TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LITTLE RIVER NEWS MARCH 15, 1919 P. 2
Riden, Germany, February 8, 1919.
Mr. Barnard Dover, Arkinda, Ark.
Dear Brother:
Will tell you something about Germany as I haven't anything to do today. The first thing is the coldest place in the world. I have not seen the ground in more than a month. It snowed for 14 days and nights. It did not snow hard but some snow falling; all the time. The first month I was in Germany it rained almost every day. It is the prettiest place I ever saw. It has hills and valleys, no level land at all. The hills look so pretty and the steepest hills are set in grapes, the valleys are planted in rye, wheat and turnips, and some planted in potatoes. That is all the crop I have seen. The worst of all they cultivate all of this with their milk cows for there is not many horses in this country. A good horse will cost 2,600 marks, equal to about $225, and a cow almost as much. A very small hog will cost $200. What do you think about that? The people live in the same house with the chickens, cows, sheep, hogs, horses and goats; only in separate rooms, but listen, I live with them all. ha, ha.
I am living or staying in the house with a Dutch family. They are awful good to me. I have a nice room all to myself. When I feel bad and sleepy from being up all night on guard the old lady makes me tea as I can't tell her what is wrong. Ha. I have two girls here at my house. You ought to see me trying to talk. I can only make motions. Ha. Wait just a minute, mother is bringing me a glass of milk. O gee, that milk sure was good. Ha. I always call her mother for that is all I can say in Dutch. Well, you asked me if I did any fighting. Well I didn't do any real fighting, but I did enough. The day peace was made we were on the lines, and were going over the top at 4 o'clock and they quit fighting at 11. See, I was lucky. Say I saw Crown Prince's dug out and a million more and enough barb wire to fence to United States. There is a town about ever mile over here, and can't buy a thing. A bar of soap costs 9 marks; that is about $1.25 and a small towel cost $1; how's that?
This leaves me well as ever; hope it will find you folks all well. O, gee, it is some cold here; it is 15 below zero today. I didn't do much today, but I don't care. Ha. Write all the news and answer soon.
As ever,
Archie E. Dover.
Co C. 39th I.N.F., A.E.F.
NOTES: Archie Eugene Dover was born in Gifford, Arkansas in Hot Spring County on October 2, 1893. He died in 1966. He is buried in the Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He departed Quebec, Canada on October 14, 1918 onboard the Nagoya. He was serving as a Private in Co. E 151st Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Riden, Germany, February 8, 1919.
Mr. Barnard Dover, Arkinda, Ark.
Dear Brother:
Will tell you something about Germany as I haven't anything to do today. The first thing is the coldest place in the world. I have not seen the ground in more than a month. It snowed for 14 days and nights. It did not snow hard but some snow falling; all the time. The first month I was in Germany it rained almost every day. It is the prettiest place I ever saw. It has hills and valleys, no level land at all. The hills look so pretty and the steepest hills are set in grapes, the valleys are planted in rye, wheat and turnips, and some planted in potatoes. That is all the crop I have seen. The worst of all they cultivate all of this with their milk cows for there is not many horses in this country. A good horse will cost 2,600 marks, equal to about $225, and a cow almost as much. A very small hog will cost $200. What do you think about that? The people live in the same house with the chickens, cows, sheep, hogs, horses and goats; only in separate rooms, but listen, I live with them all. ha, ha.
I am living or staying in the house with a Dutch family. They are awful good to me. I have a nice room all to myself. When I feel bad and sleepy from being up all night on guard the old lady makes me tea as I can't tell her what is wrong. Ha. I have two girls here at my house. You ought to see me trying to talk. I can only make motions. Ha. Wait just a minute, mother is bringing me a glass of milk. O gee, that milk sure was good. Ha. I always call her mother for that is all I can say in Dutch. Well, you asked me if I did any fighting. Well I didn't do any real fighting, but I did enough. The day peace was made we were on the lines, and were going over the top at 4 o'clock and they quit fighting at 11. See, I was lucky. Say I saw Crown Prince's dug out and a million more and enough barb wire to fence to United States. There is a town about ever mile over here, and can't buy a thing. A bar of soap costs 9 marks; that is about $1.25 and a small towel cost $1; how's that?
This leaves me well as ever; hope it will find you folks all well. O, gee, it is some cold here; it is 15 below zero today. I didn't do much today, but I don't care. Ha. Write all the news and answer soon.
As ever,
Archie E. Dover.
Co C. 39th I.N.F., A.E.F.
NOTES: Archie Eugene Dover was born in Gifford, Arkansas in Hot Spring County on October 2, 1893. He died in 1966. He is buried in the Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He departed Quebec, Canada on October 14, 1918 onboard the Nagoya. He was serving as a Private in Co. E 151st Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD