Transcript
Wednesday morning.
Dear Julius and folks:
I have a few minutes this morning so I will write you a few lines more. At this time the French & allies are making quite an offensive, so there are necessarily quite a few wounded coming in here at Paris. Although we are called out at times of the day and night, we are able to keep up with it so far.
A person has to be on the job all of the time in driving here in Paris, for many of the streets are narrow, and the people walk in the streets a great deal and there are many little hand drawn carts in the street, which a driver must watch out for. Our men have a few minor accidents now and then, but here in Paris if a person is run over, he is fined for being in the way of the automobile.
The associations around the Ambulance are very fine. There are a wonderful bunch of men in the service all of good families and some from prominent families. For instance one fellow I play ball with is a son of the senior member of the firm J.P. Morgan & Co. As we have a large hospital here, there are also a fine bunch of doctors and nurses with us.
I like Paris, but have not had much chance to get around. In the evening the streets are mostly dark, except for small lamps and all places of frivolous amusement are closed up. The women are doing lots of jobs formerly performed by men, such as street car conductors and driving wagons. In the country the women and children are most frequently seen in the fields, where they seem to be becoming rather masculine since many wear bloomers and apparel similar to that of men.
At present I am only signed up here for three months. I have not made any definite plans yet, but I think I will stay out my three months and then take a little trip (perhaps walking as some of our fellows are doing) through Spain for a month or so. I intended to study up on Spanish also and then I would get some idea of the Spanish language. After that I think I will come back to the Ambulance and stay here all winter. We are not so busy in the winter and that would give me a better chance to read and study up on the side. One can get around cheaply here, for the distances are not long and things (boarding & lodging) are cheap if one knows how to do it, especially in the country and some villages.
Trusting that you are all in good health and especially that Ozmond is improving.
Your brother,
Luther.
Metadata
Title: Letter 10, Luther Nelson to Julius and folks
Date: 1916
Collection: RG1/051, Luther Nelson Collection, 1916-1918
Repository: Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs
Creator: Nelson, Luther
Publisher: Digitized by AFS staff in 2016.
Rights Statement: This item cannot be reproduced outside the guidelines of United States Fair Use (17 U.S.C., Section 107) without advance permission of the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs. In the event that this letter becomes a source for publication, a credit line indicating the Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs is required.
Digital ID: 1_051_10
