Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-03-27
Letter From Stuart vanMetre.
Ancy-de-Libre,

February i, 1919.
Nv Dear Mother-When | returned
from nv leave on Wednesday | found
two letters from you, one from Shirley
Nichols and a card from Thos. V. he
is at Issondun, but ! have not been
able to locate the town. Suppose,
though, it is somewhere in France.
From the time left here till return
ed was away just thirteen days. |
spent eight days in Nice, which IS IL
the extreme southern part OF France.
and the remainder of the time was
spent in travelling. spent just twelve
hours in Paris. From Paris TO Nice
went through Dion, Lyon, Marsailles
and Cannes. While at Nice ! visited
Monte Carlo, Monaco, the Italian bor-
der and Ventimiglia in Italy. While
at the latter place sent you card.
Nice is situated along the Medlter-
ranean sea, and il is beautiful city
clean in every respect compared TO the
most of the towns in France in which
have been. 1t was summer time there.
The parks were beautiful and contain
ed many beautiful palm trees. The
nights were cool, but never cold, and II
didn't rain while was there. Here IT
rains almost every day. sure did en-
10Y the trip, IS a soldier was free there
and could stay out all night if he cared
TO do so. When the time came to leave
il was nearly as sad as when | left the
States. | met several especially at
tractive little girls while there.
saw Major (Dr.) Bitner while at
Nice, and had a long talk with him.
He is prince compared to most army
officers. Believe he is as anxious to
get back to the States as the rest OF us.
When | returned TO Ancy-de-Libre !
found several inches of snow, and II IS
still with us.
have a very good opinion of France
since my trip, but before that it was
very poor, although had never been
anywhere except the mnd-holes OF
France and came in contact with only
the poorest class of people. In SOUTH
ern France the people are of more en-
lightened class.
The government paid my carfare Cor
gave me transportation, as we call it,
and paid my hotel bill. In fact, every
American soldiers bills are paid while
on leave. could write volume con-
corning my trip, but time will not per-
nit, so guess il will keep until | re-
turn.
From what | can learn, believe we
will leave France sometime in March,
and do not think il will be before that
time. either. am not building on get
ting home before June or July, and if |
get there sooner than that it will be an
agreeable surprise. Do not stop writ
ing, as we will be able 10 exchange
quite a number of letters before the
time actually comes TO leave. While
am anxious to get back to the States,
am not dissatisfied, as | am having II
easy and have had it easy since being
in France, compared TO some OF the
other boys. OF course the fifty-one
days on the front was not snap, but
take it all through have had it easy-SO
why should worry? Just as soon
as the remainder of the boys get their
passes and return am going TO try
Tor another pass, as after the eighth OF
February | am entitled TO another one.
A soldier is due pass every four
months, but very few had gotten them
until after the armistice was signed
They had no time for such when we
were fighting. Now every enlisted
man can get three-days pass to Paris.
| want to go there again at some future
date. "Nick" is stationed just four
miles from Paris. He wants me to
come to see him, as he cannot come 70
see me. BY the time can get pass
he will no doubt be in the States, as
his letters dated January 18th said they
had orders to dispose of all patients
before February first.
Things will be quite changed when
return, as the influenza has taken SO
many of my old friends and acquaint-
anceS.
had my picture taken while at Nice
and am sending them with this letter.
Love to all,
STIIART