April 5, 1919 -- George Writes of the Coming Great Welcoming & Receives Letter From Home

 

 APO # 750

Evacuation Hospt. #13, Warfeldenges, Lux.

April 5, 1919 

Dear Ones All:

            Have been up around in my bath robe since about  8 A.M. this morning so thot I’d try to concentrate enough to drop you a line as it is now nearly noon.  I am sitting at the desk and using the nurse’s ink and pen, as all of my equipment is back at Echternach.  I still have to write with arm motion entirely so it will be some job to read this, but guess Susan can make it out someway.  We are getting better slow but sure.

** Just stopped for lunch.   Had potatoes, cooked tomatoes, buttered toast and cocoa with canned apricots for dessert.  Not too bad, eh.  Digger as the Australians used to say.

            Well I expect there are great preparations afloat in a quiet way to welcome the strange little craft when it comes in across the stormy water without a stitch of rigging on.  My? Oh My?  I’m still hoping to beat him[1] home for most of my life I have received the welcomes and have very seldom been in the welcomer end of a real big welcoming, seems to me.  As soon as I arrive as I have been away so long I may have forgotten the right side up to hold the little rascal or a few similar minor details.  

            Paper, news, etc., gone so close with lots of love to all.                                                        

                                                            Your loving son & Bro.,

                                                                        Corp. Geo. Sherwood

                                                                        108^th Engineers

                                                                        American E. F. 

---

[1] The upcoming birth of William Philip Weber to Herman and Susan Weber

March 21 - 23, 1919 -- Geoge Writes to Each In Turn; Hears from College Teacher

Echternach, Luxembourg

March 21^st, 1919

Dear Little Sister:

            I’ve decided to write you each a little line this time. I don’t know just why, but guess I can make it a little more personal that way, tho I have no objection to a comparison of notes after each reads his or her part.  And foolish as it may seem the main reason probably lies in the fact that last night as I lay thinking of home about 1: AM or so I got to thinking of some thing I’d like to say to you in one of our old fashioned talks and I inadvertently let slip an “Say Kiddo” in my minds conversation.  I nearly laughed outright at the way my old familiar way of addressing you slipt in so unconsciously.  And of course it at once flashed across my brain the wild look Prof. Klang gave me one day when I was saying something to him and accidently the same words.  I’ve forgotten what I was talking to you about in my minds eye last night but the irrepressible desire to address you as “kiddo” got the best of me, so as long as I can’t say it in person I’ll write it.  Dear little Kid, you don’t know how happy and proud the uncle to the future heir to the house of Weber is.  At first my happiness was mixed with just a little worry, but I’m over it now. Half the battle is over because you are so unworried and unafraid yourself.  And the calm, beautiful way you take it not only means safety for yourself, but health and beauty of soul and body for your baby.  Dearest, I think you are taking rather an advantage of me, cause being the only Uncle on your side of the family it’s up to me to brace up and amount to something as an example for my nieces and nephews, I guess.  How I wish I could take you in my arms and sit down in a nice big rocker and “just talk.”  For while the pen may be mightier than the sword, the tongue is a whole lot easier to wield than either, and would be a great deal more satisfactory in this case.  When I started to write this my head was as full of ideas as a Jerry mattress is of lice, but I have been stopped so often by the business of the office that they have all fled.  So I guess you will have to wait for any more “raving” till I get another inspiration, or till Johnnie comes marching home  But?

A little birdie keeps singing to me

            And these are the words she seems to say

                        Cheer up my boy don’t homesick be

                                    You might be home in the month of May.  

                                                            Love to my own little Sister from

                                                            Corp Geo. Sherwood

 Echternach, Luxembourg, 23-3-‘19

Dear Brother Herman:  If I don’t get an answer to this letter I’m going to give up in despair.  And you had better be careful how you treat me, or I’ll take up so much of your wife’s time when I get back that you won’t get anything to eat.  Now don’t you think you had best write me a nice letter.  If you hurry you will just about get a letter back in time to catch me in this town – maybe. And after we start to move we will probably not stop long enough to let much mail catch up with us, at least I hope we won’t.  We are hoping to go out Via Antwerp, as the chance of Rotterdam seems to be pretty slim.  Say, I’m brimful of questions which I want answered.  In the first place, how is the feed, hay and ensilage holding out this spring?  And did you get all of the wood out on the last snow?  Does Sis feed you any better since the war was over?   How is old Maxine?  Did she come thru the winter without catching the asthma?  You see, she has to be in good shape to celebrate when I get back.  The roads ought to be good then.  How I hope I can get home in time to welcome the expected addition to the house of Weber.  You don’t know how proud and happy the future Uncle George is to be let in on the secret.  Please write me if you can find the time. Don’t try to do too much work yourself, when Dad is feeling bum you ought to be able to get help now the boys are coming back from France.  And take good care of my little sister – your little wife as the time draws near for the Big Event.

                                                                        Your Loving Brother

                                                                        Corporal Geo Sherwood

 

Echternach, Lux. 23/3/19

Dear Daddy:  What’s this I hear about you overworking, getting a cold and being sick.  This will never do.  Do you think I’m going to stand for that after risking my neck – a little – to Bosch shells & Bombs?  Remember, you haven’t got the rookie of a year and a half to settle with on my return, but a veteran of the World War.  And if you have not kept your promise you gave at Logan to take care of yourself, and keep young and well till my return – well, I leave it to you to imagine the cruel reckoning.  And if I can’t scare you, which I doubt if I can, did you ever stop to consider how Susan and Herman have your cornered.  You just have to let up on work and preserve yourself, and mother too, so that the approaching family of grandchildren can know, and profit and be proud of Grandma and Grandpa Sherwood.  Daddy, I wish you would drop me a line as I asked once before, and let me know about how the family finances stand.  You see, I can plan my future civilian operations more intelligently if I know how things are at home.  How is the milk market since the war?  And how do the cattle take to ensilage.  Oh!  Tell me all about it please. Now I’ve got to ring off and send a line to mother. 
                                                            Love to my dear Dad

                                                            Corp. Geo Sherwood

 

Same Place, Same Date, Same Guy

Dear little Mother:  Here I have been telling them all to keep an eye on you and one another so you wouldn’t work too hard and I caught myself wishing I had you here to rub my ankle where it pains yet.  The thotless inconsistency of man!  Well, I wish you were here just the same.  Or, better yet, I wish I were there. But wishing is vain so we will try to continue to do our share and hope for an early fulfillment of our dreams.  There is always someone worse off than you are in this world anyway.  They have just sent us two Y.M.C.A Girls who have only been over here since Feb 19^th.  They want to make up to the boys for some of the failures of the Y in the past, and for the hardships they have been thru.  But here they are practically alone, inexperienced and with such poor organization behind them, that they get to feeling sometimes as tho they weren’t really wanted or their efforts worth while.  In reality, the officers and organization of Engrs are nearly all trying to help them, but they haven’t been “in the Army” long enough to realize the pressure of work and the constant pounding away that is necessary to accomplish anything.  Nor are they used to the impersonal attitude they must face.  Poor kids, it is a shame they are sent out so inexperienced, but tho it hurts to learn in the school of experience, they have their heart in the work and put up a good barrage of cocoa and cookies yesterday, so I guess the will come out on top in the end.  Now I must close.  Maybe I can be your birthday present yet this year.  Love to all especially my little mother. 

                                                            Corp. Geo S. Sherwood, 108th Eng. Amer. E. F.   

Censored:  C. L. Thompson

Captain 108^th Engrs

Amer. E. F. 

1919-0323 ---   Martha Schufflebotham to George Sherwood

My Dear Mr. Sherwood,

                                                Your postal came about a week ago, I was very pleased to receive it.  Certainly I will send you a line if that will help you any to while away the hours.  I have also sent your address to Howard Lowry and asked him to write to you.

            So Mariam told you I was here in Elroy?  Yes, I’m here teaching Latin, English, Ancient History and (no bricks, please) music.  It’s all right, but I’ve had things to do that suited me better.

            I know your cousins May Sherwood and Beth Waterman real well.  The people here in Elroy surely are a bunch and they make it mighty nice for us teachers.

            Perhaps you would like some Lawrence news.  I don’t know any very new but it may be news to you.  Did you know that Mac Ainsworth was killed by electrocution this summer while working in a mine?  Also did you know that Leona Kimball is making  a name for herself in some brilliant chemical investigations she is carrying on for the Du Pont Powder works in the east.

            Dr. Wright the Latin prof, you remember died this winter at a sanitarium.  Oh yes!  The Lawrence chapel (the new one) was finished and dedicated a short time ago and now plans are being laid for a new gymnasium.  I tell you, the old school is growing.

            Are you still interested in rocks, and rock minerals?  I can imagine you scaling the cliffs of Germany (Are there cliffs in Germany?) in search of pyrite and dolomite!

            I must “ring off” now and hie me down the hill to supper.  Best wishes to you! 

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Martha Schufflebotham

 

March 12, 1919 -- Echternach's Greatest Market Day of the Year; Receives letter from L C Mohr

Echternach, Luxembourg

March 12, 1919

Dear Home Folks:

            This is your anniversary, all of you. Susan and Herman have never celebrated before their own selves unless the cause of today’s celebration which took place last year can be called the first one.  And Daddy and Mother have celebrated many happy anniversaries yet I fancy this will be just a wee bit happier than most of the later ones have been because of the new celebration that makes the day mean more to them, as well as Sister and Brother.

            Oh, well, Echternach is celebrating the great day too, for today is the greatest Market Day of the whole year. The square is rapidly filling up with wagons and funny little carts filled with produce, calves, pigs, chickens, etc., etc.  They even have calves tied around to some of the store steps, door casings, etc., and their melodious? clamor at time is something immense.  Wish I had a film so I could get some pictures of it, but the scene is much the same as those pictures you have all seen of Europe’s inland Markets, so you can easily imagine it with the aid of the pictures of the Market Square I have sent from time to time.  You see our office is only about 3 doors up this street from where it ends in the square.  The streets of Echternach all converge toward that as a center so if you know the square you are never in any danger of getting lost.

            The ankle is getting along fine today.  I got a shoe on for the first time since the accident, so I feel quite cocky.  It bears my weight quite well if there is no side pressure or twist, but it is as sore as a boil to any pressure against the point of the bone on the outside and on up the ankle.  In fact, is hurting very much the same way as the other one was three years ago tho not quite as seriously.  But I’d give a lot to be back where Sister could massage it once in awhile.  She brot the other one out so well, the examination board at Jefferson Barracks refused to believe it had ever been cracked or strained at first.  But I haven’t the ability or patience to get much good out of what I am able to rub it.  However, guess it will come out all O.K. in the end. 

            This is a beautiful sunny spring day. How I wish for a car and my loved ones to enjoy a long trip thru this beautiful Luxembourg country of which we are really seeing so little.

            The cigar coupons enclosed are really money the kind we use over here.  And the stamps are French, taken from some old receipts, etc. in a French Chateau.

            Well, I’ll ring off and send this along now.

            Love again and again, and the very best returns of the day.

                                                Your loving Son & Brother

                                                            George Sherwood

                                                            108^th US Engineers

                                                            Amer. Exp Forces

PS.  Cinquanti Centines is ½ Franc or nearly 10 cents. 

Censored

Clyde L. Thompson

Captain, USA

1919-0313   L.C. Mohr To George S. Sherwood

Kalamazoo, Mich.  March 13 1919

Dear George, -
                                    Hello old man, and how are you by this time.  Suppose you are all ready to start for home, as I saw by the paper that the 33^rd would follow the 32^nd.  I left Angus, with 116^th Engrs, Jan 30^th and landed Hoboken Fe. 23^rd.  Was discharged Feb. 27^th and was a free man for a few days.  But to-day I signed a contract for the rest of the year, beginning Monday to teach a South Haven, where I taught when I entered the army.  I am getting very nearly twice as much as I received when I was there before and I also like the kids.  You perhaps remember the boxes they sent me when I was in Houston.  They had a big crowd down at the station to see me when I came in and escort me to the high school.  Then I had to make a speech and then we had a regular good time.  I visited classes with the fellows and raised the devil.  Now Monday, I have to start teaching and assume the dignity of the profession.

            Well George, how is old Co. C.? Is Giulfoil still with them?  I loaned Sgt Wm B. Moen of Co. B. 100 Francs when he passed thru Angus.  Do you know if he is still with the outfit?  I still have that blanket George, & would like to pay you for it.  It has been with me all of the time and I sure have appreciated your generosity in loaning it to me.  If you do not care to sell it, I’ll send it where ever you say.

            Well George, be sure to let me hear from you.  I wrote Miss Karn of Houston the other day.            Sincerely,

                        Mohr

            220 Erie St.

            South Haven, Mich

  

March 5, 1919 -- George Ruminates on Life and the Germans

Echternach, Luxembourg

March 5, 1919

 Dear Home Folks:

            I’m at it again you all.  Say if you get all of these letters I’ve written the last three weeks you’d die of surprise or at least you ought to.  But with spring in the air, a lot to do (all indoors at a desk), the then laid up so you can’t even do that except when there is a car to spare to take  you to and from work, I’ve just got to write or go plumb crazy.  Guess I’m nearly in that state now.  The ankle hasn’t pained so much today, but nobody came to take me to work so I’ve read and thot and “Want to be Home,” till I feel like I could bite spikes in two.  You see how lucky you are not to have such a ferocious young man home, don’t you.  But if something doesn’t turn up to break the monotony, and use up this surplus steam and growing restlessness there will be no living with me by the time we do get there.  Guess you better build me a padded cell.

            The worst of it is, I really don’t seem to want to work, so why should I not enjoy an enforced rest?  Here it is a beautiful world, a sunny happy sort of spring day, but there is a fly in the broth somewhere and I can’t seem to pick him out.  The only enjoyment I seem to be really getting is in writing to you, and tho there really is nothing the matter, I’m afraid the tone of my letters may worry you or make you blue.  Oh, for a good pair of legs and a Tennis Court.  When I used to feel about 1/10 this way at Lawrence I got it out of my system that way usually.  They say that “Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do,” but even that old “Devil” seems to have forgotten me as I can’t think of anything really wickedly original to pull.  Yep!  It’s a gay old world “Nit” as the Luxembourger says for no.  I believe a few good old Jerry shells would be welcome as a diversion tho thank God for the rest of the world’s sake as well as the safety of my worthless neck they “Scream no more.” 

And if the Peace Conference uses good judgment they won’t have another chance for a long, long time.  Until after the war I was rather undecided as to how harsh the Peace should be made to hit Germany, but now I know they will not hit too hard.  But will they be harsh enough?  I never dreamed it possible the war could have touched Germany so little.  How very keen they were.  Half or two thirds of the wealth of machinery they will have to pay France and Belgium for is up there in Germany, ready to begin production in her factories as soon as the industrial wheels can be oiled, the raw material procured, and government established.  You can’t make a people over in a day, it takes generations.  What if the mouthpiece of the old system is cracked and thrown away?  Another can soon replace it.  And so while France and Belgium patch up the few remaining shreds and build anew, will they let Germany get a big lead industrially with the machinery she stole, and then paid for?  I think, I hope not.  It makes me boil when I read their whining about the “Unjust Indemnities” and the cry that the Allies strive to break and ruin them.  The people of course are the ones who will suffer as always, but better this generation of them should suffer the price of their short sightedness and miss education than for France and Belgium even the world to suffer now and in the future too.

            Say, the boys say I’ve a letter from home over in the office.  I’ll croak if someone doesn’t appear with it pretty soon.  And I think I’ll wait to close this till after I have recd and read it.  Tell them Au revoir.  Bonjour!

            Here we are again.  The mail came over by orderly, and did we devour two letters from home, one from Jo and a Keystone.  You bet we did, all but the money order which arrived O.K.  Thank you so much.  I hope it didn’t embarrass you much to send it.  Maybe I was rather abrupt and hasty with that card, but hope you received my letters of explanation soon after.  Oh! How I enjoy those letters from home.  And one of these with a message from daddy, mother and Susan.  It was splenglorious.  I know Herman is really busy but has he developed writer’s cramp.  Brother, I demand that you come thru with a letter pronto.  Otherwise I shall have to use an unfair advantage and sic your wife on you.  When you are properly henpecked I’ll bet you will write. 

Elmer Smith must have had a real exciting time of it, from his letter in the Keystone.  More power to him!  To the heroes belong the Medals – but like the Victor’s Spoils they don’t always materialize.  Well, I’ve just got to stop.  Hope you can read part of my hen scratches but I have me doots.

                                                Love to All

                                                            Geo. Sherwood

                                                            108^th Engineers

                                                            American Exp. Forces 

OK

Clyde L. Thompson

Captain  108^th Engrs.

Amer. E F.

[Postscript on back of an inside page].  Don’t know how or why I left this blank but guess it was to send you all my best love and greetings on.  

They trained us in a Southern Camp

On how to lick the Hun.

We must have learned it well

The way we made the Fritzies run.

But now they’re back across the Rhine

And their war machine is spent

Please don’t forget, Dear Uncle Sam

We too ‘nach Haus’ would ‘went.’

February 4, 1919 -- Billy Phil Is Standing in the Wings Waiting for Dramatic Entrance

 

The Old Home Farm

February 4, 1919

P.M.

Dearest Brother o’ Mine,

            The weather still remains chilly (to say the least).  I went to the woods with Herman this noon (I am trying to make a practice of doing so for the sake of the exercise as well as his company) and though I had my sweater and winter coat on and my last winter’s (old the winter before it) old winter cap on, my head and face noticed the wind particularly and I assure you that I wasn’t any too warm otherwise, though warm enough.  Oh I hope your new union suits are protecting you from any weather such as this or worse which you may have over there and don’t forget about the thin summer wool union suits which I told you of, should you find you are scheduled to be over there during any large part of the summer.

            How I hope you may be home though before then, and for fear you may miss a letter or two I am going to tell you again our very special reason, besides  our wish of seeing you as soon as possible, why we hope you will be able to be here by June sometime between the middle of June and the middle of July probably, and more definitely about the first to the fourth of July we think, we are looking forward to the birth of “an heir to the house of Weber.”  As I told you in my birthday letter to you, I have been wanting to tell you ever since we suspected the possibility (and especially since Mama saw the doctor and he said he thought we were probably correct in thinking as we did).  But Herman wanted to keep our secret awhile and since he wished it I could not refuse as it seemed as much his secret as mine and no good reason for telling except that I always have and always want to tell you things.  It seemed kind of lonesome somehow not to have you know of this wonderful thing which was to happen to your little sister.  I always have told you things, and I wanted you to share the wonder and mystery and beauty of this new experience, so don’t feel “left out” dear heart because I have not told you sooner for in my heart and thought you surely were not “left out” in any way, brother o’mine.  But as you yourself pointed out to me it is best to do the will of my “Big Boy” unless there is some principal involved or reason for not doing so, and I try to do as  he wishes in spite of my own wishes to the contrary in many things, and knowing how contrary, opinionated, and “want to have my own way,” I am , perhaps you can appreciate just how hard it is sometimes.

            When people become engaged or are married their relationship to one another and to others changes thereby so that I believe it is best to make a definite announcement of such a change for the benefit of society in general as well as those particularly interested , but this something which can do no harm kept as our own family secret, just as long as we can possibly keep it (Though I don’t know just how long that may be, for as I said before I have already had to order a new dress though I did not expect to have to do so for a few weeks yet).  And again as I said in my birthday letter, I was not very well during the latter part of 1918 and we were not sure at first whether this was so or not.  Then Mama saw the doctor and he seemed to think it was but gave her some medicine for me to correct conditions which should not exist under the circumstances.  There is of course a possibility that since I wasn’t very well that we may have set the date of the expected arrival too far ahead but this is only a bare possibility and not very probable (unless some abnormal condition should set in between now and then.)

Wed. a.m.

            Perhaps you think I am saying quite a lot, for the censor I suppose will see all this, but I wanted you to know as much as possible about things, and I don’t suppose the censor is any one either of us knows or will ever hear about and probably doesn’t pay any attention to anything that doesn’t refer to the war.

            Since the first of the year I have been feeling fine as far as physical health goes and as I told you in one letter I am getting plump (and pretty?) again and weigh about what I used to.  My ability to think quickly and accurately is slowly improving (I believe) too.  I don’t know that I ever told you particularly but my brains (if I have any) have felt sluggish and tired for more than a year.  I haven’t been able to remember easily, and altogether I have wondered sometimes if my letters to showed signs of “mental degeneracy” oh, perhaps not quite that but “mental fatigue” at least.  I surely would enjoy a chance to rest my “mental wheels”, for even planning meals is hard work sometimes.  Now don’t worry for as I said I believe I am better and gaining slowly and probably when my physical strength is such as it, should be my brains? will improve ? too.  (Stranger things have happened!)

            From now on I shall hope you will have received either this letter or the one I wrote on my birthday so will probably not go into details of things again, unless I decide to write a third letter for fear you may miss getting these.  Dear, dear heart I am so glad to have you know of our expectations and probably in a few weeks we can know “absolutely and for certain" though we are practically certain now.

            Now must say Bye-Bye for now and will write about your letters soon (I did tell you yesterday how glad and proud of your promotion to Corporal but haven’t had time to say all I would like to).

            Today is another bright sunny, cold day.

                                  So much love dear heart and always our prayers. 

                                      Mispah* always with so much love from your little sister  Susan

 

*The Lord watch between you and me while we are apart from one another.

January 25, 1919 -- The World Is Full Of And Lives on Love; Trip to Aix-Les-Baines

Dearest of Sisters,

            I didn’t intend to write you alone, or to exclude the rest of the family when I came over here, but the spirit moves me to rave a little, and the only excuse I can think of is to call it a birthday letter, tho it is now only a week until your birthday.  Anyway, you can read the folks as much of this as you want to.  Even now I don’t know just what I am going to write, but I know I want to talk to “My dear little Sister” even as we loved to do in bygone days.
 

            And first of all, I have just rediscovered one of the oldest of truths.  The World is full of and lives on Love.  Not the sudden flare of passion that surges over all red blooded men and women at times and threatens – yes often does sweep them off their feet for a time; but the kind of love that burns on year after year, flaming at times, again smoldering beneath the ashes of burned out passions, hopes and desires, but still glows on deep down in the human heart, warming the soul and keeping alive the conscience of the individual and society. And so smoldering it only awaits the slightest stirring of these ashes to break forth again into purifying flame, lighting the plainest countenance with the most beautiful of glows, reflections from the flames of love.  And how did I stumble onto the old, old story.  By the simplest of means – observation.  Yet I had seen the same picture many times before and it meant little to me. 
 

            I did not know what I would write about when I came to the casino, but that same little spark in my own heart bade me write you, so I came in and stood in line with some impatience to get my allowance of paper & envelopes.  After receiving a double share from the sweet-faced old lady behind the desk, I began circulating around the room looking for a place to write.  And as I went I became still more impatient, for every place seemed full. You see as yet the beauty and significance of the scene had not impressed me.  But as I passed on, I began to scrutinize each man more closely, in hope of finding one nearly finished and as I passed man after man, here one writing, there one laboriously doing up or addressing a package, my chaos of thots began to take shape, my impatience left me, and suddenly the beauty of it surged over me as a young fellow at the desk near which I stood, oblivious to his surroundings lovingly, almost reverently folded the little souvenir handkerchief he had been holding, and carefully placed it in the envelope he had just addressed.  Then he once more carefully withdrew it and looked at it as tho picturing the joy it would bring those who received it.  And with a last caress he returned it again to the envelope gave it a final pat and turned again to his writing, his face illuminated by the fires of love burning in his breast.  And as I look about me I see that same reminiscent, loving look in nearly every face, softening and relieving the stern harsh lines the last few months have brought.  Those souvenirs are all bought at the sacrifice of some trip or anticipated pleasure of their leave period.  And as those letters are written concerts, trips, cafes, etc, are all calling one to forget and enjoy life, as of old, after months of isolation, suffering & death in the lines.  Yet all the places are filled, and men who hate writing in the ordinary sense wait patiently for their turn at the desks.  Why?  Because the fire of love (for sister, brother, mother, father or friend or sweetheart) makes them wish to share the thots, the scenes, the pleasures they are enjoying.  And so I have come to feel more strongly than perhaps ever before that love is the strongest, purest truest phase of life or perhaps life and love are inseparable phases of our being.  And so perhaps you can get a little of my meaning from the little lace collar I mailed you for your birthday the other night in case my letter isn’t quite clear, for I yet remember the loving little pats I gave it as I addressed it and sent it on its way to the Dearest little Sister a Soldier Boy could Have.  Oh, how I hope you get it, for it bears my love direct to you.  Write and tell me all about your birthday.
 

            Yesterday we went to the to the top of Mt. Revard on the cogwheel railway, hoping to see Mt. Blanc with the glasses but when we got there we were right on a cloud tho it was clear when we started up.  But the scenery was beautiful and the trip of an hour and a half up on the cogwheel well worth while. 
 

            Then we borrowed some skis up there (free for soldiers by Y.M.C.A.) and had some fine rides – and tumbles.  Got back just in time for dinner, 6:30 P.M.  The day before that we took a trip on the boat across and up the lake to the old Abby [Abbey of Echternach - see  previous post]. It was founded back in the early days of Christianity by St. Bernard, was used as a burial place for the kings and princes of France and Italy for many years, but was nearly destroyed by the French Revolution.  Was reclaimed & rebuilt by King Felix of Italy in 1824 and changed hands from Italy and France and back several times until finally it was deeded forever to the King of Italy by France in 1860 because it had been reclaimed by Felix who was buried there with his wife and contained the restored graves of so many of the other Italian Kings and Princes.  15 monks have charge of the Abbey, one of them having been there for 30 years now.  The paintings and carvings are mostly modern but they are truly wonderful
.

            On the same trip we saw the pass thru which Hannibal led his army across this mountain range in his march against the Romans. And after a year's army experience one realizes more than ever the magnitude of his task and wonder of its success when they consider that he went thru an even more rugged part of the Alps Mts. than we have here before he was finally able to strike at Rome from the North.
 

            Now I’ve got to close.
                                    Love once more to you all and may many more happy birthdays come to my dear little sister Susan – Her Brother

                                                            Corp. Geo. Sherwood, Hdqts Co

                                                            108^th U. S. Engineers, Amer. Exp.

1919-0123 - George Sherwood Aix les Bains Cathedral

Dear Brother

The hotel annex where we stay while here is just back of and across the street from this old church.  If you think we have hills in Wisconsin – come over and take a look at what they farm here.  Very few horses mostly oxen and women do the work as near as I can find out.

Write me soon.  Love to all

Corp, Geo. Sherwood  108^th U.S. Engrs. Amer. Exp. Force

 
 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO POSTCARDS FROOM TRIP TO AIX-LES-BAINES