Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-02-01
WRITES FROM PANAMA

all / promised letters to, but haven't
found time to do it. l guess the simp-
lest way is to write of my trip and
Panama, and make copy to send, so
as to save time.
Well, started out on Monday, Sep
TENDER IL. Stayed at Sparta until
| Tuesday noon. This part Of Wiscon-
sin from Sparta on, was new to me
as / had never been farther east than
Sparta. Met Gladys Hubbard at Mil
waukee and we went down to Chicago
together. We stayed with her broth
er In Lagrange, going in to the City
to see the sights each day. We had
| physical exams there, and passed al
right. We left Chicago on Thursday
| September Is. Rode all night and
reached Buffalo, New York in the
morning at 8. Went right out to Nj
agara Falls and spent the whole day
there. That certainly was the most
wonderful sight | had ever seen. We
went across to the Canadian side to
get the view from there too. Went
up into Buffalo and stayed there until
time to go on TO New York city.
Reached New York at the next
morning, saturday.. Started out to
see this city. III just mention some
~ Wv AAAaAAt eAAaHE9e VIC saw. VI COURSE
Columbia University, (where | want
to go) Grants tomb, Statue of Lib
erty, Brooklyn bridge, Woolworth's.
and while there we went up into the
observation gallery on 58th floor |
believe, to look out over the city. We
also rode out past Coney Island to see
the crowds having a good time. We
spent the week sight seeing. Saw
China town too.
On the 23rd we sailed from New
York on the Alliance at p IN. Met
a great many teachers that day.
Many of them had been here last
year We were fortunate in having
some one we knew on board. Betha
was grand TO us. Some of the girls
didn't know anyone. The ocean trip
was very smooth all the way. Just
a few people were sick. ] didn't get
seasick at all, but did not feel Just
right. On Wednesday we reached
Haiti. The steamer had lot of things
TO unload there so we stayed a whole
day. That was the hottest place ]
have ever been at. This was at Portray
Prince. We all went ashore for the
day. We left in the night and reach
ed Colon on Saturday evening. Be
fore they let us off the doctors came
on board to go over the passenger list.
They brought out a newspaper with
the teachers and nurses assignments.
We all knew before we got off where
we were to go. Then came the Gus
toms to go through next. | was plac-
ed in Balboa, so of course had a 40
mile ride on the special train that
was there waiting for us. But first
they labeled US, numbered and mark
ed US in every way possible, until
felt like l was going to war. At ten
we left for the Pacific side of the 18th
mus. / think | am very fortunate to
be here. This was my choice o f
places. We got here at II. The quar-
ter master met us, told us where we
were to live and we were taken to our
quarters in cars. Our quarters are
on "a hill between, or rather on the
Ancon and Balboa. Ancon is the
choice place to live. The people have
offices in the administration building
here, live in Aneon, not all of course,
but a great many do. / am in large
building, thirty-five girls are living
there now, but | believe it would hold
fifty. 1t is nice and cool. They do
not have window panes at ALL Just
large screened porches. / am on the
StAALh We nave u UXc0
up with chairs and a porch swing.
The rooms are large. Each one has
a room alone. The girls who live
nearest me are teachers whose homes
are in Yakima, Washington, Denton,
Montana, Basin, Wyoming and Phil,
adelphia. We have a matron in the
building, and when it gets noisy she
comes to the rescue. Panama City
is about ten minute walk away from
our house. We have been down sew
veral times to Sc the sights.
This is very hot place. The morn
ing walk to school is fine, but at 8
in the afternoon it is fierce. From
the time | leave school until / get
into my room ! go up 20S steps. Have
gained five pounds so guess it is
good for a person.
Have ben down to the pool SWIM
ming a few times. / had good
chance to go to the Pacific beach Sat-
urday, but went to an afternoon tea
instead.
Betha Jones of Sparta took me out
to Pedro-Miguel Sunday evening. The
locks are very pretty at night. Some
day I'm going through the canal and
have it explained. This place, the
canal zone, is beautiful. 1t makes
me think of a big, big park, all paint
ed with wonderful and unusual trees
and flowers. Right now | have a
half dozen large beautiful roses and
other kinds / don't know what they are
picked out of flower gardens. l won
der if you can get them that way now.
III be glad TO miss the cold weather
year | think When the mail boats
come in everyone rushes to the post
Office for the mail. | get mine at
Balboa Heights, Bx "A so write.
The High School is in the same
building with the grades. The school
house is large cement building. The
center is large open court in which
are palms and other trees growing.
This is the rainy season, and it
surely is wet one. We never think
of leaving the house without an UNI
brella. We have gotten soaked sew
eral times.
Panama City is just like the, pic
lures you see. The narrow streets
and walks. You have to walk single
file. The traffic all goes to the left.
The street cars are so different and
funny.
! Here in the zone we feel lust like
we were in the states, as it is all run
by the U. S. The only stores are
commissaries. We have to buy com
missary books and never can nav with
money. Just the stamp from Com
missary books. There are Clut
Houses, Restaurants and Community
Houses M panap1iap Storas a. oil