Letters Of A Chasseur À Pied by Sergeant Robert Pellissier Anon

Author:Sergeant Robert Pellissier, Anon [Sergeant Robert Pellissier, Anon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782893035
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Lucknow Books
Published: 2014-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

1916.

January 1st, 1916.

To Dr. J—,

Back in Alsace after nearly a year's absence. To think that when last leaving this valley, I sincerely thought that I would be back in three or four weeks at the most.

Life out here is about the same. The same mud, the same, never ending lines of autos, pack mules and troops going up and down the valley.

Last week, just before I came back, my battalion had a hard time of it in the attacks against the German positions in the Northeast. As a result we are now resting; may not go up into the mountains for several days,—a state of things to which I do not at all object. While going from St.-Maixent to Paris I saw Professor Grandgent, who is giving lectures at the Sorbonne on Dante, and also on phonetics. He gave me the most useful and interesting information concerning the state of public opinion in America.

Spring will soon be here and the war is not yet ended, nor even is the end in sight. If my long continued absence works injustice to anyone, please do not hesitate to consider my contract with Stanford ended. I wish for nothing more earnestly than to return to Stanford and take up my work there once more, but I realize that a leave of absence prolonged over three years may not be the best thing for the department, and I want you to feel sure that if you wish to give me a permanent successor, I shall understand the justice of the step perfectly well.

January 6th, 1915.{7}

To B—,

No very huge news. We are waiting for more men and not doing much in the meanwhile. My main occupation is to get used again to mud and straw. As for food, the valley is much better than last year. We can buy all manners of cheeses as well as fish, oysters, and glory of all French culinary art, snails! Had snails to-night with parsley; also mushrooms and rognons sautés. Will be broke soon.

Even being a sergeant is much better than being a private. Much more freedom if a little responsibility. My captain is a boy twenty-three years old. Very capable, a born leader. The kind I should like Americans to know about. Which does not mean that there are not many of the other kind. May the censors overlook this line.

No mail at all as yet. Can't expect to get any for several days yet. It's very long to get connected again with the real world. My first mail ought to be a monster as my brother must have hoarded many epistles since I left Valence.

On clear days, the Dutch send us a few shells night and day. They aim at us, but they hit anything. The schoolhouse a few days ago, with some children badly scared and a teacher killed.

We probably won't go any nearer to them than we now are for a week or more. We may be kept thus resting.

Well, will try to write real news later.

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