Henry B. Sanders letter to Dr. Henry Milton Whelpley - August 2, 1918

Transcript

CAMP MacARTHUR, WACO? TEXAS. AUGUST, 2, 1918. Dear Dr. [Henry Milton] Whelpley: St. Louis, [ Missouri] It was with pleasure that I read your letter of a few days previous. Really I did not expect to hear from you so promptly, for I always imagined that you were much to busy a man for Social Correspondence. But you can take it from me that there is one thing that does a soldier good, if anything does and that is mail. The fellow who doesn’t get a letter when the mail is called feels like he has no friends. I told Mr. Florian that you wanted him to write and he informs me that he has already done so, so most likely you have his letter by this time. And Mr. Ben Schiess is located at Infirmary No. 3. A letter will reach him if addressed as follows: Mr. Ben Schiess, Infirmary No. 3., Inft. Rpl. & Tr. Camp, Camp MacArthur, Waco, Texas. I’m sure he will be glad to hear from you. Since writing you a few days ago I have the promotion that I expected. You can now address me as Sergeant. I find that this Army Game is just like any other one in Civil or Industrial life. You must work like the deuce and make every edge cut. The harder you work, the better chance you have for promotion. I’m very much pleased that you can publish my letter and hope you can find that plate, from the old college days. You see I am getting puffed up with importance since I have my promotion. Anyway Dr. my first request stands just as I told you for individually I have no desire for public print, but feel that it will make some of the folks of mine feel better. As a matter of fact this life isn’t anything like you and your fellow editors make it appear in print. However be that as it may, we would not have you to write anything except the stuff that keeps up the morale of those at home. I for one will admit that for the first time in my life I am homesick at times. I suppose it is because I know that I can’t go there. Dr. you should be here for a few hours. Last Sunday it rained for the first time since I have been here , AND when it does rain it rain in [Texas] well it sure does. And this soil is all gumbo, (Ibelieve that is what it is called ) and it sticks to your shoes like glue. We in St. Louis think that Market Street with its cobblestones and dirt is bad walking, but its like a hardwood floor compared with this place after rain. And hot well a few days ago it was 121 degrees on the porch out of the sun. Some of the boys get used to the heat, but I ca’nt it seems. The people here are very friendly and I’ve had the pleasure of some of this Southern Hospitality. After you once get acquainted with them and their are assured that you are all right, they will do anything for you. Well Dr. I’M financially embarrassed until pay day so I Do’nt want to write a letter that weighs over 2 ounces, so I am going to close and am inclosing a little book which is given out to the soldiers. I thought that it might be interesting to you. If you can favor me with a copy of the Meyer Brothers Druggist, at the next edition will be glad to receive it. When I get back to St. Louis I will sign up for life, and then you can retire from active life. I do’nt mean that Dr. I mean active Business Life, for I know that if a man retires from active life he might as well be dead. So wishing you a long and prosperous life and assuring you that I appreciated your letter I remain Yours Affectionately, Sergeant Harry B. Anders. Camp MacArthur, Waco Texas. Inf. Rpl. & Tr. Camp. Section M.