The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-08-09
Nevers, France,
July IS, 1918


July IS. 1918
My Dear Mother and Sister:
l received your letter Monday even
ing when I came in from work. Sure
was glad to hear from you Ill and
to know mother was better and up.
Hope she is we'll by now.
Well, I am we'll, and enjoying the
best kind of health. I weigh more
than I ever have in my life.
Guess Lakeland will be some dull
when all of the boys leave for train
ing camp, and some of them in
France.
Well, thought may be could send
you all some pictures, but they are
not ready yet. So I guess l will send
them next week
| received those orange blossoms
and they still look good. We get
oranges over here, but wave to pay
20 cents for three.
We all had a big time here the 4th
of July and another big time the l4th
of July, as that was Frances holiday
like our 4th Of July.
| I sent you a permit, so you all can
send me some candy. Can make II
and send it as soon as you can, for
some sure would 60 pretty good now
am off guard duty now, am check
ing goods in the shipping room; like
that better than l did guarding.
Well, wish | could have been
with you all, the time you all went
to Carriers Mill fishing for ! could
enjoy a godo fish dinner myself You
ought to see the fish they catch over
here. The fish they catch here We
would use for fish bate in the States
And they will fish all day for about
four or five.
Guess, who I saw yesterday from
Lakeland? One of those Brown boys
He used to be in Co. ID and later wa
transferred to @. M. c. at CAM
Johnston. | met him there jugt be
fort | left. He came over and I saw
him Tuesday. 1t sure seems good t
see some one from Lakeland.
We sure are having some no
weather now. Lots hotter than tn
Florida weather.
went to church last Sunday TO
the first time since came to France
went to a real church, A.. M. e
church. They have the French ser
vice first and the American servic
last, but 1t sure was good sermon
think | will 60 now every Sunda
morning as we don't have to wor
now on Sunday, for l really enjOye
it.
will tell you all how we travele
when we reached France, if the cen
sorship will let it pass. When we frs
hit France we tramped over to GU
new camp for few days, and whe
| left that camp was when ] ra
across Ray Jones. Well, we went t
the depot, and we thought we wer
going to ride in coaches, but instea
of riding in coaches we were put !
box cars and on the box cars reat
Homes for forty Chemaux Tor in 9th
er words, for forty soldiers or eigh
horses). So you see we ride any
where. The coaches over here ar
first, second and third classes. A
they had not enough coaches was tn
reason we rode in box cars. We woul
not have minded it so much Il tn
cars had been large enough, but the
were little old cars, and by the tim
a they put forty soldiers in one ear
!. was somewhat packed. We were thre
days and nights in the car. We wer
on the road all that time.
Well, anyway, think when &c
5 back, and we have lots of compan!
# l think 1 can say, Give me blankt
). and l will sleep on the floor and cove
+. with the blanket and use a brick 70
my pillow. I can sleep all nigh an
never wake up either.
!; My first night at Camp Johnsto
n was like being in palace beside tn
ttime spent in that box car.
Guess | had better close as x
getting late, so write me whenev'