Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-12-19
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FROM j. B. TODD, i.
!. "sOsiEWHERE IN FRANCE" j.
j. IL + + i !. i. i. i. i. !. i. j.
!. NJ. Depot No. Q, Station No.
Somewhere in France"
~, Nov. Ia. 1917.

uSStiudllOus dt laSt. nad begun to
think that l would never do so, but
did after about three months time
and travelling over large portion Of
the United States and also England
and France. / have certainly seen
some, of this .old world since L left
Fort Screyen, and no doubt will see
4 quite a lot more before land in the
\ dear old y. S. A. again. have seen
h quite a few Of the most interesting
cities in Europe and lots Of odd, i'll
teresting things, which I've often
heard OF and read Of in school.
This place Is only small sea port
town Of about 2,500 population, and
very quiet and home-like. have had
all kinds Of experiences in my4short
army life, but have enjoyed 1t all the
way through. l have eaten and slept
In almost every conceivable way that
a man could, except in trench life.
S have slept on cots with straw mat
tlesses and cotton mattresses, cots
without either, on the ground, in
mud and water, on the floor and va
rious other ways, and am still alive,
and "never felt better or had less
But after these rough experiences
have landed safe and sound between
) two mellow French feather beds-no
kidding. am rooming with the
chief Of police Of this place, and be-
lieve me, they are certainly mighty
nice people, and they treat me roy
ally, SO ] feel almost as though am
one Of the family. have a right
hard time trying to talk to them, but
still Pm getting away with 1t very
{. we'll. When can't make myself un-
derstood by words, make signs, and
ramble right along.
] certainly have swell room, with
all kinds Of conveniences in it, such
as water, lights, writing desk. ward
robe, dresser, washstand, two big
mirrors, and, best of ALL a fine bed
stead with mattress and feather
and small feather bed over my
feet; and last, but not least, a big
feather pillow, SO what more could I
ask for? / haven't felt as much at
home since l left home.
take my meals at a restaurant
Just across the street from my room
ing place, I get all want to eat, al
though 1t Is quite different from what
II have been used to, both in the army
and at home. Sometimes we have
. cabbage and Irish potatoes, but they
are so dear we don't get them very
:. often. Everything : is high, though,
u for that matter, and very scarce also.
Coffee is thing Of the past in
France, but they have some kind Of
q substitute. I don't know what it
is, but ! do know that it isn't coffee
Ny pal" has q room just next
door from me. His name Is Brewer
His home Is in Seattle, Wash. Major
Brewer and I are the only. Americans
here, with the exception OF two mo-
tor truck agents. They have Charge
of a bunch Of trucks that have been
sold to the French government. We
also have quite lot Of American
and English sailors here when the
SHIPS come in, which is every week
or SO. We have charge Of all the
supplies that come in here for the
". S. Army. We have been here only
since last Thursday, and haven't had
a thing to do yet. We have just got
ten our offices fixed up, so we are
ready for business when It comes.
We have two nice, comfortable rooms
for our offices, but they are just tenn
porary. The major is having a cou-
pie or rooms fixed like he wants them
up on the Main street. We are on
the docks now. So when we get fixed
real swell place.
f My pal has gone to the city this
afternoon to get something for his
cold.[ He hos a right bad cold. We
have no medical men here, but the
Engineer Corps is stationed in the
city just three miles from here. so we
go up there when we need medicine.
L am very little expense to the gov
ernment In that line; have had only
one dose of medicine since.I have
been in the army. My biggest ex-
Dense to the government Is clothing
Z nds@food-mostly eats. We get ten
francs per day for rations-"c -"compe-
tition rations" they call it for mon
who are not in regular army camp.
Ten francs are equivalent to $1.75 In
American money, SO you see we are
well fed-that is, If we can get food.
& Money seems to be more plentiful
than food.
How Is everybody ih Walhalla and
surrounding country? certainly
am anxious to hear from home. Just
think, 1T has been month and half
since have heard from any ofe you !;
so you can imagine how anxious I'm
getting. You must all write me a
few lines every week, and |, will try
. to do as we'll, though | don't know
how 1t will be with me- I may be
very busy when we get lined out.
Say, Glenna, how about making
some pictures Of all the family and
send to me. or send me my kodak
album? l Would enjoy looking at the
old pictures very much myself, and
besides, the people up at the house
are always asking about my people
.hOWt many !. brothers and sisters I
have, IL they are good looking. how