The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1918-10-17

KARL FOSTER DARBY.
Following are a few extracts from let
ters received by Mr.. and Mrs. Walter S.
Darby from their son, Karl Foster Darby,
who has arrived in France and is with
Battery F., 72nd Artillery C. A. C. Amer
lean Expeditionary Forces. Private Dar-
by served for time in the Maine Coast
Guard, was stationed at Portland Forts
and did guard service at the Watertown,
Mass, arsenal, but prefe rred service over
seas and is now in France:
Somewhere in France, Sept. 5, '18
Dear Ma and Dad: Ju st few lines to
let you know that am feeling fine and
dandy, as usual, and am having fine
time. When we first came here we were
in tents, but today we moved into very
large room in a quaint, old-fashioned
house; in fact the whole village is quaint.
| say village, but in the U. S. A. it would
be called town. 1t is about the size OF
the old home town, although not half as
lovely for good reasons which you may
guess. When we first saw our room 1T
seemed worse than junk shop, but after
couple of hours of hard work it looked
like the real thing and with plenty OF
fresh air. for the thirty-one fellows occu-
pyingit. know them IL well and they are
fine bunch. Right in the midst of our
house cleaning what should come in but
the mail and received your letter No. B.
and card, and you can believe me, was
the happiest fellow in town. 1t was the
first letter | have received and the news
from the old town was good, but the very
best news | can ever have is that you
and Dad are well. 1t is so quiet and
peaceful here that it is hard to realize
this country is fighting.
Please watch out for my three Liberty
Bonds as they are to be sent you from our
old camp, our Lieutenant told us this af-
ternoon. You can take care of them as
suggested.
| We have a Knights of Columbus room
and Y. M. c. A here and | am writing
nv letter at the latter room.
/ The people do not dress very different
! ly from those at home. Their manner OF
washing is certainly quaint, as they take
their clothes to the bank of some stream
and beat them on the rocks. have never
seen them use soap, but their clothes are
nice and white. Another boy and | went
down to the stream, took bath and wash
ed our clothes, which was needed after
our long journey. The water was warm
and we enjoyed it very much.
shall be glad to get back to something
like work again, as am afraid am get
ting lazy with this camp rest.
Be sure to write me all the news and
also write often to Doris, as am sure you
will like each other. How would like to
see YOU and all the folks tonight; but
may God bless you all. When get home
will have many interesting things to
tell but can not write about. We are al
lowed only two letters week, SO you
will probably not get as many as you
have been accustomed to.
Sept. IL, 1918.
Have received another letter and have
read it many times. 1t seems hard to
realize YOU are so far off and the letter
makes me seem once more near you.
don't want to come home until l have
seen the finish of this war, ar. that does
not seem to be very far off now. When
that day comes and / am homeward
bound there will not be happier fellow
in this old world. Just now home seems
to be the most wonderful thing in the
world, except my mother and dad.
guess you know that all right.
We are having what you would call
in the States April showers, but here it is
called the rainy season. On the whole it
not very bad and in this part of France
they have very little winter weather.
This is the first birthday l have not
been near you, but cheer UP, the next
one will find us all together am sure.
We have the European edition of the
New York Daily Herald, but that does
not take the place of the home paper SO
please send them to me. Isee by today's
paper that the Republicans carried Maine
again. Well, it was too bad could not
be there to help. Did Dad vote7
}, Mother dear, please don't worry, at
least try not to any more than possible,
dad also) for am sure I am going to
look out for myself, which l guess can
all right with Gods help, and come back
home safe some day.
God bless and keep you both is the
PRAYER of
Your Loving Son,l
4 ~ KARL -