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Show JAMES G. BROOKS HIES FROM FRANCE James C. Brooks. Co H. 361th In-1 fantry, a former resident in Ogden, is now in France and writes regularly to friends here telling of interesting experiences ex-periences and a thoroughly enjoyable life in the army. Crossing the Atlantic was a delightful delight-ful experience and a very calm affair, compared with many trips he has taken tak-en across Lake Michigan, and had It not been for the thought of the sub-1 marine and war on the other side, would have bcen'one of the most en-' ; joyable trips anybody could ever have hoped to make. Whilst encamped in Emrland it was the nleasure of his regiment, along with all other American Ameri-can troops arriving in England to receive re-ceive a message from King George which is written on paper emnossec with the Royal Arms and saying: i "Soldiers of the United States, the I people of the British Isles welcome j you on your way to take your stand beside the armies of many nations now fighting In the old world the great battle for human freedom. The allies ;will gain new heart and spirit in j-ourj i company. I wish I could shake the hand of each one of you and bid you god -speed on your mission. George. R. I." Mr. Brooks describes the country where they are now encamped as being be-ing a perfect landscape, "a most Ideal spot for an artist," and the country as rich, fertile and beautifully wooded whilst the people are primitively simple in the manners of living, open hearted and hospitable to a degree. j One of the joys of life, says Mr. Brooks, is to sit down at the mess table and enjoy a dish of tomatoes which were, packed by the Parker Canning Co.' of Ogden. Very interesting, inter-esting, he says, is the community wash day and the primitive use of a big stone whereon the dirt is literally I pounded out of the clothes." Old wq-I wq-I men seventy to ninety years old working work-ing in the fields, and taking the cows out and from pasture gives some idea ! of the spirit of Franco working to win j the war. I French money is amusing to the ' American soldier, he thinks, the paper j being issued in small denominations 'and looking for all the world like paper and on pay day the American soldier is apt to think that he has become a millionaire all of a sudden. The carefulness of the French peasant pea-sant Is a matter of note to all the American boys and a great contrast to the wasteful and extravagant ways wo have been accustomed to in this country. coun-try. What with dances, concerts, games, and the ever present "Y" tho leisure hours of the soldier may be a source of great profit to any man who wishes wish-es to be worth while. |