TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SCOTT COUNTY ADVANCE REPORTER FEBRUARY 6, 1919 P. 4
Langes, France.
Jan 1, 1919.
Dear Mother:
When I came back to the barracks from mess I found that the mail man had left me five letters now that Is (bocu) means lots of letters to receive at one time. Your letter was dated Nov the 5tn almost two months old.
I am anxious to receive some word written after the Armisice was signed. I imagine there was great demonstrations of joy and rejoicing. We celebrated quite a lot ourselves. There were many doubtful Thomases among the boys especially the ones so home sick.
The news came so suddenly they couldn’t believe it true.
Well the world war is (finis) as the French say and ready to take its chapter in the school histories. There will be sort of a rivalry to tell the story in the best and most interesting way.
I also received a letter from sister, she said she couldn’t understand why I didn’t receive some of her lettere as she has often. I will probally receive them all year. You see an organization like mine is continually on the move. Convoying trunks or hauling supplies so the postal authorities doesn’t always know just where to find us.
This is the reason I did not send my Xmas tag home. We were expecting to be busted up and I didn’t know what organization I would go hence impossible to give you an address fortunately for me, you got a tag anyway and I received the box all Ok My! But that candy tasted good especially the dimnity.
Mama I wish papa could take a peep at this country. If he could and the take an inventory of the whole stock in the Waldron Hdw. Co. he would find that very little of the stock had a market value.
They wouldn’t know what to do with a four wheel wagon.
The French use big two wheel carts drawn by one or more horses in file never abreast.
Most all the implements and machinery is just the same as that hundreds of years ago.
The farms to us are mere truck patches. In this part of France about all they cultivate is sugar beets and vineyards.
The roads are excellent. Driving thru the country one sees some beautiful scenery. The roads are lined on each side with big poplars so in the hot months one would be driving in the shade most all the time.
While we were at St Florence we were billeted with the French civilians. Our sleeping quarters would be up stairs and were reached by climbing a ladder from the out side.
Looking down the street you couldn’t help laughing to see the boys climbing up and down the ladders sometimes with both hands full and ducking into the “Hole in the wall” I don’t think Ill ever forget my experience in France.
When I get home I’ll tell you all better than I can write with my pen.
I hope you all are still enjoying the good health you were when you wrote and all escaped the terrible flue. We had very few cases.
I received a letter from a certain little girl containing clipping, from the paper that were interesting.
Sometime roll up all those old papers and send them to me. Now that we are permanently located I don’t think we will have any trouble with our mail. Write as often as you can. Tell all hello from me. Best love to you and Papa Son Chas.
P.S. Be sure to use this address.
Detachment 1
Co B 116th Sup.
Train M.T.C. Group 7
APO 714
NOTES: Charles Beasley was writing to his mother, Mrs. Lon Beasley of Waldron, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY ISAAC WOLTER
Langes, France.
Jan 1, 1919.
Dear Mother:
When I came back to the barracks from mess I found that the mail man had left me five letters now that Is (bocu) means lots of letters to receive at one time. Your letter was dated Nov the 5tn almost two months old.
I am anxious to receive some word written after the Armisice was signed. I imagine there was great demonstrations of joy and rejoicing. We celebrated quite a lot ourselves. There were many doubtful Thomases among the boys especially the ones so home sick.
The news came so suddenly they couldn’t believe it true.
Well the world war is (finis) as the French say and ready to take its chapter in the school histories. There will be sort of a rivalry to tell the story in the best and most interesting way.
I also received a letter from sister, she said she couldn’t understand why I didn’t receive some of her lettere as she has often. I will probally receive them all year. You see an organization like mine is continually on the move. Convoying trunks or hauling supplies so the postal authorities doesn’t always know just where to find us.
This is the reason I did not send my Xmas tag home. We were expecting to be busted up and I didn’t know what organization I would go hence impossible to give you an address fortunately for me, you got a tag anyway and I received the box all Ok My! But that candy tasted good especially the dimnity.
Mama I wish papa could take a peep at this country. If he could and the take an inventory of the whole stock in the Waldron Hdw. Co. he would find that very little of the stock had a market value.
They wouldn’t know what to do with a four wheel wagon.
The French use big two wheel carts drawn by one or more horses in file never abreast.
Most all the implements and machinery is just the same as that hundreds of years ago.
The farms to us are mere truck patches. In this part of France about all they cultivate is sugar beets and vineyards.
The roads are excellent. Driving thru the country one sees some beautiful scenery. The roads are lined on each side with big poplars so in the hot months one would be driving in the shade most all the time.
While we were at St Florence we were billeted with the French civilians. Our sleeping quarters would be up stairs and were reached by climbing a ladder from the out side.
Looking down the street you couldn’t help laughing to see the boys climbing up and down the ladders sometimes with both hands full and ducking into the “Hole in the wall” I don’t think Ill ever forget my experience in France.
When I get home I’ll tell you all better than I can write with my pen.
I hope you all are still enjoying the good health you were when you wrote and all escaped the terrible flue. We had very few cases.
I received a letter from a certain little girl containing clipping, from the paper that were interesting.
Sometime roll up all those old papers and send them to me. Now that we are permanently located I don’t think we will have any trouble with our mail. Write as often as you can. Tell all hello from me. Best love to you and Papa Son Chas.
P.S. Be sure to use this address.
Detachment 1
Co B 116th Sup.
Train M.T.C. Group 7
APO 714
NOTES: Charles Beasley was writing to his mother, Mrs. Lon Beasley of Waldron, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY ISAAC WOLTER