The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-31
VERY GRATEFUL TO THE
BETHANY CHURCH
Arthur II. MeQulllan Tells Of the Life
TO be Found In France

ne lOllOHlnB letter hdS recently
received by Mrs G. r Fogg and was
written by Private Arthur II McQuil-
Ian, son OF Nathaniel McQuilan OF
this town The writer OF the letter
is connected with the Headquarters
Field Hospital section 10lst Sanitary
train, 26th division He is very well
known here where he lived for many
years and was graduated from the
Skowhegan high school in 1914 He
was Junior at Bowdoin when called
into the service. The letter follows
In France, Dec 81, 1917
Dear Mrs. Fogg.
A most enjoyable surprise was
in store Fer me when | found a box
from you folks of the Bethany. 1t
was very kind of you to remember
me and there are SO many OF the boys
from home to be remembered
surely want to thank you in this let
ter for all the good things 1t contained
You people certainly sent me the
things that | wanted But best of all
to me was the little pair OF slippers
| got, inside of which | found little
slip of paper upon which was written
made by Miss Eerna Abbey"
There is very little that can be said
of the country over here except that
it reminds me of home. altho the snow
fall is much lighter. Since | have
been here | have been driving an am
bulance transporting medical supplies
and of course see considerable of the
country and there is one little place
in particular that | like 10 go by for
it is a little clump of pine trees which
seems to be like myself so far from
home.
| am located in small but pict-
uresque French town together with a
large number of boys from home and
we all have great times together Dur
ing the day we are kept pretty much
on the go but after our work is over
then comes the time for rest and
recreation Just a little ways from
our billet is a very large, winding hill
Perhaps you can guess what l am 60
ing to write next Yes we have
made number of bob-sledS and the
bright moonlight nights find us out
ENJOYING ourselves immensely coast
ing down this hill But not every
night for sometimes we are not al
lowed to go ont for our evening aero
planes are busy and after a warning
has sounded lights must all be out
and greatest silence observed. Our
other place of recreation Is the Y. NJ.
c. A., which is the rendezvous and
best friend TO the soldier Entertain
ments are very frequently held in
them and lectures of benevolent and
educational character.
| must tell you of my first Christ
mas away from home. The morning
of Dec 25th broke with thick white
blanket of snow all over the ground
and a holiday for the soldiers. The
forenoon did not pass very quickly, a
fact which is strangely characteristic
Of an American boy while waiting for
his Christmas dinner. Well it final
Nv came and with it a ripping good
feed. There was turkey and stutflng
mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce,
bread and butter, coffee, plum-pud-
ding, cake, mince pie, apples and wal
nnts. and I can understand why !
didn't go to my supper that evening.
must close now for if | write too
much this time l will have told all the
news and | must save some for my
next letter. for atho news is plenty
there is very little of it We are allowed
TO tell.
Again | thank you folks and most
sincerely hope | may be fortunate
enough to pass my next Christmas
with you at home.
From
ARTHGR II McQ ILLAN