TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS NOVEMBER 8, 1918 P. 1
October 6, 1918.
This is Sunday and time to write. How many letters have you received from me. I have nine from you and three from Mabel. You don't know how glad I am to get lots of letters. The latest one of yours was written Sept. 12 and Mabel's the 14th. That Is making pretty good time don't you tthink? I never got the kodaks, maybe I will later.
Tell Mamma and Papa not to worry about me, that I am feeling fine, we have plenty to eat, a good place to sleep, good warm blankets and good warm clothes. I will take good care of myself and I didn't come over here to let a German kill me.
Are there lots of apples this fall? There are some here but they do not taste like our apples do and they make most of them into cider. They raise grapes here and all that I have seen are whiet.
The French people don't drink much water they have all kinds of wine. You don't see many only old men, they wear wooden shoes, and some of the women wear black dresses. The all have to work hard. You would laugh to see them washing. They do not use machines, tubs or washboards, they just put the clothes on a rack and beat the dirt out with a little wooden paddle. I'll teach you how when I come home. But don't guess I'll teach you how they talk for I can't learn that myself.
Most of the farms are small and the fences are blackberry briers.The houses are made of stone and are real nice. Roads are all good, they are built of rock. Their wagons are one horse and the wheeled wagons or rather one "cow" and two wheeled. They work cattle.
Church houses are large and they have some of the prettiest cemeteries I have ever seen but whats strange when they bury anyone and leave them awhile they did them up and bury some one else in the same grave.
There isn't many trees here like we have there, a good many chestnut trees. It rains here often but stays warm, haven't had any frost yet. The water we have is good and most of the boys are well. The French people are awfully nice to us.
I guess this is enough about over here, for this time and it's about supper time any way, guess you are getting ready for dinner. Tell everybody to write to all of us, and not to worry, pray for us and trust God for everything.
From Clarence.
NOTES: This letter was written by Clarence Odle to his wife on November 3 from France. Clarence Elmer Odle was born in Cassville, Missouri on August 6, 1890 he died in August 1975. He is buried in the Bluff Cemetery in Springdale, Arkansas. He departed from Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was a Private serving in Battery A, 142nd Artillery. He returned departing Marseille, France on May 30, 1918 onboard the Madona. He arrived in Brooklyn, NY on June 14, 1919. He was serving as a Waggoner in the St. Aignan Casual Company No. 4943, Special Discharge.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
October 6, 1918.
This is Sunday and time to write. How many letters have you received from me. I have nine from you and three from Mabel. You don't know how glad I am to get lots of letters. The latest one of yours was written Sept. 12 and Mabel's the 14th. That Is making pretty good time don't you tthink? I never got the kodaks, maybe I will later.
Tell Mamma and Papa not to worry about me, that I am feeling fine, we have plenty to eat, a good place to sleep, good warm blankets and good warm clothes. I will take good care of myself and I didn't come over here to let a German kill me.
Are there lots of apples this fall? There are some here but they do not taste like our apples do and they make most of them into cider. They raise grapes here and all that I have seen are whiet.
The French people don't drink much water they have all kinds of wine. You don't see many only old men, they wear wooden shoes, and some of the women wear black dresses. The all have to work hard. You would laugh to see them washing. They do not use machines, tubs or washboards, they just put the clothes on a rack and beat the dirt out with a little wooden paddle. I'll teach you how when I come home. But don't guess I'll teach you how they talk for I can't learn that myself.
Most of the farms are small and the fences are blackberry briers.The houses are made of stone and are real nice. Roads are all good, they are built of rock. Their wagons are one horse and the wheeled wagons or rather one "cow" and two wheeled. They work cattle.
Church houses are large and they have some of the prettiest cemeteries I have ever seen but whats strange when they bury anyone and leave them awhile they did them up and bury some one else in the same grave.
There isn't many trees here like we have there, a good many chestnut trees. It rains here often but stays warm, haven't had any frost yet. The water we have is good and most of the boys are well. The French people are awfully nice to us.
I guess this is enough about over here, for this time and it's about supper time any way, guess you are getting ready for dinner. Tell everybody to write to all of us, and not to worry, pray for us and trust God for everything.
From Clarence.
NOTES: This letter was written by Clarence Odle to his wife on November 3 from France. Clarence Elmer Odle was born in Cassville, Missouri on August 6, 1890 he died in August 1975. He is buried in the Bluff Cemetery in Springdale, Arkansas. He departed from Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He was a Private serving in Battery A, 142nd Artillery. He returned departing Marseille, France on May 30, 1918 onboard the Madona. He arrived in Brooklyn, NY on June 14, 1919. He was serving as a Waggoner in the St. Aignan Casual Company No. 4943, Special Discharge.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD