The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-03-07
Some Interesting Letters from
The Boys =
France. Feb. 6. 1918

Ing Guys
France. Feb. s. 1918.
e. A. Bliss,
Scotland. s. D. Isl
Friend Bliss
Ishave an occasion to tear off
a few lines to you and T will do II
before anything prevents.
This 10 rainy afternoon. the first
we have had for two weeks. We have
been having some exceptionally nice;
weather for this time Of the year.
That ID what the old settlers herea-
bout say. They must know what
they are talking about for some can
remembef back to this date in 1853.
We are due for some pretty moist
weather and would not be surprised
if this afternoon proves to be the
starting. We have escaped the be-
low-zero weather and the blizzards
that we have been reading about you
having in the States, We have had
weather though that has required the,
use of plenty Of fuel.
The French peeple use less. fuel,
than the Americans. That wasetrl1e
in peace times as we'll as in war In
this town Of three or four thousand
PEOPLE one does not see much, wood or
coal hauled thru the streets for civil
ian use. A person sees almost no
coal at all. What wood the people
use is sold, to them in small bundles
at a franc and half (27 cents) a,
bundle. Each bundle is4Sabout four
feet long and about ten inches in; di-
ameter, and ia made up of slender
sticks averaging from an inch to two
inches in thickness. Such a bundle
of wood will last the old couple i am
.billeted with about three days, while
/ would use up one in an afternoon
and evening if wanted to be reason
ably comfortable. For kindling wood
the French use fagots, the very small
Ter branches of trees and brush. The
fagots come in bundles also but / do
not know the price. /, The use of fag-
OTIS for kindling fire is first-rate
procedure. for person can soon get
q fine blaze going. In our part of
America we are blessed with an album:
dance of corn cobs which serve the
same good purpose as fagots in as
efficient manner. But if the Amer
leans who do not have corn cobs for
kindling would copy after the French
in the use of fagots we could get rid
of q lot of the underbrush that litters
up the landscape in so many places in
our country The French must have
q lot of patience and his time must
not be worth very much when he sets
himself at the job of cutting email
brush and twigs and arranging them
in an orderly bundle and tying it with
string. The average American
would not stop to consider so simple
and Glow a job as that.
The people here are amazed at the
American requirements for fuel, and
they stand agap at the quantity we
Americans shove into our stoves. The
amount we use in a month would last
them year. I notice decided diff
ference in the temperature of my room
when it is reasonably comfortable and
the living room Of the old couple I
stay with. When go from mine
into theirs on my way to the street
I feel like ] am already out doors the
moment close my door behind me.
The American needs the fuel, he must
get it and he will get it regardless
of obstacles.
Do not believe the average French
knew what riches were until the A.
merieans came among them. They
regard all of Us, FROM buck private to
the generalissimo.. as capitalists.
They accordingly have boosted the
prices on everything the American
wants to purchase. The other day
wanted some fruit and went down the
street to find something to satisfy my
craving. went into a little room
that they please to call a store.
saw box of dates, all fixed up NICE
ly., ] purchased it for franc and q
half (27 centsl and came back to my
room. emptied the hox ON a news
paper, and there was such a small
pile that counted the number.
There were twenty three dates at
more than cent each.
This crusade to France and on to-
ward Berlin is a fine experience
Those who return to America will be
great gamers for their experience over
here. Everyone. when this stern