The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-11-07
A LETTER TO THE BOYS IN
FRANCE.

My Dear Soldier and Sailor Boys
The very many letters and mes
sagcs which | have received since you
went cover there" have given me
great pleasure. The fact that | have
not answered any of the letters need
not be considered an indication that
failed to appreciate them. | am what
is called a ''rotten correspondent"
never write letter unless it seems
ABSOLUTELY essential that | do so. But
two things have pleased me greatly.
One is the personal interest you have
all taken in an old coot like me. 1t
is great compliment to man Of my
years to feel that men no older than
you, with the task of the ages before
you, have time occasionally to send
him kindly message. Only three
days ago | received letter from the
last bunch shat went out from Gem
r0unty chauncey Payne, Claude
Davenport, Cort Zimmerman, Claude
Whiteside, and Robert Fulgham. Every
little while get letter from some
boy in camp in this country or from
some lad who is living the epic of the
ages alongthe far flung battle lNes in
France That Jast about the "epic of
the ages" is from a speech | once
prepared when a raw youth. 1t went
all right then, but it looks a little flat
in a letter. Another thing that plea
SEES me is that The Index is awaited
with eagerness and read with avidity
all along the front. 1t isa great thing
to feel that one is printing stuff that
is proving a source of joy all along
the line Of battle and in the training
camps. The thought has thrill in
it, and it is about the only thrill am
getting out Of this business.
For here am anchored in the back
water of the war. | am like man
lying in BARRIERS chair who wants
TO catch train due in nine minutes.
He can't do thing to help himself
and knows it. | am tough as nut
physically and haven't an ache or a
pain. The curtain is up on the biggest
show the world ever saw and | can't
get ia to the theatre. The only thing
/ can do is to get into the CONVERSE
ton. Most all the conversation here
nowadays is between fathers who have
boys in the service. One father tells
he other what his son is doing, then
the other tells what his boy is doing.
Really there isn't much in the way
of news to tell you. As this is being
written the great battle of the ballots
is on, and the automobiles are whizz-
ing about town hauling in the voters,
just as they used to do when you were
at home. Frank Berry is in 1t as
usual, so is Charlie Carnage and Frank
Knox and Boise Riggs. Billy Wilton
is looking wise, and Judge Reed is
willing to wager anything from
stogy to "S5 Stetson" on the result. I,
We don't know for sure, but chances
are Walter Keith has bet several
suits OK clothes, gross Of hats and
shoes and neckties galore. Tonight
the faithful viii sit up all night
waiting for the returns, and then in
the morning following they will kick
themselves for doing it. Ed Hayes is
spinning his choice yarns, the Alfalfa
Quartet is still singing that old stand
by, "There Are a Hundred Verses to
this Song" Jos Helfert still goes fish
ing and Bill Kilby is kept busy christ
ening the favorite hangouts. Wheel
chefs tent photograph gallery still
stands just across the street from this /
office. Clayt Knox's teams doze in
front of the barber shop, and the same
old dogs range on Main street and
worry Ben Davis with their custo-
mary unseemly habits. So you see
things haven't changed much in the
old town since you went away.
While the fathers and mothers are
undergoing severe ordeal, it seems
to me the war is harder on the daugh-
tiers than anyone else. The girl who