Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-05-27
EDISON SHATTO IN
A. {. F. SHOW
TRAVELS WITH MINSTRELS
THROUGH FOUR FOREIGN
COUNTRIES
.United States Best Country In
World" He Writes-Entertain As
Many as 1000 Men at One Perform.
ance, Engineer Writes

4 HAAtCS-A$htSAe<A AAA -
Many as 1000 Men at One Perform.
ance, Engineer Writes
The following interesting letter has
been received from Edison Shatto, Jr.,
| who is overseas at the present time,
| with the 313th Engineers by his moth
er, Mrs E. w. Shatto, 627 Hamilton
street:
"Thier, Germany
| "Dear Parents:
'Since January 1st I have had
very fine time touring with an Ameri-
can Expeditionary Force Minstrel
show, called the "Follies of 1919" Our
313th Engineers had finished up their
work near Metz, after building 16
mills of railroad in 16 hours the day af-
ter the armistice was signed. We
continued for some time to repair
roads and railroads in and about that
section.
"At Christmas I was transferred
from 313th Engineers to the Regi-
mental Band to play the trombone.
| There are thirty-fve men in this band
and number @! them are profession
ais. One is member of the 'Kilties
Band" of Minneapolis. On March LIST
Was ucldCHCQ lIOul luG Od1G u IOuE
with this show. Thirty three men are
in it, three being professionals from
New York, one from New Jersey,
Jewish comedian and other fine talent.
A Cello was purchased for me at
I Nancy. 1t is sure fine one, so now
| l am happy as you will know to get
hold of Cello again. have a new
suit and excellent places to eat and
sleep.
Meets Wausau Boys
"Since we started on this tour
have met several Wausau boys. You
can bet We were very glad to see
each other if only for a short time.
have been in France, Belgium, Ger
many and spent three weeks in Lux
emburg, going out to places where
the soldiers are located. We have had
as many as 1000 men attend our show
at one performance, usually showing
several nights at place. We travel
in large trucks. One of the streets
passed down recently, l could not
help thinking how some months ago
marched down this same street at
night carrying my heavy pack. One of
the sergeants with the show went back
to the Regiment after the mail and
just returned with load of it, So
we did not get to bed last night until
1:30 a. m. When some of the fellows
over here do not get any letters, we
let them read ours. We pass all news
papers and clippings around also.
have received every copy of the Pilot
and enjoyed it, too.
81 just saw the fire department go
by. The men look like clowns, one
fellow being in the lead with a tin
horn. All had on coats, brass helmets
and blue trousers. They sure did look
comical. One day while in France, 1
talked to kindly old lady who showed
me four lockets that she wore about
| her neck. Each one had picture in
| it, Of her four sons, who were killed
in the war.
"You know how I enjoy talking to
children. The other day my chum and
| l met small boy and we started to
ask him questions, and also what his
name was. He sure did astonish me
for his name was Edward Shatto, of
course spelled in the French way. He
took us home to meet his father and
what do you think he is-a railroad
man. &c. w. Shatto of this city is
with the c. & N. W. railroad)
L Theaters Fine
II Some of the theaters we play in
are very fine, especially the one at
J Toul. Luxembourg is very rich and
prosperous looking country. Many
fine school buildings and churches are
It to be seen, some like those in the
d United States. There are fine farms
: and stock also running, steel mills and
/ large shelters. The old Cathedrals
r are wonderful works of architecture
While at Chambly we played for col
Iored troops and l had the opportunity
e to visit school, through which the
s. professor showed me- including even
p the manual training department. All
/ of the houses are built of stone with
II tile roofs. Lyon is a very beautiful
IS city. At Esch we found a large Y M.
c. A, K. of c., and Red Cross build
q ings, a fine theater and good accom-
- modations, but never saw so many
: children in all my life. They are as
~ thick as sparrows in the U. S. At
10 Nancy, all of the churches have beau
u tiful paintings, colored glass windows
and pipe organs. We have visited
many of the larger cities of France
% and my being able to talk French has
b. helped me quite bit.
IL we lIheu belSllIu anu us people
d. very much and must say they were
m kind and good to the u S. soldiers.
,e They do not charge exorbitant prices.
'e We enjoyed good beds and meals while
is there The parts of Belgium which
have not been destroyed are beautiful.
Our orchestra played at a dance at
De Virlen and talk about refreshments
E it seemed like being back in the U. S.
II Review BY Pershing
l. Gen. Pershing is expected to review
IL the SSth Division soon and has as
lie sured us of an early return to the
is states. This is my birthday and 1 am
surely spending it in an unusual way.
:, Last year at this time l was sick in an
II Army Hospital in the United States.
lie This year our A. E. F. show is playing
: for hospital of wounded GONZALES
> cents at Thier in Germany After the
u show we were all treated to chocolate
: and cakes by the Red Cross ladies.
:; Our tour is rapidly coming to an end
II we have now visitei four countries and
/ next the good old United States, the
best in the world Mother-have plen-