Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-11-30
CRESCO HOWARD COUNTY, IOWA. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3d. 1917
Geraty's Letter from Camp Dodge.
Camp Dodge, Sunday, Nov. 25, 1917

Geraty's Letter from Camp Dodge.
Camp Dodge, Sunday, Nov. 25, 1917
Dear Dana: Ee
The "Plain Dealer you sent arrived
yesterday and many thanks as it goes
far towards rending the indigo veil of
gloom which hangs over camp as the
result of the passing of our friends to
the land of the "sultry savannahs.
About fifty men were drawn from
each engineer company which practi-
cally decimates the regiment as a
whole, leaving but ia men in this bar
rack. For the most part those taken
were men who we're unable to adapt
themselves to the strenuous life of
Corps de la Genie" but of course
some very coed men were drawn. l
understand that the same policy was
not followed down in the Doughboy
regiments but that every one was con-
scribed in numerical order.
All those Southwark bound were al
lowed passes of five days duration in
order to visit their home folks. The
brunt of the labor and opprobrium
falls on the shoulders of the fragment
that remains. But it surely is up hill
work trying to arouse enthusiasm now
but it will come with time l suppose
| and hope.
L. E. Emmons was down here last
week cropping around in the fury of a
sand storm for his foster son-in-law.
My grand uncle, C. B. Ashley, found
Com pany A. barrack on the following
day with ease, and altho did my best
to explain the whole idea to him, l
confess that failed utterly as he has
lived it all and can teach most Of the
present day officers; and after all is said
and done, things have not changed 80
much since 81.
The government is at present erect
ing large auditorium for our enjoy
ment. A $4,000 Cinema is almost
completed at Herold and the Irish
Masons" and the Y. M. c. A. give US
a fine class of vaudeville so there
should be no reason why a man should
die of nostalogia. And even if a man
does start dying here they remove him
to the Base Hospital where tender
maidens who wear the crimson badge
of the greatest charity halt the ebbing
life by f:e. application. Of therapeutics
commingled with the inspiration of their
pulchritude.
James Monroe Brown and friend
wife were here last Sunday and the
latter was very favorably impressed
with the whole affair. even going as
far as to wish Roe were here. l know
Roe would like it as when you promise
any of 1.-The powers that be" anything
death is the only excuse that will save
you from fatigue.
They have our back yard now so that
it looks like the Oberamergau that was.
1t is lined with cross shaped clothes
line posts 80 it will not be hard to stage
the Passion Play only we can't get any
one to ride the mules, which fact is to
be deplored as we would need plenty of
local color.
Down toward Hyperion Club there
has arisen mushroom city that is a
series of stores which vie with the In
terurbans in bleeding US. If things
keep on at the present rate we'll have
precious few corpuscles to spill for
France.
There is but one thing about the
cantonment that is a source of regret
to me and that is the absence of q
"Skidoo Club hall. Almost every
other lodge has been represented some
where on the military reservation, why
even as write l may glance thru the
lattice at several II. w. W's" who are
putting degree work on the road re-
gardless of the two guards who OBJ
serve their efforts within gunshot, and
then to think that our chapter has no
brief for soldiers. But perhaps Frank
Lomas and Ed. Davenport were here
looking up a site for the building.
Here's hoping.
Yours tenderly,
Paul Geraty.