France
May 6th 1918.
Dear Doris,
Just a short note to tell you that your parcel of sweets arrived at last (and has gone again too) and to thank you for it.
– The eats were in fine shape, tho the tin box had been pretty well banged about. – By the way, I'll give you a tip that may be useful to some of your friends who are mailing parcels overseas these days. – Tin boxes are rather a delusion & don't stand the journey nearly as well as light wooden or heavy cardboard. – The sides of a tin box get bent in when the parcel is jammed in with other heavy stuff in the mails, and then the edges cut thro' the outer wrappings. – After considerable experimenting, mother has, I think, hit on a scheme of packing that practically defies the postal people to damage it. – She has dad make a light pine case to fit whatever she has to send and then sew the whole works up in a piece of old linen.
– I'm telling you this because I know the time and trouble folks at home spend in making up parcels for the fellows over here and I also know the pleasure it gives when they are received, yet I have seen parcel after parcel dumped out of our company mail-sack that was really nothing but a skeleton of paper, and string with a few crumbs of cake, or a sticky mass of candy only to show what it had been when it started on its travels.
– I think you asked my opinion on the preserved (candied?) fruit. – My opinion and the general verdict of the mess was "très bon" – I passed it round at tea, the afternoon the parcel arrived and during the evening I thought I'd like another bit but found the box empty, which speaks for itself. – Personally I don't think I tasted any better on the Riviera, which I believe is the home of that sort of confection.
Last time I wrote I think I mentioned Ross being wounded. – Had a letter from him in London. – He's evidently roaming at large once more, having copped a cushy one in the arm from a bit of shrapnel. – I'd give a month's pay for one like that just now. – Some people have all the luck. – England really is topping at this time of year, whether you are in town or in the country. – I sure have fallen for England since I came over. – France can't begin to compare with it. – I like the English people much better than I ever thought I should before the war. – They are a wonderful race.
– By the way, I mailed you a couple of papers the other day that I thought might interest you as they had some illustrations in them. – Ross is shown in a group that I marked in one while my own visage rather was the page of the other.
Well, I fancy it's about time I rolled up in my blanket and became unconscious for a few hours. –
– Nothin' much to talk about anyway. – The war still goes on in the same old way.
My love to all,
Cheerio,
Murray