Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-10-28
SOLDIER LETTERS
Ellis Renshaw Writes

fSlSntS anu uOTS SlSutS, We StoPpVu
at rest camp in England and then
at another over here in France and
finally arrived here where we are
billetted and will have school. As
am down on the bill OF fare, or
rather meaning table, as chauffeur,
that means schooling for me. I've
ridden on all kinds of conveyances
and had all kinds of accommoda-
tions.
England is certainly 4 beautiful
little place-the Quaintest, Quietest,
homiest little country I've ever seen
so far. much more so than France,
as everything there is green, and
here they haven't had the rain and
iare in need of it. These old coun-
tries are certainly old fashioned, es-
lpecially England. which is just about
fifty years behind the times in
buildings, dress, people and every
thing else. Look out over the top
OF town there "and the buildings are
all even and the box cars, say, they
look like wheelbarrows that had
Just begun to grow and had been
stunted in early youth.
Say folks, read Of the time the
Americans had. talking and trying to
understand in foreign country and
now that I've experienced it, it's
worse than that There were two
Y. NJ. C. A. fellows on the ooat we
came over on, and they had French
lessons every day and gave us things
that would be OF everyday use to us,
sentences. greetings and all that
junk. I'm having an awful time with
French, but have found out one
lthing-the only way Is to get in
with some French family and spend
some OF the time In their home.
Have a conversation book and that
helps lot. AS I understand 1t lit
tie better than most Of the fellows
I have to act as an interpreter.
We are billeted here in the center
Of an old French village and the peo-
pie are just as hospitable as they
can be, and treat us fine. The ma
tives give US lots of blackberries
and wine, which they drink in the
place of water, and they'll go
through the motions of washing and
point to an OK, then give us wine in
stead.
They work oxen here like they
did in the states years ago. and
some of the queerest conveyances
can be seen. and talk about the
youngsters being smart. They GER
tainly use their heads for something
besides hat rack. Little young
sters only five and six can read all
kinds of big words, and also the
English, and know what 1t means.
The little bits OF Frenchy tykes
would pull off their hats when our
colors went by. Both here and in
England the children just line the
street begging for souvenirs and
money.
When we hit France we were sure
glad to stop, as we were tired Of
travelling. When we left the fort
all the fellows we're keen to travel
especially on the transport, but be-
lieye me, after a few days at sea,
they lost all their longing for an
ocean voyage. Personally, I wasn't
sick a minute from the time we left
until yet, so you see I was in luck.
We got some mail from the head
quarters and I received three OF your
letters that were sent to the fort
about the time we we're leaving the
states, and I realize now that I re-
ally never appreciated letters be-
fore, as the more I see of these old
countries, the better like the old
U. s. A.
Went into a coiffeur establish
ment and had a madame give me
shave and it was an experience
that one can't place value on un-
til he has had the experience The
chairs are straight ones, with a back
that moves up and down and a head
rest fastened on it so you sit up
straight and lay your head back on
the rest-tilI you get no rest, and
it feels like your neck was breaking
| off. I held It there while the mad
ame welded the brush, and filled
my eyes and nose and ears and
mouth, and not being satisfied with
the first lather, she proceeded to re-
peat the operation about four times,
land then went to work with the ra-
1zor. After she had succeeded In
pulling part of them out (meanins
whiskers) she got a hose and bull
and sprayed my face and then rub
bed soap over that, not forgetting
to get some in my eyes. She ther
rubbed 1ather off with towel ant
only charged me half franc for al