The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-14
France June Is, 1918.

l Matthews H. Tardy of the engineers
 son of MT. and Mrs. C. M. Tardy, writes
 his parents as follows:
 My Dear Papa: Sure have enjoyed the
 papers. They came late as second-cla
 mall is always delayed but 1 enjoy then
 when they do come In the last Age
 Herald I received there was a picture
 Of a Birmingham boy in front of King
 Eeward. Now, funny as it may seem
 the regiment he belongs to has a de-
 tachment here with us. I carried the
 paper down to their place and found
 he belonged to the same company, but
 was in nearby town. sent the paper down to him.
 The things l see made in Alabama over here would surprise you. The bar
 racks We are putting up were made near Mobile. In unpacking some pipe
 fittings saw Birmingham Pipe works. ''
 Every day or so I see Birmingham on
 a box or something, so you see the town IS doing more than beating every
 town in Liberty Loan
 | Guess you have read in my letters of my promotion. I am quite pleased with It. It came as a surprise, didn't expect IL qulte so soon. I jumped over junior grade. I can't help but feel good over my progress. Master engineer is the highest noncommissioned officer Only | the engineering corps has it. The medi- | cal nave a similar one. In an engineer l ing regiment there are, l think only eight Of course l want a commission every man does, but l am a great deal 1 better off than most iieutenants. There are only six in town outside of myself | l,au never mentioned him. What rank did he land?
 Guess you feel pretty good now You have by now Sister Annie and Mary with you. If Warren and l were there | the whole family would again be to- gether. But pretty soon we will. 1 | think I'll stay in the south when I come | back, unless the DuPonts make it pretty attractive for me. Mir Weston has said | he wanted me to come with him to De- troit
 Just five months yesterday I sailed On the fifteenth of next month I'll put on my first service stripe For every six months foreign service one is added. It seems ages and then again it has passed very quick 3t 1 It's quite cool this week. The weather over here is about as changeable as it 1 is in Alabama. The nights are great | for sleeping.
 
 chance. My letters to the house are for you all. Kiss everybody for me- Lots oy love. MATTHEWS H. HARDY, M. E.. C. E. o. D. c. k. Care Mai E. K. Colt, A. P. 0. TT, A. Ex. F.
 Sunday, July z. 1918.
 My Dearest Mamma: You have no idea how bad I do want nice long letter from you. It has not been so long but I want my letter all the same. I can't see how some of the fellows can stand
 it when. for six months, they receive no mail. I guess they just do not love their mamma as I do.
 The past week has been quite an event. full one for us. To begin with. we have had the biggest Fourth I ever spent. On Wednesday afternoon we were told the different foremen on the job would like to see us at the chateau that was for merly used as gate lodge. We had beard rumors of strikes and such and went to the chateau not knowing what to expect. With very nice little speech Handley was presented with bouquet of flowers I was then given one exact ly like it and the other six fellows small CT ones. The bouquets given Handley and me were about five feet tall and of roses, sweet peas, daisies and other flow CTS. Red. white and blue ribbon was draped across them and little silk French and American flags stuck in each rose They were beautiful. The ones given the other fellows were about IS inches high. Now, these men are ignorant laborng men, the kind that dig ditches and the like. but the spirit they showed made us sit up and take notice. We invited them over to a cafe and had something to drink. Hardly had we got seated and ordered when what I consider the most 4f i,,v,, O T sang La Marseilaise." The rest joined in the chorus After that each sang some French song, all ending with ''Vive Americana" Believe me. they showed us they were going to help celebrate the Fourth.
 On Thursday we went in town early, a parade of French soldiers and band concert. We could not get near either for the crowds. Had nice dinner at Red Cross and went out in the after | noon to band concert and track meet. 1 We could not get on single team, so | caught an auto truck full of negro sol | diers Can you imagine me riding with l a load of negroes? Well, did, and l before I was through I was rathed proud l of being where I was. Everyone we | passed cheered, the crowds on the cars | cheered ''bravo" and "Vive L'Ameri- | cane" I never saw such spirit. We | walked back. The crowd was great and | went wild at the slightest occasion. Al 1 the theatre they cheered every time i America was mentioned and when a flag | was shown went wild. The Fourth of | July is now a national holiday in France.
 Now, mamma, just remember few lit tic things and stop your worry. I am | we'll, never felt better in all my life. l love you dearly and am always thinking | of you and do not want you to worry. Love to all. Devotedly,
 MATTHEW'S H. HARDY.
 Lieut. Robert B, Leary writes to his parents, MT. and Mrs. F.. J. Leary, as follows:
 France. July IS. 1918. Dear Mamma and Papa:
 Day before yesterday. with another officer, I went for the weekend to 8 most interesting. typical French resort --Bourboule. Reminded me of Kissep gen-several springs were in a large public building. The water is alleged CD to be cure for all throat ailments and it comes out of the ground hot I tried half glass--nc more. A very pretty Casino is also there, music in he afternoon and again at night The Casino is free to soldiers and the water llso. The village is right in the noun aims; the scenery is wonderful, and here are dozen first-class hotels and scores of smaller ones. We stopped at