George J. Maguolo letter to Louis - May 22, 1919
Transcript
#83 Bellevue (Seine et Oise) May 22 1919 – Dear Louis - Your letters –HC are coming regularly and I have reason to believe mine must be reaching you. I hope package # 7 containing a relief of Langres has also reached you by now. It certainly is the best collection of junk I have sent yet. At present we are spending much of our time traveling about France. From now on shall probably spend 4 days per week on the move – returning to the school as a base for [Tuesday] [Wednesday] & [Thursday] & [Friday]. Have just returned from a sketching trip in the Loir valley – around Blois. The chateaus of Blois - Chamborde -Chaumont – Amboise and Cheuonceaux. It is superfluous
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[page 2] for me to rave – but the more I see over here the better I like it. Seeing the Chateau at Blois with a light musette bag across the shoulders is much different than last year under the weight of a clumsy pack. Had dinner with the people I know there. Caught the electic interbruban to Chaumont (not G.H.Q. of course) and spent a most pleasant day taking down sketches of details both interior & exterior. the real Spring of France is now set in and we are enjoying the most delightful weather. From Chaumont to Amboise - the train. this old chateau has some interesting old spiral stairs and ramps – capable of caring for horses & carriages. An emmense thing. the Home of Charles VIII – and [Leonardo] de Vinci
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[page 3] We hired a carriage from Ambroise to Cheuonceaux 18 Kilos. 3 Lieuts’ and I. Dont know that I ever enjoyed a ride more than this one through the beautiful country of the Loire in the fresh morning. Secured 9 sketches on this trip. Emil’s marriage announcement reached me today! I had suspected something all the while. Simpson is now with us! So the 4 sea going corporals are together and we are putting [Washington University] on the map. Conditions at Langres are getting worse & worse. the superiors realising the discontentment among the troops have inforced guard and discipline to the extreme so that now they are nothing short of Bolshevicks – the change it has caused in Simpson illustrates well what a hell hole it is!
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[page 4] It is rumored that they will keep the men here until [August] or [September]. two men have already shot themselves but I fear more shall do so before the end. Of a certain superior who is greatly responsible you shall hear upon my return – and it will go hard with him when he again comes into civil life (if he dares.) - Of course you can’t understand this – We here are lucky! to be free from such devils and undoubtedly will go home from here. With the present disturbance in the peace conference over the question of [ms illegible: 1 wd] – it will be hard for us to get into Italy and I am still undecided about a discharge. My service record has been found ! Oh. you wonderful
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[page 5] organization - after a year! that means I should get some money soon. We are to have a concert again tonight [ms illegible: 2wds] from the balcony of this big salle – while we “charette” on this problem. We are doing a big college – to be completed next week. the Painters are going to give a vaudiville stunt out on the green here – there will be girls from paris for a petite dance I guess on our portico. For the last two mornings a company of French [ms illegible: 1 wd] (musicians) have come here on horseback. Delightful music for early morning. A letter from Freddy Hammond gave me an idea of what is happening in St. Louis [Architecture] circles. Lots of work in view it looks.
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[page 6] We are not certain wether the school will run to [August] 15 or just the end of June. The 139th & 128th have probably been demobilized by now and Mare at home. As a result of the rapid troop movements we are getting more liberties and France is rapidly becoming a livable place. You would be surprised to see how sorry the majority of French people are to see our boys go. Not only from the commercial stand point. I am told that Nice has had the greatest season since its existance. and my patron Mr. Carlu has appeared so I must close to get his criticism Sincerely George J. Maguolo Bellevue ( Seine et Oise) A.P.O. 702 –A.E.F.
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Later - the affair last night was chic! Am sending you a photo of a class at school which incidently shows the facade of the Hotel. Had a dance on the portico. [George Maguolo].
Details
| Title | George J. Maguolo letter to Louis - May 22, 1919 |
| Creator | Maguolo, George J. |
| Source | Maguolo, George J. Letter to Louis. 22 May 1919. George J. Maguolo Papers, 1917-1945. A0969. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, Missouri. |
| Description | George J. Maguolo wrote a letter to his brother Louis on May 22, 1919. Maguolo was in the 29th Engineers Company A and served in France until 1919. In this letter Maguolo described his daily life at school and a recent visit to Loure, France. He also mentioned that Simpson, another friend from St. Louis had joined him and Herbert at the School. Simpson provided him with an update on the soldiers of their former unit at Langres where moral was quickly deteriorating. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918--Study and Teaching |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I |
| 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 | May 22, 1919 |
| Language | English |