New Britain herald., 1919-02-22


 A musical program will be rendered by the members of the society and dancing will follow. All members of the club are urged to be present at the next meeting which is to be held at the home of James COsgrOVe next Monday evening at o'clock. The re- ccipts of the social will be turned in
 towards the new club equipment
 which is needed in the new club
 rooms.
 Sergeant Nentrcs Writes.
 Following is a letter received from
 Sergeant Harold Dale Ventres, mem-
 Der of Company E, 102d U. s. Infan- try, who has been in France for over s months and has been wounded and gassed on two occasions:
 'tClemacy, France, Jan. 12, 1919. Dear Mother:
 Just a few lines wishing that you are all well and are getting along i fine Am we'll and still at the observ- ! ation school, where l will probably ! remain for some time. It's raining g ! pretty hard today, but that isn't any 1 thing unusual here, and I have just i returned from taking a little walk around the town and along the canal
 which runs through here. The coun-
 try around here would be pretty, in my estima ton, if the sun would only ! shine a little bit It's always muddy l here, especially around this part of I the country, which is noted for its deep mud holes. I went to church this morning and the sermo was sure a fine one. I don't know what has i happened to me, but somehow since l got to France and have been through these battles I have reformed and got onto myself. I have cut out 8 lot of bad habits, such as swearing, otc., and there are lot of other fel- lows that have done the same thing. 1 On the whole I think I have been a l fairly good boy while I have been 1 here.
 ' During the past few months I took | up this observation and sniping, be- cause it is interesting, and am able to 1 orient a map, read a map, make a map, read compass and able to 1 travel by compass, which is all fine ] dope, as we say over here. These bits i of knowledge are a fine thing to know
 in civilian life. l guess that my fight 1 ing days are over, so why not get a ! little more knowledge that will help 1 in future life? Another thing that I l am studying hard is how to use a 1 range finder. Also have instructions l on patrols, etc, and range practice and target practice.
 ] Say, I haven't received any mail i since l have been in this town, and 1 another thing, 1 haven't received any l pay since the Both of last June Be- l lieve me- that's some time to wait for | your hard learned wages if that's what
 you would call it. At present I have | seven months pay coming. I have l borrowed a little over 200 francs, so | you see that I am doing fine 1 have { been practically all over France on l less than 40 francs, which I consider
 a pretty small travelling expense. You 1 can easily see that I haven't been ] throwing much money away. Just 1 you wait till 1 get home and I'll get 1 myself a job and get good money, and 1 l am willing to work, you can bet on l that. So you see that you and dad | can always depend on me. Besides, l We have Sergeant OrvilIe Ventres and 1 John--theyll be home in the near l future.
 l Well, I haven't much more time 1 to write or much more paper, but l 1 sure do wish that I could hear from | you. How's >everyone getting along
 at home. anyway? I bet that I won't l know some of my lifelong friends l when I get there. You can bet that I have changed in appea rance since arriving here. Send my best regards