davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
France, Oct. 27,1918

Dear Dad:
will write you a few lines this
evening. I got a letter from you
and one from Winfred to-day, the
first I have gotten from home since
l left the States sure was glad to
hear from you and to know you are
all well. Yours was dated Sept. s,
and Winfred the 23rd.
was very we'll, have little cold
It sure is a great deal of pleasure to
me to know my people are praying
for me. It makes me feel so much
better. I wrote to Uncle William
some two weeks ago, and / guess he
will soon get it. I guess you are
hearing from me real often now.
No, dad, I can't tell when it's go
ing to rain over here, for it is rain
ing nearly all the time, but today
sure is beautiful one, did my wash
ing today.
Well, the Huns are going back to-
ward the land from which they came,
and it will not be long before they
will see the Stars and Stripes in the
Fatherland.
To Mother-My Mother, cheer
your heart and dry your tears. For
after while God willing will return.
We sacrifice today, that through the
year we may enjoy the peace for
which we yearn,
Forget all cares, forget all minor
things. Today we labor and tomor-
row rest. We fight for every mother
as she sings her babe to sleep upon
her throbbing breast. We battle
for the womanhood of earth, for lib
erty, for honor, for right. Be proud
oh, mother dear, that you gave birth
to one who lived to enter such
fight.
Write soon, Your son,
Prvt. Layman W. Propst, d.
Co. G.. 102 Infantry A. E. F.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
WE'LL DONE

A move has been made to have the
recognize in some way
the services rendered by the selec-
i've draft boards of the country IN
tie great emergency through which
tie country has passed. Various
suggestions have been made as to the
,rm of this recognition, such as a
revet commission, diploma, medal,
etc.
To our mind the suggestion IS
timely and right. No body of men
in the service. have labored more
faithfully or under more trying and
veyatious circumstances. The very
fact that local boards in every COM
munity, during the period of CLASH
fcation and at the close of the war,
find themselves subjected to harsh
criticism, accused of discrimination
favoritism etc., we say the very fact
Ct these things proves the delicacy
e their position, and the furthel
fact that they proceeded faithfully
md laboreously in the discharge o.
these duties at the expense of person
Il popularity and lossof FRIENDS
,,royes that they were actuated b1
patriotic motives and loyal to th'
| government.
We feel this way about those wh'
instituted the home Draft Board
hey will doubtless plead guilty t
! -rors of judgement, not claiming I
- infallible, but we have no SHADOW
.: doubt that every individual cas-
IS honestly and impartially han
lied, and that they were deaf to al
.Gucnces that ran counter to thel
;ieas of justice and fairness to tn
,oys of their county.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
DO FLOWERS BLOOM IN HEAVEN
By
George Wesley Moore

Do bloom in papa? preacher did,
When showed m on coffin lid;
Can little sister Mary gather flowers there,
In her home filled with beauty and everything so far
O! yes my little darling the loving father said,
your and said she dead
They wreath of flowers and it on her brow
And she is twning wreaths in heavens garden
Then papa, would you care, go
And help my little Irvine wreath foryou?
Justs soon had weaving now,
I'd make angel bring it and place it on your brow
Why Willie think lonely your papa here would be,
you should to heaven to gather flowers for me;
Your she has left angel took Mary home,
If should go and leave me, papa would be alone
Then papa if you'd be lonely tell you what I'd do
I'd down with the angel when he brought the flowers to you
Mary would send her love-
And would tell all about the beautiful home above
Why precious little Willie my only source of joy,
The angels could not bring back darling little boy
angels spirits heavens golden Shore
We then permitted to visit earth
Then would write letter. or sister could for me,
An the beauty which in heaven
you my and my little sister too
I'd give to the angel and he'd bring down
with the truth all too plain,
angel before, coming again;
Wilie's brow, and he fell asleep
He awoke where flowers bloom, his faher left TO
Now to the lonely father whose way in life $ sad
children make his lone heart glad
little Wiie's letters filled with heavens glee,
Telling of the beauty which in heaven we shall see
And soon the wreath of flowers make
angel will bring down, for little Wilie's sake;
And the fathers happy spirit, will overflow with joy,
IS his flight to heaven, see his little boy
ceased think children the tomb
led them FORTH where flowers immortal boom
would today would but pause to hear
angels speak, dropping hearts to cheer
They evend but will not hear them speak,
they'd heart the eardrop off cheek
Youhe your umbers, and then you happy
But you and fancy, the truth is but a dream.
They they're voices the
They you that children do not die
By the heavenly Father, they're angemothers given
they'll gifts when for them in heaven
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
France, Nov. IS, 1918

Dear Mother,
The last time I wrote home the
armistice had not been signed tho it
was thought that the end of hostili-
ties was not for off. Now the war is
thing of the past and that which
interests us most of all is the thought
of starting home before so long.
The hard part is over and if I'm
| called upon to stay over here longer
| perhaps than most of the boys I will
do it without complaint. At times
one feels a little downhearted and
thinks that he is getting the most
Of the bargain and at the end it all
comes out alright. 1 think every
boy over here once in a while "crabs"
or makes lot of complaint about
this, that or the other but it doesn't
hurt anyone. Sometimes I believe
there is little consolation in it.
At present l am in the same camp
where l was last March; came here
last Friday and am going back to
my own service and almost sure to
get back with the w. & L. boys or
those I've been with since I've been
in France. Don't care which section
| go back with. Am anxious to get
back for I'm pretty sure there is
some mail for me either with the Sec
ton or at B. C. M. If there is some
with the section it will not be long
before l get some once I get back.
l know you would like to send me
a Christmas package and I would be
glad get one but at the time the
christmas parcel cards" were be-
ing given out l was picking grapes
and did not get one. These cards
were given to the boys over here
and they were to mail them 10 those
from whom they wished to receive
the package. If there were no such
cards on the package it would not be
sent across. Since I did not get
card and it is too late now I'll be out
of luck for Christmas parcel.
Pretty cold around here now.
Hope all are well. Your loving son,
Arlie Swecker
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
SAVE 100000 BUSHELS !
OF WHEAT THAT FORMERLY
WAS LOST IN THRESHlNG
Farmers, Urged by Food AdmInlstra1
tlon, Provide Seven Extra Loaves
Of Bread for Every American.

By adopting cleaner threshing meth,
DDS and by literally combing harvest
fields to gather grain formerly wast'
ed, threshermen and farmers Of the
United States this year saved fully
100000 bushels Of wheat, estimated
as equivalent to about seven one-pound
loaves of bread for every person In
the country. This result, accompanied
by corresponding savings Of barley,
oats, rye and other grains, is shown BY
reports from 88 grain states to the q.
s. Food Administration. Other states,
although not prepared to furnish def
mite figures Of conservation In the
grain fields, report greatly reduced
harvest losses.
This rural food saving achievement,
accomplished In scarcely six months
time, was in direct response to re-
quests by the Food Administration,
which asked farmers and threshsrmen
to reduce harvest losses from about
3A per cent.-the estimated average
In normal times-to the lowest posi-
BILE minimum. Country grain thresh-
ing committees carried into every
grain growing community the official
recommendations for accomplishing
the results desired.
In numerous instances drivers Of
racks with leaky bottoms were sent
from the fields to repair their equip-
ment and frequently bad order thresh-
ing machines were stopped until the
cause Of waste was removed. But In
proportion to the number Of persons
engaged tn gathering the nations grain
crop, cases of compulsion were COM
paratively rare. The Food Admins
tration freely attributes the success of
the grain threshing campaign to pa
triotic service by farmers, thresher-
men and their crews. Incidentally
grain growers of the United States are
many millions Of dollars Gin pocket"
as q result Of the grain saved. +,
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
Dec. 10, 1913

Dec. IL, Isl
Rev. Mr.. Fast preached at
Wesley Chapel Sunday at IL A. NJ,
and at Sieg Chapel at p. m.
Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Terry, son and
daughter, Frank Miss Elsie,
were Sunday e,rnIAg callers at MIR.
Holmes Stephenson's.
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. A. Robertson and
children, Ulys, Janet and Roy Valid
en- were guests Sunday of j. Amos
Hiners.
Misses Mary and Minnie Waggy
spent Sunday with their uncle, Geo.
w. Lamb.
Cornell Osborne Gutshall came to
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Orvie Gut
shall the End. Those present Sun
day to see the new guest were, Mr.,
and Mrs. Joe Carpenter, Mrs. David
Carpenter and Geo. A. Bussard, OF
Big Valley, Mrs. Forest Hiner, Mr..
and Mrs. w. .Gutshall, and daugh-
ter, Miss Lottie, Mr.. and Mrs. Hollie
Gutshall and children and Mrs. VIM,
Ginger and son Frazier.
Miss Eva Terry was the guest Sat-
urday night and Sunday of her cous-
in, Miss Lizzie Terry.
Mrs. Geo. A. Bussard, Of Big Val
icy is with her daughter, Mrs. Orvie
Gutshall for a couple of weeks.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lucius Lockridge
and children and Mrs. Emory Lock
ridge of Williamsville spent Sunday
with the latter's parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. A. J. Terry.
Miss Sula Carpenter was visiting
Messrs Alva Lear's and Ceba Doyles
the latter part of the week.
: Frank Harris's little child has
been very sick,
Messrs W. W. Terry and G.. A.
Robertson were in Monterey Tues
day on business. Hiawatha
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
ASSIST COUNTRY FOLK
IN GETTING PHYSICIANS

Richmond, Va, Dec. 49, Virginia
will soon be relieved of the shortage
Of doctors which prevails in many
sections as a result of the great
world war. The cessation Of hos
tilities in Europe means the almost
immediaet discharge of many ply
sicians now in the service of the
United States. Some of these al
ready are looking about for neigh
borhoods in which to locate and
have written this Department for ad
vice as to their plans. The State
Board of Health, therefore, is in a
position to assist communities now
standing in need of doctors, and
will be glad to aid these communi-
ties in procuring we'll equipped ply
sicians. 1t would be well for those
interested to write at once. AID
dress State Board of Health, lilo
Capitol Street, Richmond, Va.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

1t sure would be great to be home
in time to eat Xmas dinner, but l
don't think there is much chance
to get home by that time hardly,
but l do expect to be there by Eas-
ter anyway.
The last shots were fired yester-
day just before II o'clock. I went
up to the front yesterday afternoon,
and things certainly were different.
You didn't have to worry about
shells, gas or anything else. Before
this, everyone you saw was busy do
ing something, but yesterday you
would see soldiers loafing around
with nothing to do. They looked
lost, but everyone is wearing smile.
I came back from the front last
night and everyone was celebrating
especially the French were cell
e5rating with every kind OF fire
works. 1t surely was pretty. You
see flags everywhere to-day, DOM
French and U. S. flags.
1t is getting pretty cold over here
now, especially at night You can see
winter is coming. I don't know just
how long we will be at this place but
I suppose we will move in some bar
racks pretty soon to stay until we
get ready to start back across, and /
am just as anxious as anyone to get
back. I want to sleep in a bed
once again, one with sheets on it.
Well, as the only news is that the
war is over, l will close,
Your Son,
Mgr. Gilbert Gum,
304 Sanitary Train,
Amb. Co. 313
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
VIRGINIA GOOD ROAD ASSN.

Richmond, Va, Dec. 10, 1878
announcement is made of the eighth
s.nnual convention of the Virginia
.,ood Road Association, to be held in
richmond on January 18th, 18th
md 10th.
With the respects of peace and the
.emoval of the restrictions upon con-
struction work, imposed by the Ma
tional Government on account of the
war, the question of highway improy
ment has again come to the fore.
Work of this kind promises to be a
most potent factor in providing suit
able employment for our returned
soldiers and those released from war
| industries.
Many do realize the important
! changes made in the road laws of this
State during recent years, whereby
Virginia has put itself in line with
The more progressive States by es-
tablishing a estate Highway Sys
| tem," connecting the principal cities
and county seats, to be costructed
and maintained wholly by the state.
It has also provided for the designa-
! ton of County Highway System"
( to interlock with the State system
in all the counties of the State, to be
constructed and maintained jointly
| by the State and counties.
! The method of providing the nee
essary funds for the building Of the
roads embraced in the State and
county systems has been only parti-
ally arranged, and it is generally
admitted that if the roads are not
to be simply ION paper" and if the
people Of the State are to have the
benefits to be derived from their use,
within the life of the present genera
ton, it will be necessary for consid-
erably larger appropriations to be
made. Some favor an increase in the
State tax rate while others propose
a State bond issue.
The question of the proper balance
between appropriations, by the State
for the construction of the State and
county systems, is a matter that will
have to be decided.
These and other matters of i'm
portance relating to road improve
ment in this state will be considered
by the convention and resolutions
will be adopted expressing it's con-
illusions. Because of the representa-
tive character of the association and
the careful though progressive pol
icy it has followed it's resolutions
of the General Assembly, ashas been
carry great weight with the members
of the General Assembly, as has been
shown by the enactment into law OF
a large number of the recommends
tions of the Association.
The officers of the Association are
President, Wade H. Massie, Kappa
hammock County; list Vice President,
Maj. ]. B. Wood, Supt. State Peni-
tertiary; End Vice President, B. R.
Cowherd, Columbia, Va; and Sec.-
Treas G. B. Scott, Assistant State
Commissioner, Richmond.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
France, Nov. "a, 1918

| ciuCC, INOf. Gt, 1O1 o
My dear Dad:
At present we are just sitting
light, and haven't moved since the
Dutch" threw up the sponge. We
are near Verdun and I have been in
the town severaltimes. We hear
rumors every day of some kind. One
day we hear that we are going home
soon another that we are all going
to Germany as occupation troops I'M
til peace is signed.
"of course we all want to go to
Germany" but everyone can't go, so
l guess we will be on our way home
sometime shortly after the first of
the year. l didn't get to see much
service over here as 1 was only at
the front from Sept. Is to Nov. II.
Just about Two months was all we
had to contend with she'll fire and
gas, but had quite few exciting
experiences during these two mos,
will never forget them If live to be
thousand years old. All of us were
a very happy bunch of fellows after
II O'Clock, on the eleventh day of
Nov, after the last shot was fired.
have been in France since the 81
day of July. We landed at Brest,
and got our training at Pripape, A
little town in the eastern part of
France.
We arrived at the front Sept. IA,
and slept in dug outs. This was
the Argonne forest front, where
there was SO much hard fighting.
We started in a drive there on Sept.
rs and took Montjaucon, one of the
highest cities in France. We drove
the Germans for about week up.
there and went about seven miles
and took bunch of prisoners. Then
we went to the st. Miheal front and
help the line for about two weeks
then we came out of there and NOV
ed up to the Yerdun front where we
pushed Fritz until Nov. 18th at. Il
o'clock when the last shot was fired.
Part of these two months I was
cold, wet and hungry, had my clothes
off few nights, just slept anywhere
I could find place. Drove car
lots of nights when I could hardly
see ten feet in front of me. One
night | dropped in a shell hole and
my front wheels were right up in
the air. just waited until a truck
came along to pull me out. Take it
from me driving a car over here at
the front certainly is exciting. There
is as much excitement as fellow
could wish for and also some fun.
I had trip last night. We were
going to have a dance here and an
other fellow andI were to go after
the nurses. We were to get twenty
nurses and had to go about fifteen
miles to get them. We went all
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

probably get into Germany with the
army of occupation. I am sorry as
I thought would get home fromhere
but orders are orders. Send all my
letters to Central Record Office, A.
20. TIT A. E. T. until I send you an
)ther address. Will write you more
when I get chance, With lots of
love to you all. am,
Miller Bishop
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

ton. neither shall they learn war
any more; when there snail De
"new heavens and new earth,
wherein dwelleth Righteousness )
and the peoples of the earth shall
ioin thir voices in glad acclaim.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
Nov. rs, 1918
Dearest Mother,

Dearest Mother, IL
Received your letter and also orte
from father today and very welcome
they were. I will answer them
fully as soon as I get time, wrote
you a note from Paris to st. Jean de
Monts. have just received orders
tonight to leave here and go up to
the front. I don't know what we
will do exactly but we think we are
going up there to relieve the pilots
who have been on the front for a
long time. 1T any rate we will
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
NO ONE SUFFERED HERE.

The marvel Of our voluntary food
saving, now that we are getting re-
SUITS" is that no one ever actually
suffered any hardship from 1t; that
we all are better in health and spirit
and better satisfied with ourselves be-
cause Of our friendly self-denial.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20
FRANCE

Nov. IL, 1918
Dearest Mother and Dad,
Well, as you have known
long before you get this letter that
the war is over and Germany is
licked, YOU don't need to worry
about me any more. don't know
just how long we. will be oyer here
but I imagine we viii start,
home right after peace is signed; I
heard to-day do not know whether
it is official or not that a half mil
lion of us would be home by Xmas.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

Food control in America held the
price of breadstuffs steady, prevented
vicious speculation and extortion and
preserved tranquility at home.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

Food control made sufHciency freA
shortage, kept the rein on food prices,
gave the nations full strength exsr-
else,
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

Good will rules the new world as
fear governed the old world. Through
sharing food America helps make the
whole world kin.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

General PeIshing states that the
casualty list will be completed Dec.
20, that Of The slightly wounded
Dec. 27.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

In no other nation Is there so willing
sense Of voluntary self-sacrifice as
in Amerlca-that was shown In the
abstinence from wheat.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

Food conservation IN America has
been the triumph Of individual dsVe-i
don to the national CAUSE
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

Find more wheat, 1t came; moro
pork, 1t came; save sugar, 1t was done.
So Americans answered the challenge
Of German starvation.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-12-20

Starvation by Germany challenged
all the world food conservation In
America answered the challenge,
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-10-25
IT IS UP TO GERMANY.

President Wilson assuming that Germanys request
for peace is sincere has acceded to it to the extent that
he has submitted the proposal to the allies He points
out that the way to peace open to the German people
whenever they see fit to accept it and act on it. and that
way is through unconditional surrender 1t is not at all
likely the president is acting his own initiative in sub
mitting the German reply to the allies for it is inconceiv
able that the whole matter has not been gone over
thoroughly by the leaders of each government and line
of action agreed upon which includes President Wilson's
taking the course he has in responding to the last Ger
note. For this reason the situation is tense for it
means that the allies will state terms which armis
tce can be obtained which will unconditional sur
render There no other open except virtual
surrender on the part Of the allies This will pass the
whole matter back to Germany to accept refuse What
action Germany will take depends on how thoroughly the
war lords are discredited by the German people, and
whether they have still influence enough to induce the
ing to the inevitable The war lords as well as the peo
pie realize at last that they beaten and that the dream
Of world domination is over They realize that whatever
terms the allies dictate will have to be accepted sooner or
LATER and the only chance Of their not being accepted now
is that the German mind working along the lines far
followed that fear and terror may cause weakening OIL
the allies demands and that by continuing the war to the
last ditch better terms be obtained However with
Bulgaria out Of it, Turkey no longer factor and Austria
ready to accept the terms offered Germany there moth
ng the latter to hope for by continuance Of the stg
GLE It is bitter pill for Germany to swallow, but it isl
the only remedy and SO it will be taken The next move
will be the reply Of the other allies to President Wilson,
and then the matter will be left up to Germany to accept
or reject