Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-08-08
More Letters From Sergeant Snyder.
At Home, France,
July 1, 1918.

all the work that We can DO, YET every
one is happy and getting three good
squares day. Being the end OF the
month has made it pretty hard for me
the past days, for there are so many,
monthly reports to be gotten out, ana
the fact that over half our company is
on detached service makes every, report
Just that much harder. We got througli
in good shape, though, and ! nope lhat
for the next few days get few oreath-
inc SMELLS. II has sure been some warm
here, too, and think we are laying up
for a thunder storm, as the CLOUDS are
piling up in the west like they meant
business. A little rain would not 90
bad. for the dust is sitting, and tnere
is so much traffic that the air is always
full of it.
We are getting ready to have big
athletic meet here on the fourth OF July,
and il promises to be one of the big
events of the season. Every organlza--
ton on the field will have entries, and
we should see some good sport. A
regular field has been built, with the
lO0-yard track straightaway and the
circular 220-yard track. The band VIII
be out and everybody has a holiday,
except the cooks, and they are figuring
on giving us a royal dinner on that
holiday. Among other things there Is
to be fried chicken and hot rolls ana
gravy. | will sure. be on time Tor that
meal. | guess maybe chicken WON'T
look good to this bunch, after such
long dearth. The treat will cost about
two hundred and fifty francs, or about
fifty honest American dollars. one
man in our company has dollar Dill
from lover home" framed and hung up
over his bunk. He thinks that that is
the most beautiful piece of art this side
the water. One big advantage. ABOUT
the French money system is that II runs
by tens, and is very easy TO count and
keep track of, but the disadvantage is.
that il takes hatfull of the stuff TO buy
ANYTHING at all. Yesterday was pay
day, and there are many francs flowing
today, as there has been much paying
back of borrowed money. 1t is lot OF
fun to watch the settling OF DEBTS on
PAYDAY, and there are usually lots OF
them to be Strengthened out. Some OF
the fellows have gotten in so Tar tnat
by the time they pay up they have MOTH
ing left on, and must need borrow more
to keep going.
The mail Just came in, and was glad
TO get the Register of June otn.
have missed the three previous copies
and it is like reading a story In IN
stalmentS and reading the middle
chapter first. hope they soon come,
for the Registers are one big joy in life
and the only trouble with them is that
they do not come oftener. We have
gotten lots of letters in the past week,
the accumulation OF month, and all
the fellows have more than they can
we'll read, much less answer. The
censor has been swamped and has call
ed for help. When this outfit takes a
notion TO write letters they would tie
up the best mail system in the world.
The waterworkS for the camp are
just getting down to us, and a bunch OF
Cinnamon are digging the ditch for
the main. There has always been
trouble in getting them to work at all,
but some wise head has struck on plan
whereby they can at least get some work
done. Each man has so much work
laid out for him, and when he finishes
that he can quit. But until he finishes
what is his share he must keep at it,
if it takes all night. They are in front
of our barracks now, tearing right
through our front yard, flower. beds
and decorations, and the dirt is flying
in every direction, for they are anxious
to get done so that they can hunt the
shade and 60 TO sleep. Our dog Chow"
has violent dislike for the yellow men,
and he has about worn himself out bark
ing at them and chasing them. He sure
has had his fun today. 1t will be fine
to get the water, for all the water we
get has to be hauled two miles in big
tank, and we have to be very sparing
with it.
Had another fine concert at the "Y"
the other night-three women from
London, and they entertained us royal
ly for a couple Of hours. There are
three big "Y'' huts in this camp now,
and our own special little 'Y" right
next to us here, so you can imagine
how large the camp is. If there is
another call to help the cause | hope
that the old town will 60 over the top,
for the work that the "Y" is doing is
certainly great, and We would not be
able to get along without them. Any
thing that we don't get from the gov
eminent we can get from the "Y," arb
the calls that we make on them are
mighty numerous. Their stationery
bill alone must run very high, for
practically every letter that is written
by the soldiers over here is on their
paper, and there are some letters writ
ten, believe me.
have not another single thing to
write about, and csine ltnhiketaointaoi
have not another thing to write
about, and since think | will not have
much to do for the next hour, am 60
ing to take little nap. Write to me
when you can, and often, for it seems
that the letters from home are all too
few and far apart. Love to all the
folks