File:Erica (Thorp) de Berry to Thorp family, 29 August 1918 (b29bcf10-1119-4d9e-b396-924a16b2097e).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1006/004.006.002-006#033

Castres
August 29, 1918
Dearest Family,
This must be just a little scrawl before early bed preparatory to rising de bonne [?] heure le matin for the great Castres fair, the biggest event of its kind in these parts. I’m down here to bargain in the mob for fruit for the children, also to call upon the general to plead for a [?] with which to move our youngest to Bédarieux next month, [p. 2] and a military dentist to come up to Lacaune if possible.
These Castres shopping days are usually always very hectic and hotter than anything you can imagine! I usually come down on the early 5.45 train and go back the same evening, but this time I indulged in the luxury of spending the night in the nice friendly Grand Hotel overhanging the river, where everyone is so kind and familiar.
Castres is really a lovely old town, if one ever had time to explore it, and just at present it is full to the [p. 3 marked 2] brim of young recruits and wounded, not to mention German prisoners. Speaking of the latter, isn’t the war news glorious! The daily communiques bearing the same joyful tale of advance seem more like a wonderful, longed-for dream than every day’s reality. I loved the Southwest account and celebration! Here we never hear bells ringing, but there is a perceptible [p. 4] lessening of the strain [sic] look on people’s faces, not joy, because most of them never can quite feel that again, but deep satisfaction and hopefulness.
Oh, The universal admiration and affection for Foch are are wondrous to see! Oh, how magnificent it all is!
- - - -
Last Sunday I went on a real picnic—think of it! A nice French family, passing their vacancés at Lacaune, who have been kind and hospitable from the beginning, invited [p. 5 marked 3] us to a “pique-nique en famille” in a pine-wood at the top of one of the highest Lacaune hills. It was just the nicest, simplest family party you can imagine—granpere and granmere, sisters and brothers-in-law and enfants stretched out on the grass in perfect informality before the most delectable of picnic lunches — cold chicken salad, paté, a sort of corned-beef hash for our especial benefit, fruit chocolate wine — everything you can think of!
[p. 6] Afterwards we lay and talked and strolled thro the heavenly pines till [goutier?] time where refreshments began all over again! They are perfectly charming people from Toulouse — Protestants who leave nothing undone in the way of hospitality and kindness to us.
I can’t begin to keep up with my social duties, for everyone is so kind, and we have literally hundreds of visitors. Lacaune has been deluged with summer visitors, and as a promenade is the chief event of a French [p. 7 marked 4] summer day, and the colony at a convenient promenade distance, we are overrun with visitor s from morning till nigh. Many of them are as nice as can be, and so kind to me. Most, however are the idly curious.
I have been several times to the little Protestant Congregational Church. It seems so strangely out of its element in France, but I love to listen to the preacher’s French and the [?] chants.
We are expecting a Red Cross surgeon to take [p. 8] out 30 adenoids, and alas! Dr. Bugbee is leaving us next week. ^for America^ She has been so wonderful — such a wise counsellor, and fine doctor and delightful companion. I don’t know what we’re going to do without her.
I’m learning as much of the nurses’ job as possible to do this winter, and with the French major nearby I think we can get along. You see the two nurses are going to Bédarieux with the little ones.
Papa, I have 100 of my 500 left. That will last me 5 months at least of this inexpensive life. Before Christmas you might send me over more if you will.
Dearest, dearest love to you all.
[p. 8 margin:] your your Bun
[p. 1 margin:] Didn’t you ever get my letter about the 4th in Paris, dining with Willard & his general behind the lines, written in the top margin: seeing Rusty and Douglas, etc. Helas! For I’ll never be able to rewrite it.

• Keywords: long archives; henry w. longfellow family papers (long 27930); erica (thorp) de berry; document; correspondence; health and illness; france; europe; education; school; war; world war i; travel; joseph gilbert thorp jr.; anne allegra (longfellow) thorp; events; friendship; social life; women; religion; Erica Thorp deBerry Papers (1006/004.006); (LONG-SeriesName); Outgoing (1006/004.006.002); (LONG-SubseriesName); 1918 (1006/004.006.002-006); (LONG-FileUnitName)