1919 LETTER #3:

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LETTER SUMMARY:
"ORDERS FROM THE FRONT":
Bootus lists 15 things for his mother NOT to do when he and Mil return home:

-- "Home Cooking"

-- "I hope to get rid of the Cooties for the first time in fifteen months"

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SOME EXCERPTS FROM THIS LETTER:


4 pages, ink

[ Included with the letter excerpted below, there is a one-page typescript (8 x 13.5") entitled "ORDERS FROM THE FRONT". It lists 13 of the original 15 instructions sent to "Ma" in this letter, to prepare her for the brother's return home. ]

Poulangy, France

Priv H. W. Chapman
Co D 101 US Eng
AEF

[Rec'd Jan 29 -19]

Dear Ma and Pa,

Ma can start stocking up with home cooking. Mil and I are coming home hungry, hungry for over a year and nothing but HOME COOKING is going to pass inspection . . . leave out the vegetables . . . there has got to be beaucoup PIES.
[...]

I will give you a few Don'ts for our returning celebration

[ Only 7 of 15 in the letter are listed below ]:

4. Don't drop a dish or anything similar as we may think its a 210 coming over and dive for the nearest cover (possibly under a table containing cut glass, or possibly in the pie closet).
[...]

6. Don't have napkins laying around or they'll be missed (they make good gun cloths).

7. Don't fail to put a few rocks in my bed, I want to put in a good sleep the first night.

8. Be reasonable about the cream, butter and sugar, you put on the table or you'll carry the kidding too far.

9. Don't mention any French terms or I'll have the firing squad down the next day.
[...]

11. Don't tell all your friends that I am bringing them a souvenir (for I haven't any).
[...]

15. Don't plant a garden on the next lot as Mil and I will probably dig it up for a dugout.
[...]

Looking forward to that delousing camp where I hope to get rid of the Cooties for the first time in fifteen months.
[...]

Love,
Bootus

[Censor's script passing letter]

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