We left New York on the afternoon of Sept. 13, 1917. Each day on board was pleasant and interesting. Learning to speak French was great fun. Our teacher, Mr. S. Dequister, who was a salvationist about twelve years ago, was a very pleasant man. At present he is a Y.M.C.A. worker.
The weather was very foggy and rough, but no one was real sick. The sailors told us it was safer than clear weather as the submarines could not see us.
We had some interesting meetings with the third-class passengers. They enjoyed the meetings and singing very much. The most interesting of all was the entertainment where the largest amount of money was taken, amounting to one thousand dollars for the French orphans and old people. The program was fine.
The first land sighted was Dorjin, where the Garonne River empties into the sea and divides the courses of the ships. The scenery was grand. We went up the Garonne River to Bordeau where we landed early in the morning, just when the sun was rising, making the Heavens a beautiful sight, which I shall never forget. The Stars and Stripes was raised by the ship’s company at five while everybody cheered and waved their hats.
The ship that was sent to convoy was sunk; all but one of the crew were saved. They sent another ship which met us ok.
Then the custom officers came aboard and our passports had to be signed and our trunk looked into. I passed all right, but Major Atkins had to take his shoes to the head officer but passed at last.
When we had got through the custom ordeal, some of the boys came and said that Col. Barker, Adj. Starded, and Capt. Rentom were on the dock. Well, didn’t we welcome them? I guess, although perfect strangers we were glad to have them there because they were our own people.
I wrote a little every day while on board and sent it to Mother and Capt. I hope it will be enjoyed by them.
Arriving in Bordeaux about 12 o’clock and got off the boat about 2. Oh my, we got into a two-wheeled cart and went to the Hotel Gobinau. We had a very large room, which was fine. Then we had a wash and general clean-up. After that, the Col. had a talk and advised us what we should do. Then we got a cup of tea that tasted very good and some first-rate bread and butter. We had a long talk on what was to come, then went to dinner, our first in France; we had fish, tomatoes, bread, butter, potatoes, pears, and grapes which were excellent. Then off to the French Salvation Army. My, it was fine in this, to us, a new country. We went through small, narrow streets between high buildings. After about one half hour’s walk, we arrived at the French Salvation Army hall. It was a very nice hall. The Ensign was glad to see us and, in her quaint French way, gave us a real welcome. We sang and prayed and gave our experience in English, and Ensign Rader told it to the people in French. We had a very good meeting. Went to the hotel and had a good wash and clean-up. Got ready for bed and, oh my, the bed was fine and soft and everything looked good. Went to sleep in short order. After a short time the Lieut. called me asking, “What’s these?” They were as big as flies and sang in your ear, then, zip, and what a welt they could raise. No more sleep for us, for we got busy rubbing our lumps with camphor, and it relieved a little. Well, at about seven the maid brought our breakfast of coffee, bread, and butter, the regular French breakfast.
Then we went to see some of the things of interest. The market was first. You could get most everything there: flowers, fish, meat, cheese, and so on. Saw a woman carrying a pumpkin on her head as big as a tub, and she had a chair in her hand. She looked like a rag heap with a pumpkin on. Plenty of flies and no screens on the food. Then we saw another woman with a basket of eels on her head and a basket of snails in her hand. She asked us to pick one of the eels that had fallen, but I really couldn’t. Saw some two-wheeled carts that looked like they were used in Noah’s time. Saw a Jew at their lunch rooms. They serve on the sidewalk, and the people walk on the streets. Saw some of the most beautiful flowers. Then it was train time, so we got into a carry-all and went to the station. Some German prisoners helped with the luggage. We got on the train, eight in each compartment, traveling first-class. Women porters, and they certainly did fine. We got on the train at eleven and arrived in Paris at nine thirty and had our dinner.
The scenery was beautiful. We saw two Aviation Stations and two American Camps during the ride. At every stop, a French Red Cross worker got to ask for donations for their work. There were a lot of people on the train who came over with us on the boat. When we arrived, it was great fun. Everybody looked at the men in our party thinking they were German prisoners because of the red band on their hats. We women got into a cab with most of the luggage and went to the hotel called Normandie. The men walked and some got lost and wandered around for several hours.
When we got our room, we were glad to get in bed. It was about eleven o’clock. But what a grand room we had. A great bed and a large chest with glass doors, a big looking glass over the mantle, a telephone and bathroom all to our self and best of all hot water. Enjoyed a good hot bath and was happy again. We went to bed about eleven thirty and had a fine sleep, sleeping the sleep of the very tired. We did not waken until the phone rang at seven o’clock.
Diary of a World War I Donut Girl 