The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-09-24
Letters from Soldiers
Written to the Home Folks From This Side and the
Other Side of the Water

staunchness with which they build is
the cathedral st. Julien here, which is in I
daily use and is at present over seven /
hundred years old. 1t Will be a long
time before we have anything seven /
hundred years old in America. won't it, !
There are few facilities for entertain 4
ment here that are interesting. but in
the main the French have pretty we'll
abandoned amusement until after the
war. (tApres lie Guerrc.D They have
a municipal theatre as have nearly all
cities OF France. large Pathe Cinema
(movie theatre) and n large stock the
atre at which only French productions
are given. However we have an Ameri-
can theatre whereat we can watch
Charlie Chaplin. Roscoe Arbuckle. Doug
las Fairbanks and other favorites per
forming their clever antics. and we have
two excellent American military bands,
ample opportunity for baseball games
and our company at present is practicing
football diligently. No doubt by the
time you receive this we will have won
or lost game or two. Automobiles are
scarce among civilians here and even
in the military service their use is re
stricted 10 a pure business only agree
ment" Therefore, walking. that old
fashioned American pastime. and any
hour of the day or early evening one
can see hundreds Of American soldiers
promenading with the mademoiselles.
And 10 speak Of the mademoiselle. for
no descriptive letter about France is
complete without mentioning these
charming little creatures. Mr.. AIcCor-
mick. when I tell you that these girls
are the prettiest and daintiest in the
world I am not prevaricating. for that
is my belief. But on the other hand
while they are tiny and fragile appear
ing. with the prettiness of a doll. our
American girls are much their superior
physically and absolutely dwarf the
French mademoiselle. And I firmly be-
ueve that the American girl is their
superior mentally. but the French proud
ly point to the lustrous hair of their
girls. the tiny feet, and their marvellous
facility for wearing pretty clothes. ig-
noring calmly any discussion of their
education or athletic prowess. both OF
which features we Americans boast In
our girls. But all this talk sounds like
am a Romeo" which heavens knows
is not a fact. Therefore I had better
discontinue this topic while my credit
is good.
Well. since I have written quite bit
already. I think 1 Will just discontinue
the entire letter. I trust that your
health is good and that of your family
measures up TO the usual standard. In
general I wish old East Chicago only
the best of luck and trust that all we
Twin City lads will soon have
chance to return to the old home town"
Most cordially.
FRANK z. KEENAN,.
Address Lieut. Frank f. keenan,,
Bakery Co No. 317. A E F., L s A
?. 0. 1872.
?. S.-The only East Chicagoan whom
have yet met in France IS Jack Nc
Cready. son of Ed McCready. He left
E. c. with old Co. L. Indiana n. G.. and
was later sent to England. Then he
went through a classification camp and
was transferred to the L. S. Railway
Engineers. was entraining my COM
pany at a large city when Jack ap-
preached me and saluted like a good
soldier and asked me IF was not one
of the Keenan's." 1t was just like old
times to meet an East Chicagoan and
to talk of old times. and military rank
was entirely forgotten while we talked
of East Chicago. I met several well
known lads from Hammond while at a
French port. Would 1t be possible for
me to get list of the East Chica goans
in the L. S. service and the names of
those who have been decorated. killed
and wounded?