Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-02-09
LETTER FROM rlANILA.
Will Wilson Writes Interestingly OF
Soldier Life.

DEAR JULIA AND ALL:
Well, this is Christmas, and, thanks
to all you folks not Forgetting old E. J.
we have had. a very, very happy Christ
mas day. I wrote letter few days
ago to all of you in general. The st.
Paul, the steamship which brought our
Christmas boxes and mail, came in the
morning mailed the other letter. We
first got mail just after dinner that day,
the 22nd, but it was second class matter,
just papers you know. We got two
Advocates then and found out about
election for the first time. Didn't it 90
fine? That don't make Ned feel good
for he is a democrat, guess, / haven't
any thing against him for that though,
for he is dear old chum of mine who 1
l think Of lots of times. I don't suppose
1 would have written to day if it hadn't
been for two things, first, we were so
pleased with our presents that we just
could not wait to write our thanks to
you and the second reason is that we are
expecting to start for Iloilo either to-
night or tomorrow, as we got orders to
tnat effect and by going down there I
don't know but what it will be long
time before we can get letter sent
from there.
But our Christmas boxes, my, oh, my!
they were grand, and my gold ring, how
can I thank Mother enough. I never
can. And Julia, those handkerchiefs
were just awful nice. l examined them
close and know they cost you lots of
hard work, and that pillow, wouldn't
take farm for it. 1t is something I
have wanted ever since joining the army
and hardly know how 10 use if. I laid
my head on it, but it felt so soft that
considered it to nice too lay on Inow, for
it would get dirty. I want you folks to
try and thank E. j. for that box he sent
US. My gracious! he inst sent every
thing imaginable, and just what we
wanted most He sent us so much and
SO useful things that it will make our
barrack life in Iloilo very much like
home to us. Now / haven't forgotten
the bon bons you sent for Frank G.. or
the cake, the sack of candy from
Bertha, or the handkerchief and
candy you sent me from Fatima. 1t
just made us feel like being in Paradise
to eat that candy. 1t was just grand and
we will never get any more like it until
we get back to the States, for such
candy is not made here in this country.
/ can taste those bon bons yet. Thank
everybody who sent us things. Clyde
may not write until we get to IloiIo and
he said for you to let his folks read my
letter and for me to thank everyone for
him until he writes. The box that E. J.
sent must have cost him no less than S12.
The boys all crowded around us and
nearly went wild with delight at what
we had in the box. They swore that it
was the best gotten up box that anyone
in the regiment got. We two got more
presents than anybody. Maybe you
folks don't know what all f. ]. sent so
l will tell you; bunch of envelopes, l
finger nail brush, l dandy razor with
strap, brush and shaving soap, box of
pens, 2 pencil holders, 2 lead pencils, 6
handkerchiefs, 1 pocket ink well, large
pint bottle of ink, pocket ink well, /
spool thread, l fine and / coarse comb,
2 pocket knives, l package needles, 2
note books, (writing on one now 6 pairs
socks, 4 large nice towels, 2 long boxes
toilet soap, 2 plates and 2 cups, large
thick looking glass, nice whisk broom,
bread knife, knives, forks and spoons,
l hair brush, l clothes brush. Wasn't
that a lot OF dandy things? Everything
Of the best material and just what we
needed, and we also got box apiece
from the Bluffs. The ladies there had
a full list of us fellows and each lady
picked out name to send a box to.
Mrs. Ed Canning, 2111-6- Ave. picked
put my name and sent me box with a
letter in it, Here is what is in her box:
5 nice handkerchiefs, Christmas card,
lot of safety pins, New Years card, box
Of bachelor buttons, pocket comb, match
case, looking glass, three large towels