Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-02-12
DESCRIBES FRENCH WASH TUBS
BY Gerhard W. Wehling. Parigne, France

| ID! 1efhaao " Hehhhg' faflghe, france
Miss Esther Webbing. stoddard, Wis.
Dear Sister: As have little time must
spend it writing ! received several letters
| from home lately l have been Transferred 10
| the sad Division. We situated in little
tewn near L,'Maus. yesterday I spent my
second Thanks giving day in Tire army. My
first in France. Didn't have such good dinner
as last year at Camp Grant, but we all ate
with hearty appetite. Our stoves placed
| in any vacant lot suitable place with a cam
vass stretched ever TO keep out the rain. We
line up and meals are dished out to us
as we pass by the kitchen. Some times one
hundred and fifty and some times three hun
dred fes6 at kitchen. We eat out in the
| open and as II rains IaIcE NEST OF us pre-
| fer standing a. there are generally few places
suitable FOR sitting down. Yesterday some of
us steel heinets 10 dinner. Not for
the sharp shells but they dandy to keep out
the rain too. ! writing this in wine
room with pen which l got from a Belgian
soldier He wanted my pen for souvenir
so traded. There is a Belgian camp here.
can speak with most Of them. Philip Wroble
James Wall, Me Strauser and ! still in
the same regiment. This division is most all
here together. But being we're in the depot
brigade We don't know what next address
may be. We havn't John Korthais, AL
fred Bakken and viii Spears since the fight
ing seth division went over the top. This part
Of the country is mostly sandy with some nice
trees. They have some fine horses around
here. I helped Frenchman shoe the other
day. They do il much different here than in
the .. s. One man holds up the foot while
The buildings are all very low and look very
old. l suppose since the war they hayn't been
able to keep them in proper shape. | notices
some fine rooms but most places look shabby
and dirty and most every room If ii is of any
size has Ere place in it, but fuel is scarce
they are sparing with the fire. I'D like to
have these people see you girls wash with the
machine and engine. III bet they'd look
Here each town has its public wash house,
made of stone cement. About twelve or
fourteen feet square, feet deep in 4he ground
so IL fills up with water. Generally fixed With
sluce gate so the water can be drained out
and fill up again night. The top Of the
tank IS about fourteen Inches wide sianting in
ward. This they Use a wash board. So you
see they save the machine, tub, board and
don't bother about boiling the water either.
The women kneel in box of straw to keep
them dry and warm. Perhaps a dozen Ho-
men gather there al time, having social
visit while they wash clOhfes. They use q
paddle to pound the dirt out rather than rub
bling il out Around town they generally hanl
their clothes on a wheel barrow. In the e0an-
try ! noticed them drive with doRkeys to the
water hole. The chief food here seems TO Be
bread and wine. They get their bread allow
snee from their bakery you see they don't
bother about cooking either. They make a
great deal Of wine. Bat they use their feet
to press IL cut instead Of press so you may
know | don't care for it and its very too.
Generally when they eat they stand around
ehatterIng whit hEnk Of bread and a little
knife la their hands cutting % mouth fun
as they eat.
Oscar Weiss Is sitting here at the same table
writing. This leaves me 6ne and dandy, hop
ing i, finds you all we'll
GENERAL pE.p1UrH-C,sz Y0uy cram