Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-10-16
Constance Rosenthal, Son of +. j.
Rosenthal, Writes Very interest
ing Letter From Somewhere
i'm France
THINKS FRANCE Is
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY
Over There They Think the U. s..
Boys Are Made of Money and
Sure Know How to Get 1t
Out of Them
Somewhere in France
Sunday. Sept. %. 1918.

OuHudy, oCpI' 90 lJio.
Dear Father, Mother and All:
Well hello everyone, how are you
all? Arrived here as safe and sound
as a dollar and am feeling fine. 1t
sure was some trip and for one who
lives to tell about it will never re-
gret it. There was lot to contend
with but again there is always some
enjoyment have been on the move
most of the time, but guess l can
rest for awhile now. took my
clothes off last night when | went to
bed and got some relief. This riding
thirty or forty men in box car
which is much smaller than our cars,
is not as pleasant as 1t might be.
These countries are sure something
to see and one won't forget it either.
never in my life saw such beauti-
full country before. The orchards
and vineyards are surely great. One
sees very few fences here, but
hedges instead. Along the walks,
around the buildings and any place
that would have bad appearance,
one will see flowers and hedges.
wish mother, you could be here with
me to enjoy the sights of all these
flowers and all and tell me their
names. / thought that we had pretty
flowers in our yard, but say, they are
nothing. I saw more grapes in hve
minutes of my travels than old De-
corah will ever see. What | mean is,
that they were real grapes, too.
am Just dying to get to town so can
get my fill on fruit. / would pay
ANYTHING for an apple now. There
is plenty here if one can get to town
and get it and has the cash. They
think the u. S. boys are made OF
money, and sure know how to get IT.
/ am glad / didn't send any money
home before left because l sure had
place for it, such as paying nfteen.
cents for a cup of tea or twenty-five
cents for a sandwich. could have
lived without it, but the eats on the
boat were SO fine that I got accus-
toned to goodies. When one ge-s
under Uncle Sans care, he gets all
he wants, and that is where | am
now.
One sure doesn't need to worry
about drinks in this country. AS we
marched through towns little KIDS
would run out with bottles OF wine
and whiskey and try to sell 1T to us.
The wine wagons go around here
like milk wagons do at home.
haven't had taste of anything yet,
but l guess wine is the only drink
that is any good.
1t sure seems strange to see the
women doing the work that they do
here. They drive trucks, street cars.
work the gardens, and lots of heavy
work. You can count the children
lby the hundreds. As we rode along
| through England, one would see
about fifteen kids in every back YARD.
and a happier bunch l never. saw.
In fact throughout all these count
ries, people seem to take things pref
tn easy. They are happy contented
class. Some look pretty hard up,
but not near as bad as expected TO
see it. Well better close and write
few words to someone else now.
II is sometime since / heard from
home and a letter sure would look
good to me. I hope that everyone Is
well and that things are moving
along nicely. How is Fred the
"freshie" making it, do you get any
time for football? Wish / could get
out and do a little football playing
myself. Well here's good luck ana
may God protect you all.
! With lots Of love,
| Son and Brother,
| CONSTANCE ROSENTHAL.
Co. C. 3rd Corp. Art. Park.
Am. E. F. via New York,
France