The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-02-28

Real human interest stuff is con-
tanned in a letter from First Lieut..
Herbert H. Smith, formerly shop fore
man of THE INDEPENDENT, now
with the American Expeditionary For
ces. His letter is dated at Poincon les
Lorrey d. Ore, France, January %,
1918. Smith says:
Dear Folks:
Snow is several inches deep and still
coming down. Bids are good for it to
be few feet deep before it quits. A
F'renchman told me that he remembers
seeing a snow over here that took him
to his belt, and he is tall guy. So
guess We'll be showed in and have to
remain here till August or September.
At one time there was an over amount
of hot-air. more commonly called bull,
floating around here that we were on
our way home. but the scene has
changed, and the "bulP' is that we will
be here for 4 or 5 months yet (ain't
that Hell) And I guess we will No
need to worry, only gives one a wrinkle
and disarranges his digestion!e
This little berg, Poincoin is a small
town (not on the map1 but it is about
10 kilos. f6 Ia Inilesl from Chatillon,
a pretty goodlsizez zfaNn
wine, women, cts, are plentiful uEalso
the soldiers! Chat makes it bad.) 1-
The average American soldier is yet
to learn that these Francs are money.
and we spend them (when we have 'em)
as tho they grew in the back yard. q
might mention that the lucky guy usu
ally spends his own pay, and the pay of
several others.)
A fellow in our Company had his
Local Board to pull a few wires and
strings (political, of course) and the
said Board had him discharged and he
left us last week for Gods country
Lucky Dog, 1 say, And say, speaking
about politics, 1 think that the Demo-
crats and the Republicans have lost
Lsome over a million voters. and the So
cialists (and anarchists) have gained
bout that many-you should hear these
fellows, from any Company or Division
There are two things that he will sure
ly "cuss," the Democratic Party and
the Y. NJ c. A. And if you feel like
lighting, just say one good word for
either one of these organizations, and
r1SnC away you are Ill d hSHI!
What was that big Frenchman's
name? Poltaire, or somethink like that
anyway, he had himself a regular palace
up near Wassy and the folks say he
kept a bunch of 'good-lookers" there
while his wife stayed in Paris-Oh, he
was a regular old bird!
One time 1 said stop the paper-noW
say please don't,-because we are liza
BILE to here till August. L haven't
had a paper or any mail since Novem-
ber 16, but maybe it will come along
after awhile. You see while I was in
the hospital my mail was sent to A. p
F. HEADQUARTERS P. o. and it hasn't
come back yet.
[ have learned three more French
words now that makes four 1 know!
ha. Pretty soon at that rate I'll be
speaking 100000 French just like a
native son!
How are Stanley and Everett coming
along with their girls? It's about time
they were doing that which all foolish
men do" and start a little war all thel1
own. ha! But in the long run I guess
it's a better life, cause if a fellow is
married he doesn't run around so much:
and then, too. he has some one always
on hand to fight with him. (ha)
NV love and regards to you all.
Sincerely,
SMITH.
P. S. A guy just came in with some