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Dear Sister:-
Was glad to get your letter this morning. A letter sounds much better
here, I guess that's because we are farther away. It is very warm here
again and we notice it because the last few days it was chilly. We were on
a hike since Sun. and camped out for two nights. Surely passed thru some
nice country. Where we camped last night there was a good-sized lake and
we were in swimming before sunrise this morning. The road we came home
along was lined with wild honeysuckle vines and the smell from them sort
of took ones mind from the heavy pack on his shoulders. There is so much
more doing down here that at Lee. It's much more like the real thing
because we are in the trenches or on the range most of the time. Being
with the National Guard was never my idea of a wonderful time but I find a
better bunch of fellows here than I expected. Fritz Keller is here and
knows about all the girls in Augusta already. He was down for me to take
in a dance with him but so far my uniform would look very poor. None of
them fit very well. Now about that Red Cross business. Go slow. That life
isn't what most of them think it. While I know that your experience in
this line has proved that it lacks romance as most people picture it I
also know that your temperament is such that you wouldn't join anything
for that reason. I do believe that Red Cross nursing would be the very
worse phase of it all. You know these "doughboys" are of all grades and
some of them couldn't respect anyone even if they were relieving their
pain. If you could join for the purpose of nursing the cases that will be
sent back to base hospitals in this country I think it would be fine but
as to the field end of it I'd fight shy. They have a big hospital here and
you can see the nurses never have any time to go any farther away than the
library. However this is a big game and there are many positions to play
and I am sure that your judgment has been better than mine always but I
can see from where I sit that there wouldn't be any roses mixed with any
of it. So just use your own head, sis. You know Clara Humphries is selling
tickets at Keith’s Theater in D.C. Anyone that she favors for seats
usually sends her candy or flowers. Last week she sent " Hump" three big
boxes of Martha Washington candy. One box was from Senator Harding. She
passes it on and tells us who it is from. Some girl. I knew that Fisher
was here and I think he is in the 111th next door. He told me once he was
leaving with the 18th Reg. We hardly ever get time to visit. I had a
letter from home the other day telling me that Ralpheleta Cook was dead. I
was sorry to here it because I always liked her. You know Mary Burns is
married and lives here. I saw her the other day but was in line and didn't
get to speak with her. It seems be the Army custom to hand a fellow a
knickname on his arrival in a new outfit. Guess mine. "Tuesday"
(Meatless). Hump goes as "Whitey". You remember old Stevens that used to
teach music in school. I just found out that his nephew was one of my tent
mates. When he told me I asked him how old "baldy" was doing and he said
that he was long since dead. I heard all about the wedding and it must
have been good. Also received a card from the bride in Erie. Well, sis, I
must close as I am beating duty to write this. Glad to hear of your raise.
We didn't get any, in fact we haven't been paid since we joined. Its
coming tho I guess.
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