TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS MARCH 7, 1919 P. 6
Somewhere in France, Dear Mother:
Will write you a few lines this eve. I am at the "Y" waiting on the show, and of course was thinking of home and thought I would write you, although I wrote you Thursday.
I am feeling good, but I sure am tired of this country, it sure isn't like the states and you can't do a thing here to pass away the time, with out one drinks and that is out of my line, and the ones that do drink or get drunk get in the guard house. Mama dear, I really don't know a thing to write you that I can write. Our mail is still censored. You should see the people here, they wear big wooden shoes and dirty as can be and they ride in two wheel carts. Everything sure looks funny. Everything is high here, for instanct eggs are twenty cents a piece, fruit is high when one can get it at all, every thing is dead wrong from right. I would like to tell you lots of things but I guess I will wait until I get back, I don't know when that will be, about 6 months I think. I received Ruth's letter she wrote Nov.12th today. I had a letter from Kathleen that was written Jan 2nd. I sure would like to hear from home. I am anxious about Dad. Did he go to Texas? I hope he is better by this time. I sure hope Ruth doesn't have to run the business because she does not belong on the job and I hope business is good for I like to see Dad get the money if I can't.
I sure was sorry to hear about Frank and Henry Ritter being killed, but mama there were thousands went the same way. I hope there hasn't been any more of the boys bumped off. You can ask any one that has been over here about what we soldiers have to do.
Well, I will quit asking you not to worry a minute about me for I am all O.K. and I am coming back to you as I told you so many times. The show is about ready to start, it is now 7:15.
Goodnight and love to all,
Howard Roper.
NOTES: Roper of Elm Springs, Arkansas wrote this letter to his mother Mrs. S. J. Roper.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Somewhere in France, Dear Mother:
Will write you a few lines this eve. I am at the "Y" waiting on the show, and of course was thinking of home and thought I would write you, although I wrote you Thursday.
I am feeling good, but I sure am tired of this country, it sure isn't like the states and you can't do a thing here to pass away the time, with out one drinks and that is out of my line, and the ones that do drink or get drunk get in the guard house. Mama dear, I really don't know a thing to write you that I can write. Our mail is still censored. You should see the people here, they wear big wooden shoes and dirty as can be and they ride in two wheel carts. Everything sure looks funny. Everything is high here, for instanct eggs are twenty cents a piece, fruit is high when one can get it at all, every thing is dead wrong from right. I would like to tell you lots of things but I guess I will wait until I get back, I don't know when that will be, about 6 months I think. I received Ruth's letter she wrote Nov.12th today. I had a letter from Kathleen that was written Jan 2nd. I sure would like to hear from home. I am anxious about Dad. Did he go to Texas? I hope he is better by this time. I sure hope Ruth doesn't have to run the business because she does not belong on the job and I hope business is good for I like to see Dad get the money if I can't.
I sure was sorry to hear about Frank and Henry Ritter being killed, but mama there were thousands went the same way. I hope there hasn't been any more of the boys bumped off. You can ask any one that has been over here about what we soldiers have to do.
Well, I will quit asking you not to worry a minute about me for I am all O.K. and I am coming back to you as I told you so many times. The show is about ready to start, it is now 7:15.
Goodnight and love to all,
Howard Roper.
NOTES: Roper of Elm Springs, Arkansas wrote this letter to his mother Mrs. S. J. Roper.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD