The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-08-29

The Herald this week publishes sew
eral good letters written by, Sank
Centre boys who are now "over there
The first one is by Herman Hager.
July IL, 1913.
"Dear Mother:
/ wrote you few lines the other
day, but guess did not say very much
so will try it again.
81 was at mass this morning and
talk about grand church. This one
surely was great. The outside looks
quite shabby but they put all the
beauty on the inside. OF course, the
services are just the same as in the
good old U. S. A, but they have a
French sermon, which I could not un-
derstand. Also had two choirs and
two pipe organs which played in turn
Wish you could have been there.
"Have been taking quite a few
walks lately, as I have some spare
time. I must say that this country is
certainly beautiful. The buildings are
either stone or cement, mostly stone
with roofs of tile and some slate; very
few shingles. I do not think there is
a straight street in the place and they
are very narrow, with running water
in the cutters and a fountain at
almost every empty square. These
people surely like their beer and wine,
but they hardly ever overdo it. They
have a great many drinking places,
about every sixth place is one of
these. Their drinks are some cheaper
than back home and the beer tastes
about the same.
"The weather is about the same as
back home, perhaps a little cooler and
it does not rain very often. We have
no mosquitoes, but saw horsefy
the other day that was sure healthy
one, about the size of one of those
large bees that you have back there.
I do not see what they want of horse
flies on oxen. Most of the "horses''
are oxen.
81 was unlucky enough to break the
main spring in my watch, my good
one, but was lucky enough to find a
jeweler who fixed it. It only cost me
four francs, about 80 cents. What
do you think of that? At home ]
would have had to pay about $1.50.
81 have written to Joe Rogers, also
Ben, but as I have received no mail
for some time, I have not heard
from them. 1t sure would make a
fellow feel good to see someone
from home. 1t has been quite a
while since I have seen anyone
guess the last time was when / saw
Weisner about three weeks ago.
Hoping you are well and happy
and - cheer up - things will be O.
K. soon. Can't write very much war
news as you get about as much as
we do. Your loving son,
Herman"
Address Pvt. Herman c. Hager,
Hqrs. Troop 5th Army Corps
A. E. F. France,
Via New York, A. P. o. 1863.
The next letter is written by
Howard Allen, C. B., 10th M. G. B.,
A., f. F. via New York.
July 10, 1918
'sDear Mother:
Have been in France since the lat
ter part of May. / wrote you from
England, May &c, but as yet have
not heard from you. If you have
written though, it will probably
reach me after awhile as it takes
some time. Since writing last have
been transferred to a machine gun
crew. I will not have space enough
to say much about it only that it is
far better than the infantry and
that I consider myself lucky. The
sound of machine gun fire in northern
France where we put in several weeks
practice reminded me of noisy
Fourth at home.
"At present, July 10, the company is
at rest camp back of the American
sector in the Vasges Mts. We came
to camp yesterday afer spending a lit
tie over two weeks on the front line.
The whole country which have seen
is God-forsaken worthless one which
isn't worth fighting for. After arriv-
ing in France we put in several weeks
practice in the northern par of the
country and since then we have been
continually on the above, part hiking,
part by train and part by trucks. The
hiking with our huge packs on oul
backs was the hardest work | have
ever done. I would like to tell you
about the exciting scenes at our post
when the first German shells came
over, but will not have space enough
A 4 II11.f h5If On the