Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-02-26
LUXEMBOURG

From Private James Ernest Silsby
Co. f, 307th Am. Train, A. e. f.
Aix-Les- Baine, France Jan. 10, 4!
Dear Brother and ALL
Just few lines tonight before tho
pictures. | left Farincourt Jan. IL
at s a. H., and rode some 40 odd
kilos to the station in truck reach
ing there about 1880 and had to wait
till about IL p. m. for a train; it was
a cold, long wait. There was 43 from
our company, also Il certain per cent
from the rest of the train, also from
the artillery brigade, so there was a
big bunch of us, so many that there
wasn't room to sit down, but after a
ride of four hours we stopped and
put on more cars and then there was
plenty of room. 1t was $50 a. m.
We got hot coffee and bread sand
witches there of the Red Cross. 1t
sure was life saver. 1t warmed you
up in good shape. There was no heat
in the cars and this time of year it
is getting pretty cold, but we made it
fine and we laid over there till a.
m. At day break we could see there
was big camp there, saw lot OF
Hun prisoners at work there. Well,
we made good time that day and got
into Aix-Les-B ains at 4.45. The last
Is miles was great sight to see the
big mountains on either side of you.
AK is quite large city and is IN
a valley between the Alps mountains.
1t is big summer resort, one OF the
largest and finest in Europe. 1t GER
tainly is great, there certainly are
some hotels here, it is the best place
| have seen this side of the ocean
yet. We have days here besides
our travelling, so it makes quite va
cation and change from little OLD
village like Farincourt. Have got
good room and have very good eats
at the Massonnct hotel; can you i'm
aglne it, | am sleeping in sheets
again. The bed is q good one, some
change from sleeping as have had
in the past, but then | don't mind
that; it won't be for much longer.
Why worry about the expense? Un-
Gle Sam is paying the bills. l have
got my service stripes and insignia
sewed on my blouse and Div. over
coat The division insignia is OF red,
white and blue, and is real neat with
the two A. AS. The old SD division
or 18th +. A. brigade.
Am in the Y. tonight; it is dandy
big building with it's reading, writing,
pool, ball rooms, also canteen and
big show and picture house. 1t Is
pretty cool here now, the Alps are all
snow capped. There arc number OF
trips to take in yet as | have just got
around to take them.
was out to the Gorgcs this p. m
on a bike, Il five kilo ride. 1t was
something like the Flumc only on
larger scale There is wonderful
thing right here in town, it is nat
ural sulphur spring. l don't know
the correct name for it for the sign
is in French, but anyway it is way
underground and put me in mind
of Lost River. The spring is 4oo
feet deep and produces 100 gallons
of water a minute, and four million
gallons a day. The water is 48c;
there is big bath house that is sup
piled from it, the water being just
right for bathing. am going to try
it out tomorrow. | can tell you more
about it later; it sure is wonderful.
| have got few souvenirs OF the
place and the places where l go so
YOU can have an idea how the place
looks. 1t was a long, hard trip to
ret here but it we'll worth the hard
ships and helps to pass away the
time that we have got to put in over
here. 1t hadn't ought to be long now
before we start for home, but one can
never tell.
| wish l had my dress shoes at
home, l would have had a promenade
but fellow relieved me of them
while on the front. should take in
some of these dances at the Y. but
lon't believe these old hot nails
would go very good.
suppose you have lot of snow
in the United States. There is none
here only on the hills or mountains.
It is much colder than at Farincourt.
got me dandy cap yesterday, but
every thing is awful high The Presi-
lent went through here yesterday,
but | didn't happen to see him.
nope this will find you all well and
happy as am. I am sure having a
inc trip this time so far. l trust /
shall see you all in the near future.
Love to all,
Pvt. james z. Silsby.