TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR APRIL 11, 1919 P. 1
New York, March 25
Dear Mother:
Will write you just a reminder that I am again in the good old U.S.A. and am so happy I am in love with the whole world and never felt better in my life than I do now. I landed last night. Came over on the Manchuria, which sailed from St. Nazaire the afternoon of the 14th.
Everything was taken away from us last night when we came in that there was any possible chance of having a germ or a cootie in it, and we "dipped the dip" and then had our throats treated and were given a suit of pajamas and a robe, so at present that is my sole earthly possessions, and my senses are equally balanced. Some girls have come in and they have started a dance. All the other boys are dressed in the same apparel as myself, but no one seems to care. We will get a uniform tomorrow and a twelve hour pass. Oh, they are treating us royally so far and the boys who have been out say they are treated as well everywhere they go. I will be here at least ten days and probably longer, so they say, then will go from here to Fort Root. It probably will be a month or more before I will get home, but I am progressing all the time, slowly but surely.
I am trying to pass the time away until I can get out. I can't dance so I am trying to write, and am making about the same progress that I would trying to dance, though I have just written to John and have read two books and am passing the time fairly well. I thought I would get out of the way of their enjoyment, but a Red Cross worker came over and grabbed all the uninterested ones and started some games where I was writing and we played something; I don't remember what the name of the game was, but anyway we had a real nice evening and I am finishing this after all the excitement is over. There is nothing I can think of that would interest you and besides they are making so much noise I couldn't write it if I knew any, so I will close.
Lovingly,
Mal.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MCKENZIE MOORE
New York, March 25
Dear Mother:
Will write you just a reminder that I am again in the good old U.S.A. and am so happy I am in love with the whole world and never felt better in my life than I do now. I landed last night. Came over on the Manchuria, which sailed from St. Nazaire the afternoon of the 14th.
Everything was taken away from us last night when we came in that there was any possible chance of having a germ or a cootie in it, and we "dipped the dip" and then had our throats treated and were given a suit of pajamas and a robe, so at present that is my sole earthly possessions, and my senses are equally balanced. Some girls have come in and they have started a dance. All the other boys are dressed in the same apparel as myself, but no one seems to care. We will get a uniform tomorrow and a twelve hour pass. Oh, they are treating us royally so far and the boys who have been out say they are treated as well everywhere they go. I will be here at least ten days and probably longer, so they say, then will go from here to Fort Root. It probably will be a month or more before I will get home, but I am progressing all the time, slowly but surely.
I am trying to pass the time away until I can get out. I can't dance so I am trying to write, and am making about the same progress that I would trying to dance, though I have just written to John and have read two books and am passing the time fairly well. I thought I would get out of the way of their enjoyment, but a Red Cross worker came over and grabbed all the uninterested ones and started some games where I was writing and we played something; I don't remember what the name of the game was, but anyway we had a real nice evening and I am finishing this after all the excitement is over. There is nothing I can think of that would interest you and besides they are making so much noise I couldn't write it if I knew any, so I will close.
Lovingly,
Mal.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MCKENZIE MOORE