The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-11-08
LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS

| Mr.. and Mrs. L. Salet have re-
ceived the following letter from their
son, Lieutenant Harry Salet:
Wednesday, September Is. Dear
Family: We are on our way again
and expect to be in Shanghai Satur-
day morning.
We landed at Yokohoma Sunday
night about nine thirty and went to
the hotel and there was a wonderful
room reserved for me, and was quite
fortunate because everything is
crowded.
| That night a crowd of us stepped
out" and we surely saw the real life
as it really is with no Americaniza-
tion-went to the tea houses and
theatres and every place imaginable.
Monday morning / shopped and
bought some fine silk shirts for about
$3.50-our money--some pajamas and
a wonderful silk Japanese bathrobe--
this cost me $14, and also a dozen
silk socks.
Monday afternoon we went out for
a trip in the country in an automo
ie-$2.50 an hour and in The even
ing there was dance at the hotel
Tuesday morning we got on a fast
express train ard rode all day through
the most donderful scenery imagine
able and landed at Kyoto-the old
Japanese capitol in the evening and
we staid here all night
On the train we met very wealthy
Japanese who has lived in New York
fourteen years and he entertained
five of us during the evening, and OF
course we saw great deal more than
usual-he took us to a very exclusive
Japanese restaurant where no foreign
ers are allowed without on introduc-
ton and we had real Japenese
dinner sitting on mats, in our stock
ing feet and kimonas. After dinner
twelve Geisha girls danced for us
and it seemed like dream. After
this we started out to see the night
life getting about two hours sleep at
the hotel, when we got up and rode
two hours more on the train to Kobe
where we met the boat. / have met
many people here and the boats are
so crowded they cannot get back to
| the States or even travel from Japan
[ to China or Manila. 1t all was an
experience that was wonderful and
will remember as long as live. The
hotels are all very modern and
American style and run by Ameri :
cans-only white people stop there
You people would be surprised
because every inch of ground is cul
tivated and used-even the noun
tain sides are terraced and used for
tea bushes, and the people are the
thriftiest and cleanest possible. Most
! of the travelling around town is done
in Jinrikishas-a two wheeled buggy
and drawn by man, and these men
can run all day long and not mind il
| to any extent horses are very
scarce and everything is man LABOR
1t is impossible to tell it all, but
when l get back home 1 will have
much to tell.
| Thursday.-We just came through
a piece of water which was very mar
row and it was wonderful sight
the mountains and all these small
boats on the river. The weather is
beautiful and cool and the sea very
smooth. l am enjoying every min
ute of it, especially after that rough
trip tc Yokohoma.
Friday.-Great weather and the
sea is as smooth as glass and very
enjoyable. Have dandy stateroon
and sleep late and have my break
fast in bed-"Ain't war hell" Expect
to be in Shanghai tomorrow morning
Saturday.-We are now getting
ready to dock SO au revoir until
Manila Harry.
The following letter was received
from Private Harry A. Johnson with
Company E 358th Infantry. addressed
to his mother Mrs A. P. Johnson.
Somewhere in France, October
1915 Dear Mother: Here an
back from the trenches for short
rest, we were put in the front line
trenches in the middle of August an6
remained there until now l suppose
and know that you have worried 6
lot about me on account of not writ.
ing for so long but during the whole
time that l was at the front did moi
see a scrap of paper that could
scribble you few lines on, so now
mother dear please do not worry any
more even though it should be a LONG
time between letters. as / have beer
through several hard fought battles
and going over the top is getting tt
be second nature with me, and | an
still perfectly well so you see there
is not so much to worry over.
AS far as the war is concerned
everything looks very favorable anc
| will be back with you again.
! | am receiving some of your let
tiers and have got several from both
Jack and Charlie, so get some of the
mail even though it is awfully slow
Keep well mother and I will be bach
some of these days and believe me
when l do we will have one grand
celebration, however you should beal
In mind that this will not be until
after we get the kaiser.
Give everyone my best regards, anG
write often. Your loving son, Private
Harry A. Johnson, Co. e. 35Sth In
fantry, American Expeditionary
Forces.
For SaVpra1 voarc he x,oe ooonoa4 -