Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - April 17, 1918
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Somewhere in France April 17, 1918 Dear Bess: How do you like the stationery? It is French or Swiss or Belgique or some foreign kind. They do things in great shape over here. Everyone tries his level best to treat Americans better than the one before hoping that there will be a greater consideration forthcoming. We find a nice restaurant where we can get a fine meal for 3 or 4 francs and when we go back after spreading the news it costs 10 or 12. I suppose it serves us right though because our buck privates get as much money as a captain over here. My check was for 1007.40 francs and next month it'll be about 1100.00. Nearly enough money to retire on over here and plenty to start in business with an immense stock of goods, all of two counters full. The people generally treat us fine and seem very glad to accommodate us in
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any way they can. I am not in school yet although I shall be very soon. Have been walking around the town and country seeing the sights and there are lots of them. If the sun would only shine it would be a beautiful place. It never has been shining except on the day we landed. I guess that was a good omen. Hope so anyway. I have been trying to cable you ever since I landed but as I told you in my letter day before yesterday the wires are so crowded with official business I haven't been able to do it. I left a letter for you in New York to be mailed when we arrived which I suppose you have gotten by this time anyway. I have been going through the art gallery with Major Gates and some of the other lieutenants today. It has lots of pretty pictures
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and statues and things but nothing of note. We are going to Gr Opera tonight Augustus Thomas' Mignon. I don't reckon it'll amount to much but we are going to try it anyway. Saw Clara Kimball Young in a spasm last night entitled Femmes Des France, but couldn't see any connection between title and show if "Femmes Des France" means Women of France as they tell me it does. She was a Red Cross nurse and married an Englishman, that she'd been dingy over before the war, after nursing him through a wounded spell. Very touching when Clara Kimball does it and caused the French audience to clap very loudly when he took her in his arms in the last act. All the explanations were in French so I just guessed the thing out. They put on a real American picture the other night, Douglas Fairbanks, and everything was in good United States
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language. It was sure some satisfaction too I tell you. I sure do get tired of Oui, Oui Monsieur and Cinq Francs, Merci Monsieur. All I can say is “je ne comprend pas” and I'm not sure of that. Wish I could step in and see you this evening. Have only seen one good looking French woman and she was married to some French general or admiral or something anyway he had seven or eight yards of gold braid on him. Might have only been a second lieutenant for all I know. Be sure and write lots of letters for I'll appreciate them when I get them if it won't be till next summer sometime. I am thinking of you all the time and dream of you always. Yours Harry
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Harry S. Truman 1st LT 129 Fa Det. 25 Division A.E.F. [stamp] U.S. ARMY APR 20 POSTAL SERVICE 1918 Soldiers Mail Miss Bess Wallace 219 Delaware St. Independence [Missouri]U.S.A. [ms illegible:torn] K. Lt. Harry S. Truman 128 Fa
Details
| Title | Harry S. Truman letter to Bess Wallace - April 17, 1918 |
| Creator | Truman, Harry S. |
| Source | Truman, Harry S. Letter to Bess Wallace. 17 April 1918. Papers of Harry S. Truman Pertaining to Family, Business and Personal Affairs; Correspondence from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace, 1910-1919. HST-FBP_5-30_01. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Ind |
| Description | Letter from Harry S. Truman to his future wife, Bess Wallace, telling her about life in France since he has arrived from New York. Captain Harry S. Truman commanded Battery D of the 129th Field Artillery Regiment from July 11, 1918 through the end of the war on November 11, 1918. During his military service Truman frequently wrote to Bess informing her of his experiences. |
| Subject LCSH | Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; United States. Army. Field Artillery Battalion, 129th; World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; United States. Army. Division, 35th; |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Entertainment |
| Site Accession Number | HST-FBP_5-30_01 |
| Contributing Institution | Harry S. Truman Library and Museum |
| Rights | Documents in this file are in the public domain. |
| Date Original | April 17, 1918 |
| Language | English |