been over there an
seen the whole thing. He smokes cigarets something awful an dont say
much. Thats because the poor cus cant talk much English. It must be
awful not to talk English. Think of not bein able to say nothin all
your life without wavin your arms round an then lookin it up in a
dickshunary.

[Illustration: "HE SMOKES CIGARETS SOMETHING AWFUL"]

I feel so sorry for these fellos that Im studiin French a lot harder sos
theyll have someone to talk to when we get over there. Im readin a book
now thats rote all in French. No English in it anywhere, Mable. A fello
told me that was the only way to talk it good. I dont understand it very
well so far. The only way I kno its French is by the picturs. Some day
Im goin to find out what the name is. Then Im goin to get the English of
it. Those are some picturs. Aint I fierce, Mable? I guess thats why I
get on with wimen so well.

I gave up readin it out loud cause the fellos said it made em think they
was in Paris so much they got restles. I cant speak no better yet. I
guess that comes all at once at the end of the book.

As soon as we got the hot shouers all fixed the pipes busted. So the
other day the Captin walked us all in town to take a bath. I didnt need
one much. I used my head more than most of em. Last fall when it was
warm I took as many as two a week an got away ahead of the game. I went
along though. More for the walk than anything.

I saw the Captin didnt make no move to take a bath hisself. I thought he
might be shy. He dont mix very well with the fellos. I felt sorry for
him. Everyone else was laffin an throwin things with him standin off an
noone throwin a thing at him. I went up an says "Aint you goin to take a
bath this winter to, Captin?" Just jolly, Mable, that all. I says, "You
dont want to mind the bunch. They dont care a bit. There as dirty as you
are anyway. Probably more." An I bet they were Mable cause I aint seen
the Captin do a stroke of work since we come here. Just stands round
givin orders.

I says, "If noone wont lend you a towel you can use mine. I was just
goin to have it washed anyway." He got awful red and embarassed Mable. I
thought he was goin to choke. Hes awful queer.

Just like the other mornin he calls me over an says, "Smith, my
orderlies sick. You can shine my boots this mornin." He said it like Id
been beggin him to for a month. An then he says, "Smith you can lite the
fire in my stove." He had me thinkin he was doin me