[Stationary preprinted with name and address of hotel:] Hôtel de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Sept. 15. [1918]
Dearest Alice
I don't know whether it will make you too
jealous when I tell you that I have just been seeing
Leverett. He looks very well,
tremendously tall for some reason,
& I should say that his clothes were of the
most
perfect cut. In other words I was quite proud to be
his sister. It is so long since I have seen a lot of
Americans, particularly ones whom I know, that it
seemed to me like a class day or boat race.
Leverett got here yesterday at
about 2:30 o'clock, too
late for a proper lunch, so swallowing our Unitarian
pride we went to the Y.M.C.A. where we were served
fried eggs & white bread & butter, not bad a bit. From
[there] we started on a shopping tour
& Leverett did
all the talking: he loves to speak French &
declaims in a loud & impressive voice, uses many
gestures
is wicked to see how all the poor boys get cheated -- they
spend their money like water & all the natives must be
multi-millionaires. We dined at a nice quiet hotel
with Bill Claflin, Harcourt Amory, Jim Trumbull & Richard
Russell -- the two former ordered the dinner -- it was six
courses & delicious -- we all sank down into our
chairs & allowed ourselves to enjoy it -- no thought
of hurry or worry but just good food to satisfy our
stomachs. From there we went to rather a poor
musical show, but luckily we got there so late that
we really did not have much time to get bored.
This A.M. Leverett
& I sat & chatted until
about
11 A.M. when we motored to the camp. I wish I
had had a longer chance to see him & as a
matter
of fact I chose rather a bad Sunday because he
had to be back on duty in the afternoon. He told
me a little about their life which I imagine is
very much the same as what they did at home.
[brave?] -- they most of them are a
trifle homesick but that is natural;
luckily they are too busy to think about
much Else beyond their work. I saw Dunbar & Jimmy
Lowell in the hospital -- neither seriously sick but down with
the local epidemic of Spanish flu which Everyone has over
here. They seemed pretty well, Dunbar about the same as
Ever, agreeable & smiling. I think he was very glad to
see me but Leverett of course was Embarrassed at
having me there & rushed me off as hastily as
possible. He made me laugh to myself because
he wondered whether I ought to go into the
hospital on account of convalescents walking
about in pyjamas. I hate to admit that I
am not affected by any costume or lack of such
that any man can wear. The French hospitals get
you accustomed to that & the poor convalescents
have to wear pyjamas because no one will give them anything else. Jimmy looked a bit thin in
the face but a several days old beard might have had
something to do with his unfavorable condition. I would
have loved to see him longer but I don't really
think that camps are just the place for girls. This
one in particular is very difficult to get to, & only by
Enormous bribes can you induce an auto to take you.
Jimmy has been instructing at this camp for
some time -- he seemed a bit out of luck & wants to
get away. Probably his family is glad to have him in
such a safe place.
We lunched at general staff mess, invited by Pood
Russell -- the food was not swell but perfectly hot
& Eatable -- nothing wonderful I should say but
apparently
it varies -- the boys none of them look starved so it
must be plenty nourishing.
This letter is not nearly as interesting as I meant
it to be -- I don't know when I will see
Leverett
again but probably not for several months.