Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-01-23
Letter From Sergeant Snyder.
In France,
/. December 25. 1918.

II December 25, 1918.
Dearest Dad-Christmas is over.
We sure have had a nice celebration
and | think everyone is satisfied with
the Christmas spent in France. To-
night, when il is all over. We are look
ing back and comparing the day with
that Of previous years and wondering
where we will be next year at this same
season. Each man in the company re-
ceived gift box from the Y. M. C. A.
containing tobacco, cigarettes, two
cakes Of chocolate and chewing gum
Then the government gave each man
half pound Of real American choco-
late bonbons, and from the Red Cross
we got two handkerchiefs. Then the
officers gave each OF the men two
cigars, so that we all got goodly share
Of gifts. Last night went down town
to my friends home and had quite
time celebrating Christmas Eve. From
eight o'clock until midnight we played
games and sang and had a really good
time. Shortly before midnight we all
went to the church for the midnight
service, and it was certainly beautiful
one. A choir Of City boys and girls
furnished the music, and as they were
trained beautifully enjoyed that
feature immensely. The soloists were
good, too, the tenor being soldier
home on leave, and he had high, clear
voice. The other was soprano, and
each sang a solo and then a duet, and
il has been seldom that have heard
better musical performance. After
the service We went back to the hodse
and at two o'clock we sat down TO a |
regular dinner, beginning with soup
and ending with wine and coffee. II
was a mighty good meal, and it was
late when the party finally broke up
and we went to bed. The room that
| slept in was a good-sized one, and
right in the center OF the room stood
the great big French bed, and my! but
it did look good. A French bed is |
JOY to behold after the hard hunks that |
we sleep on, for they are high up from
the floor and the mattresses and springs
are about three feet thick. When ]
hit that bed was just so comfortable |
that could not sleep, and when final
ly did get to sleep sure made up for |
the lost time. got up at ten o'clock |
and had breakfast with the family, and
caught the noon train back to GIMP |
and got home just in time for thI cMick-
en- dinner. We had chicken today, be-
cause turkey was too high, costing |
about two dollars a pound, and since
there are one hundred and thirty of the |
company here now it would have meant
a whole lot OF turkey. AS it was, the |
chickens cost a little more than two
dollars apiece, so that the chicken V as
expensive too. Along with the chick |
en- we had potatoes, peas, cabbage, corn
bread and apple pie. and plenty OF
everything, and there were lots Of sec
onds and thirds. Supper was little
weak tonight, but then no one had
much room for eats, so that none OF us |
objected at all.
The weather still holds its own and
it is still raining, with no sign OF let
up. Today being Christmas, it snow
ed for about five minutes, just to show
us that even the elements realized tnat
Christmas is at hand, but it still rains. |
The river is mighty high and is within |
a few feet OF some Of the barracks
further down in the camp, and in the
flats and hollows there are regular |
lakes. never saw so much water in
my life, and here comes general
order that every man must take bath
twice a week All we would have TO
do is to undress and wade out into the |
back yard and we have fine place for
a bath, the only trouble being that il
is a little too cold.
| don't think have ever told you
about the work OF the Military Police
over here. Before | start ! will tell
you that it is the most unpopular
branch OF the service, and there are
no men anywhere who are more gener-
ally hated, for there is scarcely SOL
dier in the army but has some griev-
ance against some NJ. P. somewhere.
The Military Police are to the army
what police are to any city, with the
exception that the M. P. has almost un
limited power, and there never was
king or potentate with more authority
than these men-and they use it too.
Their duties are manifold and they
are a terror to the evil-doer, and as a
rule they are fearless in the perform
ance of their duties. II is part OF
their job to see that the soldiers are
dressed correctly, that they have proper
passes, that they obey the orders IS
sued, to stop disturbances OF all kinds,
TO keep an eye on everything in general.
They have perhaps the meMest job
in the whole army, and there is no
mad scramble to get on the M. P. force.
The officer in charge OF them in this
vicinity is holy terror both to officers
and men, and he is no respecter Of per-
sons, and the Assistant Provost Mar
shall. He would not hesitate to ar
rest anyone who would be in the wrong,
and he has trained the men under him
until they will arrest "a man on the
slightest provocation, and the moro
a fellow tries TO argue the worse it is
for him. BY virtue Of my work with
Captain Edwards along investigation