Wednesday, May 30, 1917:
Censors boarded the boat in the night and were inspecting baggage this a.m. when I got up. I fell in line with my passport visaed. Then Sloan and I got our baggage inspected, checked to station in Bordeaux and everything on deck ready to be taken off. The inspectors were funny. Big, fat, greasy-looking Frenchmen who paid no attention to anything but tobacco. Playing cards and matches were completely ignored. Objections were made to my two one-pound cans of Tuxedo until Bill Sloan, who never uses tobacco, claimed one of them as his.
We left the boat about 11:30 this morning and were met by a Mr. Havemeyer who had made all arrangements for us between Bordeaux and Paris. We were taken to the R.R. station in hacks. I don’t doubt we amused the natives tremendously when everybody made a grand rush for the tops of the vehicles rather than sitting inside on the cushions. A hack with no occupants inside, swaying back and forth with its top-heavy load was not an uncommon sight. The first woman street car conductor and motorman almost upset the cab because of the excitement it caused on top. There was much adieu made by groups of French soldiers we passed. Bouquets were thrown at us from second and third story windows. The advent of America in this war has touched a soft spot in the hearts of these poor Frenchmen.
After seeing the sights of the city in a cab with Otto Sharp we returned to the depot about 6 p.m. and had dinner with Miss Mullen and Mr. Symons in the depot dining room.
Miss Mullen and Mr. Symons changed the plans in order to ride up to Paris in our train. We left at 7:45 this evening 2nd class. We got a compartment next to Miss Mullen’s and we had a very enjoyable ride. I slept not a minute more than an hour all night.
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