The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1918-07-05

crimson poppy fields, the red clover
fields { red that is so deep that it
is almost purple) and the plowed
fields appear as part of the pattern
the wonderful French highways,
white, cleancut, connect the little
villages that are scattered all over the
carpet-villages all just alike-the
church with its high tower in the CEN
ter, the red rooted houses clustered
about give one the impression of an
old hen with her little chicks huddled
around her. The canals and rivers
shining in the sun give the picture a
frame of silver.
With al this spread out beneath
you it is hard to realize that you are
within sound of the big guns, that you
are within million miles of a ter
rible war
am glad that am here. / am
glad that / am flying 1t is wonder
full to go spinning, swirling, whirling,
rising, falling, diving, dipping, STALL
ing, nosing spirallinr, ripping, slip
ping, tumbling through the air. Fear,
courage, defiance, danger, hope, de-
spair, citation, love, sympathy, esteem,
respect excitement joy-they are all
a part ofthe airman's brief hour.
We arise 1T no "a H., have coffee
ind 90 to the fling fieiG at 500, fly
Until q 40 a. m h.s.e lecture in
Trau.h at 10 ;i..ch at HOO Then a
nap of an hour or two, another lee
ture at p. m. Go to the field at
m; fly until 9 p. m Supper at
9:15. In this climate that schedule
gives US the best hours for flying
One morning each week we do not go
to the field, but rest or if we wish can
go to some of the surrounding vii
lagos. This is a French school and
we are the first Americans in this sec
tor and of course were looked upon
with more or less curiosity when we
first arrived. Everywhere that
have been the French have treated me
fine. The spirit and courage that
they display has certainly endeared
them to me forevermore.
Our instructors can't speak Eng
lish but the most of US can understand
enough French to get what they are
talking about so everything is lovely.
Of course our long wait was rather
tedious and tiresome but now that /
am actually flying am rather glad
because of the experience gained dur
ing that time that may someday prove
of great value.
This is the first place that ! have
been where we have lived in billets,
having always before lived in bar
racks. Two of my friends and /
rented an attic room (20x3o feet
from lady whose husband is al the
front We have our cots and bedding
rolls and are comfortable if not elab-
orately situated. The madame looks
after US like we were children and we
thoroughly enjoy the novelty OF tie
life. She prepares our toast and eggs
at night, does our mending and won
my heart the first day by putting
vase of flowers on our table which IS
refilled every day. We have made
pet of her little daughter and am
afraid our combined attentions are
going to spoil her.
How are Earl and Ray? have
thought often of writing to both, but
it seems that | am ever behind with
my letters. | could hardly believe my
eyes the other day when l saw IN
The News where Audry was playing
on the High School ball team. II
seems such a little while ago that he
was Just a babe. Of course / saw
him when last in Springdale, but my
clearest memories of him are when
he was quite small.
haven't as yet met anyone over
here from Springdale. OF course so
many of my friends have left there
there that when | was last there
felt almost an entire stranger.
Theron Slaughter and l are not
very far apart now. We are both en-
titled to leave and are going to try
to arrange to take it together when
the present situation clears up bit.
Someone wrote me that Harry
Brogdon and Argyle Langston were IN
the Aviation. | would be most happy
to meet some of my old friends over
here and | doubtless shall If they are
in this branch of the service has
Eva Atwood crossed yet? Many OF
my nurses from Texas are over, but !
haven't seen them. Mother wrote
that Lockwood Searcy was to enter
training soon.
It was with much pride and salts
faction that we read of the success OF
the Third Liberty Loan Bond sale ana