TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE FEBRUARY 2, 1919 P. 17
All cafés in Paris serve wine, but if you want water, you have to ask for it, and pay to get it. Can you beat it?
Have just come from an extended trip to Verdun, Soissons, Rheims and other places. We left Verdun in a car, for Soissons, which carried us all through No Man’s Land in fact, the heart of the battlefield. Words cannot express the magnitude and ruthlessness of this great war. The way cities and villages have been completely wiped out can only be believed by seeing it. I visited the wonderful Rheims cathedral. It is in pretty bad shape, but can be restored. I have several souvenirs from there, which a priest gave me. The auto trip took exactly four days and nights, during three of which I slept right in the car. We covered a distance of about 600 miles. We expected to arrive in Paris about midnight, but as shell hole, which aused the driver to shell hole which, aused the driver to lose control of the car and we had one grand spill. Fortunately, I was thrown entirely clear of the car. No one of the party was hurt outside a few scratches. I was covered with mud then, sure enough, even my face. Two of us started to walk toward Paris, expecting to get a lift. We walked for about two hours, when we met a milk wagon. We spoke enough French to the driver to make ourselves understood, so we made our grand entrance through the Paris gates about 4 a.m. in a milk wagon. Some trip!
I have in my room now a boche helmet, gas mask, shell holder and a field rifle. Will try to take them to the States with me. From the looks of things I will be in Paris all this week. Don’t like to hang around Paris very long at a time, as it is very expensive, although I manage to get plenty to eat.
I have visited the Notre Dame cathedral. I could spend a week in that churh. Will go to high mass there some Sunday and hear the organ and singing. So far, I have been successful in attending mass from an open air mass kneeling on the ground, or standing up in the always crowded Notre Dame church.
There are a number of places around here where a fellow takes big chances in walking on account of the unexploded shells and bombs lying around on the ground. I try to keep on the beaten paths as much as possible. Some experience!
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Edward William Snyder to his parents Mr. and Mrs. John W. Snyder of Little Rock, Arkansas. He went to France as an auditor for the US government. He had been an auditor for the Underwood Typewriter Company in Little Rock before being hired by the government. He was born on August 28, 1895 in Little Rock, Arkansas and died on April 10, 1970 in Pinellas, Florida. He was described as being of medium height and build with gray eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
All cafés in Paris serve wine, but if you want water, you have to ask for it, and pay to get it. Can you beat it?
Have just come from an extended trip to Verdun, Soissons, Rheims and other places. We left Verdun in a car, for Soissons, which carried us all through No Man’s Land in fact, the heart of the battlefield. Words cannot express the magnitude and ruthlessness of this great war. The way cities and villages have been completely wiped out can only be believed by seeing it. I visited the wonderful Rheims cathedral. It is in pretty bad shape, but can be restored. I have several souvenirs from there, which a priest gave me. The auto trip took exactly four days and nights, during three of which I slept right in the car. We covered a distance of about 600 miles. We expected to arrive in Paris about midnight, but as shell hole, which aused the driver to shell hole which, aused the driver to lose control of the car and we had one grand spill. Fortunately, I was thrown entirely clear of the car. No one of the party was hurt outside a few scratches. I was covered with mud then, sure enough, even my face. Two of us started to walk toward Paris, expecting to get a lift. We walked for about two hours, when we met a milk wagon. We spoke enough French to the driver to make ourselves understood, so we made our grand entrance through the Paris gates about 4 a.m. in a milk wagon. Some trip!
I have in my room now a boche helmet, gas mask, shell holder and a field rifle. Will try to take them to the States with me. From the looks of things I will be in Paris all this week. Don’t like to hang around Paris very long at a time, as it is very expensive, although I manage to get plenty to eat.
I have visited the Notre Dame cathedral. I could spend a week in that churh. Will go to high mass there some Sunday and hear the organ and singing. So far, I have been successful in attending mass from an open air mass kneeling on the ground, or standing up in the always crowded Notre Dame church.
There are a number of places around here where a fellow takes big chances in walking on account of the unexploded shells and bombs lying around on the ground. I try to keep on the beaten paths as much as possible. Some experience!
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Edward William Snyder to his parents Mr. and Mrs. John W. Snyder of Little Rock, Arkansas. He went to France as an auditor for the US government. He had been an auditor for the Underwood Typewriter Company in Little Rock before being hired by the government. He was born on August 28, 1895 in Little Rock, Arkansas and died on April 10, 1970 in Pinellas, Florida. He was described as being of medium height and build with gray eyes and brown hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT