Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-10-13
union STATION
WILCOX LIKE
PEARLY Gates
Omaha Boy in France Writes
to Parents; Says He
Is Glad to Be
There.

Agricultural conditions in France
Ind an unexpected meeting in a
French hospital with a former ON
aha neighbor are described in let
ter from Dave Hervey, bugler with
an American hospital corps now in
France, written to his parents. Mr..
md Mrs. G.. w. Hervey of Omaha.
The letter says
We are finally settled and our
camp is very good one. 1t is near
the edge of an old French village,
COWS and chickens run at large in
sle curved streets and the houses
rave red tiled roofs and are sur
rounded by stone walls. A quaint
old church near was built in l7l6
and has the most beautifully toned
bell | have ever heard. France is a
very beautiful country.
Il wish father could see the
amount of grapes they raise here.
Every farmer seems to have all the
land he owns in grapes. | have
ieen about one acre of corn in this
immediate vicinity. 1t tassels out
when it reaches four feet in height
md only one ear to the stalk. 1t
would be tough if they could only
get an ear to stalk at home.
Cut Barley Crop With Scythe.
"On the way through France we
,ould see wheat and barley fields
as far as the eye could see. IA
only grows about Is inches high
out has wonderfully large heads. If
! farmer has enough to pay him to,
ne has improved implements, but if
lie only has 80 or 40 acres they
cut the crops with a scythe and
Aail it.
THE cattle in the dairy part of
the country are all brndle and white.
! didn't see a Holstein or Shorthorn
or any other breed that we have in
the states.
II am still as busy as ever and
really haven't had time to be home
sick. have work enough to do to
Keep me busy from the time | get up
until I go to bed which is SIS a.
n and 1890 p. m, We get good
chow and talk about good bread
The baker boys sure can make it.
1t is wonderful. Regular old-fash-
toned wheat bread because you folks
1t home saved the wheat.
will tell you something of my
work. | am chief bugler and have
charge of all the mail. | take care
of the mail for enlisted men, off
GERS, nurses and patients. We are
building the postofhce in the head
quarters building and have it almost
completed.
Everything is going fine. Condi-
tons point to Walk-away for the
allies. We should be home in year
if they keep on hitting the ball,
Meets an Omaha Friend.
"Charles Lenacker, an lS-year-old
kid from Thirty eighth and Charles
street, Omaha, is canvalescent i'll
our hospital He had three serious
shrapnel wounds but is improving |
rapidly. He was indeed glad to sec
me, as | knew him we'll at home.
"This is wonderful hospital. | am
glad am here and am trying my
best to do my part in this great
struggle and feel that it is a privilege
to have part in bringing relief and
comfort to the suffering boys. We
have the best corps of physicians
and surgeons in France, You may
know that Dr. Patton is on the job
from first to last and doing his full
share.
AS I said before have been too
busy to be homesick but | think
often of the wonderful home | left
and when the great day comes and
victory is ours and we will come
home. The union station
in Omaha will look just like the
"Pearly Gates to us, Plenty of
exciting things have happened since
we left New York but | can't tell
of them until | get back.
THE colonel is going to get us
band and orchestra Instruments
which we will appreciate very much
Some of us music lovers are starv-
ing for good American Jazz.
"Say to all the folks I am we'll
and happy with the knowledge that
the Hun is whipped and beating it
toward the Rhine