The Springdale news., 1919-03-07
With the CoIors -.
.
- - - E -
FROM HOWARD ROPER

The following letters were recently received from Howard Roper of Elm Srrinrz. who $ with the American FzpeIluonary Forces. the frs. one being 10 his mother, Mrs. S. J. Roper. and the second to Mr. and Mrs. John Webster.
 Somewhere in France. Dear Mother:
 Will write you few lines this eve. am at the "" waiting on the show, and of course was thinking of home and thought I would write you. al though l wrote you Thursday.
 am feeling good. but l sure am tired of this country, 1t sure lsn't like the states and yeu cant do 2 thing here to pass away the time. with out one drinks and thai is out of my line, and the ones that do drink or get drunk get in the guard house Mama dear. 1 really don't know a thing to write you that l can write Our mail is still censored. You should see the people here, they wear big wooden shoes and dirty as can be and they ride in two wheel carts Everything sure looks funny. Every thing is high here. for instanct eggs are twenty cents piece, fruit Is high when one can get 1t at all, every thing Is dead wrong from right. l would like to tell you lots Of things but guess l will wait until l get back. don't know when that will be, about months l think. l received Ruth's letter she wrote Nov. 12th to- day I had letter from Kathleen that was written Jan 2nd. l sure would like to hear from home. I am anxious about Dad. Did he go to Texas !? l hope he is better by this time. sure hope Ruth doesn't have to run the business because she does not belong on the job and I hope business is good for I like to see Dad get the money if I can't.
 l sure was sorry to hear about Frank and Henry Ritter being killed, but mama there were thousands went the same way hope there hasn't been any more of the boys bumped off. You can ask any one that has been over here about what We sold- iers have to do.
 Well, l will quit asking you not to worry minute about me for I am all 0. K and I am coming back to you as l told you so many times. The show is about ready to start. 1t is now 7:I5.
 Goodnight and love to all,
 Howard Roper
 France, Feb 3, 19l9.-Dear Mr and Mrs Webster It was only to- day that on receiving letter from home read with regret of Reeds death. l was surely surprised. and the news caused me to be sad Many happy time l have spent with Reed, and you can be sure that I will miss his company when l get back and there will be many others that l know will miss his cheerful presence. You know that soldering in France bring up many memories of home, d memory that has heretofore been shared with going back to seeing old friends, among them Reed But his absence will be one of the things that will make the old town different than 1t was.
 About us here in France you are kept well informed 80 can't tell you anything new in that direction. be- sides l know you do not feel like read ing long letters now I only wanted you to know that in Reeds passing on, you have my deepest sympathy sure will miss a true friend, one whose friendship I'll always rcmem- Der and one who I'll always remember as having had some great times with.
 Please remeber me as one of Reed's s friends, one who will always remem- Der him.
 Howard Roper