Tombstone epitaph., 1918-03-17
Troops in France Are Training to the Highest Point
 of Efficiency.
KNOW NO FEAR OF FRITZ
Soldier Writes of Work and Experi enees With Army at the Front Old Regulars to Be used as
 Crack Units of the Unit
 ed States Forces.

Dear -: This is the first time have had-or have taken-for letter writing in some days. I wrote home. and will devote the rest of the minutes between now and bedtime to a long delayed letter to you. I only just re- turned to my company after being away for . month-in 6 blamed sight colder place. l had long and won- derful trip. the details of which can't. tioned, however, that among other things I did was sleep in a real steam heated room, with sheets. five electric lights, all going at once. and a bath room. I was a next-door neighbor of Hank Wales. of the l. \. S., who. dis covered. worked in Sacramento, taking the job left when went to Panama. He knows you. and mentioned that did. but didn't go into any details. My trip, my one night of luxury and Fay reversiop to the life of the army have brought . realization of one thing. though:
 To pefvert the title and main strain of the latest Broadway and frst-line trench hit, the fun is over, over here. Erom now on it's business.
 Franr.e. to the American soldier. never again will be what 1t has been. This thought began to formulate itself in the minds of the lucky Americans who came over here in the late sum- mer of 1917. about the time the snow began to fall and the fog to come In from the coast Now 1t has crystalized. The grave, whole-souled, sincere six months welcome of France is over. It was . welcome not 90 much regal as 1t was genuine-not one such as is spoken at . banquet when the mayor turns the hypothetical keys of the city over. but of the man who opens his home and his all and says. not in words, but In deeds. You are one with us; what we have Is yours" And for tunate were the Americans who were present at this welcome. The army inst comes this year will be welcomed. but not as we were.
 No loneer . Novelty.
 Not that France has Intentionally moderated her tone. There has been . merely natural relaxation, of course. and the .soldat Americaine" now is accepted more as . matter of course than as a novelty. But the big factors are that the United States Is getting into the war-and it Is winter. There is less liberty now than there was no all-night passes, and frequently Sunday is broken by inspection and drills. There is no military permis- sion to visit nearby cities except on business. Visiting of the cafes is per mitted only between noon and 2 D. m. and 6 ?. n. and 8 30 for officers and enlisted men Winter has brought long nights and cold days, It's Red Cross sweaters and the 17 pairs of socks from home. asd. incidentally. the keen ct appreciation of three fruits of civi- Hxafion which ~back home" are such coumoo-paaces that their existence creates 70 more tho1ght than the lea cn Hectars back.
 ness are Hght. heat and water.
 War. and its concomitant economies. eanos . step backward in evolution eDA hunan pr0gess-superncally. d least-and luxuries vanish, one by one. VhaIe what, the American of today sub eoasesossly coosides e necessities gre sefnted An seoa or Q go watsE sna srtiAeiaI beat ed light might have been eoaadered . luxury. or dissipa- usa by CT developing ancestorsL But s0v sAsy are normally in the class ol thineD we must have. There is. d course, - alarming scarcity of any d these shangs. Merely . conservation
 Ovsr hers We hear that ehe lishtz ess Oseng ct e Droadway. ond Dear
 ~ awnu6 nnh Onnnl nerpet on6 Mar