The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-03-26

-s~e~~~~~~>~~~> 1890
am staying here. Our barracks are
made of brick and has a foundation
so we are safe It's not bit cold, have
had ice only once, but so damp that
find it much worse than Minnesota
cold. haven't had cold and certain
ly miss skating. Do you know what's
right under the table on my feet? A
pair OF wooden shoes. At first. | used
I to pity the yomsters and think it a
hardship, but ! was very much mis-
taken. They are a natural result OF
climatic conditions and financial as
well. They are much warmer on these
cement floors than any of our leather
soles and too funny for words. 60
around clump, clump, clump, and
every clump says feet warm and dry
not cold or wet. l had planned TO 90
to a place near West Roosebeke today
where they gather all the unexploded
shells and finish them. There are
still loads of them in the fields, but
not anywhere where we go. ! have
been up to the Flanders front, Ypres
2nd Poecapelle, etc. You can see them
on the map. I've seen only one lovely
autumn forest this autumn and that
was gorgeous. The forest was in Brus-
sells Woods. Brussels is the capital of
lori 10 oil n hnnnn nf IN IN
and is very large city. A great manv
people talk English there. The woods
are ten minutes ride from the city. 1t
is an old forest with giant trees.
messy old statues and a fence and the
day we were there at sunset there was
a small flock Of sheep under the trees
with shepard and a dog. (The sheep
keep the grass down instead of a
mower.) 1t was an exquisite picture.
You know the trees have to be so old
that the trunks turn green with sec
ond- childhood before they really blend
into autumn landscape. I've seen quite
a few of Rubens and VanDyke's pic
lures in the old churches and Art gal
leries of Belgium, but the 'Boche' got
away with n lot of their treasurers.
They never get done telling about the
wonderful cloth hall OF Ypres which
was burned early in the war, Our cook
just got back from little trip out to
her sister and l questioned her about
their barracks. She says eleven of
them sleep in one room with five
quilts. We've just had five days dash
ed with sunshine in one month. 1t is
cloudy all the time and no end of
FLANDERS mud There are only three
pumns in the village to supply 5000
people with drinking water. You can
imagine how much that averages for
each one. The Germans took every
thing from pumps to door knobs. We
drink bottled water from Top brnn-
men, ] wouldn't touch this water
without boiling, too many dead peo-
pie. Water for washing dishes. etc.
we get out of the shell holes. They
are regular wells all by themselves.
If The sun ever stays out long enough
I'll send you all some snap shots of
these things and my wooden shoes.
Il have a two weeks leave coming.
and the directrice of the Roulers
house and want to go to Rome. Nap
les in Italy. through Switzerland and
Germany. (She has been all through
France and Spain) Its favorite
sport with the girls of looking up
their ancestors over here. The girl
am going with goes to Hamberg to
see her grandmother and aunt. Her
father is doctor in Texas. If you can
tell me where any of ours are wish
you would do So"
! In one of her last letter she says:
"Am enclosing some pictures of our
day in Ypres. The nun is Sister Mar
guerite, who stayed all during the
the bombardment, nursing the wound
ed and burying valuables. She gave
us loads of interesting information.
The shell holds are one on top of an
other for miles. The Baron de Vuich
had his castle here and 100 farms
around it. He lives in little green
shingled barrack now. | guess war is
a great leveller. There isn't tree
or brick left. It's horrible!
Il received the papers from home.
the ice carnival and it surely seemed
strange 10 read about a cold climate.
The birds sing here all winter and
now (this was written February III
L am beginning to shed my gloves and
the farmers are starting TO clean
their fields and plov. In fact its
spring."
In her last letter she says: Would
it be very much of disappointment
to ycu if transfer to the RED Cross"
and 20 to Serbia or somewhere for
three or six months? ! haven't even
anDlied. but am going to, and if you
c''ioct very much you can cable me- I
could see few more countries and
perhaps find some very interesting
work. know | have been gone for
long time and that you are plannins
on nv coming home. so if you would
rather ] didn't stay You can cable me
at Staden as there is still month
hate to let the opportunity go by. If
Won don't cable right away what you
think of it," ~
Cards have been received from Ger
many and Switzerland. so shS is on
leave. and making her tour of Italy.
Switzerland and Germany. Letters
are expected, telling of her trip
through these countries and the many
interesting things she saw.