Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-04-10
Letter From Sergeant Snyder.
St. Denis de Piles,

Il
March IT., 1919.
Dearest Dad just realized today
that | have been neglecting you IN
the matter of letters thereby
hangs a tale. We have been here five
weeks now, and after the first few days
time began to hang mighty heavily on
our hands, and so we decided to get
up an amateur show to help speed
up the dragging hours. There are
four air service outfits here, and wnen
our Lieutenant Nahikian issued call
for talent a big bunch Of fellows re-
sponded and we set to work. After
a few DAYS we had twenty-five men on
the lists, and things began to looh
as though we might get up fairly
decent show We had bunch OF men
VINO could play mandolins, and guitars,
and we figured on having a good jazz
band until someone discovered that
we had only two mandollns and snare
drum. We appealed to the Y. M. c. A.
for instruments, but they could not help
us out, and for awhile we thought we
would have to get along without the
Jazz. Finally We sent out an 5. o. ).
TO the people of the village, and after
much scurrying and talk, and more
signs, we gathered together quite
creditable assortment of musical in
struments.
After a few days of more or less
ragged rehearsals, order began to show
itself, and all of a sudden we founo
we had production that would be
worth while. A program was worked
up from the available members, and
last Wednesday night we gave the
show in our own "Y" for the men here.
While there were a good many rough
spots in the makeup, we got away with
il fine The lieutenant in charge was
so pleased that he got us booked to
give concerts in all the camps around
this part of France, and We have been
going every night 1t is some going,
too, for we travel in d nve-ton truck,
and since we come back to st. Denis
every night after the performance, it
is pretty tiresome, for some of the
camps are twenty and thirty miles dis
tant, and it is pretty hard riding in a
big truck.
We sure have some places to show
in, too. AT GuiteS we put the show Oh,
last Sunday afternoon right out in the
open, and even at that we got away
with it pretty well and the crowd seem
ed to enjoy it. At Castillion they had
mixed UP our dates. We we're not ex.
pected until the following night, but
since we had a date for the next night
we decided to pull the stunts anyway.
Men were sent out TO advertise, and
in few minutes we got the theatre
in order-Said theatre being the mar
ket-houSe Of the town, and great big
barn of a place We made a stage OF
the tables in the building, borrowed a
piano from a neighboring house, and
since by this time big crowd had gath
cred we went ahead with the show. |
have never seen a more enthusiastic
audience in my life, and there must
have been six or seven hundred
soldiers in the place. We have wide
and varied program, and it is more
interesting because there are various
sorts Of stunts.
One of our biggest hits is quartette
that sings parodies on the popular
songs, and they always carry the
crowds by storm. Then we have an
other quartette that puts on a better
class of music, and they are popular,
too, but not so uproariously so as the
other. Then Private Brown Zone Of
the $1,000 Browns that are in the ar
N.Y. has line of songs that is knock
out and he is perhaps the most popular
number we have. We also have a man
who does limitations. He initiates a
goose, pig, a saw-mill-in fact, any
thing that makes a noise, and with the
aid of the end men, who are black,
faced, he comes in for his share of the
applause. There are several Of us
who sing just plain, ordinary songs,
and we manage to hold on to our places
in the company by the skin of our teeth,
for there is so much real attractive
talent that we have to work hard to
hold on. We carry two pianiStS, both
of whom are real musicians, and taken
as whole we have mighty good COM
pany 1t has meant lot Of work, and
for that reason | have been mighty
busy day and night-hence, the scarcity
of letters. Rather long explanation
of why have not written, but interest
ing nevertheless.
We are seeing all of this part OF
France, and it certainly is beautiful
country. could almost enjoy myself
if it were not for the fact that we should
be moving on our way home, instead
of lying around here.
Tomorrow night is to be the crown.
ing achievement of our theatrical ca
reer, for we are going TO Bordeaux Il
put on our show. We are going down
in the morning, so that we will nave a
chance to see the city, and am looking
forward to the trip with great deal of
pleasure, for Bordeaux is a beautiful
city, from all reports, and am glad of
the chance to get there.
There seems to be no idea as to when
we are going to sail for home, and from
the looks of things we may be here
some tme-for which we are not very
thankful. shall write you and tell
you of our trip to Bordeaux. With
best love to all,