The whole trip has been wonderful. I shall never forget it.

Tuesday, May 29, 1917:

It is reported this a.m. that we will be at the mouth of the river by 11 o’clock this evening to lie there until tomorrow a.m. It hardly seems possible that we can be so near the end of our sea voyage. I’m not sorry, however. The fellows are all anxious to “get started” and will all be glad when Paris is reached.

Got up for my first breakfast on board this a.m. Miss Mullen had prepared coffee for us and she boiled an egg which was delicious--I mean an egg apiece. She has been perfectly wonderful for us all and I’m sure is going to be like a mother to us all in Paris.

It is raining and foggy out--the best kind of a day imaginable for the danger zone. The whole trip has been wonderful. I shall never forget it.

No excitement. Played cards with the usual crowd and had our farewell tea party in Mr. Symons’ room.

Miss Lynch is a very clever woman.

Monday, May 28:

Got up at noon, ate dinner and sat on lower deck and sunned myself with Libby and McCarthy who has been quite ill the past four days with asthma.

4 P.M. played bridge with Miss Lynch vs. Symons and Sharp. We won three rubbers in succession. Miss Lynch is a very clever woman.

Miss Mullen gave another tea at 5:30.

After dinner we sat on deck: Miss Mullen, Miss Lynch, Sharp, Symons and Gregory. I stuck it out until 3 A.M. when I left them and went to my bunk. No lights were allowed on deck. We are in the danger zone and every precaution is being taken. You’ve got to hand it to these Frenchmen for system. They have three men in the crow’s nest and four on the bridge with the gunners at their posts and watchmen on the rear deck. No smoking is allowed on deck and few lights are burning within.

Miss Mullen, Sharp and self fell into a philosophical discussion centered around fatalism. As usual we got nowhere because we all had different conceptions of the scope of the word “fatalism.” Omar was brought into discussion and some parts of his philosophy severely criticized. Sharp didn’t think that fore-ordination and predestination were included in fatalism. I can’t see it any other way. If we cannot alter conditions through the will what is the power given us for and why do we continually endeavor to develop and use this power? If all has been planned for us why work to change it? Why not sit idly by and let God have his way without endeavoring to assist and run the chance of standing in his way? We finally agreed that after all has been said and done happiness is the goal toward which we all strive. The friction comes with the difference in method of attaining this goal. Some believe it should be done thru sacrifice in making others happy and some with the idea of the self uppermost.

The life boats are now swung out ready to lower at a minute’s notice...

Sunday, May 27:

Second Sunday on board. Got up at noon and ate a good dinner. A beautiful day with the water as quiet as the day we left N.Y. I wonder where we are. We are said to be due in Bordeaux about Wednesday noon. We are running at greater speed now than heretofore. We have passed many boats in the last two days -- all merchant vessels. The explanation seems to be that the boats are convoyed out of European ports in groups and then when out of the danger zone are abandoned and scatter to the four winds. They say we are to be convoyed in another day.

Tish and I sunned ourselves on the forward lower deck this P.M. for two hours. Many pictures were taken. The favorite objects seemed to be a group of six French soldiers just returning to the front after a furlough of a month in America.

At four o’clock we had another life boat drill and the boats are now swung out ready to lower at a minute’s notice. We have all men in our boat for which I think we can be thankful if anything should happen. Everybody treats the probability lightly, however, and no one seems to be worried. Many are sleeping on deck now, but I am too fond of my bunk.

At nine o’clock we had a concert on board in which we discovered that we had much talent on board. It opened up by a lottery on prizes contributed by people on the ship in the way of eats, drinks and trinkets. Those that were not called for were raffled off and sold at fabulous prices. Next on the program was a French play of which I understood nothing. An American play and take off on beginners in French followed and was very amusing. Then we ascended to the parlor where a very good musical concert took place. Many artists were uncovered for the first time this trip. Mr. Symons’ voice is a tremendous baritone and very good. He sang some ballads. They are reported as having taken in some $825 all of which is to go to some war benefit fund.

After the concert Miss Mullen staged a party in the dining room at which there were about 15 of us. We ate sandwiches, cake and drank punch and had an awfully good time. At 2 A.M. I went to bed.