davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
FORMER CITY EDITOR
OF THE LEDGER
WRITES FROM FRANCE
JIM.

~ = -
Carter Vaughn, former city editor
Of the Ledger, writes the following
interesting letter from the Western
front to the Ledger:
On Active Service with the Amcri-
can Expeditionary Force, Aug. 10,
1918.
Dear friend MITCHELL
Like the W. k. "Long Boy" who babe
ma, pa, and mule goodbye, and start.
ed out TO get a Kaiser and a Turk for
his sweetheart have found out
what the wars about. Judging from
the noise In front Of me and overhead
I'd say a big part Of it is about 10
feet from here. There are so very few
things we are permitted to say, writ
ing a letter is almost as difficult a job
as editing a small town daily news
paper when everything is dull.
! was just thinking, as / sat here
writing, probably a mile from where
the real trouble is taking place, and
with possibly three or four hostile air
planes overhead was thinking az
every soldier over here thinks-wnat
a wonderful work the Y. M. C. A. is
doing over here. The good part about
it is, they do not confine their good
work to training camps a long way
behind the lines. The closer we get to
the front, the more US, and the better
the c%anteens, even up into the trench
es. Again | say, it is a great work the
American Y. NJ. C. A. is doing to make
the life of the soldier a little more
cheerful and the good part is, if sup
plies are short and someone has to do
without jam, cigars and tobacco, the
7. sees to it that the men up in front
get their first.
AS | said at the beginning, | have
found out a little about the war.
have heard and seer shells from ar.
tillery and aircraft, have wrestled
with %"cooties" big enough to wear gas
masks and throw hand grenades and
have had to get up in the night ard
put on my gas mask while still asleep.
This town am in now has been shell.
ed till it looks just like the motion pic.
lures use to see of the war. II was
once a little city Of possibly three or
Tour thousand, but not many Of the
people who fled when the Germans
mad 1t have returned. France is a
real pretty country, but so far / have
iaiied to sec any Of the pretty old
towns so many people write about :.
tnat is, If the writers intend TO mt
a comma between pretty" and "oid.D
me people either sleep in their barns
or Keep their live stock in the home. 7
haven't figured out which Il js-but
they all live under the same roof. n
tney nave a barn lot, it is in front and
when they put out a flower garden. h
IS where the barn lot should be-.
The n big rcdeeming feature IL
n roads, which simply could not be
beat. w
The Ledger Of July 4th came yes.
terday, and ] was mighty glad 10 get
it. Newspapers from "back home"
don't come very often, and I tell Won
they look good when we get 'em.
It's beginning 10 get dark and
lights we can't have. Will write again
when can. but the Lord only knows
when thatIl be. Give my best to ev.
erybody and tell the carriers I wish 7
were there 10 count out tbeir nannr.
\ wish them 'the best of luck 81
they started over the top with them.
CARTER VAUGHN.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
THE sgTU IN

WASHINGTON, Sent q
ing to a specific iami,v
March chief of STAFF, said (. S Ss' I
vision, composed chiefly y aA
and Missouri men, has been u Aa1la
north of TOul since last n,.a Ssa .
Toul is in the northern Una
Vosges Mountains on tbs s
selle River at a point sbou sp e y
west Of Nancy. The SStS \ sl
the Kansas Missouri Natio,. g'1''
Division trained under Nal n. an
ard Wood at Camp FunstoD ~
under the command Of RI, y
Frank L. Vim. This diyi.'.. %
banked for oversee dutv H.. q
Almost two months later 4 1 49,. 'aaI
part OF the 4th Army Corps. WSi.s
dlcated the training Of men,
the division had been co-sn.
A number of Mexico and l.s''
county boys are with the So,h '1'''
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
WILL BRING BACK u. :. DEAD

Americans who lose their lives IN
the war abroad viii be buried there on
ly temporarily. Where Identification is
possible the bodies will be placed in
marked graves, to be taken up when
the the war is over and brought home
This plan Of the War Department
was disclosed Thursday at Washing
ton by the publication Of articles Of
agreement between the army and navy
regarding the transportation Of sick
and wounded from overseas. A section
Of the agreement says:
The remains Of all officers, enlisted
men and civilian employees who have
died or will hereafter die in France
shall be buried in France until the end
Of the war, when the remains shall be
brought back to the United States
for final interment.
Such cemeterial facilities as the
army may have acquired in France
shall be available to the navy
The remains of all officers, enlisted
men and civilian employees who die
! on ships en- route 10 or from the
United States shall be embalmed and
returned TO the United States on the
ship on which the death occurred.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
With lots Of love TO all,
0RPHEuS RUTTER


'The Bloomfield, Mo, lad Gator pub.
fishes the following interesting lettp,
from Grant Frye. from the battle
front, sen Of Mr. and MFS. /. M. ~,
Of B, rnie:
June is, 1918.
Dear Ones at Home:
1t has been some time since | bays
written, but you know why. | could
not write. | have been on active sery,
ice at the front recently, and of coursc
could not write. | do not want Ia
to worry. ! am back from a.ction in
a rest camp now, If you have read the
paper you known more than | dare
write.
am in the Sixth regiment. | came
back without harm. | wish | could
tell you the thoughts and feelings
while there. Truth is stranger thar
tiction-" had been in a dugout four
days and all around close were Others,
1t was my turn just atdark to 20 out on
a listening post. My sergeant says,
Frye, 1t is your turn now" A mar
raised up 20 feet from me and
said, Fry, where are you from? ~
Missouri" ! said. what is your
name?" He said, John Brown You
can imagine u joy. 1t was almost
like being at home for a while. VIZ
are now in the same company. 1t wat
amazing to our comrades to sec Il
happen. We are both now writing a
letter home. lie has my pencil and &
writing the same thing | am, | guess.
! have some souvenirs which / guess
cannot afford to carry with me.
had a chance to bring back most any.
thlng, but n must carry everything
he has.
Tired a boche rifle several times.
The French hail the Marines "a ire
saviors OF France. A fellow said one
Frenchman called US "The Salvation
Army The huns call us "DeviI
Dogs" My number Is sO5s27. MANY
men have the same name and much
worry is caused by their folks being
mistaken in thinking they are hurt,
Ihey VIII now publish the numbcrA go
az 70 eliminate this. II you will look
on the map for 81. Afghan, Cher. in
en'ral France, you will know whore
! was before going to the front. | was
near that town.
Ieneral Pershing says he has a sur
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
FAY BASS WRITES
THAT HE MISSES
THE u0NsE nUU

Carl Fay Bass, formerly of this city,
who lived for a number Of years in
Louisiana, Mo-, before going to war,
writes his aunt, Miss Emma Bass, of
this city, the following interesting let
ter from France:
FRANCE, Aug. 4, 1918,
Dear Aunt Emma:--
After travelling all over France, your
letter of May 10Th reached me a few
days ago. Had you sent it in care of
the American Express Company, IL
Rue Scribe, Paris, it would have come
to me quickly. | am not in Paris, but
the Company is always advised Of my
locations and changes and it is much
safer TO have mail sent in their care.
Until further notice, always address
me there.
Your recital Of the good things in
your garden made me hungry for an
old-time meal at your table. We do
not lack good substantial food over
here, but at times we wish for the
many d~elicacies and pastries we used
to get at home. The best substitute
we get is candy, which we buy from
the Quartermaster. Without it |
hardly see how we could get along. All
candy comes. in tin cans, with each
piece wrapped separately in tin-foil,
and it is always fresh and clean. Ice
cream is an unknown quantity in
France, but we look forward TO the
time when we shall cat enough to
make up for all this lost time. / put in
my bid right now for you to freeze
about a gallon for my part when | eat
my first meal with you.
Everyone is so happy and confident
over here now on account of the glori-
Gus victories of the Allies recently.
The French people are so enthusiastic
over the way the American soldiers
are going into the scrap and no doubt
the hun is somewhat surprised. Be-
fore the end comes he will regret the
contempt in which he held the Amerl-
can Army. l can imagine the excite
ment the daily reports cause in the
States and how eagerly everyone reads
each item. We probably get less news
than you, but must be a little more
authentic on account of its being first
hand.
Have just finished another Iong au.
tomobile trip yer some of the busy
sections and a wonderful trip it was
We saw so many Of our boys going into
the lines. watched for a familiar
face in the many ranks, but not one
was Of a friend. / know Of a great
many from Louisiana and huntsville,
but do not know where they are 10.
Gated and it is difficult to find one un.
less you know their Company mum
bers. Orlando Worrell is over hero
somewhere, but l have not heard from
MN as yet. Have written him a lette.
addressed to the regiment, but have
hardly had time to get a reply. Mr..
Worrell wrote me his number.
Am sending a small picture lust "a
let you see how fat l am getting. Some
I these days ] shall have a real one
taken and send to you. Must close
now as my time is well taken up TODAY.
In fact, have been very busy for two
months and can find little time in
which to write. Hope everyone will not
count letters on me. Perhaps after a
while things will slow up some, and
then I'll make up for lost time. Tell
Uncle John and Aunt Kate to write
also. Do you know that you have not
averaged a letter a month since | came
over?
Inutnul.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12

Mr.. and Mrs. j. w. Rutter have re-
eeived the following letter from their
son, orpheus, who is in France with
the U. S. Forces.
Dear Mother:
This is my birthday and l would
sure love to be home, for / know i
would have a real "feed" once more,
but there is no doubt in my mind
will be there for my next one.
/ am feeling fine and dandy, and
working every day, but haven't receiv-
ed any mail yet, but am hoping that
you are all well and are not worrying
about me.
II has been real warm here the last
few days and ! imagine it is awful
back there, but it won't be long now
until there will be a change.
General Pershing was here the 9th.
err day and made us fellows a little
talk which we enjoyed very much. Ht
is a real man and a real fighter.
We have a Y. M. c. A. now, and The
entertainments help a great deal, buI
the music sometimes makes mi jusI
a little blue, Al ! think Of Sister ant
wish ] was there to hear her once
more.
Well, Mother. It is time for supper
so ! shall close. Now write me often
for o letter from home is a great re.
lief. Please don't worry, for | nm o
k.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
CHARLES PIGG WRITES
THE LEDGER FROM

FRANCE-IN BAND
IN FRANCE.
Mr.. Mitchell White,
Mexico, Mo.
Friend Mitchell:
Il have Just written a letter 70 a.,
Vandalia Leader and as / have tv~o
MONIES ! cannot forget the Ledger ~
my Mexico home. Some of us weyo
detained in Camp Mills a while md
later Joined our companies in Fnr
ope. am now in the Band. NAV
piano IN an orchestra and a clarinet N
me band. ] like the clarinet vcr~
much and enjoy the band. az we bovS
a fine bandmaster Of 10 years. exnS,,'
ence in the U. s. Service. Il Il tbo
same band that was in Mexico lac,
spring but has increased 10 fiStv
pieces enjoyed tho oversee trip Sng
Europe is very interesting as far ~
nave seen Il. The French ncorIo
Urea. INC U. $. men fine. France and
england are beautiful countries. but
'he good old United States has Il ~" ON
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12

almmA
nsrA.a - ~ fssk an Eeins
exsx rrkt asay ~ Ne A n IN
uraztrusA wssAa1k Asrs . mc1th
ssy1E n urlts ~ 81 roing ~
razAsn ary mcra TkU IN
y uzlt a 81 n e. - cout
Qils "a ~ ~ e 4 ~ M
raezs ta al rrht
ua i NJ frst tFfF . Neu lork,
ana | cAnt 40 that II crazy eeoui
a. - ona tAlnF therx are tce mnny
-wep- hrre 80 I ueaA iast sse %
.coas kark q Mlssecu snt hear IVA
AZ IA c.ce ucre
: tns ~ hnrA sst ~ have h
- nere 81 nne - " seat haVc %
wst n hae her tklfu nlnuto 90
mare IT. narsrs here frcm army
camr are hsvirr an swfal tine 81.
ting usci 10 tarar rateaA We had
IN - uantca IN canR Il l. rally
fsnny O. hcar us taik We al wish
ue were hack o. Government ration&
nznkinr va Mr. White. for the
enjoyment I have receivcd from the
Learrr and wishing yea all hcans Of
roo2 luSk I am.
Very truly.
CORINNE MARKLEi.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
ChamberIain,s Courh Remedr

This IS not only one Of the best and
most efficient medicines for coughs,
colds, Group, and whooping cough. but
is also pleasant to take, which is inn
portant when a medicine must be Civ
en- 70 young children. Chamberlain's
Cough Remedy has been in use for
many years and has met with much IA
yor wherever its good qualities have
become known. Many mothers have
given it their unqualified Endorsement,
VIM. Scrnby, C~hillieothe, No, writes.
y have raised three children, have
always used Chamberlain's Cough
Remedy and found 1t to be the best
for coughs, colds and crop. 1t is pleas.
ant to take. Both adults and chill.
dren like it. MY wife and | have al
ways felt safe from Group with it in
the house" Chamberlain Cough
Remedy contains no opium or Other
narcotic.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
WORKING ON NAVAL

Al ico DEunEEo
w sOn u anu
"eai 'n wy,
Na's 'is :"
0u sup ~
W. "s V io'
nv De '"n'ei''
rs y
n
you 'or !"
oHn ~ 'aine pace
~ s Snpp 'onisn', % guess We
s uaeN i"'o t"o pay 70
:" "''' 'o"'oy'
now are each ana all getting along.
II Is sun pretty not suppose, with
you IL seems pretty warm here
"heh we get ashore IN the city, but on
Top deck IN the middle Of the river it
IS not SO not. And OF course it is is not
nearly so not IN IRE rooms when lay
ing al anchor' Tor only TWO boilers are
kept iighted n this Is for auxiliary
purposes on the snip.
Just tnlshed reading Herbert
Piunketts letter IN the Ledger. 1t is a
long n when taken together, and
conveys lie at sea very much as I've
found 1t. In nice weather and with
nothing to do but stay on topside; it's
very lin and beautiful. However, one
becomes SO used to seeing the waves,
also hearing them and seeing the
beautiful sun risings and settings, that
they no longer marvel at such things.
It's everyday life with us. We often
see huge whales, sometimes very close
to ship; sharks, turtles, porpoises, fly
ing fish and the millions of seagulls.
We often see seagulls as much as two
days sailing from land. But ! think
Herbert will find a pleasant surprise
in that the Atlantic is not always
rough. Some days, especially in sum
mer, the water is very calm. Then
again n is either being overtaken
or heading into a severe gale, which
makes her ride very roughly. Some
times it gets so bad that one can't
walk about on any Of the decks with
out holding to something. The Pueblo
is almost a hundred feet longer than
Herbert's ship, and ten feet more
beam. But even this ship put beside
some OF the newest type Of SUPER
dreadnaughts looks like a baby.
But as for the poor firemen he
spoke about, | would say that they
must work harder on his "tub" than on
tins one. OF course it's not easy
work; however, if it were not for the
heat It would be the easiest job aboard
any ship unless it be a situation like
TINS. and most OF US either haven't the
AFFINITY the pull, or the luck behind US.
AS Tor heat we don't think it is get
tlng not IN fire rooms until it reaches
ABOUT 100 degrees. At one time while
returning on TINS lasttrip 1t registered
0 degrees IN fire rooms. Well, when
II oegins TO get that hot it is SOME
not but almost everybody stood it o.
K. 1t takes good health and some grit
mmsame as sticking to any other job.
ms artiiiclal heat doesn't affect one
~ Daoiy as suns heat. He spoke
" ! = temperature in fire rooms being
aSo degrees Wen, we wouldn't think
'nA' was 0 at all. But we can make
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
Lovingly,
c. FAY BASS.
MISS WRITES

"cHA NEW 1Ohk CITY
Miss Corinne Marley, former So.
cal Service urse in this city, ia now
IN New York preparing to sail over.
seas. The following letter from her
to the Ledger will be Of interest 10 hey
many friends here:
NEW YORK, Aug. 20, 1918.
MY dear Mr.. White:-
T%hirty-one Of us nurses came from
Camp Custer here together. Twenty
eight more are coming tonight. The
Holly Hotel is the Army nurse mobil.
laztion station in this city, but thew
haven't room for the 1,7OO nurses in
New York even though we bunked TO-
gcther, so we are at several different
hotels.
We shall have nothing to do this week
except to report every morning, and
next week we shall drill, have French
lessons and later shall be given our
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
c. NJ. L A To MEylrn nrr

The st. Louis Post lspas5 ,
Tuesday announced that c NJ q,
Of this city, has been appoiuts i
sistant ambassador and reprs,r.,
tive Of the War Trade Board q ",
leo City, Old Mexico.
Mr., Clay will live in Mexico C,,
Before going to Old Mexico, he n
return here for Mrs. Clay The b
ger recently stated that Mr.. Clay V,
reported to be slated for such / J
sitiOn.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
MRS CRAWFORD RECEIVES
A FRENCH SOUVENIR
HnnA urn ADg
Very truly.
CORINNE MARKLEY

18 49,
Mr. n. n. Graford has received a
beautiful silk handkerchief from her
son. james. who Is a corporal in
France with the Signal Corps. Tie
handkerchief Is blue with a white
border and in the center is em5roid-
cred 4 French emblem design.
Young GrSford has been in France
since June. He trained at Camp Don
ipha. Okla. The letter. which ae-
eompanied the Gift, was written Aug
ust i4th and is as follows;
Mrs. II. II. Grafford,
Mexico, No.
Dearest Mother
viii try and answer your letter,
which | received a few days ago. Was
surf glad TO hear from you. / am well
and am feeling fine and dandy.
| sent you and Sis a souvenir a few
days ago. Yours is not much Of a
present, but it is all l can get at the
present time.
We played baseball with F. Co., the
other day and got beat 6 to /.
We played basketball with the
French last night and beat them 10 r.
2. Sure was some game; we playet
outdoors on einders and | skinned my
arm, and 1t is pretty sore this mora.
ing. We are to play F company thi:
evening or tomorrow evening again.
We are still at a rest camp; dom
know how soon we shall go back t.
the trenches.
Did Jess get in the Navy? II not
tell him the truck company is mues
better. | wrote to Jess some tim,
ago to send me some cigarettes. Dom
know whether he sent them or not. i
he did, it is doubtful whether / shall
get them or not as we have to havt
an order so ! am going to get one AM
send it in my next letter.
Well, ! suppose ! shall have to clos
for this time. Do answer soon.
As ever, with much love,
Your son,
Inn
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12

A hundred Mexico business men and
women gathered at the Hotel Hoxsey
Tuesday evening at 1880 for the Cham
Der Of Commerce dinner. The even.
ing was a most delightful one, al
though the announcement Of Secretary
John 7. Stewards resignation TO take
efect October ! was heard with re-
gret by everyone. He viii enter the
Methodist ministry.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12

81 Ia Ers ssnt - f4-w-E s nrtt
C1nrNaN a. YEA kcatt tM 81
WcotF azz EA H-2 hxEs& tAFes
u1m rrfau 81 AEuasrs fruz
CsaricH - bnEH e Gard H
nyt-r s. e. Hrre fU ~ WuPru.
n hzz a M R--trart h.e
FEct 49, EHa ~ q tu1 q 1hzzi
- a-rcs 81 q utick b e. ~ rz-
r. wakrr 60 % ths hrrust snl
Ast fEr=s m ~ Kzrauz-Fu,t.l
Garstsa
r. Bazkz- us -csk Euhsssl
~ c1[acrt f1r- e c n LzI H.
c1tri an Ea srztkcEst e Nsrro
Erf k-csu Hs tks HI REs,srs Esea
nt = q sri@Es fnu ard was
hc-rtt frf Sc a. arrr hh wi
urrth tn wa-ey and M. Bzcknur O.
e. b. csr-atul4tss urcr ~ pr
chnrG
Melvr R1ttars1n 20 roar Haficz
~ q par e uulo hHE1 Wesk t. J
n fa-erssa rr-esst q thzt vi
hrL frr SfEa
Harry HcHr5crsca rr1r AExrzssa
~ usaEiiy kE-slcs hts - -zles m
~ c1zrse q H. feisrr sozson has
crly 50 had 90 hKnf nrw tzt thy
fave heen fEttesrg f1r a uCzsh
IL 1915 c1r1 crcr VIA 90 erce[
hol Is tht smallest IN fhe hstav e.
ths S1tc luiaruc-s arr fc- a. ar-
care ytd q IS h-shdS
CuurrEhau &Srr q Ausrzz
Cuaty Nc were c- ths s. Lza
uarket Tueaay ~, nrcs ksds e
uuie - had q uhtch sod . ice
StgrL e Nee YUk a. SISn@As
Gays top he also had u-s pzag
cattle n the shipment ukich So g
Norrs a c. fer Sl6-Z
NJ Czrnnxhau cu-sBcal tie skz
meut and Wss Wel piezscd With the
results I fed the cattle On corr eats
and cot;on seed neal, he ted q Re-
porter representative The feed sisu-
auon has been pretty bad in ny se.-
uon q the country, and the corn crop
vas eut in half. The grass Is lookn-
better since the rains s.5 this vii
help ri considerably Live STOCK
Reporter.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
with only a slight scar.
Home From Texas.

Home From Texas.
Humphrey Craddock, who has been
attending a United States air service
school at Austin, Texas, is home on
leave. Humphrey looks splendidly and
is much pleased with his branch Of the
service. He completed his preliminary
training, and expects to go to the con-
eentration camp 1t Dallas, shortly.
Gid Powell son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Powell, who has been i'll with
pneumonia in an Army hospital, has
recovered.
Souvenir From France.
Garrett Burgess, Of this city,
who is in France with the U.
S. troops, has sent his mother a hand
some pillow cover, a souvenir of the
war. 1t has the Allied flags worked
into it and IS unusually handsome.
Home on Leave.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Rose expect
their son, Harry Rose, home Saturday
on a short leave of absence from the
air service ground school at Cham
paign, III. He has completed the
course there, where ne made a SPLEEN
did record. He expects to be sent to
flying school at once.
Word has been received by Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Precht Of the safe arrival
overseas Of their son, Carl Precht.
A Handsome Souvenir.
Mrs. Noah Nichols, Of Mexico. Is
! in receipt Of a handsome pillow cover
from her husband. who is on an ammu.
milton train in France. The IA
beautifully embroidered with two
flags, the United States and Frenel
in the center.
Paul r. Smith, who has been sta.
TONED at Camp Logan, Houston, Tex.
as, has been granted a furlough ia
come to the bedside Of his mother,
Mrs. J. L. Smith. who suffered 4
stroke of paralysis this week.
Ralph Wayne, Of this city, son Of
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. H. Wayne, is attend.
ing the officers training camp al
Camp Pike, Ark. He had advanced
a sergeant in the infantry before he
went to training camp.
Ryland Rodes, Of this city. is ope
Of the few old men to report for play
on the Westminster Blue Jaws this
year.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-09-12
ERNEST GARRETT. JR-
WOUNDED IN RATTLE

AAaHNANA -
WOUNDED IN BATTLE
Eraest Garrett, jr., son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Ernest Garrett Of this city. who
Ia in France with the U. s. troops,
writes home that he is wearing a stripe
for having been wounded as well as
two stripes for having served a year
overseas. His letter follows:
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE. Aug.
II. 1918.
Dear Mother and Father
just received some registered let
tiers from you. the first mail ! have
had for a month from you. | have net
been in camp. l wrote you several
postcards from Paris and from differ.
emit cities. Hope that you received
them. Well, | have seen the GRAM
city Of Paris. Sure did have a fine
time. My friend and | stayed a couple
Of days. I am satisfied now. but
should like TO see London, and may
yet. You should e how people dress
in Paris. Certainly some doll babies
and they go crazy over the soldiers.
Well, we have had some very oxeit.
ing times over here lately. / an
wearing two gold stripes on my lefi
arm for twelve months service il
France, and n stripe on my right
arm for my wound.
Well, / am well and getting along
very good at present, so shall cloSe