Morris tribune., 1919-02-07
CLARK FINDS PRICES
VERY HIGH In FRANCE
Visits French and American Hospit-
ais and Finds American
Much Better.

Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Clark have
received couple of letters from their
son Arthur who is with the Americ-
an forces in France, and portions Of
the letters that are Of general inter-
est are published herewith
Dec. p, 1918.
We are still having our spell of
rainy weather and even tho it is such,
I am able to say that I would rather
have it the way it is here than to be
among the cold weather that is exist
ing back in the Minnesota territory.
Even then, would rather be home,
back again to where I left the
friends I have behind me. The talk
from day to day is when we are going
to leave. We have news each and
every day, bets have been made by
the boys and some are betting we
will be home by the last of January.
Well I have a good place, am getting
my good meals and in the very best
of health and I am not going to try
and beat it home but will wait and
leave when they call me to go. 1
have a clear record to date and want
to leave with one.
1 had the opportunity of going
thru the French Civilian Hospital
the other day and my eyes were
opened. Their methods are away be-
hind the times and the care and such
of patients is queer. The places are
o+ oil in f00 1T 7 c
unable to see how a person can get
we'll in there. I also visited the
French Soldier Hospital and the same
thing existed there. I was down
town the other day and went to our
own Base Hospital, 1O1, and they
have things very fine. While there
I saw two of the Camp Dodge nurses
and was informed that a large num-
Der had left Camp Dodge after we
did and had located at Brest. Our
hospital here is very large and the
building that was used for same was
formerly a school building. Then
they have the outside barracks also
which hold about SO or 60 patients,
so in all they can accommodate a
large number. Two of the nurses
there had known at Camp Dodge.
We had some party here the other
day as one of the boys received a
hox of candy from his sister, and as
it was homemade and the first that
Z had tasted and even that he had,
we went after it, as candy here is a
joke-a real joke at that. When
you do buy anything from the French
people they have the prices so high
that you can't reach them with Jim
Hills fortune. Then you wonder
why we when having $500 for in
surance, SIS allotment and try to
live with the balance. Imagine, ]
was in one of the stores the other
day and looked at a common pocket
book and they wanted 200 francs, in
other words, about $55 in American
money. Even tho we are allowed tC
bring home our gas mask, as un'
derstand and will try and bring q
few souvenirs if I can. The people
are taking advantage Of what they
can get out of the American soldiers
now as they are departing for home
and this is their only and last chance
Well, I had a feast yesterday, al
when I went down town with the
morning report made my way ovel
near the depot and found an Americ
an lunch room. Here it was fine ant
= dandy and they sold cocoa, dough
nuts and sandwiches. Real old Am
er1can doughnuts and real American
sandwiches. One sandwich, tive
doughnuts and one large cup Of cocos
for IA cents and you are able to SCI
them make them and everything Il
nice. The American Red Cross anC