The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-03-29
Sgt. Stevens
Writes Of
France.
Libby Soldier Tells of
Visiting Historic
European Scenes.
VISITS IN GAY PAREE
ON " HOUR PASS

E. N. Stevens, who is with the army
in France. Sgt Stevens has been
overseas since September of '43 and
previous to that time served with
Induction Board in Seattle until
applying for overseas service. He
is graduate of the Libby High
school. the letter follows:
Dear folks,
Just got back from trip to Paris
and my mail has really piled up on
me. A quick count shows 81 letters!
They all started coming in just be-
fore l left for Paris last week and
/ had a lot more waiting for me
when I got back.
| had 48-hour pass and it ended
up in 72-hour pass due to change
in train schedules. This was in adj
dition to our travel time, SO we
had a chance to see a lot OF the
famous city. 1t is really a modern
metropolis SURPRISING our largest
cities in many ways. We rode there
on a train more modern than many
of ours. The car we were IN was
streamlined and all their cars are
divided into compartments which
hold a maximum of people. They
are all glassed in and have a glass
door. 1t was very smooth riding and
all this comfort was quite change
for us. There were five from our
unit that went. Paris and its mod
ern hotels, ETC. were quite different
from our present surroundings. Up
on arrival we were met by BUSES
and taken to central registration
bureau, which assigned us to no.
tel operated for CTS by the Ameri-
can Red Cross. 1t was large hotel
and very modern. Two of US were in
room together with twin beds
and sheets and pillows! We had our
own bath and all the modern plumb
ing We locked our door and un-
locked it by pressing an electric
switch over our bed. Our dining
room was downstairs and our. meals
cost 20 cents, the room costing 40
cents a night We didn't move un-
til IL o'clock the next morning
that soft bed was too much for us.
Paris, of course, is known rs a
gay city with lots of night life and
beautiful women. There is no dane
ing there at present, but the beau
tiful women are there, and how.
Paris has very modern subway
system, which we used for our
Transportation. One afternoon we
took bus tour of the famous places
of the city. We visited Napoleon
tomb, which is p beautiful structure
not very large, but of superb con-
struction The windows are stained
in such way around the altar that
it looks like the sun was shining
on it, even on a cloudy day. Every-
thing was of marble and the walls
and ceilings were covered with
paintings. Notre Dame Cathedral
was a disappointment to me after
hearing SO much about it. Most of
the paintings have been taken out
of it. Eiffel Tower looked just as
it does in pictures. 1t sits on the
bank of the Seine river and looks
very impressive. The arc of Tri-
umph sits in the center of an in
tersection of six or eight streets
and the Unknown Soldiers Tomb
rests beneath the arch and the Eter-
nal Flame burns at the head.
We went to follies show one
night and saw lots of gals scantly
clad( if at ally. Their costumes they
did wear were very rich and ex-
pensive and the scenery was as
good as any I've seen. The music
and singing was also good.
Most things in the line of sou,
venirs were very expensive, but
did pick up few things, along will
some more perfumes, which I vii
probably sell and maybe send some
to the States.
/ had a V-mail from Dave {Davt
Holz) a few days ago and he Seems
to have pretty good job now. Your
nice Christmas card arrived Feb. 2
Late but very much appreciated
Glad you liked the perfume. |
wasn't much, but something differ
ent maybe.
| managed to get roll of film
and few sheets of paper in Paris
but it won't last long. We are get
ting 7 packs of Gigs week now
We were down to packs a Weel
for month! I'm surely looking TO
those cookies-I know they'll b
good.
owe