April 6, 1916
My Dear Amy,
I got a letter yesterday dated 18th February. Thank you much.
I got some from Claude and Little Aunt too and a couple of papers. We have recently had a nice trip from one end of France to the other. We passed through Paris at night and saw little of it but the country is splendid. Winter is passing to spring and the trees are sprouting and are in blossom. It’s all fruit trees and vines.
It was all nice sunny weather while we were coming upend the scenery is par excellence. We traveled over the tourist route. Some of the mountains had white peaks and we ran through two very long tunnels. It is hilly everywhere but it all seems fertile. All the farmers are plowing or sowing their little patches with single furrow plows. By the way – the farmers are very old. The young ones and women are in the shops and on the trams in towns we passed. The people gave us a good welcome- cheered us all the way and gave us cigarettes, post cards etc. One of our number speaks French. He has been trying to teach us for a while. It’s funny practicing, but the people are interested in us. The women and kiddies are pretty- complexions real good (bon) There is a windmill in sight that has ground flour for its owners since 1760 and still going well. We are billeted in a brick barn that is part of the main house. There are couple of women and some children – no men in it. Most of the houses are stone with tile roofs. The roads are white and good- a great place for cycles. Everybody seems to ride them. We can get good wine or beer for 1d a glass. The beer is like good homemade – it maybe. We have broken a few champagne bottles amongst us because it costs about 4/- and is good(very good) Six francs. The Franc is worth 8 1/2 pence.
We have a fluffy little desert dog we dug out near the Suez Canal and carried with us. He toddles now and draws a lot of attention and the kiddies try to catch him. Women have run off with him several times. He is a fine puppy and we think we maybe able to teach him to be useful. He is already recognised by the regiment. (No. 1916 ISMAH0 home address, Ismailia.)
Love to all, your brother, STID
