The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-01
Letter From France
Miss Katie McKeiver Writes of
Red Cross Christmas for
the Soldiers.
Nantes, Dec. 26, 1918.

| the SOiOleTS.
Nantes, Dec. 26, 1918.
Dear Folks:
| / had a holy, happy and merry
Christmas and the combination Of
the three made perfect Christmas
Christmas with US began about two
weeks ago as we had to stuff Six thou.
sand pairs CT socks The stuff was
stored in warehouse and every
night the nurses worked with US
One sock held four packs Of cigar
cites, one box of matches. two hand.
kerchiefs. two post cards and nuts
The mate had a package dried fruit
| a lot of candy and package Of cook
! les.
| Christmas Eve. the personnel OF
Conyalescent Five gave a dance at
| the Chateau The rooms were decor
ated with 1nistletoe and holly and
there was an imitation log fire in the
fireplace. Except for uniforms it was
just like party at home and when
Home Sweet Home" was played at
IS1cNcU-lIIItS, S1lSA NCAS q AN'' s>~-~ =
visible Last week Eleanor and |
went to the officers hop with two
lieutenants. After the hop, we had
supper in the field kitchen. These
lieutenants are very popular with
their boys and we had lots of fun
while eating supper.
Christmas Eve, I went to mid
night mass. Six of our corps boys are
members of the famous Paulist choir.
One of them sang at the church in
Doulon. The other five sang here and
I accompanied them. We had high
mass, .'Adestes Fideles,'' 'fVenite
Adoremus" and angels We. Have
Heard on High Hundreds Of boys
went to communion also number Of
nurses. The hosts gave out and
twelve soldiers and myself received
communion in the chaplain's room
where he has little repository
Christmas morning the two chaplains
were busy giving communion to the
bed patients. have a ward of Ger
man prisoners. Many Of them are
Catholics.
At five in the morning. the nurses
went through the wards singing car
OILS, nice way to awaken the boys.
Each bc; found that Santa Claus had
left a pair of socks at his bed. Dur
ing the day, a real, live Santa Claus
distributed cigars through the wards.
There were different groups Of enter
tainers who made the rounds.
went around with the Paulists. They
sang the three carols already men
toned and "IIoly Night" We were
at it from $50 to $50 with half
hour out for noon mess. Each time
their singing seemed better than the
time before I was so proud Of them.
because they are not only good sing
ers but also good men and a credit to
their church. We had lots Of fun
in the German ward. Their Christmas
tree was a marvel They made the
decorations out Of tin foil. try to be
absolutely just to them and the priS-
oners we have are courteous and
well behaved. After the Paulists
sang. the Germans sang for US. / sat
there thinking what a wonderful
Christmas it was.
The Red Cross Kept open house and
ptaients and personnel danced after
noon and evening. I danced from
$50 to $50 and from s on. There as
more than one way Of going "over
the top" and dancing is one Of them.
Out of my fund of experience
might write an article called Dane
ing with the A. e. F." Last night
was wounded in the battle OF
Nantes by hob nail barrage" at least
that's the way the boys expressed it.
In simple English, in the mad whlrl
of a fox-trot a joyous doughboy kick
ed me on the shin. Have you heard
the story about the doughboy VINO
told the solicitous old lady Il LEANED
up aginst barrage and it lifted
Did 1 tell you that the personnel OF
Base NO. IL is Chicago unit? All.
the nurses, doctors and corps boys are
from Chicago or the States of Iowa,
Wisconsin and Michigan. I have
made some excellent friends. especial
ly among the Chicago boys and I feel
free to call on them at any time for
little favors. Much Of my work is
done in connection with the "sick and
wounded" office and the boys Of that
department are such help to me.
They are all of different types and, at
home. belong to different stratas So
cially; but. over here. they are all
corps boys and the best friends in the
world.
If I repeat anything already writ
ten to you. plexse forgive me; but as
/ experience certain things, I think Of
writing them and afterwards think l
have written them.
When the boys get home most Of
them will tell amazing stories about
the French. Don't believe everything
YOU hear. The average American
af i1,c.