TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COURIER INDEX JANUARY 31, 1919 P. 2
St. Florent, France.
Dear Henry:
I have just returned from the picture show and everything is quiet and when it gets that way, we think of home and wonder what they are doing.
This is a real pretty country and the French people are as nice to us as we can expect not being able to talk to them but the war is over and we are getting very anxious to get back home. From the way everything looks now, it will be blows before we will return though.
About the only pleasure I have is going with one of the boys when he makes a trip through the country, or go out to buy groceries. Will tell you a little experience I had while out buying turkeys for our Xmas dinner.
It rained all day. That is not rained, for it rains every day for we were in a closed car and it didn’t make much difference, except the roads were so slippery they were like glass. They boy that was driving the car could speak French and I didn’t have much trouble buying the turkey after we found them. They are not very expensive just $6 each and eggs $1.20 per dozen. You have to take a drink of wine when you go in to see the people or they will get mad. I don’t know how many houses we stopped at before we found the turkeys and eggs. We left the turkeys but started back with the eggs. Don’t think I was drunk, for there is not enough people in France to make me drunk. We were driving along and around a curve going down grade and one of the hind wheels broke down and we connected with a tree. One boy on the back seat went through the window of the car, but didn’t get hurt. The other boy was one of the cooks. He fell over the front seat on me and bruised both knees, but was able to walk in. The eggs what was left on them were all over the car. We don’t think much about a little accident like that though. One of the boys climbed a tree with a 3 ton truck at the same place.
Henry, I wish you could be over here and go hunting. There is plenty of game. Every time I go to Bonrges I see wild boar and venison hanging in the butcher shops, and driving through the country I see quail. They are larger than they are in America.
I have had three Xmas dinners so far and have an invitation to New Year’s dinner. I can’t talk to these people, but I can EAT and make signs.
I get so mad at times I don’t know what to do. These people that I know will meet me and shake hands and can’t either of us say a word. Just look at each other like fools and say “au-revoir” which means good bye. I have told you about all I can and will have to bring this to a close.
Wishing you a happy New Year will say good night.
ED.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
St. Florent, France.
Dear Henry:
I have just returned from the picture show and everything is quiet and when it gets that way, we think of home and wonder what they are doing.
This is a real pretty country and the French people are as nice to us as we can expect not being able to talk to them but the war is over and we are getting very anxious to get back home. From the way everything looks now, it will be blows before we will return though.
About the only pleasure I have is going with one of the boys when he makes a trip through the country, or go out to buy groceries. Will tell you a little experience I had while out buying turkeys for our Xmas dinner.
It rained all day. That is not rained, for it rains every day for we were in a closed car and it didn’t make much difference, except the roads were so slippery they were like glass. They boy that was driving the car could speak French and I didn’t have much trouble buying the turkey after we found them. They are not very expensive just $6 each and eggs $1.20 per dozen. You have to take a drink of wine when you go in to see the people or they will get mad. I don’t know how many houses we stopped at before we found the turkeys and eggs. We left the turkeys but started back with the eggs. Don’t think I was drunk, for there is not enough people in France to make me drunk. We were driving along and around a curve going down grade and one of the hind wheels broke down and we connected with a tree. One boy on the back seat went through the window of the car, but didn’t get hurt. The other boy was one of the cooks. He fell over the front seat on me and bruised both knees, but was able to walk in. The eggs what was left on them were all over the car. We don’t think much about a little accident like that though. One of the boys climbed a tree with a 3 ton truck at the same place.
Henry, I wish you could be over here and go hunting. There is plenty of game. Every time I go to Bonrges I see wild boar and venison hanging in the butcher shops, and driving through the country I see quail. They are larger than they are in America.
I have had three Xmas dinners so far and have an invitation to New Year’s dinner. I can’t talk to these people, but I can EAT and make signs.
I get so mad at times I don’t know what to do. These people that I know will meet me and shake hands and can’t either of us say a word. Just look at each other like fools and say “au-revoir” which means good bye. I have told you about all I can and will have to bring this to a close.
Wishing you a happy New Year will say good night.
ED.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY