The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-21
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FROM THOMAS SCHRAM.

FROM THOMAS SCHRAM.
The following letter is from Thomas
Schram, former conductor on the
500, who at one time resided in Bis
marck:
U, S. Camp in France. July 81.
Dear Brother John and Family:
Your letters dated May 5, May 80
and June 4 all on hand, so will try
answering them all in one, because
If l should try answering them one
at time the last one would be very
late. You see do not have chance
to write when wish to. can send
mail out once a week and have very
little time to myself nowadays. To
show you how it is, will give an ex-
ample: Left here last Sunday and
just returned Wednesday (today) so
you see with trip out tomorrow.
will have very little time to myself.
But you can take my word for it, I'm
having fair time of it-get pretty
tired sometimes, but with little glass
of vim manage to pull through. I've
been on nearly every foot of railroad
in France, besides some in Italy, and
even can go to the Swiss border
sometimes, and it is fine, too; but the
most interesting trips are the ones
ca intake up to the front. When our
boys took Chateau Thierry, we had
the trains running in there four hours
afterwards. Oh, the sights to be seen
are something awful and the tales told
by the French are the worst. You
can. have no conception of what low
down creatures those German SOL
diers are, they never stop for any
thing; the Huns and the Prussians are
the worst Well, it can't last forever.
Those Prussians wear a large buckle
on their belt, it has "Gott Nit Uns" on
1t. Can you imagine the good Lord
being with such as they? I've one OF
their belts-gOt it from a lad, only
about IS years old. He does not need
it any more. Wanted an Iron Cross
but guess most of the boys send them
home to their folks All saw had
the ribbons; I'd have had to wash it
II had taken it, so left it. ~
Good thing the people in the States
cannot be told just what is what over
here; why, if they were told, there
would not be any need of draft over
there, you couldn't keep them from
enlisting Well, next year we won't
need any draft. This cannot last over
next spring, we have them on the 60
now, and it seems good to see the
boys gaining ground every day, and
our boys are all we'll satisfied with the
results so far. Some seem to think it
will be over this fall, but I'm afraid
Motive will have to crush them, they
will fight to the last man, then he will
yell "kamerad."
am very glad that there is to be a
good crop over there this year. There
is a good crop of grain here, they are
cutting it now, but there is no help.
I've just been through some Of the
best farming country and I Only saw
one American binder, everything is
Graded; old men, old and young
women and children are all there is
to harvest the crops and they are try
ing hard to get it cut. S.. "a!
A few years ago bread had very
little value to the French but now
slice of bread is cake to them. You
know their allowance Of bread and
sugar is very small l Ditch wonder
how they manage to get along. Some
o fthe bread they get is; something
awful, black and full of straw and
dirt, but they have to be satisfied with
it, Everywhere you 60 you see the
Frenchman has his loaf of bread with
him and the wealthy class have bread
tickets SO they can eat at the cafes
if they wish. l could hardly getused
to carrying bread with me, but since
I like to eat I have to have the bread.
Par dea pain" "tar ,maushGy,'' SO.
now I'm wise. show my bread, as
soon as get in the cafe, then you can
hear the "Oh, ha, pain blanc" from
every Frenchman in there, and if l
want little extra for my meal l just
tip the waiter with a small slice Of
bread. Now that is some tip over
here, and it is tip that will get you
more than anything else.
am very glad to note that the pe0-
pie are doing their bit over there for
the Red Cross. I don't know Of any
thing more, worthy. They sure are
the first in line. the BEST EVER, in
my way Of thinking, and l can never
say or do too much for the Red Cross.
1t is the One and Only, over here.
never fail to fall in when see Red
Cross sign for some ca1fteen. They ;!
are NOT robbers, they can have every
thing I have got, and when the girls
are collecting around train it is just
the same, sweet smile and "Merci" if
you drop "copper" sou or five franc
note; they are thankful for every
thing T"&, 't.<
Wish we had that duck, Gen. Per-
shing" over here for Sunday din
ner. Believe me, ii they would leave
the garlic out of it could enjoy the
meal very much. But then, you know,
garlic is healthy. ~ s.t:as .sas
Don't you worry about the magas
zines, John, get nearly every maya
zine sent. Can't say so much for the
papers, though, Magazines are always
welcome and are very scarce over
here. l always read them and then !
turn them over to the Red Cross. 4
never can get too many Of them.
Say, John, you want to write to
Will. He will need letters real badly
You know it will be hell for him the
first six months, and then he has it |
all so he will be used to. it. had |
to laugh, 1 had letter from him in
Pennsylvania; it is the first and only
letter have received from him. I've
been watching for it ever since
heard he had enlisted: knew It would
come. So answered it the same day.
He will he over here yery soon, I |