TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT MAY 9, 1919 P. 1
Had a very good time in Paris. Saw about all of France I guess as it seems that all that is worth while is brought there as soon as it is discovered and placed on exhibition in some one of the many large museums of the city.
I went through the art galleries of Louvre. Saw those famous pieces of statuary pictured in magazines and histories of art, including the “Venus de Milo,” “Victory,” etc. I also went through the Notre Dame Cathedral, which I am satisfied is the largest and most beautiful church building in the world. Saw the church which was struck by a shell from the long range German gun, “Big Bertha,” killing several people.
On my return trip I spent a few hours in the towns of Toul and Nancy, which was under shell fire most of the time during the war. I never saw anyone who lived nearer home than President Wilson. I saw the president, though, and other members of the peace conference. I also went through the “Gallery of Mirrors” in the old palace at Versailles where the Franco-Prussian peace treaty was signed.
There is considerable activity in the way of re-enlistments here now. A number of soldiers are enlisting for periods of from one to three years. Some times I think I might as well take a little more time and get acquainted with the whole country while I am here. It doesn’t look as if a year’s additional enlistment would lengthen the stay much more than it is going to be anyhow. Don’t think, very strong though, that I will take the chance it depends on how things look when the replacements begin to come in from the states.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Arlye Douglas Patton to his parents Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Patton. He was born on June 8, 1894 in Archey, Arkansas and died on February 21, 1960. He is buried in the Tishomingo City Cemetery in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Pvt. serving in Gas Detachment Demobilization. Group during World War 1. He enlisted on October 10, 1917 and was discharged on September 27, 1919. He departed Newport News, Va. on August 6, 1918 onboard the Huron. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in the Medical Department 153rd Infantry 39th Division. He departed Brest, France on April 26, 1919 onboard the Zeppelin. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on September 5. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in the Medical and Veterinary Detachment 6th Field Artillery.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Had a very good time in Paris. Saw about all of France I guess as it seems that all that is worth while is brought there as soon as it is discovered and placed on exhibition in some one of the many large museums of the city.
I went through the art galleries of Louvre. Saw those famous pieces of statuary pictured in magazines and histories of art, including the “Venus de Milo,” “Victory,” etc. I also went through the Notre Dame Cathedral, which I am satisfied is the largest and most beautiful church building in the world. Saw the church which was struck by a shell from the long range German gun, “Big Bertha,” killing several people.
On my return trip I spent a few hours in the towns of Toul and Nancy, which was under shell fire most of the time during the war. I never saw anyone who lived nearer home than President Wilson. I saw the president, though, and other members of the peace conference. I also went through the “Gallery of Mirrors” in the old palace at Versailles where the Franco-Prussian peace treaty was signed.
There is considerable activity in the way of re-enlistments here now. A number of soldiers are enlisting for periods of from one to three years. Some times I think I might as well take a little more time and get acquainted with the whole country while I am here. It doesn’t look as if a year’s additional enlistment would lengthen the stay much more than it is going to be anyhow. Don’t think, very strong though, that I will take the chance it depends on how things look when the replacements begin to come in from the states.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Arlye Douglas Patton to his parents Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Patton. He was born on June 8, 1894 in Archey, Arkansas and died on February 21, 1960. He is buried in the Tishomingo City Cemetery in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Arkansas Pvt. serving in Gas Detachment Demobilization. Group during World War 1. He enlisted on October 10, 1917 and was discharged on September 27, 1919. He departed Newport News, Va. on August 6, 1918 onboard the Huron. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in the Medical Department 153rd Infantry 39th Division. He departed Brest, France on April 26, 1919 onboard the Zeppelin. He arrived in Hoboken, NJ on September 5. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in the Medical and Veterinary Detachment 6th Field Artillery.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON