal, which
really surprised me. Two of US had
the same identical order and when the
waitress handed me the check it read,
ZAP francs. 45 centimes,n in our
money, $775. This is not so bad, as
in first class hotel in our country
one would have to pay at least 50 co
for full course meal
There is no plumbing of any kind
in Brest; that is such as baths, run
ming water and drains. The fresh
water used in the buildings is OBJ
tanned from spiket out on the street.
For evetv block there is one spiket,
and the people must draw water into
bucket for use in the house. People
from other blocks may not GO out Of
their respective block to obtain water.
Can you imagine the Gold wash bowD
still in use III hotels and other public
places. Now is the chance to recu-
perate and no doubt we will see new
France soon.
still have a great deal to tell you,
but this is about the New Years din
ner that the U. S. S. Virginia gave to
the French orphans. Four hundred
children attended the invitation.
About 1000 o'clock New Years
morning tug boats and lighters COM
menced TO arrive. with it's load of
children.
The weather was cold and drizzly
with slight touch of rain now and
then, which seems to be perpetual in
France.
AS soon as they were aboard ship
shouts and yells were heard all about
the ship. down in the fire-rooms, coal
bunkers, sand-locker, steam steering
engine room and everywhere their
little legs would carry them. They
were continually ehattering, or trying
to chatter with the crew, but | am
afraid they had to give it up as bad
job. Their (lingo) was something
good to hear. Noon came around and
the biggest treat of all was before
them as they sat down to the table to
partake of the roast turkey, potatoes
and all sorts of edibles. Knives and
forks were out of the question, so far
as the use of these articles were con-
cerned. Fingers must be the vogue
in France or else the children did not
have the time to use them. Potatoes
and turkey was conveyed to the
mouth by the use of fingers only. At
ter the more staple food disappeared ;
nuts and raisins were given out. Was
you ever to the 600" when feeding
time for the squirrels was in progressP
What was left of the turkey, potatoes
etc., the children stuffed into their
pockets and socks-all in one mess.
Half loaves of bread under their arms.
nuts in their pockets, raisins in their
hats and bonnets to be carried back
to their home.
During the afternoon the children
were entertained by singing, piano
and movies. This they took intense