Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-07-03

again as soon as they get the money.
Ten days absence is desertion and
of course that means squad and
sunrise" but we have none of that.
Thursday, May 23rd.
Received letters yesterday of dates
April "a and 20. Seems it takes near
ly month for the bulk of the mail to
cross. Wrote you last Sunday and
cut it short to go on visit to town
about 4 miles from here, place about
the size of Lancaster only condensed
into about One-fOurth the space. Had
a good dinner of veal ribs, French
potatoes, etc. Grill even had a piece
of fried chicken. In the afternoon we
went all over the town. My such old
buildings; 10 to 20 foot streets and no
walks; makes one feel that he is back
in days long gone by.
We got there in time to see the
crowd leave the church all dressed in
their Sunday best, here and there a
soldier or two home on furlough or
wounded, old men, women, girls and
young boys-no young men civilians.
The men all wore black clothes of an
cient vintage, some a colOred sash,
neck band or streamers on their hat,
shoes of coarse leather, hob-nailed
and heavy-suppose the whole outfit
could be purchased for $12.
The old women all wear their black
hair plastered tight and shining with
grease and a little white starched lace
affair on top, black dress, homemade,
often trimmed with bright ornaments
and buttons or velvet Many of the
young women had straw hats and an
occasional one classy looking mod
ern white outfit. The boys and little
girls aped the older. Many Of the
men and boys wear aprons; some
molly crowd and all walking in the
road. Many stopped in for their cider
(mild vinegar) or wine.
A few drove two-wheeled dog carts
with one horse or two horses tandem,
mot but --). The best carts
have two cushioned seats, one facing
front and the other rear The cheap
er and heavier ones have one seat in
front and back of that the body of
cart is like a big box and they stand
or sit on the edge of the box. If Hen
ry Ford ever sees one of these outfits
he'll sure create a sensation. The
brake is set by turning a wheel like
a threshing engine.
The stores were mostly all open.
If only | had boxcar to load stuff in
to and allowed to tote it I sure could
bring you the funniest old dishes,
clocks, etc., but expect l must content
myself with such postcards aS4 can
pick up.
Three out of four places are wine
rooms-just small room with bench
es and tables and a girl to serve you
big fireplace and pile Of fagots, a
black kettle or so and dog or cat.
We were out exploring and inspect
ing" and got into every place we
could find. One place was in a cellar
We met two nice girls in a variety
store which was short on variety and
stock, and had lot of fun talking to
them. If our Franchise sounds like
their Anglaise it must be funny but
one way or another we always get by.
The French day begins at midnight
and is computed both IL and "a hours,
so if a train goes at six o'clock one
must find out if it is o'clock or Is
o'clock, etc.
AS usual the little French lassies
cleaned us of our sous (coppersl
They are affectionate little things, un-
afraid of the American and will hug
us-the mothers and fathers encour-
age them and laugh-and the big
girls need no encouragement.
We never have any trouble with the
French. We have some wonderful
fights among our own kind but never
a hard word with the French. Even
the Algerians like us, although the
boys did throw stones at them once
or twice just to start some fun. They
do most of the dirty work around
camp.
Have had fine weather this week /;
real warm; seems good but makes
one lazy. The boys are getting anX-
ious to get on the move and am salts
fed that Memorial day will find us in
a different camp. Don't seem to be
able to find out just what our band
work will be; no one seems to know
what a bands duties are. Guess as
Empey says, "a band is a necessary
nuisance which spends most of its
time polishing its instruments" We
have worked hard and have very
good band and now I'm afraid We'll
get put back five or ten miles and
play in hospitals and never get a
chance to put in day Of real mans
work" If that proves true I'm going
to transfer if possible into some 9th
er branch Of the service and the
chances are 100 to l won't be able
to make it. The u. S. may adopt the
French system of stationing all bands
at base hospitals to do music duty
only. Musicians are too hard to re-
place and even at best are bound tt
get their fingers banged up or so worn