The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-04
Longs for. Letter.

| Longs for Letter.
! Monday-10: 80 a. m.
This morning | got away from my
| hurried I'D to our mail hut to in
quire for mail only to be told there
was nothing. but during the day two
or three fellows told me they had
heard some letters were here for me
SO l told them all to get them and
leave them in my tent for me-so
have just come in from my work and
found your letter--if you only knew
how much l enjoyed them and 1t isn't
nice to wish for more but l wish you
had written reams.
BY this time l suppose many new
things in the line Of the war has
| developed. We were so proud over
here when we heard Of the response
made by the men for enlistments.
Today's paper or rather the latest
we have received, said the American
troops had arrived in Paris. We are
mighty glad to hear It, We were in
the same city with General Pershing
and his staff on our way to this place.
We didn't know it at the time.
l must tell you how we were re-
ceived in this particular place. AS we
got off the boat We were met by a
splendid band, one that had real
drum major-whirling his rod and
the two drummers doing stunts with
their sticks between beats-so you
can imagine it was inspiring-then
as we passed three OF the narrow
streets thronged with enthusiastic
and cheering (women) mostly, 1t did
make you feel proud to belong to
this advance unit OF our army. But
more of this later.
Patching up Faces.
| I want to tell you of the most in
teresting thing l ever expect to see.
Today was in couple of wards Wis
iting and talking to a number of
men, this particular department
specialize in the making over of
faces-only the men who have had
chtns, noses, jaws, etc, shot away are
put in this ward, and here they stay
until their damaged past has been
repaired l understand some wonder
full feats have been accomplished in
this line-the taking of q piece of
rib, using it for parts Of jaw, cheek
bone; chin or in any place 1t Is
needed, then grating on flesh and
| skin-one man told me he expected
to 60 home with hardly a trace Of
his wounds when the doctors had
finished with him.
| Tuesday:
could only write last night until
it became dark then turned in for
the night This afternoon was sent
on an errand to neighboring town
the trip being. made in one of the
ambulances driven by an English
girl-every turn in the road brought
new and interesting sights. In one
place we passed regiment of sol
diers which must have been compos-
ed OF thousands and thousands of
men. They We're marching four
abreast and as far as I could see
took US about twenty minutes to
| pass them.
| "Oh e American"
| In the town l was taken into a
shop and introduced as an American
who would be doing business there
| regularly, before the proprietor of
| the shop would talk business he look
ed me over from head to foot and felt
| the quality of my uniform, blouse.
breech@, then got down upon his
knees, felt the canvas and the leather
in my le9g1ngs examined my shoes
infinitely. then arose and said, "Oh,
ze American" Just what he thought
/ cannot tell you. I'm only thankful
that started In on my French again
when I did for can see what a.
benefit It is going to be.
1 must close now for I am just
snatching these few spare moments
instead Of eating tonight. For I go
on with my work until 1880 tonight
because Of the English contingent
leaving every spare hour, get the
man whom l replace to coach me,
then after that l go on guard duty
for my watch tonight, so you can
see how little sleep will get, then
UP at $50 again. II am fortunate
enough 30 get back to my tent