The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-08-22

units here are railway construction
and operating. The army organic
crs ard what they are accomplishing
is too much for any one man To COM
., ehnnd. We know we are here, do
ing whatever work is assigned to us,
with The knowledge that ono mans
best is all that can be done.
Sunday we were off from 10 a. M. to
10 p. M, the longest uninterrupted va
cation | have yet had. Three of us
fellows just drilled around over the
city, spent couple hours in the Mu-
see du Perigord, one of the finest Art
Halls in France, with thousands of
wonderful paintings.
Had my hair cut by a French COT.
fieur (barber) hair cut and shave rs
centmes Us cents our money!. Then
attended a free matinee for soldiers,
The play was all in French so did not
understand anything but the singing
of the Star Spangled Banner.
There are no street cars here, on.
ly line or two of little steam opeT.
ated cars. People walk in the mid
die of the streets as well as on the
walks.
Life in Camp.
Wednesday, July Ill was out on
Il drill gang today blasting rock in a
cut for a spur of the railroad into the
camp. We will be mostly detailed
to construction for the next few
weeks. Good hard work and plenty
to eat now, SO feel fine; haven't had
chance to weigh lately but think
must of gained a little.
Soap here is 3 franc so Cpntimes
$50 cents) per bar for an ordinary
laundry soap. Matches are also
very hard to get. anticipated this
when | left Dix and put bars OF
Palm Olive, 2 of Ivory, one the Red
Cross gave me and one that was in
the kit the Hook and Needle club gave
me and still have bars of that med.
icated soap you bought and say that
is sure good soap lasts like iron and
of excellent quality. also have a
dozen small boxes of matches and
cartons of cigarettes so will get along
fairly well until you can get me some
of those things from the States. We
can't buy candy and it can't be sent
to us so I'm of' candy for awhile
There is no Y. NJ. c. A. here yet but
as soon as the camp is finished We
will no doubt get one. We sue
hope so, they're the next thing to
home for the soldier.
Ice is Rare.
France is in way very beautiful
but does not compare with the well
kept country at. home and they are
not any too clean. The Iowa Dress
Club front would be credit 20 anv
business block in this town. At thai
while | am with the Engineers in
France | would as soon stay here as
any place, it may not be the bes.,
but there are so many places worse
that | consider myself well located
But say, I'd give my breakfast To
he able to step into Green's this very
minute and have something real ice
cold, haven't seen ice for almost three
weeks and expect it will be months
Lefore do again.
While almost all accommodations
are higher in France than in the
States and some things are off the
market entirely, some items ATE
cheaper. A cup of cocoa or coffee
is pence in England, 2 sous in
France, 2 cents in our Money
This French lingo is hard to pick
up Yiu get a word or two nov and
then but the boys who have ceen mere
a year or more say it takes from six
10 nine months before you can carry
On conversation.
Haven't been down town bus twice
since / came to camp. Our only
lime off during the day is from $3.50
D. m to taps at $3.50, time for loafing
Or sightseeing Is limited to about two
ipurs.
Feeling Fine. u
Have been sleeping on the floor for |
he past several days but hunks were
,uilt in my end OF the barracks today
10 | am on a straw tick off the floor
onight. But in the army we con-
'ider ourselves o. X. as long as we
rave blanket and a space big enough
N Haa In.