The Spanish American. [volume] (Roy, Mora Co., N.M.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-30
In France

AAS AAllVNlAiE NAAIdtiN Aloui NtIl
interesting letter from Di. Ernest Gri
ner, nephew ofNhe\Misses Griner. G.
Roy, give the best and most persona
account Of experiences with the Ameri
can army in France, that we want vol
% read it:
Colombier, France, Sept. 22, rs
Eetr Folks at Home:
Ills town is similar TO all SINAI
lNillages here. Pretty muchly scatter
ed; no particular method of laying il
out sanitation poor and houses old a.
The hills. There is a chuych in most
every town which is usually the mos
Interesting feature. haven't as yet
heard the history of this one.
The people seemed very sorry tc
zee us leave Bordeaux.
There are some very nice girls ir
this town, that is, nice to look at, but
ii one can't speak French how can one
tell? | was very much complimented
THIS morning; one of them took a die
tionary and found the word "cute" and
pointed to me. So I'm beginning to be
all puiFed up.
The fellows were invited up to a
girls house to party list night. Three
girls from Paris were here visiting
and | guess it was quite a success judg
ing from the comments this morning.
We have been invited to tea at 5
o'clock with a French family. They
try to be very cordial to all U. S. boys
so as a result we are inflicted with
tea. The custom is very nice but tea
every evening at 5 o'clock isn't the
most palatable stuff in the world.
The privates all have their tobacco
issued to them every five days. But
the officers don't. Some of them bum
from the privates. I'm feeling fine
and expect to continue same as long
as we are in Southern France. hope
we stay in the south until the winter
is over.
] have had one or two little spells
Of homesickness, but when | feel that
way | try to inflict my company on
someone else, SO as to forget my trou-
bles.
We have had plenty of grapes but
they wereN wine grapes apd not very
good. A few peaches and figs, but no
plums, pears or apples. haven't seen
an orange or banana since left home.
! have a nice little room to myself.
A single bed; the French don't believe
in big beds | guess as | never see any
large ones.
We went to tea yesterday afternoon
and from there went to another party,
given by the young ladies from Paris.
Had q fair time. There we had more
tea and some cookies with great
deal of music. We took a couple Of
boys with US from the company who
are good musicians and entertainers,
so with their aid and music furnished
by the young ladies we spent rather a
pleasant time until HOO p. m. They
speak some English, about as | speak
French, so many of our remarks have
been rather twisted.
They all speak of the hardships Of
the boys in France. It's all bosh.
Most Of the fellows are having it cas-
ier than they ever did in their lives
before. They eat well and have dry
places TO sleer. The fellow who -usu-
ally kicks is the one who has never
been used TO anything.
When we irst pa,led into Bereaul
the people were gnusrsIy kind ana
generous to US. Ore woman even
msde big pct Of sorp and served 1t
t. the boys before the cooks got DIN
ner ready. We asked ,hc reason fer
all this kindress and they told us they
we're so sorry for cur boys because,
they were so starl cd tfat they were
eating the poison berries along the
read. They couldn't seem to under.
stand that those berries are good to
eat
We are billeted here for tonight. |
nave beautiful room with a nice fam
ly and everything is lovely. A good
bed and good meals do much to make
-he most pessimistic person contented
and happy.
don't know the name Of this lit
lie town but it makes no difference,
as we are just billeted here for the
light. This march we are having is
iurely an experience worth a lot to
Inyone. We are marching through |
he most fertile part of France at a
ate of15 miles day.
This little village is quite typical. I
\ few houses thrown together some
Of years ago, built. Of stone
md left to take care Of themselves.
There are usually one or two well
and kept up in each town
nd we officers arc usacllg given rooms \
here. The house we are in tonight Is
boye the average, More on the bun
allow type quite modern except for
lectric lights, bath and gas. A pc
uliar feature of their bed rooms is
he hangings above each bed. There
; big sort of an umbrella-like hang
lg which come down and completely
the bed like a pyramid tent
On the march we usually get our
vening meal at a restaurant or some
Sher place; the other two we take
nth the company. We got dandy
upper last night for four francs; the (
reakfast this a. m. for two francs. :
We walk until or p. M, have our :
inner, hold sick call, clean up, shave
Ike a bath, change our clothes and !,