Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-12-26

1 guess the old shops are pretty
much deserted by now but we will
! soon FIJI her up again now. would
+ like to have new one built but ]
| can't afford it just now as we'll I'll
| tell you che rest when when get
back.
Now if you write the boys at the
! Valley, give them all my best.
Your old Friend and Brother,
Sgt. E. L. Atwood.
--)--.----
LETTER FROM FLOYD BOND.
st. Nazaire. France, Nov. 8, 1918.
Dea' Folks: Well, I'm back in St.
Nazaire, and oh,what change! from
a land Of sunshine into this rain and
mud we have here.
No doubt by the time this letter
reaches you Germany will have fol-
lowed Austria's example and have
given up the idea Of world conquest.
s Leaving st. Nazaire on the twenty
fifth of October at s:55 p. m. we took
the train for Paris. We were tired
from running around getting ready,
getting our leave papers, travelling
orders, ETC., so it was not long till we
were both in the land Of slumber.
Was only wakened about forty times
by people stepping on our feet. If
they didn't wake you by stepping on
you. why they'd wake you to beg your
pardon, so it really didn't make any
difference. But at last it began to
get daylight and we found we were
travelling down wooded valley, and
a river along the side, only an hour
out of Paris. The scenery along here
was beautiful. All the trees had be-
gun to change color and that, with
the little homes along the bank Of the
river with their red tile roofs, made
a picture Which I will never forget.
But soon we were past that, and were
rushing through the outskirts Of
Paris, (The city Of the Kaiser's
dreams.) We arrived at the station
and signed up with the M. P's, as ev-
eryone must do, so you can be found
when they want you. Through mis-
take he only gave us two hours in
Paris, but after breakfast "a real
American breakfast. by the way) we
went to headquarters. and got our
pass extended until 9:O5 p. m. We
had no trouble as one usually has,
finding our way about a strange city,
especially when there is no one you
can ask. This fact was due to their
wonderful subways. For 20 centines
(about q cents) you can get to any
part of Paris in few minutes. There
are hundreds of these carsabout one
half the size Of a Ford, and they are
about as cheap as the subways are.
After leaving headquarters, we de-
cided to walk to the Y. M. C. A.,
which was a long way, but it was
through one of the downtown shop
ping districts. never will regret
that walk. The shop windows were
full of gowns and everything, but,
Oh! the price. / haven't the heart to
tell you what the little tags said. And
the jewels, diamonds as big as wal
nuts with the hull on, but that is a lit
tie story. One which was used to at
tract the attention Of the people was
solitaire diamond, lying on black
velvet cushion, and the mark read
"For Sale, $4,000 Francs" We went
on up the street looking for the Y,
which we located about 1890. We
ate at the Y, then joined party go
ing to Versailles.
Private Bond then gives very in
teresting description of visit to Yer
sailles and Lyons, similar to what has
been previously published in letters
appearing in the Nonpareil from 9th
er boys overseas. Leaving Lyons they
stopped at Avigonons, the home of all
the old Roman popes, for a short
time. Continuing he writes:
We received our first view of the
Mediterranean sea about 2:3O p. M,
and followed the coast along for two
hours, close along the edge Of the bay.
i wish father had been there and got
a shot. at some Of the ducks saw
The bay was black with them. The
view was fine, with the ships coming
and going, and that wonderful sun
shine. We arrived at the Marseilles
at 4:30 p. M, signed up with the M.
P.'s there and then went to the Y for
information as to a good hotel. Mar
stiles itself is just big city, but
since the war broke out, it has more
than doubled its population, and you
can imagine the classes. Adventur-
.ers from all over the world have gath
Ared there, and it being the only real
port on the south coast and it
brings all shipping from the Orient.
You have to wait until the crowd
starts in the direction you want to go
everyone talking and cussing in all
the languages of Seven seas, and won
en- with their painted faces drinking
at the cafes among the men, from Ia
IN to "a wears of ACE n fhav oaw