The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1920-02-05
|. G. MOULTJ !! 4 !.
Sent ZLET1ER

ter from L. G. Mou... whose friends
here VIII be pleased to hear from him:
s@ On board the "Gastem"
n..a Thursday, Dec. 18th.
AS We are lying here in harhor all
day, [ though l would write letter.
TIE last one was written before ar
II, ing at Athens, about Nov. Goth.
Have been trying to get to Beirut ever
since and now hope to arrive the day
<ttttv4 tomorrow which will be Dec.
18Th. Sc have been almost three
months trying to reach the scene of
my iabors.
We spent delightful four days in
Athens, seeing things, enjoying every
minute Happened to run across
Greek who had been in America for
is years and he steered us around.
The Aeropolis and Parthenon were
just wonderful. I never saw any
thing which interested me so much.
About D. m. every afternoon we
sought out a tea house and had few
cups. Since getting on the boat we
have resumed our tea habit and feel
short change if for any reason we
miss it. The trip from Athens to Con-
stantinople was horrible. Fortunate
ly the weather was fine. But the
boat Greek one, was the last word
in discomfort. It was dirty, the meals
were impossible and it was just over
crowded with Greeks. The only wa
ter we had to wash with was water
bottle of so-called drinking water.
This was supposed to be sufficient for
all the passengers in our state room
to wash in. We fortunately managed
to get two small towels for the three
of u.s. We were three days on the
trip arriving in Constantinople on
Saturday the 29th. We had been told
that we were to take the overland
route the rest of the way. This is
taken in freight cars in which travel
ing, eating and sleeping are done. But
fortunately found that boat (Ital-
ian) was leaving the next day, Sun
day. l shipped on that. Major Neal,
the director in the Beirut area hap
pened to be in Constantinople so we
went on with him and five others on
the "Gastem" which is an exceeding
ly comfortable boat. 1t is supposed to
take about nine days, but it will be
more than IL before we get there. The
trip calls for nine stops and at each
place there is cargo to take on and un-
load, and. for inefficiency these orien-
tails certainly take the cake. The boat
stops out in the harbor about mile
or so and small boats come out to take
off the passengers and baggage, and
believe me, when it. is rought it is
some job. Cargo is taken off in large
lighters, and the excitement and pan
demonium during this operation is
past belief. Every one is boss and all
shout, gestulate} and swear at once:
It takes rs or, 80 orientals to do what
half a dozen live Americans could DO
in one-half the time We made our
first stop at Smyrna where we got
off and spent the day, going through
the three relief orphanages and one
rescue home. operated here by the
relief association. We also went out
to the American college about five
miles in the country. There is a fine
plant here and while there we wit
messed basketball game between
the college and sailors of an English
ship in the harbor. The gymnasium
is a. fine one and larger than the one
at Harvard. About 1000 students at
tend, including Greeks, Turks, Armen-
ians, Jews and Syrians. Rode out IN
a Ford. The country roads are fne
but in Synrna they are awful. Inc
streets are so narrow that two cars
cannot pass in many places and If
thew meet one has to back out. re- !
turned to the town from the boat the |
next day and went through the bazaar
and markets looking for tlgs Tor ynlcn
Syria is famous. 1t certainly IS inter-
esting to see the shops and thelf way
of doing business. It is a test OF pa
thence / can tell you, as one mas 10
Jew them down always to about one,
half of what is originally asked, ana
that takes some time, especially wnen
one does not know the language
The next stopping place was the
Island of Rhodes, an old CRUSADER
island with the walls still remaining. +
I went ashore here too with MAJ. Mel
After about 20 hours here we went on,
Stonping at Adalico, and Cypres: HAD
an Interesting time at Cypres, driving
o,,t to the salt lake and later having
tea at the "club." This was very
cnsv place. and we had chance to see |
papers, English and Egyptian OF date
Of Nov. "a. It would interest you to
get the map and see just the course
we took from Constantinople in the
following order: Smyrna, Rhodes 9d @
Adalia, Lamarka Tin Cyprus) Mes
sina, Alexandretta, Tripoli, Beirut.
We are now in Alexandretta, but
expect to sail for Tripoli about p. m:
This is an interesting town, occupied
by the French (as are Rhodes ana
Nessina) Cyprus being under the Brit
ish and Rhode and Adalia under the
Italians.
The weather is ideal, warm and
sunny. and the sea calm and beautl-
fuI. Mountains extend on these IS
lands clear down to the sea almost,
|eaving Just room for the towns. Al T
the buildings are old and decrepid,
about like the people and disgust,ngiy
lirty and smelly. haven't tried their
food, but what have seen looks I'm,
possible. Oh! for plate Of pork and
BEANS with my feet under your table;
Don't you think have done well
writing so much. Be sure you reclpro-
cate am hungry for news. ! am
loping to find mail awaiting me IN
. 4 AO /