Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-08-09
Corp. j. l.. Klein is Well and Happy
in France-Writes EntertainingIy
to Family at Home

and feeling better than | ever did. /
| like the way we are living over here
at the present time; we are out in
the open air all the time and sleep
in our little "pup" tents. One surely
feels fine in the morning. We can
sleep inside of some building if we
care to-, but it's too nice weather to
do so. A pup tent is just large
enough for two men.
Probably you would like to know
what l do to spend the day. At the
present time we have breakfast at
a. m., from 1880 to $50 a. m. instruc-
tions Of buglers, from 10 to II litter
drill, from 1 to p. m. band practice,
and concert at 5 p. m. We are then
at liberty till 10 o'clock (bed check).
Sundays we play for church. When
we can't get in a church we have
open air meetings. / know that many
people back home think we never see
a church or hear the word of God
cover here, but it's all a mistake.
Last Sunday our Regt. Chaplain had
services in a Catholic church, (and as
far as | can remember it is the first
time | was ever in Catholic church,
it certainly was beautiful The French
people praised our music very much
A sister informed me later that the
music sounded like big pipe organ.
You may think | had a hard time
understanding her, but she spoke
better English than you or |. Once
in while we will run across one that
can speak good English, then is our
chance to learn French. It's won
der they don't get tired Of US, but
nevertheless they are to glad to help
us out in every thing or way.
On the 4th Of July we played all
| day for the ball game between the
batteries, and in the evening we play
ed at different wine places, and of
course they would treat US with light
wines or ale. We are allowed that,
but no whiskey. This will give you
an idea of how we'll we are treated.
During our spare time we go for
walk through the country and buy a
drink of cider from the farmers and
without fail they give US an extra
drink of good fresh cow milk and
something to eat with it. The French J
people certainly think a lot of the
Americans.
While giving a concert the other
day | heard a sound like a herd Of /
horses coming down the hard clay
street. l looked around and to my
surprise | saw little boy running
towards US. The sound came from
him for he had on wooden shoes, can
you imagine anything like it? Daddy |
can tell you better of the shoes than |.
The railways in England and France
are much smaller than in the states
(our country. l might say that
three of these engines would make
one of ours and about the same with
freight cars. To the best of my
knowledge cultivation agriculture in
other words) in England and France
is not so good as in y. S. as there is
so much rocky ground. | have not
seen a frame building yet in either
country. | believe the people don't
know what corn is, for l have not
seen any corn since here, not even in
the fields.
1t is quite amusing learning to
speak French, although I'm getting
along very well. l bought a French
grammar and dictionary so will be
able to speak little when | come
home, and l believe that it won't be
long till I'm back in U. S. again.
I have been told that we can get
along almost as we'll here as in the
states. They have American shows,
post exchange, and also get good
American tobacco and sweets. I'm
very glad of that, for none of us like
the French tobacco, although we get
a package of smoking (Bull Durham)
from the government every four days.
| almost forgot to say that the
people liked our music so much that
they presented our leader with a fine
bouquet Of flowers.
When answering this letter say you
received letter number two (No. p .
that is the only way l can keep track
of my letters. Your letters to me
will not be censored, so don't fail to
tell me all you can; but l won't stand
for anything that will make me sad
or homesick, for Pm too happy for
that. Some of the boys have received
letters from home since over. here,
but | have not. If you have written
to me at Camp Mills, N. Y, no doubt
will get it soon. Every time l see
Eddie Couch he asks if l have heard
from home yet. Please let me know
where Archie Goodwin is, probably