Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - August 17, 1920
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15 Rue Patraque, [August] 17th 1920. Dear Isabelle, Your letter came today - I was glad to hear from you again but am afriad you will be disappointed when I tell you there is nothing that I know of for you to do, where you can made expenses. The Anne Morgan committee for devastated regions are keeping up its work but it pays nothing, in fact all of them contribute large amounts for the work in addition to their time that is put in during the secretarial duties, There are still a few Y.M.C.A. workers left here doing a little in the way of running a hotel which has partaken of
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a club nature for American women travelling alone, Then some of them are at the cemeteries running "rest houses" in other words small hotels for people visiting the graves of their dead. All the [MS illegible: 1 wd] started and financed by Americans have been given over to the French to manage with French help - The crippled soldiers are being reeducated, nearly all have graduated in the work they have chosen - As for crippled children they are few and far between, Tuberculosis is about the only thing that is getting special attention and even that has been turned over for the French All the girls that come now are regular strenographer and
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are employees by the firm for whom they work The Knights of Columbus still have a hostess house for the straggling sailors & a few soldiers that find their way into Paris but they only have one girl as hostess, the others are ordinary servants that obey the orders - From the present indications there may soon be another war raging but I rather think it will be fought on commercial lines. Every body seems to be satisfied with the amount of blood already shed and the fight will only be for money Well may Americans be proud of the work done by those that stayed at home. It is a noticable fact that all the lower classes of children are well clothed I see the greatest difference in their appearance. I use to see more patches than clothes- but the patches have given way to new garments. all of them look well kept. The suffering has been great but the reward has been greater. Another year will be long enough for a complete restoration in all the districts that reparations are to be made. Some of the places are to remain as they are as monuments of the outrages committed if I hear any thing that will do you any good [MS illegible: 1 wd] getting to France I will make a note of it in the mean time you keep your eyes open for one like Mrs Micamber never know what will turn up - I was glad to hear the little Pike [MS illegible: 1 wd] news - My love to your family and even if you do think you have nothing to say it is something to me [vertical in margin] Yours sincerely Laura Birkhead
Details
| Title | Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - August 17, 1920 |
| Creator | Birkhead, Laura E. |
| Source | Birkhead, Laura E. Letter to Isabelle Stark. 17 August 1920. Birkhead, Laura E., Papers, 1917-1920. C1707. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | During World War I, Laura Birkhead was involved with refugee work and providing clothing for children in France and Belgium. In this August 17, 1920, letter to Isabelle Stark of Neosho, Missouri, Laura Birkhead wrote of war work in France after the war had ended. Birkhead also described her experiences in post-war France. |
| Subject LCSH | Rationing; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Red Cross; World War, 1914-1918--War work--Women; World War, 1914-1918, Refugees; World War, 1914-1918, France; World War, 1914-1918, Civilian Relief; World War, 1914-1918, Children; Refugees--Belgium; Refugee |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| Site Accession Number | C1707 |
| 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 | August 17, 1920 |
| Language | English |