The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-18
FROM W. L. PARSONS

FROM w. L. PARSONS
France, Jan. q, 1918.
Dear Mother:
yesterday, and was very glad to hear
from home Time flies quickly, hut
| will be home for next Christmas.
| had very interesting letter from
Red. He still has his hot air to sell,
but it sounds good. Bismarck and
Mandan both must be some real life
size burgs now.
don't think the doctor knows very
much about the army life, II he:invest.
ed in underwear. Because have all
the clothes that | can wear. ! have
six suits of cotton and three suits of
wooden. And it is of very good mate
rial also have three changes OF
outside clothes, two woollen o. D..
and one cotton. The principal things
l find that are hard to get is toilet
articles, CONNECTIONS, tobacco, etc. The
reason for this is that there are so
many soldiers here that the supply is
not large enough and then there is
always some difficulty in getting
around, as there are so many orders
to live up to, both of French and
American, that it is best to take your
time. But at any rate, If you hear
as many rumors as we do, do not pay
any attention to them, for they would
drive anyone "nutty." When we hear
one OF them we ask whose wireless
was out, or how many knots there are
in the clOthesline.
So the boys received their commits.
sions. l might try one later but for
the present | am content. There is
some chance that there might be a
senior NJ. S. E., in this branch of the
service, as there is none at present
Should they take such step, l will
make an effort to get In line for the
examination. 80
Hall was over here to see me yes
terday, and we had some talk. don't
remember him very we'll. But there
certainly has been some changes In
Bismarck since left What IS the
row in the state house. All | have
heard is the trial but not word
about what 1t is for.
Yesterday was In town, a good
sized place. 1t is said that 1t is cheap
er to live here than in the st,tes.
That is true, because they live cheap.
er. In many ways they are far be-
hind America for modern conven-
fences. The people wear wooden
soled shoes. And when they come
down the cobble stone streets (no
sidewalks) they make enough noise
for a regular jamberee
Talking this book talk gets my
goat. We stepped into little cafe.
Some tried to order an egg sandwich.
After considerable 1--WE we" and re
re" the madam brought him out a raw
egg on a plate and loaf Of bread.
He demonstrated with her. She must
have been calling him names, but it
sounded more like grand opera to me.
About the time we expected to get
our orders O.. X. some one put his
head in the door and stated that we
had to get out, as the cafes were
closed from 2 to In the afternoon
So out we went with nothing to eat
after q half hours arguing. This red
wine that they rave over is just the
same as the red wine that you put up
every year. So take little and say,
Here is France" The French peo-
pie drink considerable wine, but It Is
because their water is not as good
as it might be. That is, their wells
are not deep enough. Where we are
the water is fine.
Today l was at high mass. That
is the first time in France. And 1t is
the first time have found anything
that was the same as home. The
only difference is the seats. Here,
when you go through the door you
get a cane-seated chair and take 1t
down the aisle. That stone floor was
little bit too hard for my prayer
bones, but l thought l could do any.
thing the French could do. But ! no
|ticed that when they go to kneel down