The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-05-08
Snappy Letters from Soldiers

OO~S -
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went to the park and took some pic
lures. Saturday evening there was a
dance at the Y. M. C. A. When / went
into the dance hall / though it was a
sort of masquerade ball for all the
French girls sure wore some togs. I'll
send you a picture so you can get
some idea as to how they dressed.
| Sunday I got up in time for lunch
and spent the afternoon listening to a
band, and then went up to the Y. M.
c. A. again where we served re-
freshments. In the evening / went to
the Y. M. c. A. again and saw a good
moving picture show and vaudeville.
| Monday I got up at 10 bells and my
buddy and I played pool until time for
lunch. The afternoon was spent TAX
ing in the sights around town. The
evening was spent by going to the
Grand Opera and witnessing one of
the poorest shows in the A. E. F. en-
titled Comma-Ca. 1t was a disgrace
to the A. E. F.
Tuesday played ball in the Arena,
and went to the moving picture show
in the evening.
Wednesday it rained all day so ]
hung around the room and the Y. Left
in the evening at $50, changed cars
at Tarscon. Got to Avigon and went
to bed.
Thursday I got out of Navigon
about 900 a. m. I got to Belleville-
.Sur-Saone at 9 p. m. and my buddy
and another fellow and 1 got off and
got square meal; left that evening
at 10 o'clock.
4 I just got back from Base Hospital
123. We played them game of ball
and beat 6 to 0. I pitched the game
and luck was my way. I got IL strikes
outs in innings. We have played four
games and got beat once. But think
without a doubt we'll take the next
game.
Oh yes, you ask me what the trip
cost me, we'll know I have been broke
ever since, and I have had pay day
since. I think that 800 francs will
cover my bill.
There were rs in all and everybody
was broke when we got back. l don't
know what the bill would have been if
would have had to pay the hotel bills
and car fare.
| Well folks, I think this is enough
for this time, so will ring off.
| Your loving son,
| Cecil.
VIM. DeLauer has recently received
letter from his brother, Sergt. G.
DeLaurer who has an opportunity to
go over the larger part of France, and
draws some very interesting deduc-
tons, as follows: III. s~.g-EE 81
| Lamorlaye (Oise) France,
| ''5.' " April Is, 1919.
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. DeLaurier,
Sank Centre, MINI. y.
Dear Will and Emma: Today I re-
ceived pleasant surprise by mail
your letter of Jan. 28th. l should
have received it long before this date
but my address has been changed
twice since January, so guess that is
reason enough for me not receiving
your letter sooner.
I am on special duty with the
Allied General Headquarters and ex-
pect to remain on. this job until l
am sent back to America. There
fore l am almost sure that my ad-
dress will not be changed again be-
fore 1 leave France. Up here I see
all of the great Generals of all the
different Allied armies, quite often.
I saw old Marshal Foch this morn
ing. He certainly is a wonderful old
war-horse, and fine soldier.
My duties up here are hardly what
one would call soldering. I have
been inspecting machinery and farm
implements which were broken or des-
| troyed by the Boche while he held
the northern part of France.
/ have learned to speak French
pretty we'll since I. have been over
here, and I know little about ma
chinery SO that is the reason why I
am assigned to this job. You see
my work is nearly all with the peas
ant class of people, so instead of
just learning to speak French / am
learning about a dozen French lingos.
1.-THE country is very pretty here
now because the spring in France is
rather early in comparison with
Michigan. The trees are; just about
out in full leaf, and some of the early
fruit trees are showing pretty with
blossoms. The wheat fields are like