Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-02-15
LETTER FROM FRANCE


an interesting letter written from
Toul, Base Hospital, No. As, France
by Miss Nancy Jones, daughter OF
Dir. and Mrs. 7. Marshall Jones, this
city, now overseas with the Red
Gross:
"Our Christmas was wonderful
Midnight mass in a magnificent Ca
thedral 100 years old, nearly filled
with American soldiers. many of
whom like myself received Holy Com
munion.
The Christmas morning at our hos
pital. Col. Mcguire had announced
that each ward must have a tree and
he promised prize to the best dec
grated ward. As there are eighty
five wards with 1900 patients some
trees were needed, that each patient
be given pair of stockings, one fill
cd with cigarettes, candies, etc. The
nurses gave each patient some simple
toy drums, whistles, dolls dressed
like Red Cross nurses and French and
Alsacian peasants, toy engines, etc.
The boys simply went wild over
the gifts and played with them like
bunch Of Reds.
As Toul and Nancy had had little
in the way of Christmas amusements
the boys made all of their decorations
themselves. and when we realize that
among those men are painters, wood
carvers, architects, artisans Of all
trades, you can imagine the
beautiful patriotic ornaments with
which the trees were dressed.
Wish | had time to describe all the
wards. for each was perfect and Won
dcyfui though different in design.
The French ward earlanded with
wreaths of the most exquisite flowers
Of every hue all made IF paper by
by the boys.
The colored ward with great gar
lands each with Red Cross in the
center was beautiful tribute TO that
greatest Of all hIman organizations.
The Russian and Italian wards,
Composed entirely of prisoners from
the German lines, was probably the
most brilliantly beautiful Of al. The
wilc!c ward was latt!ccd with ropes
of green at each crossing small
1ar. al, made by the bays. aous-
ands Of little flags OF every nation
atty, except Bochc, waved over %oar
nead. great garlands swung from the
sides met in the middle with III I'M
r.ense bell with brilliant e'ectEic
unt camovAagcd with red for a
c!apper, while in tie huge tree ''.:-
LIANT birds and butterflies carved and
painted BY the Russians a1neared
70 Fit among the branches.
The nurses desk (thcy al! adore
heir nurse) was bower Of beauty
with greens and brilliant electric
,ulbs transformed into birds and
lowers.
Al! Of this worl. was done by these
,oot wounded fellows in abcn1 ten
LAYS. They had real turkey dinner
with everything good for dessert.
Ar amusing but pathetic incident
was five boys all clad ii raiaras Cine
:rcss suit III France. beating "r2ns'
slowing horns, mouth organs, etc.
marching through the wards shouting
.,;crry Christmas" Ali OF ,ncSe
.nan were crippled, although their
spig;. was unsurpassed.
It was IN impressive sighs when
Col. .IcGpire and his aids vent
through the wards The lights were
lit and everybody who vas able stand
ing attention by their bed, and "FerE
man VINO could lift a hand sa!uting'
their faces shining with happiness
and pride at this work of theirs and
the apprcbat:on of their colonel: and
.,n rrcat Red Cross did al of t.ila.
Hat what impressed ne most is me
glorious undying spirit Of rluc?, mat
i. shown By our boys. No complaints
no desire for pity. Trey did their
dutv ara now to make the best Of 1t
we can help thc.n 10 reconstruct their
lives 10 find employment to puS them
in The way Il being self supporting
tseful citizens Of the great country
f.. which they fought sled ard many
died y