Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-12-08
SOLDIER LETTERS
Doar Dad;

l nave tnougnt OF Writing 10 my
business partner many times but
don't get to write many personal let
ters as | am booming around so
much. am having a great time out
OF II at that. From the papers Il
looks as though tho big show would
be over any day now, but don't think
! will see the states and homo for
some little time yet Uncle Sam GER
tainly has u big job over here. but
he is doing Il.
Talk about shows. We surely had
a good entertainment at the Y. NJ.
c. A. the last two nights, Monday
night We saw an American "all star"
with Marguerite Mayo. Last night
It was "home talent"-boxing and
quartettes (colored). One meets
and secs all kinds OF fellows In the
army. About 20 three-round bouts
mixed in with song and coon dances,
But one was worth especial mention,
n battle royal'-seven big husky
coons in the ring armed with boxing
gloves. The last to remain standing
was to receive prize OF % francs,
Well the storm started with about
1000 spectators. managed to get
standing room near the ring-side.
but you can imagine watching some
thing very interesting with several
short fellows standing behind with
a good hand-hold on your shoulder
trying to see. The whole could be
described by jewish person under
a lamp post and the moon shining
to get shadow effects.
Well. a couple OF the coons would
be battling in one corner when an
other coon would slip up behind and
"clot" one OF the birds" on the
ear. Then you should see their eyes
roll. Pretty soon couple took the
count and couple were ruled out
for kicking or punching the oppon-
ent when down. Anyway It got down
to the last two, and someone handed
up 25 more francs for the winner.
When they got on the home stretch
the crowd went wild. They looked
Hike two big black wind-mllls pushed
together.
They took us on hike the other
day and got to see some of the
country life of France. saw some
fine looking white pigs going to
market. also saw a large herd OF
big heavy milk cows. They looked
like holsteins. ;.
The roads are all we'll kept-pav-
ed with a path on each side. Tall
vine covered trees grow in a carpet
OF grass which make the whole very
stately looking. The farm houses
are low stone, nice looking houses.
The fields are small and each one is
divided by a deep ditch or long
rows OF earth with vines growing on
them. They are pretty fields
some very green grazing meadows.
while others are truck gardens.
Horses are used for everything.
They are all about the same kind
and size-weigh about 1900, short
and blocky, nearly all stations.
France Is pretty. In fact 1t Is all
one beautiful picture, but Of course
am seeing II in a nice time OF the
year-autumn when the leaves are
yellow and golden.
| am writing this on my knees in
one Of those great Pullmans that
France ships her soldiers inA-cattle
cars. But, listen, didn't say we
were moving. That lets you know |
am being moved again, am not
going to the front yet awhile. /
am back with my old casual COM
pany. Some officers too. We are in
the s. o. s. bunch for awhile / guess.
saw some Of the natives fishing
in a little slow stream that you
could throw a rock across. They
were seining. saw some OF the
fish fellow was taking to market.
The fellows say they were mackerel,
pickerel and blue fish. He had a
basket full OF sardines and some
kind OF shell fish. Hoping to hear
from you folks at home, am,
Your son, WILBUR,
PVT. WILBUR C. BEARSS,
116th Engineers,