Letter, Porter Swann to Louise Cavett Swann, February 2, 1919
Dublin Core
Description
Correspondence from Porter Swann (Mississippi A&M Class of 1916), stationed in France, to his mother, Louise Cavett Swann.
Creator
Date
Subject
War and families
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918
Language
en-US
Type
text
Format
Identifier
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_001
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_002
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_003
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_004
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_005
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_006
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_007
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_002
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_003
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_004
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_005
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_006
CPRC_Swann-Cavett_1919-02-07_007
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Source
Rights
" Copyright protected by Mississippi State University Libraries. Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required."
Publisher
Scripto
Transcription
Tuesday
2/7/1919
My Dearest Mama and Papa: -
I am very busy but have just got to write you a note. I went to Nancy Tuesday and got back Wed. night. Had an awful good time. Bought over $2000 worth of groceries, 600 doz. eggs. Coming back, it started snowing. It was so thick and large flakes, we had to turn on the lights about 4.30. Well soon we began slipping and had to put on chains. We had an awful time getting up some of the hills and didn’t put in until about eight. I was made so happy when I got home and found your long sweet letter, also one from Allen, Rosa, Tim and Ethelda. My word I did enjoy them. Everything was white the next day but that afternoon it started raining and most of it melted before it [?]. Then that night in the night I got sick. Worst feeling well one would have written before I returned. Ate something that didn’t agree with me I suppose. Was awful sick all night but the next morning I was feeling fine.
Speaking of snow well that night it started again outside of my door its over knee deep. It was awful windy all day so it drifted. It snowed all day long. I never saw such a day. It was almost impossible to walk against the wind and see. The snow was blinding. It was so dry. Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky but it’s not melting at all. Its below 0 today, you don’t feel it so much though, for it’s a dry cold. It’s the biggest snow I ever saw. Am sending Bess some music. The national anthem of France and Madeleine. Madeleine is about as popular with the French as ‘Dixie’ is with us. You can forward it to her. Am so glad she is interested in her music. Am only hoping she will keep it up. Wish Hallie Lee could take. I believe she has a can for it. How she got her letter from the [?]. They certainly write a beautiful hand. I sent you two vases. They are made out of German shells by a French soldier. All hand work. I am trying to get some larger and real pretty ones with Hercules and St. Michel on them. They are beautiful.
That Helmet was given to me by a soldier from the Front. He said he took it off of a German. I haven’t any souvenirs myself. Did you get the pictures I sent? They were taken around St. Michel.
Who do you suppose is here? Lieut. Schiff. He was our Dr. in old “Troup A” and went to Beauregard with me from [?]. He came in to pay his deposit (in advance). They gave him a receipt and stamped it with my stamp after he got in his bullet said he looked at his receipt and began to thinking and came back to look me up. I was a Sgt. then but he was my friend just the same. When I came back he came in to see me. I hear him eating at my table, also Barksdale Stevens. He is in the aviation. Everyone is down on the aviation. They had all the ‘Swivel chair’ jobs back behind the line and lived off the job of the land. Of course I like Barksdale and was mighty glad to see him. He is also eating with me. He wants to stay over here provided he can get back in the air service. He was sent here for M classified. They are sent here for everything. I have another friend learning for the “Good old U.S.A.” to move in for immediate discharge. His orders sure did look good.
Will call, I mean write, you again Sunday. Am getting your letters now regularly and sure do enjoy them.
Write after lots and lots of love to all and just [?] for my precious mama and papa.
Devotedly,
Porter
2/7/1919
My Dearest Mama and Papa: -
I am very busy but have just got to write you a note. I went to Nancy Tuesday and got back Wed. night. Had an awful good time. Bought over $2000 worth of groceries, 600 doz. eggs. Coming back, it started snowing. It was so thick and large flakes, we had to turn on the lights about 4.30. Well soon we began slipping and had to put on chains. We had an awful time getting up some of the hills and didn’t put in until about eight. I was made so happy when I got home and found your long sweet letter, also one from Allen, Rosa, Tim and Ethelda. My word I did enjoy them. Everything was white the next day but that afternoon it started raining and most of it melted before it [?]. Then that night in the night I got sick. Worst feeling well one would have written before I returned. Ate something that didn’t agree with me I suppose. Was awful sick all night but the next morning I was feeling fine.
Speaking of snow well that night it started again outside of my door its over knee deep. It was awful windy all day so it drifted. It snowed all day long. I never saw such a day. It was almost impossible to walk against the wind and see. The snow was blinding. It was so dry. Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky but it’s not melting at all. Its below 0 today, you don’t feel it so much though, for it’s a dry cold. It’s the biggest snow I ever saw. Am sending Bess some music. The national anthem of France and Madeleine. Madeleine is about as popular with the French as ‘Dixie’ is with us. You can forward it to her. Am so glad she is interested in her music. Am only hoping she will keep it up. Wish Hallie Lee could take. I believe she has a can for it. How she got her letter from the [?]. They certainly write a beautiful hand. I sent you two vases. They are made out of German shells by a French soldier. All hand work. I am trying to get some larger and real pretty ones with Hercules and St. Michel on them. They are beautiful.
That Helmet was given to me by a soldier from the Front. He said he took it off of a German. I haven’t any souvenirs myself. Did you get the pictures I sent? They were taken around St. Michel.
Who do you suppose is here? Lieut. Schiff. He was our Dr. in old “Troup A” and went to Beauregard with me from [?]. He came in to pay his deposit (in advance). They gave him a receipt and stamped it with my stamp after he got in his bullet said he looked at his receipt and began to thinking and came back to look me up. I was a Sgt. then but he was my friend just the same. When I came back he came in to see me. I hear him eating at my table, also Barksdale Stevens. He is in the aviation. Everyone is down on the aviation. They had all the ‘Swivel chair’ jobs back behind the line and lived off the job of the land. Of course I like Barksdale and was mighty glad to see him. He is also eating with me. He wants to stay over here provided he can get back in the air service. He was sent here for M classified. They are sent here for everything. I have another friend learning for the “Good old U.S.A.” to move in for immediate discharge. His orders sure did look good.
Will call, I mean write, you again Sunday. Am getting your letters now regularly and sure do enjoy them.
Write after lots and lots of love to all and just [?] for my precious mama and papa.
Devotedly,
Porter
Files
Citation
Swan, Porter, “Letter, Porter Swann to Louise Cavett Swann, February 2, 1919,” Mississippi State University Libraries, accessed April 20, 2024, https://msstate-exhibits.libraryhost.com/items/show/79.
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