James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - November 13, 1918
Transcript
Dear Mother - and others Yesterday Igot your letter Ethels and Waynes - now dont tell me they werent welcome Isaved yours until the last yes this is France and Iam somewhere in it, but Idont know just where. it doesnt make any particular differences where just as long as Uncle sam give me your letters ever so often. The country is pretty and dainty - beautiful grass - and well kept. one falls in love with the country at once - but these little villages. you cant imagine how dirty they are - but the people do not seem to care - they put on their wooden shoes and go around just as tho slush was never heard of and seem to enjoy walking in the mud. The houses tho are clean, spotlessly clean, and full of interesting stuff - old - brass cooking vessels - and some beautiful furnitures clocks tho seem to be their specialty for they all have a bunch of them and by the way they are all rather musical when they struck. The beds are very narrow - short and high - really very comfortable but I’d hate to roll out of one of them - you have a lot of nice soft comforts over you and then at the foot is a great big pillow kinda an abbreviated feather bed to sleep under mighty nice tho after you have spent a few days and nights without taking your clothes of. The oldest thing I’ve run across so far is a cross put up in 1738 Isuppose tho that a few of the houses are older than that all very nice but I’d rather have a modern house in the U.S.A. Idont care for candle and fire places you should see me blow the fire. Ican do that alright but I cant pinch the candle very well - my fires nearly out and my candle is pretty low - so Iwont write much more tonight. Food is good over here - and the French sure can fry potatoes - and Iam always hungry - I’ve learned to eat without minding the odor of the cow barn in the least. Iam glad you took your dinner and went out in the woods next time select a manure pile to eat near and imagine a few old building around you and you can picture France as I’ve seen how very nicely. The people tho are fine - my land lady is a fine old lady - and mighty
Transcript
kind to me - in fact she worryes me by wanting to clean my shoes and press my clothes. They need it alright but Ihate to have her fooling around anyway she is too old for that sort of work. I’d rather have my boy do it that what I pay him for. must go to bed. This should have been mailed a few days ago but didnt get the chance to finish and now Icant write much as we are on the move again still sunny France. Havent been very busy lately - just a lot of mumps and no cases of interest how before Iget out that Ill get to see some really interesting work must go no. love to all and take care of yourself - Lovingly Jim [November 13, 1918] Lt James R Davis 816 Pioneer Infantry American Ex. Force Rec [December] 12, 1918
Details
| Title | James Robert Davis letter to Mother and Others - November 13, 1918 |
| Creator | Davis, James Robert |
| Source | Davis, James Robert. Letter to Mother and Others. 13 November 1918. James Robert Davis Collection, 1918-1919. 1994.41. National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | James Robert Davis wrote this letter to his mother and other relatives on November 13, 1918. Davis described the country side in France and discussed his daily activities. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--Military life--United States; Mumps; World War, 1914-1918--Occupied territories |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; 816th Pioneer Infantry |
| Site Accession Number | 1994.41 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| 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. |
| Date Original | November 13, 1918 |
| Language | English |