Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-08-08
What the Boys on the Border Want.
THEIR GREAT DESIRE TO KNOW THAT
THE FOLKS AT HOME ARE ALL RIGHT.

LAREDO, TEXAS, July 81, 1915.
Editor Democrat:
Since being down here at Laredo
nave received one copy Of your paper
and in that was part OF . letter that
wrote to Mrs. Daughraty describing
Things down here on the border, and II
the meantime have received one or two
cards from friends In town to write
some more, and having the time to-day
will try and make it short and to the
point.
The boys down here are all supplied
with suitable clothes for the climate,
and have those things to eat that the
government knows are right for them to
have, and those two things are the only
things that they are satisfied with.
The most asked question down here is,
II wonder how the folks are getting
along at home" and In asking that ques-
ton they put their whole souls in the
tone and expression. While the boys
are here they are worrying about the
folks at home," never thinking about
themselves but doing their "little Bit
and hoping that the "folks at home" are
receiving at least little attention from
those in authority.
We frequently here the expression,
Damn So-and-So, he has given my wife
or folks, as the case may bel a check on
the Pauper Department. What do you
know about that?" and 90 the story
goes day in and day out. Worrying,
worrying. have not heard how the
town of Paris is doing about it, but let
US hope they see some way out of the
scrape that will bring honor to the boys
on the border, and honor to themselves,
so that shall not hear those expressions
from my adopted home town.
We have not had pay day since be-
ing here, and the boys are all "broke,"
but that does not hurt much and has to
be borne with grin as 1t cannot be
helped. We only hope pay day is due
US very soon, and then the boys can send
souvenirs home and other wise help out
the ''folks at home" as much as possible.
II the "folks at bone" want to send
things to the boys they can send them, but
don't-Don't!-send things to eat, but
rather things that will make life smooth
or and brighter, things that they can
use, such as toilet articles OF all kinds,
cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, writing
paper and envelopes, 1-cent and 2-cent
stamps in books so they will not stick
together and therefore be rendered unfit
for use.
This is the time of ''sapd storms" down
here, and we have them about every day
between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, and
that is the time when pair of auto
goggles would come in very handy.
They come up very quickly, blow about
40 to 60 miles an hour, and stop as
quickly as they start. Then! I know
the "folks at home" would laugh to
burst to see the washing bee that starts
up, for the fine dust goes right through
the canvas, and when it strikes 1t clings
and has Just got to be washed" off be-
fore 1t will come off. And then to wash
your clothesl Wow! / have some idea
why the folks down here, that Is, the
majority of them, look so dirty. And
then again, water is paid for through q
meter, and averages about IS 90 per
month for the middle class, and there
fore comes high.
To-day has been the best day for
everything that anyone could wish for.
There has been breeze blowing, and
there having been shower last night
there is no dust blowing to speak OF, and
the boys in camp are doing lot OF work
that has been put of for just such
day. The average day Is too hot from
10 O'Clock to for anything to be done
or for anybody to do It, and when day
does come that the work can be done
there is enough to do and everybody has
to work.
And now as / have written about
things that the "folks at home' would
be interested in, and about that which the
"boys on the border" would be interest
ed in will stop, hoping that the "powers
that be" will see to 1t that the "boys on
the border" do little bit less worrying.
l.. Il. DAUGHRATY,
Com. Sgt. I'd Maine Infy.