TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MALVERN TIMES JOURNAL JANUARY 30, 1919 P. 1
Paris, Dec. 25, 1918
Dear Mr. Beeratecher:
On leaving Malvern I promised that I would write to you once in a while a letter for publication in your valuable paper, which, by the way, I wish you would send to me. Send the Times Journal only, as that will be sufficient. It will be an impossibility for me to attempt to write personal letters to all my friends in Malvern, they are so many, and my time for letter writing will be very limited from what I hear.
I am now in Paris, and this is Christmas, a day generally associated with the thought of home and friends. I am trying to be cheerful, in spite of the fact that I have not yet received a letter from home, nor did George arrive here as I had anticipated. I am assigned to a city on the coast; the name is Vannes, and will probably be put in charge of a warehouse, or probably a truck to shove around. It does not matter; I am here to serve in whatever capacity they need me most. Had a most pleasant trip across the ocean. Landed at London, but did not see much of the great city, but will endeavor to do so on my way back. From there we went by rail to Winchester, in the south of England, where we spent six days. This city of 25,000 is the ancient capital of England, and is full of historical interest. Here is situated the great Winchester cathedral, begun in the 10th century, but many older ruins are to be seen (don’t read this to mean that the cathedral is a ruin, for it is far from that). There are many evidences of the Roman occupation several hundred years before that. I cannot describe these things here as it would take too much valuable space and time of the linotype operator, especially. But I am keeping an extensive diary, and am procuring views of the different things that I see. So I will have something to show when back home again.
We left Southhampton the 15th of December and, after two days at Havre, we finally arrived at Paris the 19th of December, and I have since that time crowed in as many hours of sightseeing as possible. Paris by far exceeds my expectations. It is undoubtedly the finest and most magnificent city in the world. Last Sunday I visited the city of Versailles, some 14 miles distant from Paris, and saw the palaces situated there, with the wonderful hall of glass, or mirrors, where the peace treaty will be signed, and the councilroom where the deliberations will begin. I believe, on the 9th of January; also the hall of battles, with its marvelous and enormous painting, the bedrooms of Louis the XIV., and other, with furniture and decorations; also, the state carriages and harness are on exhibition.
I have already been able to see most of the monuments and cathedrals of Paris, and they are many. Have had pointed out to us the manhole where fictitious Jean Valjean entered the great sewer, also the outlet where he emerged. The place where the very real guillotine was locatd on what is now Place de Concorde, near the great obelisk. The Champs d’Elysees, which means, as you all know, the “Fields of Heaven,” is said to be the most magnificent thoroughfare in the world. I came here too late, to my great regret, to witness President Wilson’s entry here. The king of Italy arrived the same day we did, and that afternoon I saw him riding down the street with most of the great dignitaries of France, and I was told the crowds and the cheering and the noise almost equalled that of the day when the president arrived. He had some reception, believe me. The work of uncovering some of the most valuable works of art is going on the time. The Louvre is not open to the public yet, but soon will be, and I hope to be able to come back here and see some more of the wonderful treasures of this great city.
I am feeling fine and fit and am eager to get to my work, and in another letter will touch upon other matters of interest and my observations of things here. We were told the censorship is lifted, but there are many things I will not commit to writing, but they will keep until I get back. Now, Friend Beerstecher, I have no idea how this epistle will look in print, so you have my permission to censor it and use your blue pencil freely.
Greetings, and best wishes to all my friends in dear old Malvern. God bless you and proper you.
Sincerely yours
JOHN LINDALL
Address Y. M. C. A., 12 Rue d’ Aguisseau, Paris, France
PS Let this address go in the paper. Perhaps someone will write to me, which I will very much appreciate. I am very much like the rest of the boys in that.
J. L.
NOTES: He is writing to the editor of the paper. Lindall is a YMCA secretary in France.
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN
Paris, Dec. 25, 1918
Dear Mr. Beeratecher:
On leaving Malvern I promised that I would write to you once in a while a letter for publication in your valuable paper, which, by the way, I wish you would send to me. Send the Times Journal only, as that will be sufficient. It will be an impossibility for me to attempt to write personal letters to all my friends in Malvern, they are so many, and my time for letter writing will be very limited from what I hear.
I am now in Paris, and this is Christmas, a day generally associated with the thought of home and friends. I am trying to be cheerful, in spite of the fact that I have not yet received a letter from home, nor did George arrive here as I had anticipated. I am assigned to a city on the coast; the name is Vannes, and will probably be put in charge of a warehouse, or probably a truck to shove around. It does not matter; I am here to serve in whatever capacity they need me most. Had a most pleasant trip across the ocean. Landed at London, but did not see much of the great city, but will endeavor to do so on my way back. From there we went by rail to Winchester, in the south of England, where we spent six days. This city of 25,000 is the ancient capital of England, and is full of historical interest. Here is situated the great Winchester cathedral, begun in the 10th century, but many older ruins are to be seen (don’t read this to mean that the cathedral is a ruin, for it is far from that). There are many evidences of the Roman occupation several hundred years before that. I cannot describe these things here as it would take too much valuable space and time of the linotype operator, especially. But I am keeping an extensive diary, and am procuring views of the different things that I see. So I will have something to show when back home again.
We left Southhampton the 15th of December and, after two days at Havre, we finally arrived at Paris the 19th of December, and I have since that time crowed in as many hours of sightseeing as possible. Paris by far exceeds my expectations. It is undoubtedly the finest and most magnificent city in the world. Last Sunday I visited the city of Versailles, some 14 miles distant from Paris, and saw the palaces situated there, with the wonderful hall of glass, or mirrors, where the peace treaty will be signed, and the councilroom where the deliberations will begin. I believe, on the 9th of January; also the hall of battles, with its marvelous and enormous painting, the bedrooms of Louis the XIV., and other, with furniture and decorations; also, the state carriages and harness are on exhibition.
I have already been able to see most of the monuments and cathedrals of Paris, and they are many. Have had pointed out to us the manhole where fictitious Jean Valjean entered the great sewer, also the outlet where he emerged. The place where the very real guillotine was locatd on what is now Place de Concorde, near the great obelisk. The Champs d’Elysees, which means, as you all know, the “Fields of Heaven,” is said to be the most magnificent thoroughfare in the world. I came here too late, to my great regret, to witness President Wilson’s entry here. The king of Italy arrived the same day we did, and that afternoon I saw him riding down the street with most of the great dignitaries of France, and I was told the crowds and the cheering and the noise almost equalled that of the day when the president arrived. He had some reception, believe me. The work of uncovering some of the most valuable works of art is going on the time. The Louvre is not open to the public yet, but soon will be, and I hope to be able to come back here and see some more of the wonderful treasures of this great city.
I am feeling fine and fit and am eager to get to my work, and in another letter will touch upon other matters of interest and my observations of things here. We were told the censorship is lifted, but there are many things I will not commit to writing, but they will keep until I get back. Now, Friend Beerstecher, I have no idea how this epistle will look in print, so you have my permission to censor it and use your blue pencil freely.
Greetings, and best wishes to all my friends in dear old Malvern. God bless you and proper you.
Sincerely yours
JOHN LINDALL
Address Y. M. C. A., 12 Rue d’ Aguisseau, Paris, France
PS Let this address go in the paper. Perhaps someone will write to me, which I will very much appreciate. I am very much like the rest of the boys in that.
J. L.
NOTES: He is writing to the editor of the paper. Lindall is a YMCA secretary in France.
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN