Mexico Missouri message., 1918-02-14
CLARENCE CAMPBELL IN
SERVICE LOVER THERE
Former Mexico Boy Writes His Par
ents Here, Mr.. And Mrs. Charles
CampbelI--War-Rid France.
Dear Father and Mother:

Somewhere in France, Jan. 4,
191S.-Quite few days since have
written to you, but travelling and
rushing business predom'inated.
trust that meanwhile you have not
worried 1 believe the last time
wrote you I was still on ship. You
no doubt have received that letter
before this.
After many days travel on water
we arrived safely. Christmas found
me on the train eating hardtack and
potted meat for dinner and with
nothing in my sox but my wet feet.
Nevertheless 1 know that everyone
at home was thinking about me, and
assure you my thoughts were there
every minute. We at last arrived at
our final destination and good quar-
ters and once more began eating
meals cooked by our own cook which
was as welcome as land when we first
sighted it.
Then we proceeded to unpack and
get the hospital set up.
Our location is a most ideal one,
a beautiful little French town. The
hospital is large, beautiful hotel,
taken over by the government. The
censor prevents it's location being
given. 1 will say that it is quite
distance from the firing line; in fact,
l have not heard a gun since l have
been here, so don't worry, dear folk.
The situation and conditions over
here are far from being as our papers
depict them. That is, some of them.
l expected to see almost every inch
OF France torn up. 1t is true that it
certainly was SCARED. The people
have undergone so many hardships
they are contented with almost any
thing in the way of comfort or re-
lief. Poverty prevails everywhere.
Gaity is thing long past. Almost
every man, young and old, is in uni
form, and the other sex are attired
in black.
talked with a number of French
soldiers from the front and their stC-
ries would surely make the most ex-
perienced in war listen with the
most craven interest They had
been in the trenches since the be-
ginning of the war.
1t is certain you find no slackers
over here.
After our unit arrived 20 of US
were sent to detached service to
Base Hospital No. 10, located some
distanc further inland for training.
This hospital is very large one
and well established, as it has been
here some months. have been Civ
en- ward and like it quite we'll. The
hospital is overtaxed with the num-
Der of patients and l am kept very
busy. 1 start in at 1880 in the morn
ing with one hour for lunch and an
hour off every afternoon and a half
day every fourth day. So it is not so
bad as one might think.
We are having plenty of cold
weather and lots of snow, but l am
dry and enjoying the best of health.
When one lands here he must
start out, being very cautious, that
is necessary, of course, being in a
new land. With so many stories at
tached, one knows not what to ex-
pect. Our antics at first were quite
!comical, know, to these people, as
theirs were to US. French customs
are so much different from ours.
They seem fifty years behind us in
everything, All the people are
courteous and will do anything for
the Americans. The French archi-
lecture is thing to be admired
Their churches and other buildings
are magnificent 1 am not equal to
describing them, you1l have to draw
on your imagination.
| NVa hava mot haap maid fOY. soma