The diamond drill., 1917-11-03

didn't hear from you folks for months
you know, II takes letter four
days to go one way.
Well, today Is Monday and II sure
was hot day. We don't mind the
heat so much now as at first. | be-
lieve II one OF us would go north now
we would find II kind OF cold. l was
talking to one OF the citizens OF this
town yesterday morning and l hap
pened to mention something about
the weather being pretty warm down
here. lie looked at me kind OF sur
prised and said that at night he found
| Il so cold he had to put on an extra
blanket to keep warm. He wouldn't
believe Il when told him how we
sleep with the sides of our tents
rolled UP and sometimes without any
blankets on at ALL II the people about
here call this cold weather | would
hate 10 be here in the summer.
This would be good country for
haying. There isn't any danger Of
rain very often. Every day its the
same hot, scorching sun and nice
warm nights.
We are getting down to real work
now. In the morning from seven un-
til eleven we drill That includes
bayonet practice, exercises, and bat
talon drill. In the afternoon from
o'clock to 4 o'clock we have school
One hour OF First aid" and two hours
OF engineering, such as constructing
bridges, surveying and different 9TH
er things We all thought there was
nothing to all this. but now we have
found out there is a whole lot 70
learn.
The officers told us at the beginning
that this would be Just like taking a
course in school, but nobooy believed
them until now.
When we get out OF service wen
know a lot more than we could have
learned in civil life. I'm not bit
sorry that / enlisted as l did. l don't
think that 1t is very hard on me either.
for l have gained seventeen pounds
since | enlisted.
Now | weigh 162. stripped. | would
not believe it at first, but just the
same / can tell the difference on my
self I'm not much fatter, but I'm
more solid than before
Well, yesterday being Sunday ]
went to church. I'll bet the people of
this town will be glad when we get
out OF here because every Sunday the
church is so full OF boys in khaki that
they can't get their seats at all. I
haven't been to communion yet-it's
not my fault, though. Every Sunday
morning we have inspection at eight
o'clock and nobody can get out OF
camp before then, but next Sunday
the priest is coming here to the Y. M.
c. A. to hear confessions and mass
will be at 10:3O, so I'll make sure
that won't miss that chance
Tomorrow there Is new bunch OF
fellows coming in. All the compan-
les have 10 be increased from 1874 10
$50. | don't know If they will be
} drafted men or men from the infantry
Well, it's almost sure we are bound
for France for there is a call for en-
gineers TO go as soon as possible, and
today the officer sent in a requisitiou
to the commissary department for
> two pairs of shoes and two woolen
uniforms for each man. When we get
our new uniforms I'll have my pie
ture taken.
Well, I'll have to quit for tonight
because moving pictures are here to-
night and they will be starting in a
few moments. Everything is free here
at the Y. NJ. G. A. moving pictures
, three nights week and the other 1
nights there Is some kind or enter
, tainment I guess they are trying e.
keep us boys from being lonesome
Wen, hoping you are all well, re-.
main as ever,
Your loving son and brother.
ALFRED JARVIS
p. S.--Giye my best 10 all ms
friends and tell Mae l got her lette;
alright and sure will answer IT,