The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-06-07
A LETTER FROM
JAMES STEWART
Somewhere in France, April Is.

My dear home ones;-Tve just fin
ished reading your letter written
March eleventh and I've never enjoy
ed anything so much. 1t does me a
great deal Of good to hear from you
even though the letters are rather
back dated when they come in. I've
written several times but think it is
impossible for all the mail to reach
its destination. Well, I've been IN
France over two months now and have
spent something over month in the
advanced sector. I've seen many Won
derful things and while coming across
France no scenes have ever compared
with some | saw. / came across in =
second class train. The coaches are
divided into compartments, -Ese or
dinariIy carry ten passengers but no
room for baggage. There were six of
US in compartment, each partition
has door opening on the side, but no
aisleway through the center 1t sure
seemed funny at first but one soon
gets accustomed to the French ways
and means. There were many houses
carved in rocks, which to a Tonnes
sean seemed very peculiar and odd,
yet they appeared comfortable. The
French people have some beautiful
farms and l imagine they are much
more beautiful in time of peace. Wo-
men and old men seem to be the chief
farmers now. Poor France, she has
her hands full for a long time but
when this is over, / think she will new
err have to think about Germany again
except as history. The people here
seem to be very slow but once they
finish thing you can count on it be-
ing correct and first class. The
Frenchman is very kind to the Amerl-
cans and l never saw such people for
shaking hands and growing mustaches
1t seems as soon as the bottle is fin
ished the mustache starts to growing.
Well, | certainly appreciate your offer
ing to do anything you can for me,
but there isn't thing you can de-.
Uncle Sam certainly looks after his
men. Just to Keep you from worrying
I'll try to name list of clothes now
have: Two olive drab suits, one heavy
mackinaw, a slicker, three suits Of
underwear, ten or twelve pairs of
heavy socks, two pairs of field shoes,
one pair of hip boots (rubber), one
pair of high topped overshoes. Two
olive drab shirts, two sweaters, two
helmets, several pairs of gloves, lea
Their and wooden, one service hat, one
barracks cap, one steel helmet, one
pair of wristlets, several pairs of leg
gins, one rain-proof shelter half, two
bed sacks, three wooden blankets, one
wooden scarf and plenty Of handker-
chiefs, towels, etc Also good gun |
and plenty of ammunition, bayonet,
belt and gas mask. You see there is
no use to worry about my clothing; |
too, we get plenty of substantial food. |
| am very sorry that l cannot tell you
of my whereabouts. how
ever don't stay in one place long
enough to write two letters so were It
possible | couldn't give you any def
1ite location. I've seen so many air
battles it is not worth the time now to
watch them unless one is seen coming
leadlong to the ground. The big guns
make things warm at times but it is
such an expense to fire them it is
rery seldom they roar all the time.
told you in my last letter about
Meeting up with Lev Hamblet from
Mason. l am going to enclose some
French money for souvenirs. It seems
o be based on the franc instead of the
lollar. There are one hundred cent
mes to franc, and usually we consid-
T a franc worth about twenty sents.
We are paid in French money. Things
ere are somewhat higher than in the
'tates. l haven't yet received my
ountain pen and / sure hate to lose it.
Veil, think I've about told all per-