The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-06-10
LETTER FROM PRIVATE PALMER.
Says Artillery Barrage Furnishes Sub
Stit,,te for Sunlight.

F. H. Palmer has received letter
from his son, Private Joseph w. Palmer
of Company F,sl02d U. s. Infantry, in
France, which reads as follows with
the exception Of some personal matters
which are eliminated:
Dear Father
l hope this war is over this year,
Our division has certainly had its share
in it for the time we We been at war.
This is the hardest job ever struck
and l can t fire 1t up really wouldn t
want to, though We all have just got
to stand it until its over.
If I come through afl right I've seen
and been thro' things l II never for
get. We have great substitute for
the sun at night when the artillery lays
down a barrage. Those big guns flash
bine-are> byiEhter than million. suns
it seems. Then all along the line your
signals are going up, perhaps to length
IN the barrage, or maybe fare shot
| up to see if they re coming thru, though
they We not much chance to get by our
artillery if they get the signal given in
time.
This country is odd. too. They don t
i've ON their farms as we do at home
but in small villages, and from there
they drive out their sheep or cattle
to pasture and come out and work their
place. Old-fashioned implements they
use, and drive their horses one in front
of another with a jerk
| There are some fine farms in the
larger places with modern machinery
and farming implements that came al
the way from the states.
| About all the horses. are fat, heavy
draft horses. You see no clean, trim
idriving horses as we have in the states
Their army has good auto trucks ant
the horses of the supply wagons ar,
driven three abreast, or q six hors,
hitch same as our way.
The land over here compares yer,
favorably with any I've seen in tn
; states, though not better than some. l
is heavy black loan and very mois
! clay subsoil.
1t seems good to be writing abou
farming. No work will ever seem har
, after this. | hope you won't worr
, about me. 1t s the least of my worrie
, is i get hit or not, though of cours
! | I'm not careless. / wish you d fee
that way. / mean, it s up to a man t
do his duty and if lie gets it then it
4, good way to go.
Father, I'm getting a good squar
deal here. Our platoon commander is
prince to his men, l was made a frs
class private some time ago. l knoi
you II be as glad to know as wa
You always wanted me to make good 9
whatever / worked, and l m trying [
make good soldier.
We've got plenty of nerve and wi
eome through strong, too. They !
finding out how Americans can figh
and stick there, too. I'd rather fgl
the Bochc anytime than the mud
wish to be remembered to all Il
old neighbors, Goulds, Perrys, Adamse
iFolletts, all who inquire for me.
l got dandy box from Mildred abol
10 days ago, SO have enough for phi
and cigarettes for some time. Yol
packages have all been received o.
Everything very acceptable and in eve
instance timely. d just been longi,
for some good chocolates, and last b,
was right on time, just as / was thin
ing of them to have some brought in
Lots of love to you and mother al
sisters. Tell them not to send any mo
knitted goods as I'll not need the
though that scarf Mildred sent d
need and use now every night,
guard. Write often. 1t s always 20
to- get your letters.
L A n