Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-11-26
Raymond Brown, Whose Parents
Formerly Lived North Of Web.
City, Writes More Letters
From French Front.
THE RAINY SEASON IS NOW ON
American Forces Determined to .Lick
Fritz."-How The Boys Spend
Their Time.

were written by Rae Brown, whose
parents formerly lived north of this
city. Rae is now in France, having
gone with the Pershing expedition
The letters follow:
Somewhere in France.
Sept. 9, 1917.
Dear "Dad":: Thought l would lei
you know that have not gone on the
sick list yet. Z
You sure knew what you were talk
ing about when you told me of the
conditions here.
l wish you could see the trains they
have here. Cars about 20 feet long
and set up on wheels that look nearly
as large as wagon wheels at home
On the back is little cubby where a
trainman can ride in bad weather.
They couple with chains by throw
ing a link over hook and then they
have sort of screw gear to tighten
up with. A switchman carries hook
about four feet long to lift the chain
with and they can make drops and
flying switches as quick as we do
They have Jumps" in all their yards
and they sure can switch cars over
them. They have big engines and can
haul pretty good sized trains.
Their fire boxes are lined with cop
per and they burn coal that comes in
bricks. saw one engine with the
bell hung on the side Of the tender
and the bell-cord ran back to the
guard iii the first coach. The engf-
Ieer and fireman both have to stand
up. ! don't know how the conductor
is fixed as have not been in ca
Moose yet.
went fishing yesterday. borrow
ed rod from a Poilu for few mo-
ments, but l did not have much luck.
saw several perch and one carp
caught near here.
How are all the folks getting along
.
Has Ruth made up her mind to like
school? We have piano with US here
and it is going from morning until
night. Some Of those old tunes sure
do sound good. wish you could see
us here at mess time. Everybody lin
ed up with his mess kit and some kind
of racket going on all the time.
We have goulish cannon besides
our own stoves and we get plenty of
good eats. l have gained several
pounds since we came here.
think that the life is good for a
person if he doesn't get lazy. never
did like to work so it does not affect
me very much.
Well its work time for me. Tell
the folks hello for me. Tell NAV" to
save me ono of those roasting ears
she was Dragging about.
Your son, Rae.
Private r. D Brown Co. B 18th
Engineer Ry. A. L. F.
France, Oct. Is, 1917.
Dear Dad: Just received my razor
blades this morning and just finished
a good close shave. Many thanks for
them. l also received letter from
mother Tell her not to send any
more stamped envelopes as we cannot
use them. gave all the stamps I had
away as souvenirs.
l wish you could see us here. You
would decide that your job in America
wasn't so bad as it might be.
The French will give an order and
the Americans generally get it mixed
in the Interpretation. Then every
thing is up in the air for few min
utes.
We are getting pretty we'll fixed out
though and will soon be able to talk to
any of them.
The rainy season has set in and
suppose it will last the rest of the
winter. They say that the season
here is like that in California except
that it gets cold here. We are on a
hillside so the water runs away about
as soon as it falls.
We are still getting good eats. Had
some American chocolate today. Had
pan cakes and hot milk chocolate for
breakfast. Just like being back home
again except that we did not have any
baking powder to put in the cakes. SO
they did not raise very much. They
were sure good though.
guess everything that is sent over
here will be received all o. n. II il