1918 April 29

April 29, 1918

Dearest,

Can't understand why I don't get any mail - Some of the fellow go letters today dated April 2nd - mine must be chasing all over France - so I have decided to change my address & have all mail come addressed as above - then not matter where I am - they will always know.

Hope you received my cable on Baby's birthday - I had an awful time sending it. The night of Baby's birthday I didn't want to be alone - so I went to the "Y" - we had a band concert - then McMillan the great violinist played - & after that Ella W (?) Wilcox talked to use - she is an awful looking old girl but very bright - so the evening passed - but I went through every detail of this "party" forty times that day - I longed for you both - so much.

My single blessedness has been busted. - they wished a Capt. Of eng. On me as a room mate & the beast snores horribly - I have arranged to move out tonight- I will bunk with a chap who was in our office in Wash. - a dandy fellow.

Have finished one school - & have started another which is wonderfully interesting - it will take another two or three weeks to complete it & someday I will tell you all about it.

Had a letter from Paul yesterday - he is still away - but expects to return to headquarters very ( - 2- ) soon - he is nearly as lonesome & homesick as I am, I judte from his letters.

Yesterday was a lovely day - for a change, & I took a long bicycle ride throught the country - it was lovely - but oh boys! My setter is ruined. This county is very hilly - but perfectly beautiful! Some of the views from hill tops are exquisite - & in the early a.m. the grotesque effects are wonderful - sort of a blue haze - with poplars sticking through dimly. Must go more later.

5:00 p.m. at the Club

Finished class early today - so beat t up here to finish this letter. The new work is very interesting - our instructor is a French Major & he is a dandy - speaks splendid English & his explanations are very clear & easy to grasp, although the subject is complicated.

Must tell you about our mess - I belong to two - one where we live & one where we work - Breakfast & supper at the first & lunch as the other - saves a long hike up hill. Our meals are usually very good - yesterday we ate up six big turkeys (roast) at noon mess - Breakfast consists of cereal or mush, toast, french fried spuds, weiners or ham - jam & coffee or cocoa. Lunch - Meat usually veal salad, vegetables - fresh radishes, onion lettuce - watercress, mashed boiled or FF spuds - French peas - wheat bread, jam & bully mince pie & coffee. All this is well cooked & it costs in Francs five a day!!! Not quite $1.00!!! You couldn't put any one of the meals for $1.00 - even if you could buy the material under the law. Thank heaven there are no restrictions on food in the Army - you poor dears are the ones who can't eat.

Eggs are plentiful - always fresh & the French are marvels at preparing them - sometimes some of us go to a little village hotel near here & get a meal - they serve seven or eight courses - light wine & coffee for two Francs!! $0.40. Their bread is black & tough & they have no butter. People must have bread cards in order to buy bread.

Am so anxious to go to the large town - some 30 Kilometers away - I want to buy some presents for you all - I am permitted to send seven pounds by mail. Perhaps they will allow me a pass next Sun.

Everything is much cheaper here than at home - American tobacco of well known brands is 4 cents cheaper & lots of our leading brands of cigars are much cheaper. Clothes are almost Gratis - leather lined (at the knees) whip-cord breeches $6.50 = $25.00 at home - English trench coats - wind & waterproof & with heavy detachable wool lining 135 Francs - $19.98!!! $75.00 at home. In fact a man is a chump to bring over a lot of stuff. Wonderful Whip cord uniforms - made to order for $35.00!!! $80.00 at home - Sam Brown belts $6.50 = $15.00 at home. In fact everthing is cheap but candy & that is almost against the law - being a luxury - the Y sells a very good kind for $1.25 a half pound - so I don't eat it - often.

Must eat now - 5:45 pm It is 10:30 am with you - & I suppose Baby is taking her nap. Someone said that your time had been advanced an hour - has it?

- -

Night mess is finished & I am gasping for breath in this uniform - weighed 147 - yesterday!!! Isn't that great? Took a bath last night so perhaps I lost a pound or two.

Hope your letters will tell me all about Dad & "Ganie" - I miss them both. Dad would be interested in the farming methods here - disgusted also - as there is not corn. - Hops is the big crop - will tell you how they do it some other time.

Good night dearest. - Has baby forgotten her daddy? - bet she hasn't, bless her dear heart. Gee how I do love you both - how much I miss you - it is very lonely nights & I go to bed at 8:00 pm as a rule - it helps to sleep.

I love you, Jack