George J. Maguolo letter to Folks - September 8, 1918
Transcript
[September] 8, 1917. Base Hospital #48 Recent letters August 5-14-18-27 September 2 Dear Folks - Shall probably be moved from here in a short while, as I now am quite O. K. It will be a pleasure to get back to my company and again be absorbed in a useful occupation. You know how tired a month of doing nothing can make one. A few days ago I went under the X-ray and from the report that reached me all is satisfactory. What a wonderful part the X-ray is playing for the location of bullets, and shrapnel in the hospitals! Received another letter from my Captain this time, who states that he is anxious for my return and assures me I should not be transferred to a pioneer engineer or a pick and shovel regiment. This relieves no little anxiety from my mind.
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[page 2] This is Sunday, and I have taken a long walk to a small neighboring town (2 km from here). The houses are all stone, usually stuccoed with the characteristic red tyle roofs. Except for the main street the houses are all farm houses, i.e. the stable, pig pen, and living quarters are all one. The cows are kept in the living room of the 1st floor, as it were. It is a common thing to be compelled to plow through cow dung, and moldy manure before reaching the mistress of the house. In my study of architecture at school I could never understand why the French always called the 2nd story, their 1st story. But it is easy to see that if architecture had a beginning with the farmhouse the 1st story don’t count.
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[page 3] Another peculiarity is the French farmers habit of living together in groups, some times with a high stone fence all around them. This is probably the outcome of an old Medevial practice done for protection. How different from the independent American farmer who separates his beasts from his family and lives alone, master of his domain! But this is not getting into Town. Finally we are on a cobbled stone street, very crooked and as usual crowded with Americans who wander from cafe to cafe, trying to make themselves understood with a handful of French words. After looking at the crude little country church, the community school and the Town hall all of which look as old as Methusla, there is nothing to do but find
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[page 4] a vacant bench in a cafe. The little French kids will pester you for a sere 2 [cents] and old women street vendors have a tempting display of figs, chocolate bar, eggs and cantalopes. The “Poilu” home on a furlough is very friendly and more than delighted if you speak French. If you are with him very long you must go to a cafe, of course. The low ceiling and plain bar room with heavy tables and benches has little attraction. But in the evenings (in particular) there is always the boisterous mixed crowd of French & Americans. saturated in an atmosphere thick with tobacco and smoke. A bar maid brings in the wine which taste much like (“baranda”) and costs a franc per bottle. It is poor stuff, but no one may get
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[page 5] good wines, rum, and Cognaic for the asking. Cognaic tastes much like wisky and costs from eight to fifteen francs per bottle. However I drink very little as you know, and am mostly entertained when a Poilu sings for the crowd. But my meals are always uppermost in my mind so cafes little interfere. I believe no white bread can be had in France today except under the American Flag. The food in the hospitals is very good indeed. No mail (other than official) reaches me here, but I expect quite an accumilation upon my return. This is a frivilous letter perhaps but remember that I have nothing else to do. Regards to all and best wishes for a better day Sincerely [Corporal] [George] Maguolo 29th Engineers Co H.
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to Folks - September 8, 1918 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to Folks. 8 September 1918. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote a letter to his parents on September 8, 1918 while in France. Maguolo was in the 29th Engineers Company H and served in France until 1919. Maguolo wrote this letter from a hospital in Mars, France while being treated for pleurisy. Maguolo mentioned that he had received a letter from his company commander stating he would be able to return to his original unit once he recovered. Maguolo also described his visit to a neighboring French town in great detail. This letter was written on American Red Cross letterhead. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--War Work-- Red Cross |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Base Hospital #48 |
| Site Accession Number | A0969 |
| 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 | September 8, 1918 |
| Language | English |