Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1919 — SAM DUVALL AND WIFE TO REACH STATES IN MARCH [ARTICLE]

SAM DUVALL AND WIFE TO REACH STATES IN MARCH

Rueil, France, Sunday. Feb. 2, 1919. Dear Mother and Dad:— Laura is feeling all right again, and this afternoon we are going for a walk in the snow. We haven’t very, much longer to remain in France, for L expect to leave some time this nwnth for the base camp, and then from there I will go to Brest where I will board a transport for the good old U. S. A. I don’t know the exact date, but I do know I’ll be home before March 10. Laura will start at about the same time; perhaps she will go with me, for I am trying to arrange it so we will sail together, which would be much better in many different ways. I will be glad when Laura and I get home. It is snowing today and is cold, but we are luckier than most people in this town, for a soldier can always find coal and wood and more of it when the other people can’t have any at all, so you see we always have a fire. Coal here costs $5.20 for 200 pounds, and I paid about 80c for a sack of wood that I could: carry in one armload. I mention these things to give you some idea of conditions in this country. When Laura was sick I bought eggs for her at $1.92 a dozen. I paid 75c for beefsteak that came from South America. It is so tough that you can chew on it all day <Und then swallow the piece whole. Laura wanted some apples the other day and I paid 65c apiece for them. You could buy a barrel of the same kind in America for what I paid for one. Butter is $1.70 a pound. We don’t use much butter, but it is possible to get it at that price. Laura paid $17.00 for a pair of shoes that could be bought at Sam Fendig’s for $3.00. Compare these prices with your’s and then ask yourself, the question: “Don’t you think America ought to send that one hundred million dollars of food to England and France instead of to the damned Germans, which they advocate. Let them starve; that is what they Would have done to us here in France if they had won the war. We haven’t received the packages you sent. I hope they come before we start for America. We haven’t had a letter from Ed or you for more# than a week now. Hope you ate all feeling well and know of pur early return to the States. Will write again Sunday, so until then, good-bye with love. , BUD AND LAURA.