River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-11-21
Letters From Our Soldier Bows

days. Am going to try and carry
this one through. On the other
two occasions l was rudely inter-
rupted just as was commencing,
but don't think it will happen this
time.
The church bells are Ginning
Sunday morning. The lead bell
sounds like our Congo. bell at
home. When the whole bunch get
agoing together their chimes are
wonderful. The French are great
church goers and Sunday especially
is big day for them. All the viii
layers doll up in their best, no diff
erent than at home perhaps, but it
seems more noticeable. Last Sun
day evening after the first bells had
sounded an old gent about 80 years
walked out on a street corner and
beat a drum and then said a little
speech (benediction maybe). Per-
haps he does this often bat it was
the first time l had seen him and l
thought it the queerest thing, so
solemn and sort of quaint.
liz AOIAS nave IlhCly SCnL yOO LAC
letters wrote home. never found
letter-writing so hard before.
Whether it is lack of time or sur
roundings I don't know. Most of
the boys complain of the same
thing. Perhaps it is because of the
restrictions. We can't tell all we'd
like to and being in the advanced
war zone makes it all the harder.
It is for our own good, however,
and what we can't tell now can be
saved, as it is impossible to forget
such experiences as these.
Fate has been kind to me as COM
pared to most. / met Ed. Linger
about two weeks ago while in a
French city. We stood looking at
each other for several seconds be-
fore we really came to. Didn't have
much time to talk but we covered
lot of subjects and both of US
went away with that light, happy
feeling. Two nights later in my
own town while standing along a
roadside talking with one of my
pals, bunch of troops marched
past. | watched them idly for a
few minutes and then became In
terested in something else. The
next minute | heard a cheerv Hell
10 Jeff" and looked up to see Frank
Moser. They halted few minutes
later and I was able to talk to him
for about an hour. Gee, bat it's
nice to meet a man from your home
town.. Frank was looking fine and
full of pep as usual, and claimed
that he had never felt better. He
asked me if knew where they were
going Che didn't know and when l
told him he slapped one of his pals
on the back and said, "You see!
told YOU we were going no to get
another crack at HIM" The Amer
lean bows are all the same, anxious
to get the Hun and finish the thing.
talked with French captain for
about two hours the other day.
He sure praised the Americans even
though he thought them a little
hasty sometimes. Explained to
him that it was more fearlessness
thar anything. He could speak
English quite we'll and I learned
many things from him. When we
parted he shook hands and said
that he hoped to see me again soon
but | haven't seen him since.
One Of nv pals and were up on
the hill this morning and went
through a French fort. We were
sure we'll paid for our trip up there
as it was very interesting and we'll
worth going through. The guide
couldn't talk English but we could
'compre" most Of what he told US.
We also saw in the distance what
looked to be an aerial battle, but
we are quite used to such things.
There is usually continual BOOM
ing of the big guns in the distance
which sounds like a horse kicking
in nearby stable. This goes on
day and night and is music to our
ears.
We are setting pretty" here. In
other words we have good sleeping
quarters, good eats and general
conditions are good. They improve
with each day, too. Am quite used
to it over here now and feel more or
less at home. but am just as anxi-
Gus as any of the rest to get back to
the U. S. France may be all right
but there is only one country for
ne. Am glad to hear that you are
back at Marshfeld. I like that
place. When you see the Hansons
give them my regards, also the
Steno teacher who says that l
smile. When come back l am 60
ing to spend couple days with you
there.
Have already received several
letters, ones that were forwarded.
Love,
Jeff.
Private Jefferson F. Smith,
No. 2830324, Ordance Detachment,
A. P. 0. No. 784
a @,noriooT1 z n