WWI AEF Letter Dec 1917 14th ENGINEER Regt. in France GREAT CONTENT - VD Danger

Description

World War I soldier's letter, 4 pgs., approx. 5-7/8" x 7-5/8", dated
"France, Dec. 18th, 1917"
, from Capt. (later Major) Robert G. Henderson, 14th Engineer Regiment, to his sister-in-law, Mabel Henderson (married to his brother, Harry P. Henderson)  .
Includes an envelope from the same correspondence, but not belonging with this letter (it's postmarked July 9, 1918), for the purpose of confirming the identity of the writer - his return address reads "R. G. Henderson, Major, 14th Eng'r (Ry).
The 14th Engineer Regiment was recruited in New England, mostly from railroad men, and arrived in France in the fall of 1917. They did important work repairing railroads, building railroads and bridges, often under gun and artillery fire.
Great content
, writing of a trip he took with another Capt. into town, and stopping in a graphophone shop (record players) and of the French girl who ran the shop, and refused to dance with one of the British Officers who came in until "apres le guerre", and of 5 drunk French soldiers who came into the shop, and after being given English & American cigarettes, they went off singing "It's a long way to Tipperary"! He also writes of risk to French women from the American soldiers, but he thinks the reverse it more the case, and assures his sister-in-law not to worry about Venereal Disease, as "the American Medical Service sees to that by taking preventative measures". More good content.
Includes:
"Dear Mabel,
Your candy arrives regularly...The chocolate for the men also reached destination in good shape. We have so much tobacco and candy that we are arranging to make a Xmas present of some to a Canadian hospital nearby, where it will be greatly appreciated. We Americans have so much more than anybody else here that I am ashamed.
...Sunday afternoon on a day off, with another Captain. A gorgeous supper at the hotel. After supper we wandered out in the snow and found a graphophone shop open. The little girl who runs it is one of the most delightful people I ever say - very droll and full of verve. A few English officers wandered in and we had a splendid time playing records and talking with Mademoiselle Jeanne. One of the English officers started to dance with her, but she shoved him off and said 'Apres la guerre!'. And that's the French spirit, too. Along about 10.30 p.m. five French poilus just back from the north and rather full of wine, opened the door and beamed at us. So the English officers gave them English cigarettes, we gave them American cigarettes and the shopkeeper gave them French cigarettes and off they went roaring 'It's a long way to Tipperary', with an excruciating accent. Commend me to the poilus - he's the finest soldier of us all. And so home to the hotel to sleep in real beds with sheets and wake up in the morning to find four inches of snow on the ground. The hotel garden boasts a pine tree, and that with its snow cover made me feel a bit homesick. A solitary crane stood disconsolately on one leg. Then to breakfast, and an omelete such as the French only know how to make. Then shopping and
dinner and a long cold automobile ride home to the booming of the guns.
Dec. 19th.
I went to dinner at another of our officer's billets yesterday. He is very comfortably fixed in a slightly damaged town....
Saw a British C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) today. It was quite an illuminating experience. Outside, nothing but ugly huts & tents - inside beautifully white & clean...and operating rooms fit for a real hospital.
In one of your letters you utter some kind of diatribe about the risks American soldiers may impose on French women. Don't worry - the American army is in more danger from French women, than French women from the American army. And this is no discredit to the French either - they are simply a little bit more franks about things. Also don't worry about the dangers of venereal disease. The American Medical Service sees to that by taking preventative measures. This leaves very little room for chivalry, doesn't it? But I can assure you that I am no better or worse in France than I was in America and you can gather what comfort you please from this remark.
Your candy is gobbled gratefully, but I wonder if you could send salted peanuts instead. It seems impossible to obtain them here, and it is possible to obtain candy, as we are within leave distance of a fairly large city. N.B. I've even had marrons glaces (Yum! Yum!).
I must go to bed now.
With love to you and Harry.
Bob"
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
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