DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds correspondence, April-December 1919 | 1919-07-18 Conger Reynolds to John and Emily Reynolds Page 2

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Conger Reynolds correspondence, April-December 1919

1919-07-18 Conger Reynolds to John and Emily Reynolds Page 2

I was surprised to learn that Meaux is a place of about 10,000.  Really an interesting looking place, so far as I could tell from the window of the train. All the time, of course, Norris was keeping up his usual steady flow of conversation.  I find he talks much more when he is the whole show, but when there is another man around he is tight as a clam.
When we finally reached C-T- things looked a bit more as I had been expecting, altho along the tracks, for several miles before we reached the city, I had seen barbed wire entanglements.  I think my hubby is a wonder!  I must have asked him a million questions, and he answered every one of them, without getting a bit peevish.  He pointed out various places of interest as we walked thru the town, across the river to the "Y".  One thing that interested me was the clock in the tower of the city - hall.  It has a hole in its face, thru which the Bosches fired a machine gun on the allied forces which were just across the river.  Leave it to the gentle German to devise ways and means.  We found the "Y" after a rather interesting walk up one street and down another, and while Conger interviewed the orficer, I stood out in the hall, trying to see in every direction at once.  Some where, a patient, long suffering piano was being abused - um la la, um la la - some son of a Swede was "chording."  I could see a lot of soldiers stretched out in camp chairs - the long, squatty kind (chairs, not soldiers) trying to sleep.  I wondered why they let the pianist live, and then I considered the matter and decided that after the things they've had to sleep thru during war, a mere matter of "chording" would'nt mean much in their young lives.  Now that I am home again, and away from all signs of any save an occasional domestic war, I've considered things in a cooler, saner way, and I've decided that those men are probably "Y" workers and the nearest they have ever been to the war was when they fit, (and probably lost) the well known "Battle of Paris" This being the case they could probably sleep thru anything.
Well, we were told we might pile in with a truck load of soldiers and sailors who were going out to see the sights, and the orficer said to Conger, "Put your wife in the front seat," in the same generous whole-hearted way in which he might have said, "Here! Here's a nickel. Spend all of it."  We were properly impressed, and Conger boosted me up beside the driver and a bashful young marine.  He and Norris stood in the truck, with the rest of the gang.  I was awfully glad I was a female, for once, because the ride was long and bumpy.  I understand what those men meant, who wrote about the heavy trucks rumbling or thundering up to the front.  I've never heard a worse noise any where.  Just before we started, I took particular pains to speak to Conger, so they could see I was an American.  Then the marine said, "I think there is a room here for your --"  He blushed furiously and looked unhappy, and gulped, "- your friend."  I laughed and said, "Oh he isn't my friend; He's only my husband".  Then he blushed some more and offered to let Conger sit on his lap but I assured him Conger was satisfied back with Norris.  Coming home, he insisted on giving his place to Conger, and of course that suited us right down to the ground.
Of course we saw the crumbling walls that had once been homes, and I noticed, registering keen approval meanwhile, that the Bosch prisoners are being made to repair and rebuild.  Along the road we saw several German graves that were being cared for in the typical German way - the work of the prisoners.  Several times we were passed by crews of prisoners going to and from work, with a "Blue Devil" in charge".  At no time could I find a bunch that were hard at work.  Some were lying in the shade resting, and they all stopped operations to watch us out of sight.  In the city I remember passing some who were not with a guard at all.  I think

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I was surprised to learn that Meaux is a place of about 10,000. Really an interesting looking place, so far as I could tell from the window of the train. All the time, of course, Norris was keeping up his usual steady flow of conversation. I find he talks much more when he is the whole show, but when there is another man around he is tight as a clam. When we finally reached C-T- things looked a bit more as I had been expecting, altho along the tracks, for several miles before we reached the city, I had seen barbed wire entanglements. I think my hubby is a wonder! I must have asked him a million questions, and he answered every one of them, without getting a bit peevish. He pointed out various places of interest as we walked thru the town, across the river to the "Y". One thing that interested me was the clock in the tower of the city - hall. It has a hole in its face, thru which the Bosches fired a machine gun on the allied forces which were just across the river. Leave it to the gentle German to devise ways and means. We found the "Y" after a rather interesting walk up one street and down another, and while Conger interviewed the orficer, I stood out in the hall, trying to see in every direction at once. Some where, a patient, long suffering piano was being abused - um la la, um la la - some son of a Swede was "chording." I could see a lot of soldiers stretched out in camp chairs - the long, squatty kind (chairs, not soldiers) trying to sleep. I wondered why they let the pianist live, and then I considered the matter and decided that after the things they've had to sleep thru during war, a mere matter of "chording" would'nt mean much in their young lives. Now that I am home again, and away from all signs of any save an occasional domestic war, I've considered things in a cooler, saner way, and I've decided that those men are probably "Y" workers and the nearest they have ever been to the war was when they fit, (and probably lost) the well known "Battle of Paris" This being the case they could probably sleep thru anything. Well, we were told we might pile in with a truck load of soldiers and sailors who were going out to see the sights, and the orficer said to Conger, "Put your wife in the front seat," in the same generous whole-hearted way in which he might have said, "Here! Here's a nickel. Spend all of it." We were properly impressed, and Conger boosted me up beside the driver and a bashful young marine. He and Norris stood in the truck, with the rest of the gang. I was awfully glad I was a female, for once, because the ride was long and bumpy. I understand what those men meant, who wrote about the heavy trucks rumbling or thundering up to the front. I've never heard a worse noise any where. Just before we started, I took particular pains to speak to Conger, so they could see I was an American. Then the marine said, "I think there is a room here for your --" He blushed furiously and looked unhappy, and gulped, "- your friend." I laughed and said, "Oh he isn't my friend; He's only my husband". Then he blushed some more and offered to let Conger sit on his lap but I assured him Conger was satisfied back with Norris. Coming home, he insisted on giving his place to Conger, and of course that suited us right down to the ground. Of course we saw the crumbling walls that had once been homes, and I noticed, registering keen approval meanwhile, that the Bosch prisoners are being made to repair and rebuild. Along the road we saw several German graves that were being cared for in the typical German way - the work of the prisoners. Several times we were passed by crews of prisoners going to and from work, with a "Blue Devil" in charge". At no time could I find a bunch that were hard at work. Some were lying in the shade resting, and they all stopped operations to watch us out of sight. In the city I remember passing some who were not with a guard at all. I think