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Dear Mother: -
Yesterday I wrote you a letter but it was very short because there are so
many wonderful sights to see here and I have been constantly on the go! We
were on our way back to the lines when the order came down for ten men to
go on furlough. I was picked among the rest and being almost a new man in
the outfit I was lucky to be picked. However I was one of those who went
thro the last drive from start to finish and the only one of our section
here when we were relieved. So you see I had some work to my credit. The
Colonel of our regiment, himself, told me that my work had been "damned
good." I told you that before, didn't I? You can't imagine how good I felt
though to know that I had done my bit so well that even the Commanding
officer noticed it. Then again, when my furlough is ended I shall go back
to my outfit as a Sgt. instead of a Pvt.
You can't expect me to be able to describe this place. I have sent you
pictures of it and everything is just the same as when the Vanderbilts,
Morgans, and all the rest of us millionaires were here. You have seen
pictures of southern France and the Alps. I rode the small railroad to the
top of Mt. Revard yesterday and from that peak Mt. Blanc (the
highest peak in the world) was very plain. I was a little leary of going
up so high but suffered no ill effects. In fact after what I have been
through and the way I feel I think I can stand anything.
We are staying at one of the largest hotels and everything is fine. My
room is on the second floor and two glass doors open on to a small balcony
from which the view is fine. All the furniture is as it was for the
civilians and even the lace curtains and draperies remain at the windows.
This morning I was looking over the register for 1912 and it contained the
names of Counts, Princes, and no accounts in general. French girls wait
table here and we have a cabaret at dinner every evening. Oh! it's going
to be fine going into the line after this.
Nothing is too good for Uncle Sam to hand us it seems and in addition to
Aix-les-Bains we are allowed to go to other towns within a large area. No
drill or formations and all the liberty anyone could desire. Oh! yes, they
serve tea here. The first day I found that out I drank four pots before I
was satisfied. I mean right off and since then I drink many every day. I
hope I can find a good job when I come home because my board will be
enormous. I can eat ten meals a day. It don't matter what of either.
Anything but cheese, that is more than I can go. Howard Fischer is here
also and Webb Stauffer came this A.M. I have a date to meet him tonight.
On our way here we were side-tracked at the town of Nancy and there we
were given a bath in an establishment that our Gov. has taken over. It is
also a famous resort and the huge pool is fed from a mineral spring. The
temperature of the water is 75° all the time. In this place we lost
millions of "cuties" and were given an entire new outfit from head to
foot. All new clothes even to leggings and shoes. In the baths here the
water comes right out of the mountain steaming hot and then they have
trainers who massage you. After you have bathed they steam you, then you
are clothed in a steaming hot robe and two men beat you and roll you about
on a marble table. It is great treatment although one feels very languid
and tired for a while. They have a great many hospitals here and many
wounded soldiers can be seen hobbling around and resting in the parks.
I had another picture taken this A.M. and I'll send them on. You can keep
them all because I don't want Florence to distribute them for me. Ha! Ha!
That was something for her and Helen to laugh about I'll bet. Well I love
the ladies you know, God bless them all! You should see them here. Style!
Oh! my. Looks like 5th Ave., New York! Furs, furs and more furs! I have
great ambitions for bringing a bankrupt countess home for dad to keep! Ask
him how would he favor that? Well you know I am simply handing a line
there because I am more of a confirmed bachelor than ever. (I guess you'll
believe that won't you with all the evidence against me.) I almost forgot
to tell you I had a short letter from Harvey Home. He is over now and
likes it, he says.
One thing only puts gloom on my rest here and that is Hump. I haven't
heard from him and am wondering if he is still in the land of the living.
Quietly now, between you and I he was badly shot up. One bullet took his
whole chin away and the other pierced his chest. You need say nothing to
Ruth or his people but I myself passed him on the stretcher and didn't
know him until afterwards they told me who it was. His face can be fixed
up but the other wound is what I am anxious to hear about. I suppose you
all have the knowledge of his ill luck by now and let me know what they
said of it. Whether it is serious or not. You know he and I were great
pals.
Your letter said that dad had a new position but didn't tell me what it
was. I am anxious to know if my dear old dad has at last left the work
that he has always followed and actually loved. I had a fine letter from
Mr. Sleightee and am going to add him to my list for an ans. when I get
time. Is Grace working? Has she heard from Ben? There is no doubt that he
is extremely busy now. We all are! We are not affected by the peace talk
at all and are all in for complete surrender. We are meeting with success
everywhere and nothing succeeds like success. We are carrying out the
promise Pershing made last spring that when we were ready we would break
the German line wherever and whenever we wanted. They all have different
ideas about when the war will end but I still claim to be home for my next
birthday. That is God being willing. Mother dear, your pictures are the
greatest thing I could have wished for. Many times when I was just ready
to quit I would pull them out and all your faces seemed to look at me as
if to say "We know how you feel but hang on." And when it was over I would
look again and then they said, "Well done". I think of you all very much
and soon I hope I can join with the rest when we sing, "Home, boys, home,
that's where we want to be"! "Home, boys, home in God's country." That
word, HOME, it puts a lump in our throats. Well, anyway I'll do the
fighting and you all keep praying and some day we'll have a grand reunion.
Best love to you all.
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