Connecticut western news., 1917-11-22
Letters from Canaan Boys
 at Camp.

Irving Gaylord of East Canaan, who is at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga, hay. ing been transferred from Camp Devens, writes to his sister Miss Bessie Gaylord of East Canaan under date of Nov. 4, in part, as follows:
 Dear Bess:
 Your letter came yesterday and was very glad to hear from you.
 Now that we are getting used to things, and know what we have to do we do not mind it here as much as at first. Today is fine, the sun warm with a coolness in the air which makes one feel good. Was over to the center to church this morning which Is about a 90 minutes walk. Will tell you this time more about the south.
 Our camp is built the same as those in the north, but there are more acres, and the buildings arc not so oongested. In some ways the barracks and wash. houses are better than at Camp Devens. This camp, like Camp Devens, has lot more to be done to it before it is finished. The cot beds are the same. 1 have two army blankets and one com fort which I need as the nights are cold. We are drilling now mornings and afternoons. Friday is hike day for the week. We started at 6:30 a. m. and returned about o'clock making about 12 miles. It is a common thIng to see fellows drop out, and be picked up by the ambulance auto. If the doctor finds they are bluff1ng they are set to work with picks and shovel in the afternoon. Although on my return was some. what tired, enjoyed it very much, as we went out into the mountains, as they call it here. though they are only small hills. The foliage jest now is fine, the colored leaves, with the deep green of the pines making very pretty combination. The soil being light, corn is planted one stalk in about two feet. which makes g field look odd to a northener. The land Is not rich enough to grow a crop if planted thicker. The white people on the farms have a poor, ignorant, hard look. felt that they must belong to another country, not our United States.
 Saturday morning the entire camp of 20, 900 men gathered on the parade field in companies, before passing in review before the general of the camp. It was grand sight. am sorry to say that our officers, though they under stand their business, swear like parrots. This is not so in all the barracks have two fellows that go with that are good clean chaps. Both from Camp Devens. One from Meriden, Conn, has always lived at home and worked hard said he never wrote letter in his life and asked me to write to his sister for him, which aid. You will think this quite joke as you know what letter writer I am. Wish could help you thrash and go for hunt on old Canaan mountain. tell you am glad am a northerner for love the north more and more. I find when see how other people live we were richer than we felt we were.
 Write me everything, no matter how small it may seem to you. AS long as have got to be in the army am not going to fret about it and wish for something else. Am beginning to like it here, because I have to. Do not worry about us going to France, for they do not wanrany as green as we are over theres -- = '4e .r es,s ssss = A
 We are getting good food, a good bed and good clothes. Am feeling fine. The drilling, hiking and the life in general is doing me lots of good. Will come back full grown man. Love to all. 3 Irving.