TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT JULY 26, 1918 P. 1
Cambrige, Mass., July 11th.
Mrs. W. B. Finton,
Clinton, Arkansas
DEAR MOTHER:
I am at Harvard University and well pleased. Everything is very beautiful and it is a pleasure to me to know I have a privilege of seeing all that is to be seen, not to mention the good I hope to derive from my course.
By this time, you should have received the picture, post cards and letters written and mailed while enroute here. We sure had a nice trip. At all large cities the Red Cross ladies met us at the train with food, water and best of all---a pleasant smile.
I will be here for about five months. You may know that I am well and in good company. I have had the privilege of meeting some very nice people and have had no occasion to regret my training so far. I think I will like here much better than New Orleans. The climate is much more pleasant and the (MISSING WORD) have rooms and real beds.
If I make my rating I will draw $55 per month when I leave here, but I am going to have some studying to do. I don’t mind that, tho, for this course is going to be worth much to me in private life. I will be here until about Christmas and if I don’t get a furlough to come home before going aboard a ship I want you to make me a visit. Would only cost about $100 for the two of you. It would only cost me 1 cent a mile, but you see I am working for Uncle Sam and he is not very strong on these pleasure trips.
Tell my friends to write to me for I sure sometimes feel lonesome. Also write me of any of the boys who have joined the navy.
Lovingly your son,
MALCOMB FINTON
NOTES: John Sidney Malcolm Finton was in training for radio service at Harvard University. He was born on October 24, 1895 in Leslie, Arkansas and died on November 27, 1980. He is buried in the Clinton Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. He enlisted on May 29, 1918 and was discharged on February 22, 1919. He was writing to his mother Mary Finton.
TRANSCRIBED BY JACQUE HOWARD
Cambrige, Mass., July 11th.
Mrs. W. B. Finton,
Clinton, Arkansas
DEAR MOTHER:
I am at Harvard University and well pleased. Everything is very beautiful and it is a pleasure to me to know I have a privilege of seeing all that is to be seen, not to mention the good I hope to derive from my course.
By this time, you should have received the picture, post cards and letters written and mailed while enroute here. We sure had a nice trip. At all large cities the Red Cross ladies met us at the train with food, water and best of all---a pleasant smile.
I will be here for about five months. You may know that I am well and in good company. I have had the privilege of meeting some very nice people and have had no occasion to regret my training so far. I think I will like here much better than New Orleans. The climate is much more pleasant and the (MISSING WORD) have rooms and real beds.
If I make my rating I will draw $55 per month when I leave here, but I am going to have some studying to do. I don’t mind that, tho, for this course is going to be worth much to me in private life. I will be here until about Christmas and if I don’t get a furlough to come home before going aboard a ship I want you to make me a visit. Would only cost about $100 for the two of you. It would only cost me 1 cent a mile, but you see I am working for Uncle Sam and he is not very strong on these pleasure trips.
Tell my friends to write to me for I sure sometimes feel lonesome. Also write me of any of the boys who have joined the navy.
Lovingly your son,
MALCOMB FINTON
NOTES: John Sidney Malcolm Finton was in training for radio service at Harvard University. He was born on October 24, 1895 in Leslie, Arkansas and died on November 27, 1980. He is buried in the Clinton Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. He enlisted on May 29, 1918 and was discharged on February 22, 1919. He was writing to his mother Mary Finton.
TRANSCRIBED BY JACQUE HOWARD