Powhatan Clarke letter to his Mother - January 24, 1918
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January 24, 1918 This pen takes fits of spitting all over the place I shall have to teach it better manners. My dearest Mother. I certainly wish you could see me now. We are quartered in an enormous building which, if I have the history right, has served as a monastery, a bishops palace and a barracks for many of famous troops. The walls are miles thick and it is the easiest thing in the world to get lost especially at night as there are no lights. Harry M., Roy . & myself have a room about 25 x 25 we are really quite comfortable. We bought a few things such as oil cloth for table, lanterns etc & consider the place quite home like. I am writing by a
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[page 2] candle with some wine & cigarettes on the table. Quite cozy. By the way I am rapidly acquiring two French customs. The first is drinking wine instead of water, the second is not using much water at all. When we want a bath, it is quite a ceremony. We go to a regular bathing establishment and the worst of it is they usually want to bathe you. They means females. We cant get too much canned heat or cigarettes. It is absolutely impossible to get either. Send me some saddle soap and some russet cleaner if possible. It seems funny to think that we
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[page 3] are paid to go where so many people have spent a good deal of money to get to & then rave about it. Tonight we had a wonderful moon & it certainly made the old building a spot for romance. The town is very quaint. The streets are very narrow, not more than twenty feet & there are no sidewalks. You always hold your breath when one of our big trucks comes tearing around a corner for fear it will take ones of the little toy houses with it. I havn
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[page 4] There isn
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[page 5] we have run into quite a few of the men who were at Chanute & Garden City but again censor will not let me name them. The more I see, the more I am satisfied that I was not sent across from ground school. The men who came across before they got their commissions are haveing a hell of a time compared to what we have. My candle is getting low and I don
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[page 6] January 25, 1918 Greetings again. My letter was returned because it was not properly addressed so I shall add something to it. Today I left my clothes to be washed in French. I also left my clothes to be cleaned in French and I must be getting along for at first they said there was no possibility of getting them out before Wednesday but after much effort on both sides they were promised to-morrow night. The days go on much the same drill eat inspect etc in a tiresome round. I don
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[page 7] We have an impromptu jass band and we enjoy it enormously. Last night we had a bit of a concert and the boys did very nicely. I don
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[page 8] to seek the downy comfort of my sleeping bag. The bag has turned out just right and certainly manage to tear off some sleep in it. Goodnight, Powie. O.k. P.H. Clarke 1st Lieut. Sig.R.C.,A.S.
Details
| Title | Powhatan Clarke letter to his Mother - January 24, 1918 |
| Creator | Clarke, Powhatan |
| Source | Clarke, Powhatan. Letter to his Mother. 24 January 1918. Clarke, Powhatan Papers. A0293. Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | Powhatan H. Clarke sent this letter to his mother about his current living quarters in France and how his French was developing nicely. His first letter was returned and he included another letter dated January 25, 1918. In the second letter he discussed daily life and the military jazz band. Clarke served with the 21st Aero Squadron and Labor Bureau A.E.F. during Word War I. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; World War, 1914-1918--Music and the war |
| Subject Local | World War I; WWI; United States. Army. Aero Squadron, 21st |
| Site Accession Number | A0293 |
| Contributing Institution | Missouri History Museum |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond those allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the Missouri History Museum: 314-746-4510 |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. Contact the Missouri History Museum's Permissions Office at 314-746-4511 to obtain written consent. |
| Date Original | January 24, 1918 |
| Language | English |