The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-02-21
FIGHTING PARSON
OF STRATFORD IS
BUSY IN FRANCE
Writes Letters Which Give
Vivid Picture Of the War
In Europe
WAKE UP AMERICANS
SAYS REV. KENNEDY
Final Plans Are Made for
Patriotic Rally In Red
Mems Hall
Especial to The Times.)

Stratford, Feb. 21-Extracts from
many of the interesting letters receiv-
ed from Chaplain Chauncey c. Ken
nedy, rector of Christ Episcopal
church, have been selected and SUBJ
mitted to this paper for publication.
Chaplain Kennedy was designated
chaplaincy in the army about two
months ago and was Immediately
placed with the Twenty-first En-
glneers in New Jersey. He has been
rector of Christ church for the past
three and a half years and is wide
ly known in town. Mrs. Kennedy,
when seen today by a representative
of this paper, said that Chaplain Ken
nedy was enjoying the best of health
and liked his work very much. The
extracts are as follows:
ReveilIe on week days is at $50;
mess at II noon and at $50. We
have nothing but candles and are
rather short of them, so our light at
night is very feeble. By the way,
most things can be bought here from
the quartermaster cheaper than at
home and most of the French shops
are cheaper. should advise any ono
to bring very little except uniform
and buy the rest over here.
Captain E. is sitting opposite me at
our packing box tables, and as we
each have drawn a candle. lantern
| because of our evening duties, we
have a brilliant CD illumination. The
| little French children seem to he
much interested in me, and I often
stop and talk to them on the street.
| They look well and healthy but they
| don't seem to play any games, and
usually are doing errands or just
watching the soldiers.
| The wind is bowling outside but it
isn't cold, and will help to dry up the
mud. You cannot imagine such mud,
eternal, allpervasive, like glue. We
all have been wearing hip boots;
sometimes they are high enough,
sometimes not. We read of extreme
cold in Chicago. I wonder if you are
having it. Some things are growing i'll
the gardens here. Give my love to
all the dear people at home, but tell
them I have no time to write except
to you. Write me about everyone.
I have made two trips to town. Got
two truck loads of Y. M c. A. sup
plies and brought out a Y. NJ. c. A.
man for an interview, as l have got
them to start a hut here; lie. We have
put up for them a building 80 100.
| feet, which they are furnishing and
lighting. and I have persuaded them
to open and run a canteen. I got the
supplies by being on hand when the
cars were unloaded, for the motto of
the regiment is, GO and get it,
This morning 1 had two services
and this afternoon Major P and I
walked into town and went over
many of the places of interest We
stumbled upon beautiful vesper and
i benediction service in the oldest
church in town, which dates back to
the 10th century. There was beauti-
full music-Gregorian for vespers and
French for the benediction. We
climbed the cathedral tower and had
a fine view of the surrounding coun-
try. 1t has been fine day-too
warm for an overcoat during the day,
but the nights are crisp and cool. I
imagine we will not have many such
days though, until spring. The Y. NJ
c. A. man has been here today, and
though the floor of the building has
not yet arrived, he has managed to
open a canteen, which was very much
needed, as the men cannot get into
town much. I have been more than
busy all the week and enjoyed my
afternoon off immensely. I saw in
: the paper a few days ago, among a
: list of Y. NJ. c. A. arrivals, Miss
: Bartlett, of New York, but I suppose
it is ourSStratford friend
Here we are suffering from the
, shortage of cars ard gasoline and l
can't but think of all the cars and
gas that are wasted in Sunday junk
citing near Bridgeport. The people at
5 home will have to learn that they
must play the game over there, as
j well as over here. This can be no one
sided affair, but a very grim deadly
business, and everyone at home vast
e ing anything needed here is practi-
:. cally committing murder and is 8
e party to the death of Americans over
4 here. 1t is a case of Wake w
t Americans, or be eternaIly Damned
5 They are not playing the game al
home. L wish they would take
e lesson from the French. who ARE
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