"I have been detailed here at Ellis Island now for about
four weeks, although it does not seem that long to me. Being
busy all the time certainly makes the time fly.
"I left Great Lakes with a draft of about 150 men and
was stationed first at Bay Ridge, which is called the Receiving
Ship at New York. In reality it is the point from which the
ships get their crews. When a crew is changed on a ship the old
crew is usually sent there and the new one taken from the number
that are waiting there to go out. I was glad of the change as
Bay Ridge is considered rather a dizzy place.
"Over here my duties are taking care of the clerical
work for the sick boys. We have an average of about 200 patients
on the books so it keeps me busy with all the clerical work
attached to that number of men in the navy.
"I have been to New York City a number of times now
and certainly enjoy going over there. New York people certainly
are doing all they can to make the shore-leave of the soldiers
and sailors as pleasant as possible. Every Sunday afternoon there
are free vaudeville shows for the men in uniform and Sunday evenings
there are two of the playhouses thrown open for the exclusive
entertainment of the soldiers and sailors. In this way I have
seen quite a number of the best plays in New York at the present
time and they have all been fine. Last Sunday night I saw David
Warfield, the famous star in the play that made him famous, 'The
Auctioneer.'
"I had an opportunity to go up in the tower of the great
Woolworth building and there is where I saw more of New York
than at any other place. It is certainly a wonderful sight.
I have also been in the composing rooms of two of New York's
largest newspapers. The World and The Sun. They certainly are
big affairs but I hardly think I would fancy working there.
"From the office window where I work I can look out
and see most of the tall buildings of down town New York. I can
see also all the big ships that come and go. I saw the first
transport come in bringing the soldiers back from England. There
certainly was a lot of excitement at that time. All the boats
in the harbor were blowing their whistles and it surely was some
noise. They still continue that practice and every morning the
whistles blow for a long time, as there are ships coming in every
day now loaded with the soldiers coming back home.
"I also saw the President's ship start on her way to
France. I took a couple of pictures of it from the window, but
as the
weather was not very clear, I am afraid they will not be
extra good.
"The army has a big hospital here on the other half
of the island. There are many of the wounded boys brought there