Gilpin observer., 1918-10-17
c. !. PARSONS AFRAID HE
WON'T GET ACROSS
Hampstead, L. l., N. Y,
Get II 1918

Hampstead, L. l., N. Y,
Get. IL, 1918.
My Dear Friend Dill:
1t is sure shame the way l have
neglected to write you, but ever
since l came up here from Camp
Greene, until recently, l have been
either moving or going to move. We
came up here in August; left Camp
Greene, July 81, 1918, and reached
here Aug. IL, twelve days on the
way, and l can tell you it was some
trip. Five hundred sixty men and
one hundred eight auto trucks and
touring cars and several motorcy-
cles. We had delightful weather,
only enc day of rain. 1t was very
warm for a few days but travelling
in the open as we were, we did not
notice it much. We camped every
night in a town or near one, and
were allowed to go out until 8 a.
M. the next morning. OF course,
some of the boys stayed all night,
but most of them were in by IL as
riding on trucks was no snap.
We stopped at Lexington, Va, the
first night, then Danville, Va, Win
chester, Va, Alta Vista, Va, Lam
caster, Pa. Kutztown, Pa, Gettys-
burg, Pa, Newark, N. ]. Everywhere
we had one grand reception, espec-
tally in Virginia. Up in the noun,
tains where soldiers are scarce, at
Lynchberg, we could not get thru the
streets for the crowd. The Red
Cross sure knows how to do things
down there-and say. pretty girls, oh
boy, if those mountaineers are not
just what our, friend John Fox says
they are l will eat your hat. We
saw lots Of them, and they would
come down as far as the fence by
the turnpike, as they call the road,
but no closer. AS we crossed a lit.
tie mountain stream one day the
bridge gave way and the whole train
was delayed. Our truck happened
to stop right where family were
standing at their gate. We talked
to them, and / sure would liked to
have had you hear them. "Whar
you all from and whar you all go.
ing, from Charlotte to New York, N
Y" and you could see their eyes
open in surprise. But l tell you
Bill, they are not all fools. They
know when a fellow gets gay. And
have found sCme very strange
things up here. Twice / have had
peoIle ask me II we have a beach
in Colorado, and when you get down
town in New York you can hardly
understand the boys or girls either
We are sure in a fine camp, bar
vacks, real beds with sheets, real
dishes to eat off, and real food,
can tell you. Last Sunday for din
ner we had roast chicken, all legs
and thighs, dressing. potatoes, gravy
celery, bread and jelly, butter, oil
ives, coffee, sugar, salt and pepper
four kinds of fresh fruits and pump
kin pie. Last, but not least, tooth
picks Can you beat that anywhere
If you did 1t would cost you a small
fortune.
New York is scme place. Have
been there three times. l generally
go to Jam naica or to Brooklyn.
don't care much for the big crowd
in the city. Their transportation
system is wonderful here. You car
ride all day almost for a dime. Have
been down to the beach and up the
Hudson river. 1t is fine trip. AL
SO been to Coney Island. Some plac,
l can tell you. Mere Jews here thar
were ever in Jerusalem or any other
Place.
We are in the midst of the epi
demic now and are in quarantine
No cne can come in CIR 20 out Of
camp. My chances of crossing art
slim and l sure am disappointed fol
! did want to get my crack at som'
Hun or other, but maybe will yet
Would like to hear from you som'
time. My address is $50 Aero Sqdn.
Hampstead, l.. l., N. Y.
Your friend,
CLIFFORD I. PARSONS