The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-11-02
Issaudon, France,
Camp Hospital No. So.

Issaudon, France,
Camp Hospital No. So.
Near (deleted) France
September 18th. 1918
My dear folks: Have little spare
time today so will drop you a few
lines to let you know that ! am well.
Hope this finds you all the same
way Have had only one letter from
the States SO far and am glad that
was from you folks at home. 1t was
written Aug. 18th and ] guess there
is bunch OF delayed letters some
where.
The country here is very beautiful
with its vineyard, berry patches and
quaint little farms. OF course there
are some fair-slzed cities. Anglers,
for instance, is larger than Mar
quette. The streets in most places
are very twisted and narrow. Have
street car service, though it can hard
ly be called such. The cars are
small, holding probably thirty per-
sons The fare is quite cheap-we
can travel about a mile for ten cen
times, or two cents in u. S. money.
Most OF them have women conductors.
Horse drawn rigs are very quaint. be-
ing, mostly two-wheel buggies and
wagons similar to our sulkies. Rail
service is very good though Of course
troop trains have now the best OF
conveniences. Trips here are very
short so we don't mind being crowded.
My company is billeted on an old
estate with small villages few
kilos on either side OF us. I've visit
ed them several times on pass. Quite
interesting now, that ! can speak n
little French. My chum is great big
fellow as large as brother Art. He
! was high school teacher and speaks
French fluently so we have no trouble
getting around. Am sure glad / met
him. for he is so much different from
the ordinary run.
Have been sent up here to an ar
tillery school for a course in auto
driving and repairs. Have been on
motorcycles so far, but expect to be
gin on trucks and touring cars soon
Know you will be glad to hear this
for It will relieve your worrying about
my hiking, though | haven't minded
the walks at all, sure was lucky L
get in the headquarters company, fol-
we do more studying than drilling.
Went doyn TO (deleted) last night
for walk II is a queerly laid ou
place with its squares and streets
leading all directions to nowhere
Customs are very strange. For in
stance, peasants wear wooden shoe'
and men always wear cape or frocl
thrown over their shoulders.
American soldiers are allowed q
drink beer and lisht wines, but Nv,
determined to keep off 1t while Owe
here. I've guarded prisoners anC
don't think I'd want TO live in /
guard house or do fatigue work. A
the cafes you can either sit inside d
at one OF the tables on the sidewalk
Men and women drink alike-an OLE
custom here.
Prices on all things are quite higl
at the towns, though / imagine the,
are in all countries now. French civ
ilians have their supplies rationed I,
them. What little we need we cal
buy either at Y. NJ. c. A. or arm,
commissary at very low prlces-mucl
lower than in the United States.
Before / forget. about the sweaters
I'm very sorry / took the one from
home for / had a heavy Red eros
sweater issued me before leaving an
could have one more II / wished.
, am very we'll fixed for clothes-i
, fact our regiment Is better equippe
, than most OF those I've seen.
, We hadn't received pay for som
! time on account OF moving. but 20
! know ! never spend my last cent. 8