The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-12-27
From France.

There lies before the editor five let
terS. all written during the past month
by Mr.. j. T., 1vey, son Of Mr.. w. f.
Ivey, of this community. and who is
now with the American Expeditionary
Forces in France. They are not all pub
lisbed in full below. but what does APP
pear we feel will be of interest to the
| readers of the Banner Nobody here at
home knew that Jimmie" bad acquired
the smoking hilit, hut it is certainly in
dicated in his letters that he has. In
here made that it gives them a Wien of
| humor. In Christmas package that
| was forwarded to him some weeks ago
| there was included at least eight tins
of good smoking tobacco, surely enough
| to give him the markings for little
while. We note from the dailies that
special ships carrying 24.6OO sacks of
Christmas mail for American soldiers
reached French port Il day or SO ago,
SO we presume he is by this time
drowning his troubles in smoke from
good ola 'stingy green" grown here in
the states. We trust so. anyway.
In letter of November Sd, to his
father. he says:
"ncGr Dad: 1t has been almost two
months since | left Syracuse. and |
have heard from you all only once l
have written some of You almost every
day.
We have had steel helmets issued
IN ne. nd holt
heavy. We have to drill in them all
the time. think we will get our gas
masks in a few days. I sure will be
fixed UP when l get everything We
see French soldiers drill two or three
times "a week. They sure are good
at it.
Il wrote YOU to send me some to-
hacco long time ago. Please do so at
once. | seldom ever see any American
tobacco over here. SO send he some
- at once
Writing to Mrs. Ivey the following
day. he says:
"Dcar Mother: 1t has been over a
month since l have heard from any of
YOU. wish You would write me every
day, if you can.
made a so allotment to the Bank
Of Benton. II you need any money.
draw it out.
want YOU to send me whole
case OF - tobacco
:" will write every day, and when
You stop hearing from lie YOU can fig
ure that l have been bumped off.
- 1t will perhaps be Christmas when
you get this. If so. wish all merry
Christmas and happy New Year.
| want you to tell me how long it
takes a letter to reach you. 1t took the
letter l got from you one month and
one day to reach me-
Again writing to his father, on the
17tll he says:
Ny Dear Dad: 1t has been some
time since have written you. but am
well and doing fine.
I'VE got paid off on the 18th. I
drew I'D francs. It takes ~ francs
to make $1.O2
DOM forget to send NE some smok-
ing tobacco and candy, as it is hard to |
get ever here. I have the habit
Tell mother to send HE some warm
socks and gloves
In the following letter, written on
the I'D, and addressed to Mrs. Ivey.
there is. aside FROM the usual vein of
hunlor. suggestion of pathOs for the
n'ore serious minded. Those of us up
this way who knew Jimmie best all
like him. \ rollicsome, care-free boy.
ut kindly and polite. who would not
ike him: While he may at present
feel that he is not to return to us. we
do not Kermit such thoughts, and only
think of him as fer the time absent in
the cause of his country A warm vel
come will await you when you get your
final discharge, Jimmie
The letter follows:
".hy Dear Mother: / have written
to dad twice this week. hut it has been
almost month and Il half since have
beard from any of YOU.
nave been receiving the Bossier
tanner regularly every mail call. which
Is about once a month. The last one
10 reach me was dated September 27th
and | received it Sunday, November
10Th. | read everything in it. from adj
OH UP.
Ihere are two things want you
folks at home to send ne-the Shreve-
:'ort Times and candy and tobacco.
FOL acco Is the main thing that most
soldiers need, and | am one of the
iiest. | know you don't want me to
smoke. Lut suppose | will lie bumped
1T EcfOre long, so send me some Amer
can tobacco at once. We have been
Iald OF, Tut American tobacco Is hard !.
to get. The \. NJ. G. A. is the only
place that keeps it, aud we can get only
4 small amount.
Mother. just remember that | love
You with all my heart l always did
ana always will. l made Il $o:l-aliot-
nent tc the Bank Of Benton, payable
% any Of YOU, so ii you all want it,
use 1t. Please. as think | won't get
here to use It..
! az. going to take out an insur-
,ncc loiicy Of $4,000 payable to Mar
.ia. It will cost ME Sc Il month. which
vii be taken cut Of my pay. get s33
month. If get bumped off sup
pse ! will be lucky. for the chances
ire ! would never be worth $4,000 if
got back-though / am going to night
ike 49, to get hack.
Don't forget to send me some to- /,
acco and home papers,
Ills last letter. dated TN oath. is al
lfessed to his luther. allts follows:
Hy Dcdr Dad: received d letter J
rom you yesterday, the same being
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