Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-08-21
Leslie Grange Writes Interesting Let
tiers From France.
Somewhere in France.

Somewhere in France,
July II, 1918
Well am here at last. Arrived safe
and sound yesterday. Was a long trip.
just even two weeks, and we where
mighty glad to see land again.
Well, say, this country is so odd and
so different from the States, really
can't write all the queer things 1 see.
I cannot tell you the name of the
old city where be landed, but I think
it must be one of the oldest in France
by the looks of the things. We got off
from the boat about 2 o'clock, and
marched through this old city. just
had to laugh at the people as they are
dressed SO odd. The children came
running along asking for penny. 1
wish Allen could Of seen them. The
boys Of his age wear aprons over their
trousers and their stockings come half
way up to their knees, leaving a place
bare from the knees down. And the
shoes are of all sizes and shapes
pied up so bad, but still working. It
is laughable to try to talk to the kids,
they know about as much English as
we know French
Well the buildings are all of stone
and so ancient of style, lots of chin
neyss and windows. The windows all
have blinds and open like DOORS The
houses and barns are all in one It is
nothing to walk down the street and
see chicken or two in the window or
| a pig eating slop in the doorway.
Their sewers are open bitches on each
side Of the street and the women wash
| cloths in the creek on stone and dry
them on the bushes. I saw one street
car, little bit Of dinky thing. And
no automobiles except the u. S. cars
from the camp. The people are of the
poor class. and dirty. But don't sup
pose all of France is that way.
| We are not in barracks now, as they
are all full, so are living: in our little
tents for while I think we will move
in a few days and 60 to some better
quarters. ..-. " 81;
We walked out from town, I
guess about 5 miles where we are
camped, and it began to rain about the
time we got here, and we pitched our
tents about dark. And then to get
something to eat, as we sure were
hungry by that time. We have no cars
or horses to carry out supplies from
the camp which is about miles from
us so we had to hoof it. carried 20
loaves of bread in my rain coat thrown
over my shoulder, raining hard all the
time. Well we finally got back here
and got some bread and corn beef, and
got to bed about - o'clock, some day
for the first day, say. Well slept
fine in spite Of the rain and got up
this morning feeling fine. We then put
up the stoves and kitchen and made
some coffee. So will have something
to eat anyway. tell you this is real
soldier life, so different than the camp
life. We are still long way from the
front, so don't worry about me.
The areoplanes and dirigibles are
common sights here. Saw several yes
terday. 81.
The country is so different Such
small fields, not many larger than an
acre. And the fences are ridges of dirt
and stone, and covered with a growth
Of shrubbery, making the fence about 6
or feet high. They don't use ma
chinery to farm with, so you see they
are far behind the times Their crops
sure look fine. The wheat and oats is
just beginning to turn and the garden
stuff is sure looking good. They don't
seem to raise any corn. I guess the
women do most of the field work. In
fact, all the young men must be at
the front, as haven't seen any yet
The women are mostly all dressed in
black. The poor people, I feel sorry
for them, as they have had such hard
times. But hope they will see better
times before we leave.
1 wish you folks could see some OF
these things, especially our camp Of
little tents. am writing this on my
mess kit Am awfully glad you gave
me that fountain pen as it is SO handy
;. There is about 61a hours difference
in the time here than your time. It Is
now o'clock Sunday evening here
while it is about noon at home They
figure time kind Of funny here, from
to "a. "a o'clock is at midnight