The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-03-14
NEWS OF OUR SOLDIER
BOYS
Interesting Letters from Our
Boys at Home Camps
and Abroad.
From Major Clark

Sunday, Feb. 80 the Wnole dear
"bunch:" This is market day. The
people from ali the countryside have
gathered to sell their products and to
congregate in little groups to ex-
change gossip. l presume that's what
they are doing, for human nature is
much the same stuff wherever it is
found, regardless of race, religion, or
training. Today l am reminded of
Emmett and former market days. |
see little group on the street. Among
them is a man who seems to be tell
ing stories to the great amusement
of his friends, so l have named him
Price Bane. The mayors portly form
moves from place to place and with
keen fatherly eye looks after the
welfare of his people. His pleasing
disposition and his business air COM
pels me to call him John McNish.
Then there is the banker, with watch
full eye, always counting, counting,
counting and figuring that greatest of
all discoveries, interest" and V. 7.
must be his name. Then there is an
other little fellow, now here, now
there, just seems to be so busy, yet
you can't see what he does-so l
guess that's Bill Wilton. Then in
little wine shop, called "Cafe de Arts"
sitting at marble top table, is the
local editor and the pedagog. So Joe
in Ac
1 strolled down by the river saw
an angular looking chap with fish
pole, so l hailed him and asked him
if his name was Ed Hayes. He said
''no, but that he knew Ed" There is
the dry goods merchant who runs a
store which could be easily named
@'The Golden Rule and hard
ware and grocery with Ed Reilly's ia
miliar form seated up in the little
cubby hole, with nothing to do but
watch the money roll in. There is no
one yet that l have found to compare
TO you, Charlie, but am sure l will
find him one of these days. There is
only one pill peddler left here now,
and professional etiquet prevents me
from naming him, so I'll let it go at
that.
Really, this is very interesting to be
out on a day like this and study the
types of people and their costumes,
and l wish that the "bunch" might be
with me today. We would sure have
some time.
l have a pretty good one on John
that l must tell. A few days ago he
said he had date with cute little
French girl So | asked him how he
was going to talk to her. He said
he did not know, unless he took his
dictionary and flashlight along.
Your letter, Charlie, was thing
of joy and gave me real pleasure. On
the same day yours came | had one
from Joe and one from Guy, as well
as some others. We all await an
xiously for the mail boy, each day {
hoping for more mail. Usually it
comes in punches and then straggles
along until the next bunch, but we :
know that is the only way it can get
lust crazy for this mail and it helps a
lot to know that the folks back home
will take the time and think enough
of us to write, for does not the Good
Book say, GAS cold water is to
thirsty soul, so is good news from t
far country c
Some of our fellows have been get t
ting clippings from papers in the G
states and from their tone, if the ]
American public believes their rot, it y
will bring lots of needless anguish to t
many a poor mothers heart. They =
even quote letters from American Of =
ficers telling of the rotten condition r
of things relative to the army in
France. Now, l am sure these state
ments will not go long unrefuted.
They read Just like German propa-
ganda and in my humble opinion it n
should be suppressed. They tell of e
the awful drunkenness of the officers t,
and men, which | am glad to say, F
from my own observation, is abso- ii
utely without foundation, and | have q
been watching very closely the inf1u-
,nce on the men of the wine shop.
First, they are not permitted to buy
anything but light wine or beer, and
he French are living up to the or u
lers, for they have learned that If OF
hey sell anything else to the SOL OF
hers a guard will be placed on the T
loor and soldiers will be told to move w
IN, and they are too shrewd in busi-
less way to take any chances. Then
anyone cares to sop up enough of
his sour wine or very, very light beer n,
o become intoxicated, the result would A.
,e that he would probably resemble y,
-inegar keg and still have the desire L
or that alluring kick. There has been OF
ess drunkenness in the army as l fo
ave seen it in France than any other b,
lace we have been by far, and since