Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-05
Letters From
Local
From Vincent Runyon

Lear FOLKS.
Inspection over-everything O. X.
them right and left. / don't dare
to lay in my bunk during the day time
for fear of mussing 1t up.
We've had lots of "big guns drop
in on US by surprise, and when they
come, everything must be spic and
span; even though we may be in the
woods; and when they come they al
ways have to make trouble; because
it would be a crime" should they
make out a perfect report. And so
it goes; we have to keep working on
the camp ali the time making changes
here, there and everywhere, some APP
p%arently useless. We've been hoping
to get out of here for some time.
Believe me this life is getting mo-
%notonous, and what is more, a fell
lows time is pretty these
days, to be. wasted thus. Secretary
Baker may be doing his best, and we
will finally be set free; but the sus-
pence is awful.
When we first landed in this sec
tor, it was dark at four O'Clock; the
days are getting longer now, so that
it is dus at five o'clock. The winters
here are evidently mild; for we have
not suffered a bit. 1t generally rains.
though at times it halls or SHOWS; with
so much moisture I'm glad 1 have a
bunk to sleep on rather than d dug
ort or a trench to splatter around in.
My bunk is entirely of wood, attach
cd TO the WI as On a boat, bat move
rustic. An ,~unflexable board for a
! spring; but boy! she's comfortable for
[ have my bed tick well filled with
hay.
Next day. Came off of guard last
night, so have to-day off. Started out
| soon after breakfast pm a hike in the
! direction of vigennelles. quite q fair
size place. situated at the base of a
large hill. To v%igennelles is only
| seven kilos. so having plenty of time
[ continued on up the hill, on the top
Of which there was another town Hat
ton chattel; both towns were pretty
we'll damaged by the Germans. Al
Vigennelles in the cemetery, saw
French. German and American graves,
, all OF which were prettily decorated.
The 1880 was evidently situated in
these parts. judging from signatures
/ scattered on the ruined buildings.
I found what were some very nice
homes before the a
Going up the hill to Hatton-chatte
was quite a climb: it was cloudy and
finally started to rain: it was about
| dinner time and q long ways from
camp so continued on near the sum-
l init WntTe a. COOplC VI z
| that overlooked a pretty valley miles
in the distance. The town which was
| no small one vas completely deserted;
| so like a burgler / explored the town
| by my lonesome; building after build
ing J s'ent -thfUagh. studing their
modes of living etc, They had fine
walls decorated, marble and plaster
paris nantes, high ceilings and spac-
ious rooms in many instances. AT
A.. ,-4.aI aY.N ~ nj faCitu m nm
to the attic; knowing 1 was alone in
this ruined place where 1 knew not
how many ghosts of dead dutchmen
were lowering about. / was half scared
to death at every unusual sound; COM
ing down from the attic in one house
noticed q small room to the left
which rather puzzled me: so | made
for it; maybe l didn't jump; I saw
a living ghost for sure; Ii was a life
size figure of Christ-that stood up
right in there and appeared TO have
once hung on a cross. as he a nail
holes in his feet and outstretched arms.
Wondering down the street l anne
across a church.: the roof of which
was demolished: 1 climbed UP a
winding stairway to the bell tower: but
the bell had been removed; so l de-
cended the narrow dizzie stairway IN
to the cathedral proper some holy i'm
dk6S fchldAlltu ihNlSht puh wv DHAfN
ing was beyond repair. ! returned to
camp hat day another way via. Hen
dicourt. Enroute from Hendicourt to
camp I switched off to a chateau
which / had often planned to explore.
The rain had turned into snow by
this time. The old building was quite
interesting but about ten-thousand
fellows had been ahead of me judging
from the names they had inscribed on
the walls. The building had been held
by the Germans as early as 1916 as i
noticed tori German papers dated 'l6
stuck in the wall. There was consider
able barbed wire on the lawn outside
surrounding the building.
Well, / guess / have raved enough
for today. I crave for the taste or
home made grub.
Well we can be thankful that the
world is at peace rather than in hos
tilities. for alI's we'll that ends well.
With love to n and all. Vincent.