Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-04-12
Letter From Richard Smoot.

Mrs. Mary Holt received recently the
following letter from her nephew.
Richard Smoot, who enlisted somewhere
in Texas, and is now Somewhere in
france:
Somewhere in France" Jan. 1ith, 1918.
The wonderful box arrived last Sat
urday, and | 90 not know how to thank
YOU for sending it. The fruit cake was
fine; had not dried out in the least.
You should have seen me enjoying it.
How did you think of sending sugar
in the box? You cannot appreciate
what a treat it is to sweeten your cot
fee to your taste. You should sec how
careful ] am not to waste it and to
make it last.
Then, too, THE BEACoN.--I read ey-
erything in it and felt as if had met
an old friend.
| was sent to Camp Dix, N. j., in
September, where we were in a great
rush to get ready to leave for France.
We had a fine trip across. The weather
was warm and the sun shone nearly ev-
cry day. The boys were in good shape,
light-hearted and happy.
Then came the days when we were in
the danger zone, and we did not feel as
safe, but if you had been with US YOU
would not have realized that we wer.
in any danger. The boys seemed not
to have a care in the world. Then
came the day we sighted land, and it
surely looked good to us. The fact
That the Germans might send us to tn
bottom never kept us from sleeping,
but to think that we had fooled them,
were about to land in France and step
out on solid ground once more made us
all feel very thankful.
The city where we landed is a most
beautiful one-trees all set in rows and
the whole country looks like a picture;
all the houses are very old and all built
Of stone; the churches are so wonderful
and grand in their beauty that | cannot
describe them. Everywhere | go, the
churches are the first places | visit
Have seen monuments to some of the
greatest French heroes, but | cannot
tell their names,
France is spoken of as Sunny
Frence,' but have had no sunshine SC
far; snow is everywhere and is very
pretty, If you have comfortable lodg-
ings, but we take things as we fine
them and sleep in a barn if nothing else
offers.
AT first | couldn't sleep in my clothes
all we take off are our shoes, and put
them unCer our blanket 50 they won't
be so cold in the morning.
We were stationed at a pretty little
place Christmas, and the only place we
could find to wash our faces was a little
ditch 1t didn't look inviting, but We
never pass up one washing place hoping
to find IA better one. Our motto is "a
wash today is worth two some Other
day"
My life as a soldier so far has no
hurt me; never had better health, anC
eat everything that is put before me
even beans, which We're always m,
special aversion
am now in the office of the Chic
Eng. Advance Line of Communication
IN a pretty town. We havea good time
after working hours. Last MIC t IN,
\. Nj. . A. put o. a stag" dance
md all the boys without hats took tn,
girls part.
Whenever the bugle sounds to war;
Us of a German air raid we make TO
cover, and it reminds me of an old her
calling her chickens when she sees
hawk. Wen, they haven't hit me vet
and | roll up in my blanket and sleep a
soundly as If | were at home.
Love to Everybody from
RIrnApn