Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-11-29
LETTER FROM ANDREW ALLEN

Mrs. Lester Cox. of North Shoshone,
received tn following letter from her
brother, Andrew B. Allen. who is with
the American army in France
Somewhere in France. Sept 2sth-
Dear Sister:-I received a letter from
you day before yesterday dated Aug
oath and it was sure welcome Receiv-
ed one one from Kate and one from Pa
They are all we'll I will send you
pictureKatie sent me as 1 can not keep
it with me and you can keep it until
come back 1 am well, and as con-
tented as fat wood chuck. We are In
n pretty little French village and have
all we want to eat. There is Y NJ
c. A about a hundred feet from the
house am in. and they have something
going all the time A few nights ago
they had a stringed orchestra from
Paris and il was certainly great One
OF them played 4 harp that stood all OF
six feet high He handled il ike a
southern Niger would a banjo. I can
not tell you anything il military way
so it don't leave me much 10 write
about. don't know whether I VIII go
to the battle froat before spring or not
am ready any time they are. as may
not get a shot at a Hun if the Turks
and Austriaus give up. France Is
beautiful country but is away behind
the times. They are using tools and
methods that were in use in America
so wears ago They drink more wine
than water About half OF the land
around this village is in grapes The
climate is about the same as it is in
Idaho. except that it rains all the time
wish YOU could see me in my mask
and tin hat. l think you would take
one good look and then Disappear I
heven't learned to speak any French
vet and I'm not trying very hard. as
some OF the French speak enough
English 50 that we can get along Ny
worst grief has been TO learn the val
ne Of their money. Sometimes you viii
have a pocketfull OF money and only
have forty or fifty cents They have
a copper cent piece about the size OF
our quarter and a copper two cent com
about the size OF our FIVE cent piece.
excent that it has hole in the center
Il Is. Thev have paper money OF all
sizes. Their money is divided into cen
times. or one nth Of cent had 70
trust to the honesty Of the French Al
first because l would give American
money and get French in change and
didn't know whether was cheated or
? not. hut they are pretty honest, 50 far
aS I have seen, and they sure ike the
hoys in lSahkie. and especially the ma
rines
one thing doa't forget. Don't send
me anything We can get AL we want
here and we have 70 pack everything
that we have en- our backs Another
reason is that they won't accept any
thing in the overseas mail except let
tors. They could put something IN the
{ snace a package would take up thai
wouId be moro beneficial. I wish YOU
eorld see France II would surprise
YOU. The buildings are practically al
made OF stone or concrete with heavy
shutters on the windows The roads
are all good. not good and e'id mixed
Wen viii close as I have told you al
l can think OF this time.
second edition
AS did not get the letter or last
night win write some more Was un-
I able last night to get an envelope at
the Y. NJ. c. A..
will tell you something about the
I people here There are no Young me
LEFT In this country. The male populS-
tion consists OF old men and boys The
/ girls are plentiful and some OF them are
beautiful They are mostly dark CON-
plected but few are light. and once
in while see a red headed one. Most
all the poor people wear wooden shoes
either all wood or wooden soles with
/ leather tops. They put hob nails IN
them and they sure do make 'ioiss
when they set on the cement walks
The children. rs whole. are the finest
I - ----- ~