TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWARK DAILY JOURNAL MAY 29, 1919 P. 1
Nice, France, May 6, 1919,
I haven’t had any experience on the battlefront since coming to France, but otherwise I have had my part. I was one of the last to land in France, just before the armistice was signed. I landed at Brest and only stayed there five days, and took a train for Lemans, riding in cars with forty men for two nights, so you may have some idea how pleasant the trip was.
I stayed at Lemans and the surrounding towns for two months with very little to eat. And to have a good bed—there was no such thing. The first two months I was in France I got to wash my face twice.
But since January have had a very good place to stay. I am now located at Lungres, Marne, but am off on a pass at present. The weather has been cold and rainy this winter. Wasn’t but a few days but what it rained or snowed. I left Langus the 3rd and it was snowing then, but down here it is plenty warm to go without a coat.
The French people are more sociable than they are in the north. But take it out of the city, the people live in one end of their house and their stock stay in the other.
Nice is a fine city on the coast of the Mediterranean sea at the foot of the Alps.
Yesterday I took a car and went to Genova, Italy passing through the ancient town of Eza, high upon a Mountain Peak and next was the Rock of Hercules, upon which is situated the town of Monaco. The Prince’s Palace is seen on the end of the rock. I visited the Casino at Monto Carlo, the greatest gambling house in the world. The most beautiful garden that was ever planted is in front of the Casino. We were escorted through the Casino and the garden, gathering a few olive twigs to send home. I went through the Oceanographic Museum built by Prince Albert I. This small country of Monace only covers 165 acres, and at the beginning of the war had an army of 126 men.
After leaving Monace we passed through several small towns, going to Genoa, Italy, where we took lunch and started back to Nice via the upper Corniche Road, climbing up mountain sides past the ancient sarsucean town of Roquebiune, 1500 feet above the sea and later through La Turbie, 1660 feet above sea level, noted for its ruins. Also the tower of Augusta which was blown down by a shell in 1776.
A cog railway is run from La Turbiee to Monte Carlo. The highest point is 1750 feet. This railroad was constructed by Napoleon.
Passing on up the mountain we gathered oranges and lemons. We went through many long tunnels, one of which was lighted by electricity. I saw many snow-capped mountains while it was modestly warm where I was.
I also visited the Gorge du Toupe and the town of Gruse. Gruse has perfumerys and is surrounded by vast tracts of flowers, which make a sweet ordor.
For scenery, both variety and beauty, this trip is the most unique in the world. I’ll not mention the Madamoiselles, for there were plenty of them. I must close, hoping to be back in old Newark soon.
Yours truly,
Corporal CHAS. G. MICHAELS
267 P.W.E. Co. A.P.O. 714 A.E.F.
NOTES: Charles Goldman Michaels was writing to the editor, Oscar Craig. Michaels was born on November 27, 1895 in Newark, Arkansas and died on June 30, 1970. He is buried in the Macedonia Cemetery in Newark. His military headstone identifies him as a Corporal serving in the US Army. He departed Brest, France on September 9, 1919 onboard the Mercury. He arrived in Brooklyn, NY on September 19, 1919. He was listed as a Corporal serving in PWE 267 Brest Casual Co. #4299.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Nice, France, May 6, 1919,
I haven’t had any experience on the battlefront since coming to France, but otherwise I have had my part. I was one of the last to land in France, just before the armistice was signed. I landed at Brest and only stayed there five days, and took a train for Lemans, riding in cars with forty men for two nights, so you may have some idea how pleasant the trip was.
I stayed at Lemans and the surrounding towns for two months with very little to eat. And to have a good bed—there was no such thing. The first two months I was in France I got to wash my face twice.
But since January have had a very good place to stay. I am now located at Lungres, Marne, but am off on a pass at present. The weather has been cold and rainy this winter. Wasn’t but a few days but what it rained or snowed. I left Langus the 3rd and it was snowing then, but down here it is plenty warm to go without a coat.
The French people are more sociable than they are in the north. But take it out of the city, the people live in one end of their house and their stock stay in the other.
Nice is a fine city on the coast of the Mediterranean sea at the foot of the Alps.
Yesterday I took a car and went to Genova, Italy passing through the ancient town of Eza, high upon a Mountain Peak and next was the Rock of Hercules, upon which is situated the town of Monaco. The Prince’s Palace is seen on the end of the rock. I visited the Casino at Monto Carlo, the greatest gambling house in the world. The most beautiful garden that was ever planted is in front of the Casino. We were escorted through the Casino and the garden, gathering a few olive twigs to send home. I went through the Oceanographic Museum built by Prince Albert I. This small country of Monace only covers 165 acres, and at the beginning of the war had an army of 126 men.
After leaving Monace we passed through several small towns, going to Genoa, Italy, where we took lunch and started back to Nice via the upper Corniche Road, climbing up mountain sides past the ancient sarsucean town of Roquebiune, 1500 feet above the sea and later through La Turbie, 1660 feet above sea level, noted for its ruins. Also the tower of Augusta which was blown down by a shell in 1776.
A cog railway is run from La Turbiee to Monte Carlo. The highest point is 1750 feet. This railroad was constructed by Napoleon.
Passing on up the mountain we gathered oranges and lemons. We went through many long tunnels, one of which was lighted by electricity. I saw many snow-capped mountains while it was modestly warm where I was.
I also visited the Gorge du Toupe and the town of Gruse. Gruse has perfumerys and is surrounded by vast tracts of flowers, which make a sweet ordor.
For scenery, both variety and beauty, this trip is the most unique in the world. I’ll not mention the Madamoiselles, for there were plenty of them. I must close, hoping to be back in old Newark soon.
Yours truly,
Corporal CHAS. G. MICHAELS
267 P.W.E. Co. A.P.O. 714 A.E.F.
NOTES: Charles Goldman Michaels was writing to the editor, Oscar Craig. Michaels was born on November 27, 1895 in Newark, Arkansas and died on June 30, 1970. He is buried in the Macedonia Cemetery in Newark. His military headstone identifies him as a Corporal serving in the US Army. He departed Brest, France on September 9, 1919 onboard the Mercury. He arrived in Brooklyn, NY on September 19, 1919. He was listed as a Corporal serving in PWE 267 Brest Casual Co. #4299.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON