West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-04-08


York. Feb. ., 1915.
Mr.. j. w. Vandervort,
Attorney-at-Law,
Parkersburg. w. Va.
Dear Sir:
We duly received your kind letter
dated Jan. 2Sth, and beg to thank YOU
sincerely for 1t and for it's contents
too. We beg TO thank also the other
members of the Vandervort family
Tor what they contributed in our fay
or.
we are merely In very poor con-
dition, although the English people
are helping us as much as can possi-
bly, be done, but you will remember
that they are also involved in the war
and that they have to care for their
own men as well.
And. Notwithstanding our poor con-
dition, are we, dear sir, afraid TO
abuse of the kindness of your good
selves and OF your relatives. You will
kindly be aware that IL is not our wav
to depend upon other people, but un-
der the circumstances we must sac
rifice our feelings and accept. with
most gratitude of course, the assist
ance you offer us so kindly.
The writer of this letter is one of
the sons of Florent Vandervort: NV
father is going TO give you full ac-
count OF his trip from Antwerp and
Belgium to England. You will see
that 1t was most awful one; my
self was astonished to find my par
ents back in England after such a
dreadful journey.
My father and your obedient SER
want are in good health; but, unfor-
tunately. we cannot say the same
ABOUT my mother, my sister and my
wife. My mother has got bronchi-
us ana afterward pleurethic conges-
tion; my sister, i'm the meantime. had
the scarlet fever and my wife. who
was already not very strong, had TO
care for the two. AS Il was to be
foreseen, my wife became Ill at her
turn and has to be strengthened as
much as possible.
You are able now, to give you a
little idea of our sufferings. so far
from our sweet homes, which have
perhaps been destroyed, heaven knows
It!
We are here thus: My parents, both
90 years OF age, my youngest sister,
Madeleine, 20 years, and my wife.
Margaret, "a years. ! am the young
est son and have 26 years of age.
My name is Herman.
My eldest brother. Florent, is with
his wife and his two children I'm Eng
land as well as my eldest sister Mia
with her husband and her two chill
dren, Fernand and Lucy; another
brother, James, remained with his
wife at Antwerp, as he is an official
OF the Court OF Justice; two other
brothers are at the front; Jules is in
the 1lth Infantry Regiment which
has lately been decorated by our dear
King for its bravery and Paul is mill
tary chaplain The being n priesO in
the 2nd Regiment OF Carabiniers
Both are still alive so far as we know
for the present; but may we be sure
TO see them ever more. Poor chaps!
and poor all we are. We were too
happy, you know, in our beloved Bel
gium, we had too quiet a life, and
now we have nothing but that we
could save (very few thlngs) and the
assistance we receive.
As to this assistance, here is the
extent of it: We receive 5 shiIlings
week and per head for food: coal
| and light is paid by the Committee.
We receive sometimes a few clothing.
but it is almost used. The reception
b. very fine indeed, I'm England, and
we arc all very grateful for II, but
you will easily understand that we
are not rich now and that we have to
make the best OF the things.
You are good enough, dear Mr..
Vanderyort, 90 tell us about clothing.
Well, here I give you some particu-
| lars:
We need all OF us some things. dear
sir. and we are again afraid to ask
too much; for instance, we will be
satisfied with what you and your rela-
tivcs are going to do for us and thank
you in advance. But II is a very deli
cate question, indeed. as we can not
practically give you measurements for
the clothing. Wouldn't It be better to
/ collect the money and to send Il 10
York in order to enable us to buy what
we need, as stockings, shirts, under
wear. trousers, boots, etc. etc. We
had just little parcel from Antwerp
and all had been damaged during our
trip,
Now, in the case that your inten-
tions are to send US clothing instead
OF money. we may say that what you
will do shall be well done and repea,