The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-10
HAS INTERESTING WORK.
Charles T. Pierce, Goddard Graduate,
Writes of His "Y" Experiences.


Charles TPierce, field secretary of the
Y. M. G. A., who went across last Au-
( gust, is graduate of Goddard seminary
and has many friends in Barre, who win
/ read with interest the following letter
/ from him, written Nov ! to his wife,
/ Mrs. Maude Pierce, of Hardwick:
/ We'll, since writing you last, we have
made another move. Our regiment, which
| am permitted to tell you is the 35lst,
4 has been making a move about once a
week or ten days, Yesterday was told
to have my supplies ready in two hours,
| as we were to move again. | managed
to get ready and went on foot with the
men, have been on previous hikes,
but this was the limit as we marched
80 kilometers (about 20 miles,. | tell
you that soldier with rs pounds on his
back is a pretty tired boy at the end Of
such hike. / carried about % pounds
besides my helmet and / think | can
have some idea. The first half marched
with the first lieutenant at the rear of
the company, but on the last half went
into the lines, since many of the men be-
gan to drop out and needed encourage
ment, The last three miles was uphill
and we all needed encouragement |
stood it quite well, but had cramp in my
legs and am pretty stiff this morning
1--WE didn't get in till late in the night
and this morning | came into town on
foot 90 kilometersl to make reports
and get supplies. They will carry me
out by auto. ] am in better quarters
now. The major kindly offered me cot
in his room. Two other beds are occu-
pied by the major and the battalion ad-
jutant. They are fine men, as are all the
officers of this outfit. The major is
West Point man, about 40 The adiu-
tant is about 30. Many lieutenants are
very young.
THE last camp was very damp and
although | was in the officers barracks
it was cold and disagreeable. No fire,
and | tell you to crawl out at $50 in
that damp cold is no snap. / have a
slight cold but am coming along with
it quite well now. don't see why we
don't have snow; it certainly is cold
enough.
I'VE are now in large house, which
is the best building have been quar-
tered in at ALL The men fare well. /
enjoy my meals and get all | want. NV
" in the last place was in the end of
supply room barracks, no floor, no
stove, windows covered with cloth like
my henhouse so left the door open for
light, | had two home made tables to
sell goods over, box stand with read
ing matter, home -made cupboard to
hold stock of merchandise, pictures and
mo Nss ha "a
homeEike?)
Zone OF the big jobs Of a field secre-
tary is sending remittances for the boys,
We take the money and send it home
without cost to them The money is
paid to the secretary. He gives receipt
and mails the application to Paris. where |
a draft is made out and mailed to the |
address in the United States. One day |
! sent in over 5000 francs.
THE boys in my regiment are mainly |
farmer boys from the West and of saw. |
ing nature This work, with nv can. |
teen hours, visiting the sick, carrying |
supplies to outside men who can't get |
into the canteen, takes my entire time
days and as candles do not make de-
cent Light to see by / find it hard to
get my bookkeeping done, to say notI Ing |
Of letter writing
last week handled over $4,000 /
francs $4,000, so you see | have some
business. II is hard work, but it is what
want, as it takes up my mind. Well,
must close and get into bed, as | have
a warm room tonight and shall take off
my clothes in full for the first time in
ten days. l have not vet received any
mail"