New Britain herald., 1918-08-17

struck our first French town where we billetcd for a few days all prices took a sudden jump. Wine was of fereQ at four francs a quart One franc represents IS cents of our mon ey. But we had not been paid for some time and therefore could not buy. Seeing we did not buy prices began to drop and we could obtain some real champagne for about three francs.
 Suddenly We were paid off. Real champagne increased in about one hour to twenty-five francs per quart whil>, the cheaper grade sold for not less than fifteen francs. Some jump, eh? But what is the difference? We had the town drunk dry in one night.
 I celebrated my pay day in a diff ferent way. My only ambition was to get sick eating candy, which I had not seen since I left the U. $. A; also to sleep in q regular bed with a pillow, white sheets, etc., and to get one real meal with fresh eggs, coffee, with milk in it, fresh meat and cake, with some real bread.
 T spent about five francs for some bie chocolate bars, which some en- terprising citizen brought from Farls' knowing our fondness for candy. Then in company with two more SOL diers we picked out a neat little farm house. We went in and found an old French woman sewing. We soon py signs and motions told her what we wanted. We would pay her any amount of money if she would pre- Dare for us the kind of meal we want ed. After much talking and many o,est11res she understood. She told us she would gladly do it for us, retus- ing to charge us anything for her work if we would only get our own bread as she could only obtain enough for herself and two children every day.
 We had some trouble in getting the bread First we had to receive a per init from a high official, and many other formalities but we eventually succeeded.
 Fried Eggs, Yum Yum.
 Well Nat, we had some meal Be- tween the three of us we ate almost two dozen fried eggs, many pounds or fresh meat with onions, real Wh1te coffee and real butter on our slices or bread, too The whole business cost us together only fifteen francs With the five franc note which we quletly slipped one of the children, because the lady herself refused to take It. II cost twenty francs amounting to le9s than four dollars in our money. we considered it very cheap, but the lau9 wondered greatly at our eXtraVagance To them a franc represents as muc1 as one dollar does to us.
 After living for three months or dry rations you can't realize what Una , meal meant to us. l almost began u think I was home again. Iake i from me that when l get back l sure will appreciate mothers cooklns Anvbodv would after living on emef' l gcncy rations. But lately I am faring conslderaol! we'll My haversack always cohIdlh a, jar of real jam, little butter an' a few bars of chocolate. Rather lel for war times. Being a little bette acouainted here now, I always man age to pick these few necessities up Il | the villages we pass through. bu { our hunt for respectable sleep1n' , quarters for one night was not S successful We started out after sup : per and stopped at many tarmhouS i but could not find what we wanted | All they had to offer us was a StraN , mattress and the floor, but we Wante pillows and white sheets, which wa 1 something they never saw, leave alon have them. Our offer of money ol not help much either. We Kept u our quest until dark and gave It up |
 disgust Then when we started to re turn to our billets we found that " were completely lost.
 Two weeks have elapsed slnce ! wrote the above. Have had no chanc
 to end it. Tonight at zero hour WI
 be gazing over No Mans Lana apol
 six hundred yards from the Huhs'
 Good bye and good luck,
 JAR "