The Denver star., 1918-10-05

somewhere in france,
Headquarters Detach.. 317th Engs.
Sept. 8. 1918
Dear Brother-This is a very pretty
Sunday September afternoon in these
European mountain forest regions.
One town is about as large as Colo
rado City, and the main idea is parad-
ing the streets in Sunday clothes for
the native folks and army men, Amer
leans and others. We have some very
commodious quarters for our officers
but one cannot help being lonesome.
and think of the parks. and open air
moving pictures and refreshments of
the American cities. have tried to
buy candy and chocolate here, but
they are both rare articles. and wien
found are very high in price. | got
some mail last week from mother and
cousin Edna Elliott Hamiltons oldest
daughter in Tonganoxie, Kan. also
from an old Ann Arbor friend. Can
not write much about the war and the
front because of the censor. but we
are doing "our Bit faithfully and 10y
ally to help Uncle Sam win the war,
and while all is not roses, yet we are
getting some valuable lessons of hui
man life and contact. which If we live
through it all will prove valuable to
Marie for several weeks. l wish you
would write her and find out If things
are going well or not. Our mail is SO
uncertain and unreliable. Marie is
making big sacrifices for her country
in my absence here at the Front, and
deserves the highest praise and honor
like all true American wives and
mothers, and l want you and Gertie
to show your patriotic appreciation
by writing to her and let her know
you both think so. 1t all helps to
cheer up her courage to endure to
the end. l get your paper here every
once in a while and 1t certainly is
good to read about home folks and
affairs. l lost an opportunity to see
the commander-in-chief of the whole
Allied forces today
am speaking French little more
fiuently now. although it is blonee
French to the natives yet; they com
pree trey bien" Understand very
welD. / have seen some pretty aero
plane fighting In the last few days.
and our boys have been gassed and
shelled frequently. My age shows up
so much palmer now in comparison
with these younger men that / really
think some times | am much older
than l am. The mental strain is great,
yet I am standing 1t pretty we'll
(assey bfen). l got letter from Mrs
E. B. Butler of Colorado Springs since
coming over and replied. Tell all my
Colorado Springs friends and Denver
acquaintances Hello" for me. Mother
writes that the De Young girls are
married and doing well in San Diego,
Cal. The weather here is beginning
to change to Fall, and winter under
wear will soon feel very needy. Every
where one goes he can see the "eter-
nal struggle between old age and
youth. education and ignorance. pro-
gress and stagnation. My experience
has taught me much since left the
states and should God permit me to
live and some day tell you. we will
certainly have some interesting talk
for you and Gertie. / want you both
to throw an arm around Marie by
writing to her, 945 Walker Ave, X. C.
kans. Bye. your loving brother,
SEARGT ALBERT ROSS.
When friendship and love have en-.
riched man and deepened nll the
secret springs of his being, when
grief has refined and suffering mel.
lowed him, then God sends the ideals
to stimulate men to new achieve
ments.