The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-10
GRABBED PAIR OF LEGS
ON 4 PARIS STREET
John A. Gordon Was Convinced No One
But His Uncle, Harry Dunham, Had
Such Underpinning-It Proved True
and There whs a Joyful Reunion
After Many Years.

John A. Gordon, son of Mr.. and Mr.
John w. Gordon of Barre, who is no,
driving an ambulance on the Italia
front, writes of an unexpected meetin
with his uncle, Harry Dunham, on th
streets of Paris, and he also adds som
very interesting sidelights on the situa
tion in Europe at the present time
Harry Dunham, formerly of Barre, ha
been serving in the Canadian forces sine
, 1915, and he and his nephew had no
seen each other for many years. Th
letter, with some deetons, is as follows
"December 10, 1917.
"Dear Father and Mother: | was walk
ing up the Boulevard des Italians in Par
is on the first of December, when | spiet
a pair of legs hurrying up the street be
fore me. Now there is only one person il
this world that possesses underpinnings
like those | mentioned. | Immediately
hurried forward and grabbed the owner
of the aforesaid pedals. He looked at me
rather queer and was wondering what
new kind of confidence man | was when
shouted at him-Harry d. He GER
tainly was some surprised to find that
someone had already got his number and
he had only been in Paris two days.
"When ! proceeded to explain to
| him that / was the nephew he
used to carry into the house by the slack
of the pants, he Immediately lost his re.
serve and grabbed me by the hand. At
once we proceeded to nearby bench and
sat there for three hours talking over old
times. Harry is looking fine. He is as
hard physically as a nail. His cheeks
We're ruddy and sunburned, somewhat
lean from two years Of fighting. He has
never had a sick day since he enlisted.
He joined up in December, 1915. His life
has always been life of adventure, but
these last two years have been crammed
full Of adventures, thousand times
greater than any before. He has been in
the Ypres salient for Is months, which
speaks for itself After the war he will
be able to spin the most wonderful yarns
that you ever heard and they will be
true. for | know.
He asked million questions about
everyone and everything. He wanted to
know all about the health, etc, of Tom
and Maude, and father, and Paul Philip,
Norman and Lillian. He asked about
hundred OF his old friends, Tom Mercer, |
Ottv Lewis, Nell, the Wright brothers /!
and many Others whom doubtless you do |
not know Tell Tom and mother that !
they have every reason to be proud of |
Harry,
Il spent six days with Harry. lie was
staying at the American Y. NJ. G. A. ho
tel in Paris. We visited all the places of
interest in Paris, such as the Louvre,
he royal palace fwhere / took some
snapshots of him which friend ia hav-
ng developed in Paris for mel. When 7
'eceive them / will send one to Tom and
me to you.
'Father mentioned In one of his letters
hat he wished Harry would write more
ully in his letters. We'll, you must not
xpeet that, for he would like to very
much himself, but they are very, very
trict on those matters II is impossible
or him to do more than he does now.
I You knew what the consequences were
or saying the least little thing out OF
he way. you would thank your stars
hat you heard from him at all. !
II tried to enlist in the American army
{ Paris 40 rue st. Annej but was fatty !
elected on account of my eyes. ] asked /,
he enlisting officer il there was any
e said no, but that | might get some J,
ind of an office job at the headquarters :,
/ Paris. Wen you know just how much q
would like that kind of work. So
rabbed at the chance to go to Italy as 0
n ambulance driver with the American
ed Cross.
"You have spoken about numerous par : !
is that have been sent to me. Well, O
ave received only two of them since ! Z
I'VE been in France. One was can of
rince Albert tobacco from Tom and the !,
her was the scarf, helmet and wristers, Y
hich were delivered to me the day be- O.
re / left for Italy | kept one pair of N
risters in remembrance of Ernestine q
ID gave the other things to Harry be- d'
use knew he would need them much
ore than ! could. He did not want to IL
Ike them at first, but ! insisted. ~
Il can explain to you very readily why III
e parcels never arrived. 1t was simply tf
e to the fact that | was in rotten a
ganization, as far as mail and few OF
her things went. have not the slight
t doubt that all the parcels arrived in ra
ris, but then they just simply disap-
ared by means of being swept into the te
bbish pile-likewise the papers and bs
lgazines sent. ! did receive six issues re
the Barre Times from Oct. to g. at ca
mp, also in August and September 81
rec or four copies of the New York ~
mes, one of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, tit
hink. But | mentioned these facts in op
Ter letters which probably you never ST.
eived. As far as letters go, believe We
It | have received all that were sent an m
me from America. From now on | eu
nix there will be less difficulty in re- io'
d to mail, for | am with an organiza-
n that knows how to take care of its
,iness.
i have been in Italy over week now An
ent several postcards from Turin. 1
now at Milan, but depart tomorrow
the front. We have been very busy i
ting our cars ready. III
~, =. & -. .r;o,,a.. -. :. ~. me
nv not to expect to can the kaiser, 10 n
meet him in Berlin next summer | e @
this as bit of caution because | met ". ,l.
many d. F. in Paris, who had o. o.
{ arrived and were full of that kind -
talk. One youth confidently confided c;n,
ne that, We are not going to be ID II
ards and hide in a hole in the ground n
these European guys, no sir! We arc
going to be right on top of the ground Po,
the time and moving all the time mo-
u. | admire his spirit. but ! knew hrs,
/ he hadn't been within 80 miles of Tov
front. | didn't want TO tell him that Ia
e ever gets in place where the Ger
IS have from go to $50 guns to the -