Bert C. Ball Letter to Dr. Hans Peter Andersen - November 29, 1918
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[November 29, 1918] Hello Hans; I received your letter a couple of days ago. It was mailed on [October] 1. Almost 2 months reaching me. This is not an unusual thing however 'cause I have received several letters 4 and 5 months after they were mailed in the states. You will probably wonder why such things happened. We do too, but we are in the army now. Some of your letter was written in May. I assure you that it was greatly appreciated because it was full of news that was of much interest to me. I shall start off this epistle by telling you some of the most recent gossip. Today is the day after Thanksgiving. Yesterday was a real man's day all over the world. To have been here one would think that France had adopted our National Holiday. "Beaucoup fete Americaine." Festivities at the Hospital were plentiful. We started the day off with a little egg-nog party at 11:30 A.M. To this was invited all the notables in this area and there are quite a few. It was quite a gorgeous display of military decorations in the uniform line French Belgian English etc were all present, with the smite of victory spreading over their war worn maps. It was a just and well won
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[page 2] smile. One that anybody could appreciate except the boche. He could, but probably would not admit it. In the afternoon eve had a foot ball game which the rain fell greatly on the camp. We had a regular dinner at 4:30 in the after noon. The best dinner I have eaten in France. Mr. Turkey graced the table as the peace bird. Some bird too! It made us appreciate the fact that were still in the Land of the Living. It was a real joy to be alive. Fred T. Murphy drove down from Paris for the occasion. So did Miss Julia Stinson. The latter your acquainted with. Hans the dinner lasted till the rest of night, the last bringing still more amusements which were the more appreciated because there was a little "champagne water present. Maj Shaefer dropped in about 2 weeks ago and spent the night. He was very glad to see the [ms illegible: 1 wd] again. I was very glad to see his benevolent smile again, as you can well appreciate. That is all right Hans about the book [ms illegible: 1 wd]. Such small and trivial matters can be
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[page 3] settled some time in the future when I see you again. I was not so very anxious to sell that set of anatomy books anyway. Cause they would be very difficult to replace, should the [ms illegible: 1 wd] of such books. Thanks very much for your generous care of that trunk and junk of mine. Just keep it till we settle up these peace terms with Kaiser Bill, which I hope will be some time in the next few months. During the past few days (10) there have been many prisoners of war, French British, Italian and Americans drifting into this area. The most of them are in fair condition physically, but others are poor and in bad health. They all are poorly clad. Every one is running over with stories of the way the Hun has treated our soldiers. They are not at all favorable either. It is impossible for them (the Allies) to treat Germany too drastic in the peace terms. There is extreme hatred for the Huns not necessarily because they were in War with him but because he is a pretty poor sport. This fact they have learned dearly in the Trenches.
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[page 4] Hans I heard that Thanquist failed to graduate but was wrong? Generally poor or did he some particular snag. I was aware that he was loafing on the job, and was a little surprised that he pulled thru his previous year. Hans accept my heartiest congratulations on the happy union that you made in June. I shall make it a special point to stop in St. Louis and pay you and wife a call. Here is hoping that you continue your good work at the university and that your home life will be a most successful one. Capt Thomas asked me recently if I had heard from you. I had. I have come to the conclusion that you were better acquainted with him than I was. Miss Moffat the mademoiselle that lived next door to the Frat. House on N. Pine. I don't think you were acquainted with. I had just met her some few days before leaving. But knew her well enough to find out that she was well attached to a Dental student at W. N. Women always put out such information if one will keep his senses. A nice girl though, Hans. she has been unusually attentive to my wants since I left the states. Jimmie Tisseon and she were at
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[page 5] the train to see us off. I'll tell you about it some time, She has been sending me magazines and other articles, mostly little luxuries at odd times. I have never thought that she had any other interest than merely trying to do her bit by lending me a hand. You will probably smile at such a statement, but that is my honest opinion of the case. I haven't heard from Mrs. Hume for months. No answer from any last letter I do not know if she received. [ms illegible: 1 wd] her Xmas card recently. A little from swede recently. A most cheerful liar. Isn't he? I wish he had come on this jaunt with us. There are only 9 of the original 13 left here just now. Tucking is with the Mobile unit up at the Front. Mitchell is in England. Probably enroute to the states. Light attack of Nephritis, the story of Jason and Withers you are acquainted with.
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The influenza has been hitting camps quite heavily. Plenty of such patients here. We have only a few wounded in the Hospitals just now. I have about 30 patients that are battle casualties. They are practically all [ms illegible: 1 wd] cases, I note an interesting lot. I must ring off. Hans, I shall try to write you oftener. Much success in 7 am work and pleasant times during the ensuing yuletide, Your old Pal Bert. Base Hosp 21 #21 Bs. Gen, Hosp, B.E.F. France.
Details
| Title | Bert C. Ball Letter to Dr. Hans Peter Andersen - November 29, 1918 |
| Creator | Ball, Bert C. |
| Source | Ball, Bert C. Bert C. Ball letter to Dr. Hans Peter Andersen. 29 November 1918. Andersen, Hans Peter, Papers, 1909-1920. R0832. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this November 29, 1918, letter to his Washington University colleague Dr. Hans Andersen, Bert C. Ball discussed his work and Thanksgiving celebrations at Base Hospital 21. Ball, a Missouri native, served as a ward orderly in France during World War I. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; United States. Army. Base Hospital 21; World War, 1914-1918--Medical care; United States. Army. Medical Corps.; Thanksgiving; Influenza |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | R0832 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | November 29, 1918 |
| Language | English |