Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - December 5, 1918
Transcript
15 rue Petraque [December] 5th 1918 My Dear Isabel You certinaly are a dandy! and you girls deserve more credit than I know how to express. I assure you "the boys" are going to know exactly to whom the honor belongs, and they are bound to have some jolly good times, since the armistice they are restless and homesick, The excitement of going in battle is gone and they want to get back to "the home of the brave and land of the free" Some can go but a great number must remain here until things assume a more [MS illegible: 1 wd] form. I am having a candy pulling this week for fun, they have to bring the sugar. By several
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going in together we have enough to make a little candy. I hope this state of affairs will not last long, it is terrible to have to count every grain of sugar and be in agony for fear it will give out before the end of the month. My opinion is the American women won the war, when they put their shoulders to the wheel it soon turned. We are kept busy with the childrens work more than ever they come wanting to help They are getting ready to go back to the spot that was home, you understand it is impossible for them to go while the winter lasts. In many cases there is no vestage of a home in all the town even
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ruins have been used to fill up shell holes in the roads, Madame Schenise who has worked with us all the time is anxious to get back to Brussels she has invited me to go home with her and we are going as soon as the government will allow us. We are going to take clothes for about five hundred children, that means work to get them packed We have to take our food. She has heard from friends that the conditions are awful. I wrote you only last week had been sick a long time, am all right now. When I wrote Miss Dugan for you to make applications to come over I thought we were going to need every body that could come
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things changed in the twinkling of an eye, the questions now in to get them all back home. I think I wrote you about the death of the man who cashed you first check. I know there is no such good luck in store for us again. His wife has kept in touch with us and contributes quite liberally. I have a notion to write and ask her if she wants to cash this one, she may duplicate it for she is immensely wealthy. I am of the same opinion as Arthur Partridge , when "Isabel under takes anything, she accomplishes it" I thank you for all you have done and will commend you to All the Boys. Love to all the Girls and your parents your L E Birkhead
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I am extravegant - writing on only one side of the paper - we have been requested to use both sides but the war is over
Details
| Title | Laura E. Birkhead letter to Isabelle Stark - December 5, 1918 |
| Creator | Birkhead, Laura E. |
| Source | Birkhead, Laura E. Letter to Isabelle Stark. 05 December 1918. 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 December 5, 1918, letter to Isabelle Stark of Neosho, Missouri, Laura Birkhead wrote of her war work with refugees in France and thanked Isabelle and the "Neosho Girls" for their contributions to the war effort. 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 | December 5, 1918 |
| Language | English |