No letter between the February 20th and the March 15th letters... seems like an awful long time not to 'visit' with his parents.
Sixth Avenue is his home in Troy, NY.
I have no idea who Hugh Rankin is or what he is doing in Paris.
Herb explains his situation to his parents here, which is nice to understand better. He is in Prouilly, I believe. He passed through Charters, Le Mans, Saint Martin d'Ablois, Meaux, Fort Vanves, and Versailles, on the way here.
Herb's Ambulance group is attached to the French 71st Division. I should do some research on them, shouldn't I?
What is up with Harry? Funny to read all this and then think of what I know about Harry as a man - which isn't much, but still. To hear about what a tough time he was having as a young man is funny.
I wonder what he knows about the Japanese.... and I didn't know he read French.
March 15 (1918)
Dear Mother,
This finds my travelling around finished for a while at least. We made our trip by automobile from our first camp to this place very safely. I saw quite a bit of French country on the way but I’d be willing [sic] trade it all for a look up Sixth Ave. We were located outside Paris for several days and though I wanted very much to go see that Pal of Hugh Rankin’s I couldn’t make it.
We are now in a small French village just back of the lines on what is at present at least a fairly quiet section of front. All our work from now on is of course with the French Army. At present the French Division to which Section 580 is attached is ‘en repos’ as they call it – resting. When it goes up to the Front we will move up nearer too, though we will of course be back of the lines a bit.
Had my first letter a few days ago and I surely was glad to see Dad’s familiar handwriting. It’s rotten luck about Harry but the only thing is of course for him to quit it. However don’t let him worry about it. I of course don’t know anything about this Bissell school but it would be well to make inquiries first – after the other unavoidable fiasco. At any rate don’t hesitate to call my resources. They’re yours. I had just gotten down to hard pan when the Q.M. came across with some money for us. We are paid now in francs and since the franc has depreciated in New York a month’s salary is (or looks to be) larger than before.
The place we now have was formerly filled by an old American Field Ambulance Section now in the U.S.A.A.S. they started back to a rest camp as we moved up so we passed them on the road. Someone yelled :Hello Herb” and there was Herb Blake passing in a car. We both stopped and shook hands + chatted for a moment. I hardly knew him – he looked like a tramp but good and healthy. He said young Lavin from the “burgh” was in the section, too, but I didn’t see him. It was a former “Syracuse” section but I’ve been away so long that I didn’t know any of them.
I haven’t heard from Karolyn yet but have hopes. Now that we have a definite stopping point the mail comes more frequently and I expect it will be fairly regular from now on.
As for my health – well there’s nothing to worry about in that. I’m getting so disgracefully fat that I’ve had to request a new uniform because the same uniform that I wore home Christmas can’t be persuaded to button around me now. I must have gained more than ten pounds since New Years.
Spring is going to be here soon. Already the days are much warmer and overcoats have been abandoned.
I’ve just one request to make. Once a week or so I wish you’d send me a New York paper and perhaps the “Post”. Now that we’re with the French, reading matter is scarce as hen’s teeth, and I’m certain you must know more about the war than I though I’m only about ten miles away from it. I read the French papers now and again but there’s little news in them. I’d certainly like to get the inside dope on this Japanese scheme.
As ever,
Your affectionate son,
Herb
Happy Halloween, dear readers.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Still in a French Camp
I am glad the Army has issued Herb some good boots - he no longer needs to wear the rubbers his mother made him buy.
And helpful to hear about the censor - makes the lack of news more understandable.
February 20, 1918
Dear Mother,
Everything is about as usual. I’m still in the first French camp we came to, though I’m in hopes that we may move to one of the larger camps before very long. I’ve been in the best of health so far and I’ve enough work to do to keep me out of mischief. There has been one mail delivery for us so far. I was a bit disappointed not to have drawn anything but it wasn’t a large mail so we couldn’t all be lucky. It was all stuff that had been forwarded from Allentown, any way – no A.E.I. stuff.
Gosh, I’d give a lot to see an up-to-date New York Times or Sun. The papers around here are a joke. Most of them are one sheet affairs with a column or so of current news pretty well camouflaged and the rest such junk as one finds on the woman’s page or in a ‘hick’ weekly – jokes, etc.
I’m tramping around now in a pair of the heaviest hob-nailed shoes one ever saw – unless it be on a German soldier. They’re fine, though, I find – easy on the feet and the heavy oiled leather keeps out the damp.
I don’t know just how they figured the seasons around here but home we’d call it Spring, I guess.The days are fine sunny and fairly warm – the nights cool and rather damp. Since the first two or three days of our stay here it has rained only a couple of times. I’m afraid this letter can’t be stretched any further. The censorship rules are certainly strict – and lengthy. They could be made shorter by mentioning the things one can write of instead of the things one can’t.
My best love to you all and regards to anyone who may ask for me.
Your affectionate son,
Herb.
And helpful to hear about the censor - makes the lack of news more understandable.
February 20, 1918
Dear Mother,
Everything is about as usual. I’m still in the first French camp we came to, though I’m in hopes that we may move to one of the larger camps before very long. I’ve been in the best of health so far and I’ve enough work to do to keep me out of mischief. There has been one mail delivery for us so far. I was a bit disappointed not to have drawn anything but it wasn’t a large mail so we couldn’t all be lucky. It was all stuff that had been forwarded from Allentown, any way – no A.E.I. stuff.
Gosh, I’d give a lot to see an up-to-date New York Times or Sun. The papers around here are a joke. Most of them are one sheet affairs with a column or so of current news pretty well camouflaged and the rest such junk as one finds on the woman’s page or in a ‘hick’ weekly – jokes, etc.
I’m tramping around now in a pair of the heaviest hob-nailed shoes one ever saw – unless it be on a German soldier. They’re fine, though, I find – easy on the feet and the heavy oiled leather keeps out the damp.
I don’t know just how they figured the seasons around here but home we’d call it Spring, I guess.The days are fine sunny and fairly warm – the nights cool and rather damp. Since the first two or three days of our stay here it has rained only a couple of times. I’m afraid this letter can’t be stretched any further. The censorship rules are certainly strict – and lengthy. They could be made shorter by mentioning the things one can write of instead of the things one can’t.
My best love to you all and regards to anyone who may ask for me.
Your affectionate son,
Herb.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Shedding pounds with a high-fat diet
From the September 19th issue of The Week Magazine...
This is also the Primal Blueprint thought, too. Cut out the legumes and processed carbs. We should be eating all the veggies we want. I now eat coconut oil, butter, and bacon fat. I do my best to have all grass fed beef and butter. My cholesterol isn't low by any means, but the good cholesterol is really high and the bad cholesterol is pretty low. So, I am pleased.
Can you lose weight with a diet that places no restrictions on your fat intake? Those who swear by the Atkins plan and other low-carbohydrate regimes have long insisted you can—and new research backs them up, reports The New York Times. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, a racially diverse group of 148 obese men and women were given diets to follow. Half were put on low-fat regimes, which limited their total fat intake to less than 30 percent of their daily calories, while the other half followed low-carb diets that involved eating mostly protein and fat. Neither group was given calorie limits. Over the course of a year, those on the low-carb diet lost around 8 pounds more than the low-fat group, shed more body fat, and showed greater improvements in cholesterol levels and other measures of cardiovascular health. Those on the low-fat diet did lose weight, but most of it was muscle, not fat. “This is one of the first long-term trials that’s given these diets without calorie restrictions,” says Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist at Tufts University who was not involved in the study. “It shows that in a free-living setting, cutting your carbs helps you lose weight without focusing on calories.”
This is also the Primal Blueprint thought, too. Cut out the legumes and processed carbs. We should be eating all the veggies we want. I now eat coconut oil, butter, and bacon fat. I do my best to have all grass fed beef and butter. My cholesterol isn't low by any means, but the good cholesterol is really high and the bad cholesterol is pretty low. So, I am pleased.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Attaching to the French Army
The censor starts in Europe.... now Herb spends even more time talking about his health and the weather. A shame we can't hear more about the towns and countryside where he is. The reports will begin to have some of that information.
Looking at the list of places where Herb camped during his tenure with the Ambulance Corps, I see that he was in Winchester, England from 1/24/1918 to 2/3/1918.
For 2 days in February he is at a rest camp in Le Havre, France, then off to 'Base Section 1' in St. Nazaire Mecanie for a few weeks. He is in St. Nazaire as he writes this letter. The town in on the west coast of France just outside of Nantes, below Quimper, where the wonderful ceramic comes from. Looks like it took them 2 days to get from Le Havre to St. Nazaire.
Mother knows best... making him buy 'rubbers' to keep his feet dry. On that subject, Trench Foot is associated with World War 1, right? Below is a picture I think I have already shown - but here he is in rain gear... much later in time, but I thought I would show this picture of Herb.
February 10th (1918)
Dear Mother,
I hope that my sea journeys are over until the war is done with and I can come home. I am at last in France. The journeys have been a bit trying but so far I’ve no slightest thing to complain of. The food is good. I get plenty of sleep and not too much work and altogether I’m pretty fit. I wish I could tell you all about my wanderings – it would, I think, make an interesting story – but that will have to wait until I shall see you. And that would be so very long. The further I go and the more I see the more I am convinced that the war can’t last much longer – even from a military stand point.
The weather here = well you wouldn’t believe it. There are two varieties – horribly rainy sloppy days and very bright warm clear ones when an overcoat is a burden. Today there are several ball games in progress and everything reminds one of May in New York. The wet days, though, are bad. I’ve certainly thanked my lucky stars for those rubbers you made me get. I should have had continual wet feet without them. We are to be issued rubber boots that come way up to the waist but the Quartermaster Department is rushed to death, so they say, and we’ll probably not get them for a week or so. We’ll also receive two pairs of heavy ‘trench’ shoes something like British shoes with hobnailed soles and heels and a dinky little fore and aft cap.
This is strictly an American camp, so I have no opportunity to talk to any French soldiers as I had to the Tommies. Those Tommies, by the way, are a fine bunch. The Scotch take the polur (?). after having talked to them I can readily believe the stories of how the Germans fear them. They speak convincingly of it’s being over by June. I hope they’re true prophets.
Don’t bother about sending any tobacco. There are American Y.M.C.A’s in every camp where Americans are located and one can buy American tobacco at American prices, or cheaper.
Everyone now is looking forward to the first mail day. I expect it will be soon.
I’ve another address now because the Ambulance Service is attached to the French Army. It is this
1 Private Charles H. Lee
2 S.S.U. 580
3 Convois Automobile
4 B.M.C. – A.E.F. France
The second line stands for Sanitary Section Unit 580. The third means automobile train and the fourth Central Military Bureau – Amex Forces.
Your affectionate son,
Herb
Looking at the list of places where Herb camped during his tenure with the Ambulance Corps, I see that he was in Winchester, England from 1/24/1918 to 2/3/1918.
For 2 days in February he is at a rest camp in Le Havre, France, then off to 'Base Section 1' in St. Nazaire Mecanie for a few weeks. He is in St. Nazaire as he writes this letter. The town in on the west coast of France just outside of Nantes, below Quimper, where the wonderful ceramic comes from. Looks like it took them 2 days to get from Le Havre to St. Nazaire.
Mother knows best... making him buy 'rubbers' to keep his feet dry. On that subject, Trench Foot is associated with World War 1, right? Below is a picture I think I have already shown - but here he is in rain gear... much later in time, but I thought I would show this picture of Herb.
February 10th (1918)
Dear Mother,
I hope that my sea journeys are over until the war is done with and I can come home. I am at last in France. The journeys have been a bit trying but so far I’ve no slightest thing to complain of. The food is good. I get plenty of sleep and not too much work and altogether I’m pretty fit. I wish I could tell you all about my wanderings – it would, I think, make an interesting story – but that will have to wait until I shall see you. And that would be so very long. The further I go and the more I see the more I am convinced that the war can’t last much longer – even from a military stand point.
The weather here = well you wouldn’t believe it. There are two varieties – horribly rainy sloppy days and very bright warm clear ones when an overcoat is a burden. Today there are several ball games in progress and everything reminds one of May in New York. The wet days, though, are bad. I’ve certainly thanked my lucky stars for those rubbers you made me get. I should have had continual wet feet without them. We are to be issued rubber boots that come way up to the waist but the Quartermaster Department is rushed to death, so they say, and we’ll probably not get them for a week or so. We’ll also receive two pairs of heavy ‘trench’ shoes something like British shoes with hobnailed soles and heels and a dinky little fore and aft cap.
This is strictly an American camp, so I have no opportunity to talk to any French soldiers as I had to the Tommies. Those Tommies, by the way, are a fine bunch. The Scotch take the polur (?). after having talked to them I can readily believe the stories of how the Germans fear them. They speak convincingly of it’s being over by June. I hope they’re true prophets.
Don’t bother about sending any tobacco. There are American Y.M.C.A’s in every camp where Americans are located and one can buy American tobacco at American prices, or cheaper.
Everyone now is looking forward to the first mail day. I expect it will be soon.
I’ve another address now because the Ambulance Service is attached to the French Army. It is this
1 Private Charles H. Lee
2 S.S.U. 580
3 Convois Automobile
4 B.M.C. – A.E.F. France
The second line stands for Sanitary Section Unit 580. The third means automobile train and the fourth Central Military Bureau – Amex Forces.
Your affectionate son,
Herb
Monday, October 27, 2014
Meatless Mondays in Texas
I found this little tidbit in September 19th edition of The Week Magazine.
It reminds me of a story I was told by a friend who works at the USDA. She indicated that there was a movement afoot to make the USDA meatless on Mondays too, but the Cattle Ranches put the kibosh on that saying it was against them. BUT, we forget that the USDA is also supposed to represent vegetable farmers, too... so what was the problem? Evidence of the strength of certain groups on our government....
It seems the cattle ranchers are eager for us to eat meat in spite of the fact that if we were to cut some out it would be cheaper - as I indicated here. Again, planting a garden is like printing money. I love that idea!
I have also already posted on the subject of the effects of raising beef on our planet here.
A Texas elementary school’s decision to offer “meatless Mondays” in the cafeteria has outraged the state’s agricultural commissioner. Todd Staples blamed the meatless menu on an “activist movement that seeks to eliminate meat from Americans’ diets seven days a week.’’ School officials said kids who wanted meat on Mondays could bring their own lunch.
It reminds me of a story I was told by a friend who works at the USDA. She indicated that there was a movement afoot to make the USDA meatless on Mondays too, but the Cattle Ranches put the kibosh on that saying it was against them. BUT, we forget that the USDA is also supposed to represent vegetable farmers, too... so what was the problem? Evidence of the strength of certain groups on our government....
It seems the cattle ranchers are eager for us to eat meat in spite of the fact that if we were to cut some out it would be cheaper - as I indicated here. Again, planting a garden is like printing money. I love that idea!
I have also already posted on the subject of the effects of raising beef on our planet here.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
ChoLon Asian Bistro in Denver
Superlative!
I thought the food was terrific. And I would even return just for the two desserts I tasted.
The surfaces in the restaurant are hard, so it is noisy. The atmosphere is brick, stainless steel and stone.
The menu is very limited, but as was suggested by one of my fellow diners, that usually means everything will be fabulous - which was an accurate call.
Scallops - delicious.
Rib eye skewers - tender.
Prawns with garlic buns - wasn't my favorite, but should have been.
Brussell Sprouts with pork and mint - to die for.
Kaya toast - I have never had anything so yummy.
Potstickers - typical, but also a pleasure.
Pork chop - it was fine, though other's thought it was out of this world.
Hong Kong Ice Cream Cake & Doughnuts - THE BEST.
Looking at the menu, it appears that they tweak things periodically - as we had pumpkin in our doughnut dessert which does not appear on the 'typical' menu.
Interesting story about the chef which can be found here.
I thought the food was terrific. And I would even return just for the two desserts I tasted.
The surfaces in the restaurant are hard, so it is noisy. The atmosphere is brick, stainless steel and stone.
The menu is very limited, but as was suggested by one of my fellow diners, that usually means everything will be fabulous - which was an accurate call.
Scallops - delicious.
Rib eye skewers - tender.
Prawns with garlic buns - wasn't my favorite, but should have been.
Brussell Sprouts with pork and mint - to die for.
Kaya toast - I have never had anything so yummy.
Potstickers - typical, but also a pleasure.
Pork chop - it was fine, though other's thought it was out of this world.
Hong Kong Ice Cream Cake & Doughnuts - THE BEST.
Looking at the menu, it appears that they tweak things periodically - as we had pumpkin in our doughnut dessert which does not appear on the 'typical' menu.
Interesting story about the chef which can be found here.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Hanging in England
What was that tip Jack Hawkinson gave Harry?
Herb's first trip to Europe. Probably the first time a Lee has been back in Europe since the first Lee arrived in America - of my line, that is, for there certainly are other, older branches of Lees in America. From what I can tell, the first Lee who came to the US was born in 1770. I don't know when he arrived or how - though I am pretty certain he arrived in the port of New York. On Herb's maternal line, though, I have learned that a grandfather that arrived in the early or mid-1800's arrived from Northern Ireland. I think Herb has mentioned this grandfather, as he served two terms in the Civil War. This grandfather, Thomas Wright, was mentioned when Herb was discussing his desire to enlist back in April. And here we find him, in the Army and in Europe. I wonder if Herb ever went to Northern Ireland.
I started reading A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway - he was an Ambulance Driver in Italy during the same period of time. Interesting to imagine Herb's experiences as I read the fictional account of Hemingway's experiences.
As he alludes to below, Herb can't say the name of the town where he is because the Censors won't allow it, not because he doesn't know. Due to those same Censors, Herb will begin to talk a lot about his health and the food. A shame, really, but of course no one can run the risk of the enemy finding out anything through an errant letter home.
January 30, 1918
Dear Mother,
To date we’re in the same place, “resting”. So far I’ve certainly nothing to complain of. We’re settled down into the way of living here, and it isn’t so bad at all. Once or twice a day we have four- to six mile hikes to keep us limbered up. Usually they take us to the nearest village – whose name I can’t tell you – and allow us to visit the sites of interest. So far I have seen a cathedral, a castle and a college, all of them more than 600 years old. They’re really marvelous things to see. The town is rather a small place and very old and quaint. It has a hospital for men wounded in France and lots of them are usually lounging around the streets in their light blue uniforms. I don’t know, of course, how much longer we may be here, but at any rate I’m not complaining.
The food continues [sic] good. There is practically no variety – much less even than the American ration – but the quality and cooking are better, I think. The weather is just like April at home – cool at night but quite warm at mid-day. At that it hasn’t once been cold enough to make ice. Lots of young boys and old men (they’re there are practically no young or middle aged active men not in the army) in the town go about in straw hats – and low shoes appear to be worn by everyone. One dinky little stove is enough to heat the barracks that accommodates 40 men.
I’d give a lot to see an American paper every day. The best London papers nowadays only contain four pages so you can imagine there can’t [sic] a great deal in them. The tone of all of them, however, is very encouraging regarding peace. I hope they’re right. At any rate, internal trouble is surely spreading in Germany and there is reason to believe that the peoples demand for peace can’t be put off much longer.
When you write be sure to tell me how Harry made out on that tip Jack Hawkinson gave him.
Affectionately,
Herb
Herb's first trip to Europe. Probably the first time a Lee has been back in Europe since the first Lee arrived in America - of my line, that is, for there certainly are other, older branches of Lees in America. From what I can tell, the first Lee who came to the US was born in 1770. I don't know when he arrived or how - though I am pretty certain he arrived in the port of New York. On Herb's maternal line, though, I have learned that a grandfather that arrived in the early or mid-1800's arrived from Northern Ireland. I think Herb has mentioned this grandfather, as he served two terms in the Civil War. This grandfather, Thomas Wright, was mentioned when Herb was discussing his desire to enlist back in April. And here we find him, in the Army and in Europe. I wonder if Herb ever went to Northern Ireland.
I started reading A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway - he was an Ambulance Driver in Italy during the same period of time. Interesting to imagine Herb's experiences as I read the fictional account of Hemingway's experiences.
As he alludes to below, Herb can't say the name of the town where he is because the Censors won't allow it, not because he doesn't know. Due to those same Censors, Herb will begin to talk a lot about his health and the food. A shame, really, but of course no one can run the risk of the enemy finding out anything through an errant letter home.
January 30, 1918
Dear Mother,
To date we’re in the same place, “resting”. So far I’ve certainly nothing to complain of. We’re settled down into the way of living here, and it isn’t so bad at all. Once or twice a day we have four- to six mile hikes to keep us limbered up. Usually they take us to the nearest village – whose name I can’t tell you – and allow us to visit the sites of interest. So far I have seen a cathedral, a castle and a college, all of them more than 600 years old. They’re really marvelous things to see. The town is rather a small place and very old and quaint. It has a hospital for men wounded in France and lots of them are usually lounging around the streets in their light blue uniforms. I don’t know, of course, how much longer we may be here, but at any rate I’m not complaining.
The food continues [sic] good. There is practically no variety – much less even than the American ration – but the quality and cooking are better, I think. The weather is just like April at home – cool at night but quite warm at mid-day. At that it hasn’t once been cold enough to make ice. Lots of young boys and old men (they’re there are practically no young or middle aged active men not in the army) in the town go about in straw hats – and low shoes appear to be worn by everyone. One dinky little stove is enough to heat the barracks that accommodates 40 men.
I’d give a lot to see an American paper every day. The best London papers nowadays only contain four pages so you can imagine there can’t [sic] a great deal in them. The tone of all of them, however, is very encouraging regarding peace. I hope they’re right. At any rate, internal trouble is surely spreading in Germany and there is reason to believe that the peoples demand for peace can’t be put off much longer.
When you write be sure to tell me how Harry made out on that tip Jack Hawkinson gave him.
Affectionately,
Herb
Friday, October 24, 2014
Cablegram
Dang - who is Karolyn? I mean, clearly his mother has some sort of relationship with her. Some day I will have to see if I can find something with nurses named Karolyn at Bridgeport in 1917.
Western Union Cablegram
Received at 73NY RB 18
Winchester Jan 27 1918
EFM Oliver Lee 50
93 Sixth Ave Troy (NY)
ARRIVED ALL RIGHT ADDRESS AS FORMERLY GIVEN TELL KAROLYN
CHARLES LEE
410 PM
Western Union Cablegram
Received at 73NY RB 18
Winchester Jan 27 1918
EFM Oliver Lee 50
93 Sixth Ave Troy (NY)
ARRIVED ALL RIGHT ADDRESS AS FORMERLY GIVEN TELL KAROLYN
CHARLES LEE
410 PM
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Artisanal Bugs
I am still not ready to eat bugs for my protein source, but perhaps others are. I wouldn't be enticed to invest with this Brooklyn startup if asked... I have mentioned other folks pushing insects as a food source here.
I found this tidbit in my favorite magazine - The Week - from their September 19th edition.
Artisanal bugs, after a Brooklyn startup called Exo began selling high-protein snack bars made from ground-up crickets, touting “the nutritional and environmental benefits of consuming insects.”
I found this tidbit in my favorite magazine - The Week - from their September 19th edition.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Food and Tobacco now that Herb's in Europe
January 26, 1918
Dear Mother,
Don’t expect much real news in this paper because we aren’t allowed to say anything “that might be information for the enemy.” I am in England, at a rest camp for American troops not far I judge from where Tom is, or was. I’m not allowed to say when I arrived here or when I’ll leave, though I don’t know the latter any way. Yesterday I called you to let you know I’m all right because the mails are slow and uncertain. I asked you to tell Karolyn because I knew you could find her address readily and cablegrams cost too much to send two.
We had a very uneventful trip across, being well convoyed. It wasn’t very rough so I wasn’t seasick, but the food was awful. Here, where I am now, the food is really good. There is quite a camp – I never saw so many soldiers in my life. The English treat us well and seem glad to have us around. My address is what I told you before – exactly like this
Private Charles H. Lee
Section 580, U.S.A. Amb. Service
American Expeditionary Forces,
Via New York
I have only one complaint to make – foreign tobacco is awful to me – and the price is staggering. I wish you’d send me some Serene Mixture and some Lucky Strike Cigarettes not very many – a couple of dollars’ worth so if they get lost it won’t be so bad. By that time I probably won’t be here, but I have a supply and my address is the same wherever I may be.
The scarcest thing in England seems to be newspapers. I haven’t heard any news since I left the U.S. except rumors of a popular revolt in Austria. I hope there’s something in it. The U.S.A. looks awfully good after you leave it.
Please try not to worry, Mother. I’m taking as good care of myself as possible and spite [sic] of that voyage and all I feel pretty fit. To the best of my ability I’ll keep you posted as to my condition at all times, but it may not be very often. This is the first letter I’ve been able to write so far.
With love to all,
Your affectionate son,
Herbert
Tell Chas I’ve gone, please. I’ll try to write him later.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Judith Trager and Red Rock Amphitheater
I saw a spectacular piece of art at the gift shop at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Not for sale, but a part of the Visitor's Center.
Judith Trager is the artist. A video of Judith speaking about her creative process can be found here.
I'm afraid my photographs do not do the piece justice.
Called - "Walk the Rocks"
Ms. Trager has stenciled images of fossils and leaves and pictographs on the fabric, as well as ornamental stitching.
The piece is very impressive.
Judith Trager is the artist. A video of Judith speaking about her creative process can be found here.
I'm afraid my photographs do not do the piece justice.
Ms. Trager has stenciled images of fossils and leaves and pictographs on the fabric, as well as ornamental stitching.
The piece is very impressive.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Dog Tags
I can't believe I have these in my possession and I didn't even remember; how pathetic is that?
I was straightening up a bit and came across my ratty, old jewelry box. I had forgotten - obviously - what was in there so I opened it up. I should look more carefully, but I looked and saw two very light-weight metal discs. I remembered had them when I saw them, but I never understood what they were. They are Herb's dog tags. Holy crap. My great Aunt Olive - or it could have been Margaret initially, but Olive ultimately - who saved this piece of family history. Obviously they mean more to us/me because of the saved letters, but still, the family saved them and they are almost 100 years old. Perhaps I can donate them to the NY State Military Museum along with the letters.
So exciting.
I was straightening up a bit and came across my ratty, old jewelry box. I had forgotten - obviously - what was in there so I opened it up. I should look more carefully, but I looked and saw two very light-weight metal discs. I remembered had them when I saw them, but I never understood what they were. They are Herb's dog tags. Holy crap. My great Aunt Olive - or it could have been Margaret initially, but Olive ultimately - who saved this piece of family history. Obviously they mean more to us/me because of the saved letters, but still, the family saved them and they are almost 100 years old. Perhaps I can donate them to the NY State Military Museum along with the letters.
So exciting.
Time to head overseas...
Wow, I can't imagine what more is going through Herb's head now that he is heading overseas. Scary with the thought of the German submarines firing at them. Wikipedia has a bit about the ship here. According to the Wiki page, she was used to transport troops starting in May 1916...
Harry is up to something else... he seems a bit flighty to me.
Wednesday, Jan. 8th
Dear Mother,
Well, things have happened fast and furious in the past day or so. I thought the danger of our going was not very immediate but I guess I fooled myself.
Yesterday morning we had orders to pack up everything we owned in our barracks bags, and turn in our cots. In the afternoon we had inspection, at midnight we had lunch and at 2:15 A.M. this morning we left Allentown in two trains. Not a word was said as to where we were going and we were not allowed to write and say we were going. At 6:15 this morning we arrived in Jersey City. We transferred our baggage to a ferry boat and came to where we are now – Pier 54 North River – the Cunard Line. I am now in the steerage of the Carmania bound for Liverpool. This letter is to be left behind to be mailed after we get well away. The Carmania I learn has made many trips since the war. She is a medium sized boat and quite fast. She has had several brushes with U boats and has sunk two. That’s all pact though as we will go under a strong convoy. Since the explosion at Halifax they’re not sending these ships up there to be convoyed. The convoy meets them outside New York.
So far things have moved so fast that I don’t know yet whether I am scared or not. I don’t think I am. I’m glad though that we are off to England – I think that may mean that we’ll ultimately go to Italy rather than France. I hope so – conditions there are much better.
I hope Harry gets fixed up all right on that tip that Hawkinson gave him. Sorry I shan’t be around to help.
Frankly I don’t expect to be gone very long. Peace looks pretty promising to me – and I’m not sorry. Any way don’t worry about me, Mother. The subs have never gotten a troop ship yet and I never expect to see the front line trenches.
Love to all,
Herbert
What my address will be I don’t know. I’ll write + tell you first opportunity
Harry is up to something else... he seems a bit flighty to me.
Wednesday, Jan. 8th
Dear Mother,
Well, things have happened fast and furious in the past day or so. I thought the danger of our going was not very immediate but I guess I fooled myself.
Yesterday morning we had orders to pack up everything we owned in our barracks bags, and turn in our cots. In the afternoon we had inspection, at midnight we had lunch and at 2:15 A.M. this morning we left Allentown in two trains. Not a word was said as to where we were going and we were not allowed to write and say we were going. At 6:15 this morning we arrived in Jersey City. We transferred our baggage to a ferry boat and came to where we are now – Pier 54 North River – the Cunard Line. I am now in the steerage of the Carmania bound for Liverpool. This letter is to be left behind to be mailed after we get well away. The Carmania I learn has made many trips since the war. She is a medium sized boat and quite fast. She has had several brushes with U boats and has sunk two. That’s all pact though as we will go under a strong convoy. Since the explosion at Halifax they’re not sending these ships up there to be convoyed. The convoy meets them outside New York.
So far things have moved so fast that I don’t know yet whether I am scared or not. I don’t think I am. I’m glad though that we are off to England – I think that may mean that we’ll ultimately go to Italy rather than France. I hope so – conditions there are much better.
I hope Harry gets fixed up all right on that tip that Hawkinson gave him. Sorry I shan’t be around to help.
Frankly I don’t expect to be gone very long. Peace looks pretty promising to me – and I’m not sorry. Any way don’t worry about me, Mother. The subs have never gotten a troop ship yet and I never expect to see the front line trenches.
Love to all,
Herbert
What my address will be I don’t know. I’ll write + tell you first opportunity
Sunday, October 19, 2014
The Cheeky Monk - Belgian Beer Cafe
The Cheeky Monk is a fun place if one is a beer lover - I was amazed at the number of taps and beers on draught. There were so many taps it's almost as if the bartender was in jail!
I enjoyed a lovely arugula, sorrel and lemon salad and some fried (which was unexpected) gougères - also served with the arugula salad.
Turns out there are three locations - I did not expect that, it seemed like such a unique place; I went to the location on Colfax just down the street from the state Capital. In fact, it was an employee at the Courthouse who suggested the place. (I was hoping for weiner schnitzel, but my health is better off with the salad!) The other locations are in Westminster, Co and Winter Park, Co.
The gougères with the arugula salad - it cam with two mustards, too.
I confess I had already dug in before taking the photograph.
I also tried two alcoholic beverages... given I was lunching, my choice felt quite extravagant. I had the locally brewed Stem Cider Remedy - 6.8% Alcohol by Volume - and the Hibiscusicity by the Stone Brewing Company. I did not love either, but I was glad to have tried some new beers/beverages.
BTW - apparently this cafe gets two kegs of Pliny the Younger which was featured on NPR as the best and hardest to get beer in the USA. I think the fact the Cheeky Monk gets two kegs is impressive because I thought I heard one could only buy it at the brewery. Here's what the Brewery says about it's availability:
I enjoyed a lovely arugula, sorrel and lemon salad and some fried (which was unexpected) gougères - also served with the arugula salad.
Turns out there are three locations - I did not expect that, it seemed like such a unique place; I went to the location on Colfax just down the street from the state Capital. In fact, it was an employee at the Courthouse who suggested the place. (I was hoping for weiner schnitzel, but my health is better off with the salad!) The other locations are in Westminster, Co and Winter Park, Co.
I also tried two alcoholic beverages... given I was lunching, my choice felt quite extravagant. I had the locally brewed Stem Cider Remedy - 6.8% Alcohol by Volume - and the Hibiscusicity by the Stone Brewing Company. I did not love either, but I was glad to have tried some new beers/beverages.
BTW - apparently this cafe gets two kegs of Pliny the Younger which was featured on NPR as the best and hardest to get beer in the USA. I think the fact the Cheeky Monk gets two kegs is impressive because I thought I heard one could only buy it at the brewery. Here's what the Brewery says about it's availability:
Availability
Pub draft only, VERY limited distribution locally and to distributors on draft only, seasonal- released at our pub the first Friday of February and is available for just 2 weeks, available at select accounts during February.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
In to 1918....
A cold winter in New York City - scarce coal....
December 3, 1917 [sic]
January 3, 1918
Dear Mother,
This will be an awfully brief letter. Not that I’m pressured for time but there’s nothing to write about.
I’m afraid that Allan Norton scared his people unnecessarily because I can see no immediate prospects of our leaving here. It more as though we might be in Allentown till the end of the war to me.
It’s still very cold but I guess I must be accustomed to it by now because I don’t mind it much. My cold has entirely gone now and I’m taking good care not to catch any more.
There is so much snow and ice that there are no drills and the men are pretty restless for lack of something to do. Of course, as clerk I am fairly busy now and again but the rest of the men have almost nothing to do from one week’s end to another, barring guard duty, sanitary police and kitchen duty, which don’t come very often. The rest of the time they play cards, write letters, read and hang around and it’s pretty dull work.
I had a nice letter from Chas yesterday telling me some of the news around the shop and wishing me a Happy New Year. He and Grace have had a hard time getting coal and a couple of weeks ago even thought they might have to take rooms in the city for the winter. As it was they did have to stay in the city for a week because they had no coal at all. When they returned they found the plumbing all busted up from freezing. Chas has been very busy working most every night. He told me to be sure to stop with them the next time I’m over. I hope I shall be able to make it.
Love to all,
Herb
December 3, 1917 [sic]
January 3, 1918
Dear Mother,
This will be an awfully brief letter. Not that I’m pressured for time but there’s nothing to write about.
I’m afraid that Allan Norton scared his people unnecessarily because I can see no immediate prospects of our leaving here. It more as though we might be in Allentown till the end of the war to me.
It’s still very cold but I guess I must be accustomed to it by now because I don’t mind it much. My cold has entirely gone now and I’m taking good care not to catch any more.
There is so much snow and ice that there are no drills and the men are pretty restless for lack of something to do. Of course, as clerk I am fairly busy now and again but the rest of the men have almost nothing to do from one week’s end to another, barring guard duty, sanitary police and kitchen duty, which don’t come very often. The rest of the time they play cards, write letters, read and hang around and it’s pretty dull work.
I had a nice letter from Chas yesterday telling me some of the news around the shop and wishing me a Happy New Year. He and Grace have had a hard time getting coal and a couple of weeks ago even thought they might have to take rooms in the city for the winter. As it was they did have to stay in the city for a week because they had no coal at all. When they returned they found the plumbing all busted up from freezing. Chas has been very busy working most every night. He told me to be sure to stop with them the next time I’m over. I hope I shall be able to make it.
Love to all,
Herb
Friday, October 17, 2014
Making a Difference (Thru Wikitree)
I inadvertently played a tiny but instrumental role in a very fun story.
My friend has loaned me his big book on family genealogy and I have been entering some of it on to Wikitree. I am trying to find a connection between his family and my family - so far no direct connection, unfortunately.
In doing so, I entered in the birth information for a Curtis Banford Hebb - his mother was a Newcomb. The book was published in 1902 or something, so Curtis was a boy at the time of publishing; he had no children or spouse.
Well, I didn't think much about it. I love the mission of Wikitree - to make one human tree, that's why I would enter in information about people not related to me.
My inquirer sent me an email many weeks ago but his email got caught up in my endless in-box. I finally saw it the other day and finally wrote back. I am the 'manager' of Mr. Hebb's family's profiles, so the logical person for anyone to contact. I had to tell him that I was not a direct descendant, but I told him where I got the information. I fortunately included Mr. Hebb's birth location in the Wikitree profile, as according to the tome.
Here is the email I received back from my inquirer:
Pretty fun, huh?! I didn't promote it to the press, a friend of mom's did...the one mentioned in the article as having asked if we'd ever tried to track down any relatives. She was pretty excited.
I was able to print the family tree available from wikitree and share it with Pauline Hebb, also made me sound less clueless on the phone. I hope the whole episode inspires her to follow through on plans to share the family history with children and grandkids...something she said had long been in the back of her mind. I think it will.
I found them in part through a google search, which turned up a Curtis Hebb Rd a short distance from the town(Bridgewater, Nova Scotia) where he enlisted. That gave me hope he'd returned from the war. Then, narrowing down the Hebbs in the phone book(there are a lot)based on that town where the road was located, I picked up the phone book. I hit Pauline on the first try, as alphabetically she's still under her husband Arnold...of the Hebbs listed in Newcombville. VOILA...not too hard at all.
She was completely stunned and very sweet and appreciative. I think the reporters were probably an additional shock later. Anyway, it felt great to return it to her.
The two resulting Canadian News articles can be found here and here, though I have cut and pasted the texts from each below.
One Article:
A beautifully matted and framed First World War enlistment photo is now back at home with the Hebb family in Newcombville.
Decades ago, the 15" x 28" enlistment piece somehow found its way home in Kingsburg alongside photos of royals. It hung in the home of Judith Varney Burch for 20 to 30 years until her son, Palmer Burch, decided to try and locate the person's family. All he knew was the enlistment photograph was of Pte. Curtis Bamford Hebb, who enlisted in Bridgewater in 1918 for the war in Europe. The matte surrounding the photo has the script "on active service ... for King and Empire."
The Burch family isn't sure when it was acquired, but after being prompted by a friend, Mr. Burch decided to try to find relatives of the young man in the photo.
It wasn't a difficult task. He found Curtis Hebb Road in Newcombville and decided to call the first Hebb listed. Who he found was the widow of Curtis Hebb's nephew, Pauline. Her husband, Albert, died nine years ago.
"He didn't know anything about that, I'm sure," said Ms Hebb pointing to the photo. "I don't have a clue where it came from. We never knew that existed."
According to research, Pte. Hebb, a 21 year-old Newcombville farmer, was drafted under the Military Service Act of 1917. His service record is dated May 25, 1918. He returned uninjured after the war.
Pte. Hebb never married and lived with his brother, Clarence. Years later, after suffering a stoke, he moved in with his brother. At the same time, Mr. and Ms Hebb lived in the house. It was during this time that Ms Hebb helped him rehabilitate.
"I got him back walking and got him back in the car and driving again," said Ms Hebb.
After a few years, Pte. Hebb moved to Waterloo, where he lived with his sister, Suzie Weagle. She died, but Pte. Hebb stayed with her daughter, Jeannie, until he went into a seniors' home in Chester. Pte. Hebb died there 30 years ago at 87 years old.
And the other:
In a small room in a 200-year-old Kingsburg farmhouse overlooking the ocean hung a black and white picture of a young man in uniform, a bare hint of a smile on his young face, about to head off to war.
The matte surrounding the picture bears the coloured flags of Britain, Scotland, Ireland and Canada.
The young man in the photo is Pte. Curtis Bamford Hebb. It is his First World War enlistment picture, dated in Bridgewater in 1918.
Pauline Hebb will never know how her husband’s uncle’s picture ended up on the wall of Inuit art expert Judith Varney Burch’s home, but she’s grateful to have the ornately framed picture back in the family.
She said she’s looking forward to cleaning it up a bit and showing it to Hebb’s descendants.
For 25 years, the photograph hung in Varney Burch’s home among pictures of royalty — Queen Victoria, King George VI, King Edward VII, The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and her wedding photo to Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh.
“That piece ended up hanging with them due to its Canadian and British flags and mention of service ‘For King and Country,’” Varney Burch’s son, Palmer, said in an email.
A visiting friend asked recently if they’d ever attempted to track down the young man’s family. Palmer decided to do just that.
It didn’t prove too difficult.
He found a Curtis Hebb Road in Newcombville, just outside Bridgewater, and some of the family’s genealogy online. It looked like Curtis had survived the war, so “from there I simply picked up the phone book and called.”
Arnold Hebb was the first person on the list.
His widow, Pauline, picked up the phone and was taken aback to learn Burch had the framed enlistment picture.
“I can’t see how that ever got out of the house,” she said, and Varney Burch cannot remember which antique store or auction she got it from those many years ago.
It turns out Curtis did make it home uninjured to Lunenburg County, where he took up farming.
He never married, lived with his brother Clarence for a time then lived with Pauline and Arnold during his later years. Pauline taught him how to drive again after he suffered a stroke.
Today, a red granite headstone set just beyond the shade offered by the branches of a maple tree marks Curtis’s final resting spot. It’s in the community cemetery down the road from where he was born and lived his life.
He died in a seniors home in Chester two weeks before Christmas 30 years ago, at the age of 87.
As he was in life, he is surrounded by family.
His nephew Arnold, Pauline’s husband, is buried two rows over. He died nine years ago this week.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Pipe & Wool Socks
So, no idea who the Knotts are...
Does seem like his Section spends a lot of time in Allentown and not overseas....
Wednesday, 1917 (12/26?)
Dear Mother,
Well I arrived safely this morning and the cold has practically disappeared. I haven’t coughed very much since I left home and it’s very loose so I guess I’m well rid of it.
On the way to Albany I met Mrs. + Mr. Knott + Regina. Rena had been up for the day and was going back on my train. She was glad to have my company and I hers and we had a fine visit.
When I arrived here I found a package from the Westminster Church (Club?) with a pipe in it and three pairs of heavy wool socks. There was also a letter from Charley or rather a Christmas card with five dollars folded up inside. Wasn’t that nice?
There’s nothing new here about our ever sailing. So far as indications here go we may be here until the end of the war.
Love to all,
Herbert
Does seem like his Section spends a lot of time in Allentown and not overseas....
Wednesday, 1917 (12/26?)
Dear Mother,
Well I arrived safely this morning and the cold has practically disappeared. I haven’t coughed very much since I left home and it’s very loose so I guess I’m well rid of it.
On the way to Albany I met Mrs. + Mr. Knott + Regina. Rena had been up for the day and was going back on my train. She was glad to have my company and I hers and we had a fine visit.
When I arrived here I found a package from the Westminster Church (Club?) with a pipe in it and three pairs of heavy wool socks. There was also a letter from Charley or rather a Christmas card with five dollars folded up inside. Wasn’t that nice?
There’s nothing new here about our ever sailing. So far as indications here go we may be here until the end of the war.
Love to all,
Herbert
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Cold Spell and Encouraging News about the War
Who is Mrs. Nial? She gets mentioned again in later letters.
What the heck job does Harry have? Dang, why can't Herb be more forthcoming?
A search of the New York Times offers us some insight in to what Herb is talking about with the latest war news.
Sunday
Dear Mother,
The cold spell seems to have broken here and I hope the warmer weather last for a time. There has been no shortage of coal here so far as I know, but it’s been pretty uncomfortable just the same. Still, I guess we were about as well off as many people in and near New York. According to all accounts some of them had a pretty hard time.
By the way, Mother, don’t worry about those cigarettes Aunt Ida sent me. I’m laying off them for the time being at least. So far I’ve only smoked about ten of them and that’s less than one per day.
I am writing today to say my thanks for those things I got from the church. I should have done it before, but I’ve been awfully lazy this last week. It seems as if the less I have to do the less I want to do.
The war news lately is more encouraging isn’t it? I almost can hope that the Russians may reenter the war. And there certainly is a growing dissatisfaction among the German people and among her allies.
Harry’s job this week must have been a pretty stiff one – with the thermometer well below zero.
I never expected to see the day when the Shanghnuessy’s would offer $5 a day for men on the ice. It seems to me that @2 or $2.25 used to be thought a lot. I guess those days are gone for good.
Remember me to Mrs. Nial if you see her and tell her I was sorry not to have seen her.
Love to all,
Herb
What the heck job does Harry have? Dang, why can't Herb be more forthcoming?
A search of the New York Times offers us some insight in to what Herb is talking about with the latest war news.
Sunday
Dear Mother,
The cold spell seems to have broken here and I hope the warmer weather last for a time. There has been no shortage of coal here so far as I know, but it’s been pretty uncomfortable just the same. Still, I guess we were about as well off as many people in and near New York. According to all accounts some of them had a pretty hard time.
By the way, Mother, don’t worry about those cigarettes Aunt Ida sent me. I’m laying off them for the time being at least. So far I’ve only smoked about ten of them and that’s less than one per day.
I am writing today to say my thanks for those things I got from the church. I should have done it before, but I’ve been awfully lazy this last week. It seems as if the less I have to do the less I want to do.
The war news lately is more encouraging isn’t it? I almost can hope that the Russians may reenter the war. And there certainly is a growing dissatisfaction among the German people and among her allies.
Harry’s job this week must have been a pretty stiff one – with the thermometer well below zero.
I never expected to see the day when the Shanghnuessy’s would offer $5 a day for men on the ice. It seems to me that @2 or $2.25 used to be thought a lot. I guess those days are gone for good.
Remember me to Mrs. Nial if you see her and tell her I was sorry not to have seen her.
Love to all,
Herb
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
After Christmas...
Aunt Ida is Charles' mother - she lives in Huntington, NY on Long Island with her 2nd husband John Reese who I have learned is a 'poultry man' on a private estate there. Aunt Ida's first husband - John Cornell - was a butcher in NYC. I suspect he and my great uncle worked together; they shared the same address for a while, at least.
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My third cousin provided this photograph of Aunt Ida as a younger woman - his great grandmother and my great grandfather's sister.
Still NO IDEA who Karolyn is - though it has occurred to me that perhaps it can be figured out... spelling her name as she does and working/training as a nurse in Bridgeport one might be able to find her. Still no idea what happens to her and why she isn't my grandmother....
Sunday
Dear Mother,
We’re in the midst of another very cold spell – down around zero. My cold though is steadily getting better and unless I catch more I don’t believe it will bother me anymore. I’m taking all possible care to avoid catching more.
I don’t believe I told you that I had a nice Christmas present from Aunt Ida – a hundred cigarettes. Wasn’t that nice of her. [sic] I’ve quit smoking them in favor of a pipe except as an occasional luxury so I guess they’ll last some time.
I had a letter from Karolyn yesterday. It as a good thing I took her watch with me instead of sending it, I guess, because none of her things from home had arrived by Thursday. It was funny, too, because her mother told me she had sent them a week early. She was very much pleased with the watch and wondered how she had gotten along without one so long.
I’ve been pretty busy as usual, making out pay rolls and so on, ready for the last day of the month when all have to be in.
There hasn’t been any pneumonia in camp so far as I have heard but I guess at least every other man has had a bad cold. I’m not going to take any more chances with wet feet you may be sure of that.
As usual there isn’t anything worth mentioning to write about. Everything is pretty dull. I wish I could get away for New Year’s to go over to NY, but there’s no chance.
Love to all,
Herb
My third cousin provided this photograph of Aunt Ida as a younger woman - his great grandmother and my great grandfather's sister.
Still NO IDEA who Karolyn is - though it has occurred to me that perhaps it can be figured out... spelling her name as she does and working/training as a nurse in Bridgeport one might be able to find her. Still no idea what happens to her and why she isn't my grandmother....
Sunday
Dear Mother,
We’re in the midst of another very cold spell – down around zero. My cold though is steadily getting better and unless I catch more I don’t believe it will bother me anymore. I’m taking all possible care to avoid catching more.
I don’t believe I told you that I had a nice Christmas present from Aunt Ida – a hundred cigarettes. Wasn’t that nice of her. [sic] I’ve quit smoking them in favor of a pipe except as an occasional luxury so I guess they’ll last some time.
I had a letter from Karolyn yesterday. It as a good thing I took her watch with me instead of sending it, I guess, because none of her things from home had arrived by Thursday. It was funny, too, because her mother told me she had sent them a week early. She was very much pleased with the watch and wondered how she had gotten along without one so long.
I’ve been pretty busy as usual, making out pay rolls and so on, ready for the last day of the month when all have to be in.
There hasn’t been any pneumonia in camp so far as I have heard but I guess at least every other man has had a bad cold. I’m not going to take any more chances with wet feet you may be sure of that.
As usual there isn’t anything worth mentioning to write about. Everything is pretty dull. I wish I could get away for New Year’s to go over to NY, but there’s no chance.
Love to all,
Herb
Monday, October 13, 2014
Money Order & Christmas Passes
I can't imagine how boring this must be for Herb and the others. Nice to know he has the movies to go to - the world hasn't changed in that regard.... Just now some of us do it at home with Netflix.
Doesn't give one a good image of the accounting of the Army... SSDD (same shit, different day)
Friday, Dec. 14, 1917
Dear Mother,
I’m not writing because I have much to say but just to let you know that I have been all right. I have a slight cold – nothing serious.
I’ve been awfully busy this week try [sic] to get our account settled with the Quartermaster. We figured that we owed the QM about $200 but his records showed that he owed us about $200. The accounts of most of the other sections were in the same balled up condition so we had to call it all even and start fresh. Some fine book keeping – not.
They’ve finally put stoves in our barracks so while we’re none too warm we’re decently comfortable. It’s been pretty cold right along and last night there was another blizzard that tied up the trolley system tight. I had been to the movies so I had to walk home in it.
The money order came all right Tuesday I think it was. The powers that be are provokingly silent about Christmas passes, so I don’t know much. I think probably they’ll come through about the last of next week. I certainly hope so.
Love to all,
Herbert
Doesn't give one a good image of the accounting of the Army... SSDD (same shit, different day)
Friday, Dec. 14, 1917
Dear Mother,
I’m not writing because I have much to say but just to let you know that I have been all right. I have a slight cold – nothing serious.
I’ve been awfully busy this week try [sic] to get our account settled with the Quartermaster. We figured that we owed the QM about $200 but his records showed that he owed us about $200. The accounts of most of the other sections were in the same balled up condition so we had to call it all even and start fresh. Some fine book keeping – not.
They’ve finally put stoves in our barracks so while we’re none too warm we’re decently comfortable. It’s been pretty cold right along and last night there was another blizzard that tied up the trolley system tight. I had been to the movies so I had to walk home in it.
The money order came all right Tuesday I think it was. The powers that be are provokingly silent about Christmas passes, so I don’t know much. I think probably they’ll come through about the last of next week. I certainly hope so.
Love to all,
Herbert
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Thinking about Christmas Passes....
A cold & messy trip back to Allentown, PA.
Harry sure seems an unfocused young man....
Monday Dec 8 (Dec 8th was a Saturday, so this is probably the 10th)
Dear Mother,
I surely would have written yesterday but things have happened thick and fast since Saturday. Late Friday afternoon we got orders to be ready to start back to Allentown in the morning. So there was the hurry and confusion of packing up. And Saturday morning was dandy – not. I got up and looked out upon one of the finest blizzards I ever saw. It snowed with an occasional variation of rain all day Saturday and quite a little again Sunday. And cold – winter has surely come. That march back to Allentown was fierce in the snow – but what we found when we got here was worse. They put us in new barracks – just finished the day before and with no heat in them. Yesterday they gave us one small coal stove to heat a whole floor about three times as big as our floor home [sic]. So most of the boys hung out in the Y.M.C.A. It seems that the authorities in Washington thought it too cold for us where we were so they brought us back to nice cold barracks out of our warm dugouts.
Sunday morning I came here to the “Y” to write you and had just gotten warmed up + settled when the Lieut. sent for me post haste to see about getting everyone new clothing for what was lost while we were away. We were at it until lights out last night and all day to day and it isn’t finished yet.
It was rather a coincidence that you should be asking me if I wanted some money about the same time that I was asking you to send me some.
There were some disquieting rumors about Christmas passes but the Lieut. assured me today that we’d get enough time to go home so I’m not worrying though I don’t know just when it will be. Probably latter part of next week, but it can’t come any too soon to suit me.
Love to all,
Herbert
Tell Harry to wait at least until I can see him before he enlists anywhere.
Harry sure seems an unfocused young man....
Monday Dec 8 (Dec 8th was a Saturday, so this is probably the 10th)
Dear Mother,
I surely would have written yesterday but things have happened thick and fast since Saturday. Late Friday afternoon we got orders to be ready to start back to Allentown in the morning. So there was the hurry and confusion of packing up. And Saturday morning was dandy – not. I got up and looked out upon one of the finest blizzards I ever saw. It snowed with an occasional variation of rain all day Saturday and quite a little again Sunday. And cold – winter has surely come. That march back to Allentown was fierce in the snow – but what we found when we got here was worse. They put us in new barracks – just finished the day before and with no heat in them. Yesterday they gave us one small coal stove to heat a whole floor about three times as big as our floor home [sic]. So most of the boys hung out in the Y.M.C.A. It seems that the authorities in Washington thought it too cold for us where we were so they brought us back to nice cold barracks out of our warm dugouts.
Sunday morning I came here to the “Y” to write you and had just gotten warmed up + settled when the Lieut. sent for me post haste to see about getting everyone new clothing for what was lost while we were away. We were at it until lights out last night and all day to day and it isn’t finished yet.
It was rather a coincidence that you should be asking me if I wanted some money about the same time that I was asking you to send me some.
There were some disquieting rumors about Christmas passes but the Lieut. assured me today that we’d get enough time to go home so I’m not worrying though I don’t know just when it will be. Probably latter part of next week, but it can’t come any too soon to suit me.
Love to all,
Herbert
Tell Harry to wait at least until I can see him before he enlists anywhere.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
We have names!
Holy cow - we have names of the other men shown in the photographs! What a find!
What kind of helmet would someone send Herb? I suspect Nellie is Nelly Graham, but I have no way of knowing, just that I have seen that name a lot in my recent transcriptions.
I have no idea who Jack Hawkinson is... and what kind of picture could he be working on?
I wish we knew what Herb writes to the Men's Club... I mean, what kind of information do they want? Mr. Ferguson... again, Herb has a cousin who marries a William Ferguson, but that hasn't happened yet. Below please find a photograph of cousin Helen who marries Bill Ferguson.
Thursday, December 6th, 1917
Dear Mother,
The days seem awfully long but still they’re gone before one knows it. Here it is four days since I’ve written you yet it doesn’t seem possible.
The box arrived all right Monday so it was all of a week on the way. However it was still in pretty good shape. The bread of course was a bit stale but it made fine toast, and the cake and turnovers were in a surprisingly fresh condition. The four of us fell to on them and had a nice little feed. The four of us who are together are Howard Breese, a private secretary from Brooklyn, Ron Mather who was a freshman at Cornell last year, Jordan who was in the importing business in N.Y. We make a pretty congenial foursome.
The helmet comes in fine and I shall thank Nellie for it within a few days.
Sine Jack Hawkinson hasn’t written I consider it likely that he is away working on some picture. He often goes away like that for several weeks or more at a time. I expect that I will have a vacation of a week or so around the 18th and while I’m in NY I’ll try to get in touch with him, personally.
I don’t know when we’ll be paid, so I wish if you can spare it you’d send me about ten dollars so I can be prepared. You’d best send a money order, because we’re still in the field and probably will be for some time and a money order is safer. Make it out to Charles. H. Lee because that’s my name in the Army and that makes identification at the P.O. easier.
Monday afternoon we had a fire in our shanty and lost quite a few articles of clothing. We weren’t in any danger ourselves and managed to rescue most of our goods. I was the lightest loser. I lost only my new hat so I have to wear my old one. However we are to be issued new clothing for all of the burnt stuff. There certainly was a wild scramble for about five minutes trying to move our stuff out.
I had a letter from Mr. Ferguson this week requesting another letter for the Men’s Club meeting next Monday so I’m writing today.
Love to all,
Herb
Here we have Herb's sisters - Olive and Margaret flanking his cousin Helen Sherman Ferguson
These are the Shermans, with Cousin Helen in the middle - the child - and Herb's Aunt Ada standing behind Helen.
What kind of helmet would someone send Herb? I suspect Nellie is Nelly Graham, but I have no way of knowing, just that I have seen that name a lot in my recent transcriptions.
I have no idea who Jack Hawkinson is... and what kind of picture could he be working on?
I wish we knew what Herb writes to the Men's Club... I mean, what kind of information do they want? Mr. Ferguson... again, Herb has a cousin who marries a William Ferguson, but that hasn't happened yet. Below please find a photograph of cousin Helen who marries Bill Ferguson.
Thursday, December 6th, 1917
Dear Mother,
The days seem awfully long but still they’re gone before one knows it. Here it is four days since I’ve written you yet it doesn’t seem possible.
The box arrived all right Monday so it was all of a week on the way. However it was still in pretty good shape. The bread of course was a bit stale but it made fine toast, and the cake and turnovers were in a surprisingly fresh condition. The four of us fell to on them and had a nice little feed. The four of us who are together are Howard Breese, a private secretary from Brooklyn, Ron Mather who was a freshman at Cornell last year, Jordan who was in the importing business in N.Y. We make a pretty congenial foursome.
The helmet comes in fine and I shall thank Nellie for it within a few days.
Sine Jack Hawkinson hasn’t written I consider it likely that he is away working on some picture. He often goes away like that for several weeks or more at a time. I expect that I will have a vacation of a week or so around the 18th and while I’m in NY I’ll try to get in touch with him, personally.
I don’t know when we’ll be paid, so I wish if you can spare it you’d send me about ten dollars so I can be prepared. You’d best send a money order, because we’re still in the field and probably will be for some time and a money order is safer. Make it out to Charles. H. Lee because that’s my name in the Army and that makes identification at the P.O. easier.
Monday afternoon we had a fire in our shanty and lost quite a few articles of clothing. We weren’t in any danger ourselves and managed to rescue most of our goods. I was the lightest loser. I lost only my new hat so I have to wear my old one. However we are to be issued new clothing for all of the burnt stuff. There certainly was a wild scramble for about five minutes trying to move our stuff out.
I had a letter from Mr. Ferguson this week requesting another letter for the Men’s Club meeting next Monday so I’m writing today.
Love to all,
Herb
Here we have Herb's sisters - Olive and Margaret flanking his cousin Helen Sherman Ferguson
These are the Shermans, with Cousin Helen in the middle - the child - and Herb's Aunt Ada standing behind Helen.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Rain & Dugouts....
Aha, maybe we now know why Herb sent the picture of the shelf.... I have included it again.
And, wow, they had to dig out their own tents. Not sure I understand that. But, all part of history, so good to know. See the photos at the end of the letter.
That Aunt Birdella again - I have a picture of her, but no idea who she is. Is Aunt just a title of respect or is there blood there?
Sunday 1917
Dear Mother,
Your Thursday letter arrived yesterday noon while I was in the throes of moving. Thursday night we had that same thunder storm that you had in Troy, I guess. It rained cats and dogs most of the evening + some of the men got pretty well soaked. A number of them in our battalion had chosen very poor places for their dugouts so far as drainage was concerned and as a result their homes looked like cesspools. We four were pretty dry in our place, however, except for a little drip around the edges. Friday, of course, everything was a sea of mud so we in Battalion 19 and 20 had to move. We have a nice ravine now with dugouts cut back in the side and built up and roofed over with sod. Really very comfortable and much warmer than the old place, as well as dry. The men who were here didn’t suffer at all Thursday night so I guess we’re safe because I don’t believe it could rain much harder. We have two double bunks, the lower a foot above the floor and the upper three feet from that. They’re made of sapling and with our straw mattresses on top are really quite comfortable.
I knew there was something wrong with that candy because it was too soft but it was eaten just the same and the bread certainly tasted good.
I’m writing Charley today.
I’m inclined to think that I may perhaps have about a week around Christmas though I shan’t know definitely for a week or two I suppose.
Karolyn is well and quite happy, taking on a little flesh which worries her. In her last letter she mentioned that she has been given an opportunity to learn how to take X-ray pictures as well as assist in the process. She seems quite pleased over it.
Friday night it turned colder and last night a scum of ice formed quite across the little river near the camp.
I did write and thank Aunt Birdella for the pictures but I’ll try and write again this week some time.
The four of us have chipped in and bought a small lamp to brighten the evenings and what with a roaring fire the place is quite comfortable. I’ll probably have some pictures of the place to show you.
Love,
Herbert
P.S. What about the coat? Do get it.
Herb
And, wow, they had to dig out their own tents. Not sure I understand that. But, all part of history, so good to know. See the photos at the end of the letter.
That Aunt Birdella again - I have a picture of her, but no idea who she is. Is Aunt just a title of respect or is there blood there?
Sunday 1917
Dear Mother,
Your Thursday letter arrived yesterday noon while I was in the throes of moving. Thursday night we had that same thunder storm that you had in Troy, I guess. It rained cats and dogs most of the evening + some of the men got pretty well soaked. A number of them in our battalion had chosen very poor places for their dugouts so far as drainage was concerned and as a result their homes looked like cesspools. We four were pretty dry in our place, however, except for a little drip around the edges. Friday, of course, everything was a sea of mud so we in Battalion 19 and 20 had to move. We have a nice ravine now with dugouts cut back in the side and built up and roofed over with sod. Really very comfortable and much warmer than the old place, as well as dry. The men who were here didn’t suffer at all Thursday night so I guess we’re safe because I don’t believe it could rain much harder. We have two double bunks, the lower a foot above the floor and the upper three feet from that. They’re made of sapling and with our straw mattresses on top are really quite comfortable.
I knew there was something wrong with that candy because it was too soft but it was eaten just the same and the bread certainly tasted good.
I’m writing Charley today.
I’m inclined to think that I may perhaps have about a week around Christmas though I shan’t know definitely for a week or two I suppose.
Karolyn is well and quite happy, taking on a little flesh which worries her. In her last letter she mentioned that she has been given an opportunity to learn how to take X-ray pictures as well as assist in the process. She seems quite pleased over it.
Friday night it turned colder and last night a scum of ice formed quite across the little river near the camp.
I did write and thank Aunt Birdella for the pictures but I’ll try and write again this week some time.
The four of us have chipped in and bought a small lamp to brighten the evenings and what with a roaring fire the place is quite comfortable. I’ll probably have some pictures of the place to show you.
Love,
Herbert
P.S. What about the coat? Do get it.
Herb
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Reports & more photos of people and living situations
In 1917 both September and December started the month with the first on a Saturday.
We know Herb uses a typewriter, though the October report that the National Archives has was hand written.
More photos of sleeping accommodations - not labeled, but this looks more permanent than tents in and around Allentown. In the last photo, Herb is the guy sitting on the right hand side. I have learned one of his mannerisms now through the photographs - the way he holds his hands in his lap. Pretty distinctive.
Sunday [December 2, 1917? Could be September…)
Dear Mother,
It’s been a busy week or me. I had your letter Wednesday but so far the box has failed to put in an appearance. It seems very peculiar but then the mails here are awfully uncertain and parcel post stuff especially.
Yesterday of course was the first of the month and I had to have my monthly reports ready. It took a bit longer that normal this time because I haven’t any very good place to work. Our quarters are rather cramped. However I did get them finished in time. I’m really getting a fair speed on the type writer though I don’t think any business school would approve of my method.
The weather has been rather bad – rainy most of the week turning cold today. However the roof held and the wood supply has been good so we’ve been reasonably comfortable through it all. Tuesday I think we shall go back to Allentown. I’m not at all sorry though we have had a fairly easy time of it here. For the last week or ten days morning roll call has been omitted and if one was willing to omit breakfast at seven thirty he might sleep until nine or even later. Not bad for the army. Still it will be nice to be able to wash regularly.
Here you’re lucky to get water to clean your teeth.
Nothing new develops, but I’ll write again in a few days.
Love to all,
Herb
We know Herb uses a typewriter, though the October report that the National Archives has was hand written.
More photos of sleeping accommodations - not labeled, but this looks more permanent than tents in and around Allentown. In the last photo, Herb is the guy sitting on the right hand side. I have learned one of his mannerisms now through the photographs - the way he holds his hands in his lap. Pretty distinctive.
Sunday [December 2, 1917? Could be September…)
Dear Mother,
It’s been a busy week or me. I had your letter Wednesday but so far the box has failed to put in an appearance. It seems very peculiar but then the mails here are awfully uncertain and parcel post stuff especially.
Yesterday of course was the first of the month and I had to have my monthly reports ready. It took a bit longer that normal this time because I haven’t any very good place to work. Our quarters are rather cramped. However I did get them finished in time. I’m really getting a fair speed on the type writer though I don’t think any business school would approve of my method.
The weather has been rather bad – rainy most of the week turning cold today. However the roof held and the wood supply has been good so we’ve been reasonably comfortable through it all. Tuesday I think we shall go back to Allentown. I’m not at all sorry though we have had a fairly easy time of it here. For the last week or ten days morning roll call has been omitted and if one was willing to omit breakfast at seven thirty he might sleep until nine or even later. Not bad for the army. Still it will be nice to be able to wash regularly.
Here you’re lucky to get water to clean your teeth.
Nothing new develops, but I’ll write again in a few days.
Love to all,
Herb
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
November 1917 and still in Allentown, PA
So, searching for an arsenal in Troy, NY I found one in Watervliet, NY, across the river from Troy. It seems to be one of the oldest continuously operating arsenals in the country, in fact the arsenal was "founded in 1813, it's the United States' oldest continuously active arsenal" according to an article about the arsenal found here.
This letter makes me wonder about what Herb did when in France if he were the clerk for the Section. Did he have a turn driving the ambulances? Did he move wounded on stretchers? He hasn't mentioned anything in these letters about any sort of medical training. I therefore assume the ambulance corps was literally just moving the wounded, not doing any triage or anything, but that seems strange. I would think if one was dealing with wounded one would have some knowledge of how to care for them.
I found some loose photographs in a photo album. Perhaps these are some that Herb mentions in other letters. Below I have included a picture of a fire in some sort of living situation. I don't know who the man is. I also have a photo of a tent. Pretty interesting in light of these letters. I have no idea why a photo would have been taken of the shelf, but it's interesting to have.
Sunday, November 18, 1917
Dear Mother,
Sunday again without anything of note having happened. I went in to Allentown yesterday and had a good cleaning up in the Y.M.C.A. That place looks more like an Army Club than anything else. The reading and recreation rooms seem to be crowded with soldiers all the time and civilians are scarce as hen’s teeth.
We’ve built ourselves, the four of us who are together, a nice dugout this week and are really quite comfortable. We put in double decked bunks for more room and a couple of days ago a fire place. With a good log fire the place gets almost too warm sometimes. I am inclined to think we’ll be here for at least a couple of weeks.
I’m excused from all drills now to attend to the clerical work.
The weather seems to get steadily warmer. Of course the nights are cold, but the days are almost mild.
I am very near forgetting to answer that letter to the Men’s Club. Fortunately I thought of it last Sunday.
I hope Harry can get a job in the Arsenal. That would be fine.
Lovingly,
Herb
This letter makes me wonder about what Herb did when in France if he were the clerk for the Section. Did he have a turn driving the ambulances? Did he move wounded on stretchers? He hasn't mentioned anything in these letters about any sort of medical training. I therefore assume the ambulance corps was literally just moving the wounded, not doing any triage or anything, but that seems strange. I would think if one was dealing with wounded one would have some knowledge of how to care for them.
I found some loose photographs in a photo album. Perhaps these are some that Herb mentions in other letters. Below I have included a picture of a fire in some sort of living situation. I don't know who the man is. I also have a photo of a tent. Pretty interesting in light of these letters. I have no idea why a photo would have been taken of the shelf, but it's interesting to have.
Sunday, November 18, 1917
Dear Mother,
Sunday again without anything of note having happened. I went in to Allentown yesterday and had a good cleaning up in the Y.M.C.A. That place looks more like an Army Club than anything else. The reading and recreation rooms seem to be crowded with soldiers all the time and civilians are scarce as hen’s teeth.
We’ve built ourselves, the four of us who are together, a nice dugout this week and are really quite comfortable. We put in double decked bunks for more room and a couple of days ago a fire place. With a good log fire the place gets almost too warm sometimes. I am inclined to think we’ll be here for at least a couple of weeks.
I’m excused from all drills now to attend to the clerical work.
The weather seems to get steadily warmer. Of course the nights are cold, but the days are almost mild.
I am very near forgetting to answer that letter to the Men’s Club. Fortunately I thought of it last Sunday.
I hope Harry can get a job in the Arsenal. That would be fine.
Lovingly,
Herb
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
1917 October Report for USAAC Section 580
I am posting this here, though I have no letters from Herb in October of 1917. It was a true delight to see his handwriting on the report archived with the National Archives in Maryand. Once he gets to France the Army gives him a typewriter, so this is a true treasure to have found these formal documents with his handwriting.
Nothing much to report other than the number of men in the unit. Two men were ordered out of the unit; who knows why.
Nothing much to report other than the number of men in the unit. Two men were ordered out of the unit; who knows why.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Big Jump in Time
From August to November - I don't seem to have the intervening letters. This jump was the whole reason I stopped posting Herb's letters as I assumed I had some which I just hadn't yet found, but I have gone through everything I have and they just don't exist.
So fun to see that Herb has been picked out to be the official clerk - I wonder why. It's not like he is the only college graduate in the group. No promotion, though. I went to the National Archives a while ago and saw that it was his handwriting on the reports - you can imagine how much fun that was for me to see.
Harry is his younger brother, as we may remember. I don't recall why he is in New York City or when he got there. I should reread the letters to see if there is a clue.
Sunday, Nov. 4th (1917)
Dear Mother,
I am now at a miserable hole in the ground called Guth’s Station some four miles from Allentown with about 1800 other unfortunates. It’s frightfully uncomfortable, cold, muddy, and all together messy. Nothing has happened worth writing about. We eat sleep and drill about as we do in Allentown only more so and I have finished up all the monthly reports – that is unless they come back for corrections. I am the official clerk that is I do all the clerical work in the section. It isn’t an official grade. I appear on the roster as a private but I guess it’s mine allright so long as I want it.
Quite a few men perhaps a half dozen have contracted heavy colds which may be pneumonia and have been sent back to Allentown. I’ve fortunately escaped so far. I did have a congestion in the head which I broke up with salt + water. Anyway I fortified myself against a cold in the chest as soon as we arrived and I found out how cold it was by putting on woolen underwear over the other. Some stunt – but it keeps me warm. Our lieutenant is also on the sick list but with something or other due to exposure.
I expect we’re going back Wednesday and I’m very glad. I’ve have enough. If we get paid perhaps I shall go to New York next Saturday. This trench life makes me long for the City. So if you haven’t already sent my shirt in which case it will be waiting for me at Allentown I wish you’d send it Tuesday or so. I’m so dirty that getting cleaned up for once will be a luxury. I expect to have a good visit with Harry and I promise to use my head. I’ll go over there for a while but I won’t discourage him about Dean St. Any way he understands it all and he’s written me that he thinks it best to stick there for a time so I’m satisfied. I’m writing Harry to-day.
Love to all,
Herb
So fun to see that Herb has been picked out to be the official clerk - I wonder why. It's not like he is the only college graduate in the group. No promotion, though. I went to the National Archives a while ago and saw that it was his handwriting on the reports - you can imagine how much fun that was for me to see.
Harry is his younger brother, as we may remember. I don't recall why he is in New York City or when he got there. I should reread the letters to see if there is a clue.
Sunday, Nov. 4th (1917)
Dear Mother,
I am now at a miserable hole in the ground called Guth’s Station some four miles from Allentown with about 1800 other unfortunates. It’s frightfully uncomfortable, cold, muddy, and all together messy. Nothing has happened worth writing about. We eat sleep and drill about as we do in Allentown only more so and I have finished up all the monthly reports – that is unless they come back for corrections. I am the official clerk that is I do all the clerical work in the section. It isn’t an official grade. I appear on the roster as a private but I guess it’s mine allright so long as I want it.
Quite a few men perhaps a half dozen have contracted heavy colds which may be pneumonia and have been sent back to Allentown. I’ve fortunately escaped so far. I did have a congestion in the head which I broke up with salt + water. Anyway I fortified myself against a cold in the chest as soon as we arrived and I found out how cold it was by putting on woolen underwear over the other. Some stunt – but it keeps me warm. Our lieutenant is also on the sick list but with something or other due to exposure.
I expect we’re going back Wednesday and I’m very glad. I’ve have enough. If we get paid perhaps I shall go to New York next Saturday. This trench life makes me long for the City. So if you haven’t already sent my shirt in which case it will be waiting for me at Allentown I wish you’d send it Tuesday or so. I’m so dirty that getting cleaned up for once will be a luxury. I expect to have a good visit with Harry and I promise to use my head. I’ll go over there for a while but I won’t discourage him about Dean St. Any way he understands it all and he’s written me that he thinks it best to stick there for a time so I’m satisfied. I’m writing Harry to-day.
Love to all,
Herb
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Stand, don't sit!
Again, from the October 3rd issue of the Week Magazine -
A simple way to prolong life
To delay aging, spend more time standing up. That’s the surprising conclusion of a new study by Swedish scientists, reports The Daily Telegraph (U.K.). Researchers at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm took blood samples from a group of sedentary, overweight men and women, all 68 years old, and measured the length of their telomeres—caps on the ends of DNA that generally shorten and fray with age. Half the volunteers were started on a moderate exercise program and told to sit less, while the other half were told to continue their normal lives. When the scientists took second blood tests six months later, they found that the telomeres in the “normal’’ group had shortened, as expected, but those in the exercise group had actually grown longer—their cells had become physiologically younger. Even more surprising, this wasn’t because of the exercise regime: The telomeres of the volunteers who worked out the most tended to grow less and sometimes even shortened. The most beneficial factor was time spent standing up. The less time people spent sitting down, the more their telomeres grew. “Formal exercise may be increasing, but at the same time people spend more time sitting,” said co-author Mai-Lis Hellenius. “Sitting and sedentary behavior [may be] an important and new health hazard of our time.”
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Herb's back!
I am guessing that this letter belongs to September, but it might very well be December. I transcribed it a long time ago, but I really need to reread all the letters together in one flow to see where it might fit. But, I am eager to return to Herb, so I wanted to keep going.
Don't you just love how he puts movies in quotes? I guess it was still such a new concept.
Mr. Fairlee is the pastor/reverend (whatever is the right term...) of their church. I can't think who Mr. Ferguson might be, though eventually Herb's cousin Helen Sherman marries a Bill Ferguson, so could there be a family connection? Who knows?
He is so nice to his mother, isn't he?
Thursday 1917 (September?)
Dear Mother,
Dad’s letter came yesterday and the box arrived to-day. Everything tasted so good after a couple of weeks of rations. Last night occurred the first rain in three weeks. All drills had to be called off today because the soil is mostly clay and when it’s wet it’s awfully soupy. Last night I went into Allentown for a bath and a shave at the Y.M.C.A. and a visit to the “movies”.
Nothing has developed in regards to our leaving here as I imagine we may be here some time yet. Still it might be worse. We have a good fire in our dugout all the time and the roof keeps out the rain all right. I think we’ll be able to get ten days off around Christmas time. Five of the fellows left Tuesday to be gone until the last day of this month.
I was quite surprised, I think it was Monday to receive a letter from Mr. Fairlee, a very nice letter, too. I suppose my letter to the Men’s Club prompted it. Mr. Ferguson asked me to write him that letter.
By the way, Mother, there must be on hand enough of my allowance to get you a new coat if you haven’t one. You haven’t said anything about a new one and I know you’ve had the other at least three years. Why not take some of my money, whatever is needed, and get yourself one. Nothing could please me better. Won’t you do it? I know what you’ll say of course, the H.C. of L. etc. but you need a good coat to go to church and please for Heaven’s sake get it.
I’ve been wondering what to get Karolyn. I’ve been thinking of a wrist watch. I know she’d like one though she hasn’t said so. However I haven’t decided yet. Anyway I like to give her something rather nice and I guess if I can do that you ought to be able to get a coat and call it a Christmas present.
Love,
Herb
Don't you just love how he puts movies in quotes? I guess it was still such a new concept.
Mr. Fairlee is the pastor/reverend (whatever is the right term...) of their church. I can't think who Mr. Ferguson might be, though eventually Herb's cousin Helen Sherman marries a Bill Ferguson, so could there be a family connection? Who knows?
He is so nice to his mother, isn't he?
Thursday 1917 (September?)
Dear Mother,
Dad’s letter came yesterday and the box arrived to-day. Everything tasted so good after a couple of weeks of rations. Last night occurred the first rain in three weeks. All drills had to be called off today because the soil is mostly clay and when it’s wet it’s awfully soupy. Last night I went into Allentown for a bath and a shave at the Y.M.C.A. and a visit to the “movies”.
Nothing has developed in regards to our leaving here as I imagine we may be here some time yet. Still it might be worse. We have a good fire in our dugout all the time and the roof keeps out the rain all right. I think we’ll be able to get ten days off around Christmas time. Five of the fellows left Tuesday to be gone until the last day of this month.
I was quite surprised, I think it was Monday to receive a letter from Mr. Fairlee, a very nice letter, too. I suppose my letter to the Men’s Club prompted it. Mr. Ferguson asked me to write him that letter.
By the way, Mother, there must be on hand enough of my allowance to get you a new coat if you haven’t one. You haven’t said anything about a new one and I know you’ve had the other at least three years. Why not take some of my money, whatever is needed, and get yourself one. Nothing could please me better. Won’t you do it? I know what you’ll say of course, the H.C. of L. etc. but you need a good coat to go to church and please for Heaven’s sake get it.
I’ve been wondering what to get Karolyn. I’ve been thinking of a wrist watch. I know she’d like one though she hasn’t said so. However I haven’t decided yet. Anyway I like to give her something rather nice and I guess if I can do that you ought to be able to get a coat and call it a Christmas present.
Love,
Herb
Friday, October 3, 2014
Artificial Sweeteners
I was catching up on my reading and I came across this small blurb in the October 3rd issue of the Week Magazine:
Beware of artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners, among the most common food additives in the world, may be contributing to obesity rather than preventing it, reports the Financial Times. In a series of experiments, Israeli scientists found that exposure to three sweeteners widely used in low-calorie snacks and beverages—saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame—raised blood sugar levels in mice and increased their risk of glucose intolerance, a condition that often leads to obesity and diabetes. When the researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science then gave a regular dose of saccharin to seven human volunteers who did not typically use sweeteners, four of them developed glucose intolerance. Previous studies have suggested that certain artificial supplements can give consumers a “sweet tooth,” making them more likely to seek out sugary foods, but this research suggests that sweeteners might actually alter the body’s metabolism to make weight gain more likely. Sweeteners, the report found, “may have directly contributed to enhancing the exact epidemic that they themselves were intended to fight.”
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