The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-10
ARTIST H0FFBAUER NOW.
SERVING N THE RANKS.
Young Frenchman Left Work On
Confederate Memorial to Fight
For Country.
Is PROMOTED TO SERGEANT
Writes Letter to Lieutenant Governor
J. Taylor Ellyson, Telling OF His Re-
cent Expeesfences-Was, Tired of
Doing Nothing" He Says.

Fr8nds of Oh. Hoffbauer. the
Frenchman, who left his work of deco
rating the Confederate Memorial
Building here to serve his country in
time of war. will read with great
interest the following letter to Lieu
tenant-Governor J. Taylor Ellyson,
written by the talented artist from
the ranks OF a French regiment:
France. January IS. 1915.
observation-disclosures J. Taylor Ely
son:
Dear Mr.. Ellyson: / ought TO have
written you a long good letter for
Christmas. i know this too well. l
intended to do il. My onS excuse
may. perhaps. be a good one, for you
know by experience what kind of a
life one has to live at war! Well, l
am no longer a painter or staff
attache but a sergeant in a line regi-
ment, the Eighth Infantry. and you
know what little time one has to write
long letters in line regiment.
1t came to this: I had grown very
tired OF late of doing nothing, but
fuss around in automobiles with off,
GERS didn't like the feeling of
being an "embusque" tdo you know
what embusaue means? 1t means a
"quitter'D. especially when meeting or
or crossing regiments going to, or
coming from battle. OF course, the
men were too disciplined to say any
thing. but their eyes were eloquent
enough, so when the General d Es-
percy told men that strict orders had
been recently issued to suppress all
"empiois inutiles" / felt relieved and
asked him TO be sent with an active
!.
now / am a sergeant, You see, there
ts a radical change in my situation.
the general told me he would make
lieutenant OF me, If l proved worthy
OF the honor. ] am working my best
20 deserve II.
My soldiers all belong to the 1915
class. They are, therefore, nineteen
years old, they are fine fellows from
Flanders. Dunkerk, Hazebrouch, etc. n
regiment of yellow heads all fair and
rosy checked fellows. the battalion is
in reserve and is very likely to re-
main to until spring, but then
Feels Perfectly Happy.
As for now, / feel as perfectly happy
as I was miserable three months ago.
when living TN comfort. safety and
Iaziness and / feel much younger TOO.
I am losing flesh. / mean the unhealthy
fat I had accumulated during my ex-
perienoes as a stan painter When the
day 10 over am unconcerned and
light hearted as boy, You must have
experienced the feeling Nifty years ago
Did you ever get a copy of "Leslies'
November IS. which was sent to you
from New York? l hope you did. I
am glad to hear the good news from
Richmond, that Mrs Ellyson and your
little grandson are we1l.
Give everybody know in Richmond
my best regards please, especially 10
Mr. Valentine ana Judge Christian. May
i ask you something. dear Mr. Ely
SOM ] should like very much TO have
a photograph OF my work in the Con-
federate Memorial Hall by me. just
now II would be a very good thing
for the work Itself to have those photos
under my eyes Just now | could at
once see faults and errors | left un~
noticed when working at them every
day OF the year. Could you send said
photos tn me-
left in the Memorial Hail, among
my tools and uniforms two regulation
sack or knapsacks of the Omitted
States Army. In service now. they are
made of string canvas with leather
strap one OF them is stamped Coast
Artillery. I want the other one with
nothing on it. It would be very use
full to me Just now, and It is a souvenir
too.
No Iuxuries Now.
How strangely remote and dreamltke
that life OF Richmond seems to me
now where everything is so peaceful.
people so happy COR ought TO heb ana
SO clean TOTO sleep In bed. to
have bath every morning, to dine
at the jefferson, Well. plenty OF peo-
pie do that every day. and do not
realize " hat that means, Instead, they
worry all day long about getting more
Dc "a
preciate what You have got
Give my love to old Richmond please.
and accept for your family and you.
Dear Mr. Ellyson. the truest wishes
and best regards of yours,
Most sincerely.