Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 219, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1918 — HENRY CAIN WRITES HOME FROM FRANCE [ARTICLE]

HENRY CAIN WRITES HOME FROM FRANCE

Henry T. Cain of Carpenter township, who was recently sent overseas with a contingent of soldiers, writes home folks under iecent date:

Somewhere in France. August 13, 1918. Dear folks:—As I have a little time tonight will 'try and scribble a few lines to let you know I am fine and dandy and am seeing some odd and wonderful sights. Well, to begin with, we finally got located and was sure glad as we were all pretty tired of riding, you see it is quite a trip across the ocean, but stood that fine as the sea was very smooth, more so than I had expected owing to the time of the year, I guess. But anyway we landed somewhere in England and were there for some time, then crossed the English Channel and here. we are somewhere in France. The country here is sure beautiful, but of course so different. Imagine people working oxen and little mules —you would call them dogs unless you looked twice. They also* have dog-carts; no wagons, all carts. It is mostly all vineyards together with some small fields of grain which of course are all cut by hand, so tell the boss if he tuought old Grover was slow he should see the oxen going down tuo road. You simply have to set stakes to see them move. The buildings here are very old and are mostly all stone except some brick, but scarcely no wooden buildings at all. The church I \ as telling you about was built in the fourteenth century, 'but there is an underground churclr—now vacant- of course—was built In the ninth, so you can partly imagine as to how they might look. ‘ We sure were a 'happy bunch today as we got our mall. This is the second time, we got mail since we left. I got four letters, one from home, Lena, Smithy and by de, so of course that cheered us up. Some of those were dated Juiy fifteenth. , ’ You should have been here for dinner —plenty of good old beeP o .eak, gravy, potatoes, bread, butter, fruit, coffee, etc. So, you see, no matter where we are at, there is always plenty to eat ' / Albert and I are attending an automobile school now so will be away from the boys for some little time. We both read each others letters about a dozen times. Both sleep side by side so are as 'happy as little school boys. Suppose the men are busy about cutting oats time or later. Sure hope you have a bumper crop. Well, guess I have told you about all the news for tonight, so hoping this finds you all well, will close with lots of love and kisses to all. Tell all hello! for me and write me all the news. . As ever, PVT. (HENRY T. CAIN, 62nd Artillery Batt A. C. A C., A. P. O. 705, A. E. F.. France. John Gleason, of Liberty, the horse, buyer, is here. Y