Putnam patriot., 1916-08-18
FROM FL PASO
Another Putnam Boy Writes from Mex.
 ican Border
K. E. Shepard's View of the Distant
 Country

Country
 Roland F. shepard, former Put. nam boy, is on the Mexican border as a member of Co. L, 4th Pennsylvania, Infantry. The family. all but two sis. teTs, Mrs. John Lavalle and Mrs. Thomas McDermott, removed,to Penn. syivania about four years ago. shep. ard is ,strapping young sellow and fitted for the hardships of soldiers life. In letter to the PATRIOT he l gives his impression of part of the country heretofore foreign to him. The letter Is as follows:
 | El Paso, Texas, Aug. 9th, 1916.
 This is the most peculiar country you ever saw. In the daytime 1t seems as though 1t was theidevil's s own country but at night 1t seems like l Gods country.
 We are esmped on big plain called mesa. l should call 1t desert. All there is Is sand, cactus, snakes and | bugs. We have large collection of the various species. We have a coach. whip snake, and 1t Is beauty too; two l tarantalas, the most dangerous things we have to contend with; then we have all kinds of land lizards and several species of scorpion. They are all poisonous.
 The sand here has an awful habit of coming up in storms just at mess time, The fellows all say that they will have to install electric fans to blow the sand up over their chuck to make 1t taste natural when there Is no wind. Then there are whirlwinds when the sand rises in spouts right up to the clouds. It lis great sight--that Is If you can keep the dust out of your eyes so you can see 1t.
 registers 1l0 to ll5 most every day But we never hear of any heat pros- trations. The air is very dry and they have plenty of Il most days. Hut the nights are sgreat About D o'clock 1t begins to cool of. We can use two woolen blankets with comfort when we turn in. You ought to see the sun set here some evenings. There Is chain of mountains on the other side of Us land when the sun goes over the top of them it is grand sight. IL Is just as beautiful nt sunrise.
 The moonlight here Is something wonderful. On clear night with the moon full one may distinguish objects at a distance of several miles, the at mosphere is so thin. In the daytime distances fool one. We can see the mountains in old Mexico from camp. They look to be two or three miles away. In reality they are nearly ten. There is n nice side Of this life too pay day and trip to Fl Paso city. That is some town. Some sections are pretty hard. Just like the old wild West They carry guns and knives on their hips. The sheriff rides mustang and totes young arsenal, It isn't safe to go through there at night. A night isn't complete without mur' der. This section of the town Is near The houses are all made of dobe bricks. saw one man drive couple of pigs and COW ithrough the front door of his house into the back yard. The chickens roost everywhere, on chairs, tables and beds. 1 really don't see how the people can live that way. Then there Is a section where the vice of the city Is segregated. This is pop ulated by over 300 women from all parts Of the country. 1 have been all | over the town. 1 carry my Colt 45 when 1 visit some sections of the city.
 The rest of the town Is very nice. You couldn't tell 1t from an Eastern town. They have one Of the pfettiest plazss here have ever seen. There Is large fountain in the center and In It are three large alegators, eight or ten turtles and it Is full of gold fish. One objection to the town Is sthe streets. It looks as if they built the houses and then made the streets around them.
 ! expect to get transferred into the machine gun battery. The captain. was over the other night and asked me whether l would rather drive a car or take a non-commissioned officers job. 1 think l will take the drivers job as I like It. That branch of the service pays more money. get s2l.60 a month on my present job but in the other company would get s40. This l includes board and clothes.
 The boys have formed football team and we are cleaning up everything. Some Of these guys have hard heads. know for have run Into thsm several times.
 Tell my old friends that if they will send me card with their address l will ans wer 1t.
 From k. F. Shepard,
 Co. l, 4th Pa, Inf.,
 EI Paso, Texas