Monday – July 16, 1917
Dear Family:-
Tempus fugit!
It doesn’t seem very long ago since I wrote but I must take a few minutes to thank you for the gum and cigarettes. They were much appreciated. You couldn’t have selected anything more welcome at this particular time. American tobacco is a luxury and the supply, consisting of 2 lbs. of smoking tobacco, which I brought with me is just about depleted. Gum cannot be bought at all in this country. If the opportunity again presents itself instead of sending cigarettes I would prefer a pound can of Prince Albert pipe tobacco. A pipe full of American tobacco brings more satisfaction out here under these conditions than a good hot bath with clean clothes, both of which are luxuries. I couldn’t imagine myself admitting such a thing a couple of months ago to say nothing about actually feeling it but conditions now are quite different.
We are still in the same place as when last I wrote but that doesn’t tell you much. It is reported that orders for movement will come in a couple of days. We will not be sorry to move.
Saturday, July 14, is a big day in France, as you undoubtedly know. With the French in this district it seems to be a day when everyone gets drunk. I am pleased to state that not a single man in our section was under the influence of the stuff. In view of the fact that perhaps your knowledge of French history is as slight as mine, though I can hardly believe such could be the case, I will tell you what I know of July 14. In 1789 Louis XVI was King of France. It seems he was a devil and very unpopular. On July 14, 1789 the people rose up in their wrath, overthrew the government and tore down the Bastille where many were imprisoned and made to suffer unjustly. Then I think came a government run by a body of five men which was overthrown in ‘92 or ‘93 and another republic established. Anyway July 14th is the date of the fall of the Bastille and everybody is supposed to get drunk.
We had the day off (war was called off for the day) and six of us went down to a town about 7 miles from here, walking all the way, and had a good meal. It was a peach and only cost us about 4ƒ apiece or 80¢ in Am. money. On our way back we were invited in to a barrack and hospital just out of town. It was a large place and we later learned that it is one of the best in France. Thinking us to be American officers we were introduced to French majors, captains and lieuts. They were having a band concert in the park within and when we put in our appearance we were given a salute by the buglers and a French Lieut. (1st) stepped up and conversed with us in English. Privates stood at attention, as we passed, Lieutenants saluted. Gee! We felt queer. Then we were invited inside and were ushered into the theater where a performance was about to take place. We sat in leather arm chairs in the front row reserved exclusively for officers. Each chair had a place card in it bearing some officer’s name. I sat in Major somebody’s chair. In front of us was a row of wounded on their stretchers. Behind us were hordes of pretty nurses and then came the non-coms and privates. The show was good for an amateur get-up and several changes were made for our benefit. After it was all over we shook hands with officers and were saluted all over again and told to tell our “brother officers” that they were welcome anytime. It was a great experience and we laughed much over it all the way home. The officers over here ride in their own cars. If some of them could have seen us hoofing it for headquarters afterward they would never be nice to us again. Such is life in the army. Sherman was quite right.
Must mail this before it is too late. Several of us are going for a swim soon.
Much love,
Grant
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