1/2/1919
Sommedieu, Frce.

Dear Father and Sisters:-

To-nite as I write this I’m sitting in a swell reception room of a big
chateau (or palace as the English speak) beside an open fire place which
is decorated with white and brown marble and big French mirrors galore,
in both reception and dining rooms there are about $1,800. worth of
mirrors and the walls of the dining room are covered with hand paintings
on canvas. The former owner of this place was a wealthy furniture
manufactor of this little city of about 2,000 [?] prior the war. You can
imagine as to how this palace is furnished with the finest of hand
carved furniture.

Just across a beautiful green lawn from here is a never quiet, ever
roaring water fall, fed from a big beautiful dam which is surrounded
with huge fur-trees, some standing to the height of 70 ft. From this
water-fall the former prosperous and wealthy manufactor obtained his
power to operate his plant, but now the power is used to convert
electricity for the many American soldiers who inhabit this place.

Early in the war this little thriving city which is located about 6
kilometers south from our P.C. on the Meuse Sector of the Verdun Front
was bombed by raiding Boche Planes and later shelled by the heavy Hun
cannon. It was evacuated by the civil population shortly after the first
air-raids and only recently have the former inhabitants started to
return in small numbers.

I occupy, just the same as the Col. other officers and two Y.M.C.A.
girls, a room in this big stone mansion. May send you a view of it if
possible. We moved down on the 30^(th) of Dec.

For New Year’s 2P.M. dinner we put on another big feed. Champagne and
white wine we had an endless chain of those make-joy drinks. I served
that juice to the 15 guests until I got elevated from inhaling it. But
don’t think Old Mike didn’t get his ration of it. We, the kitchen and
dining room force had the pleasure of drinking. “Champagney” water with
the Colonel. Some fine man he is. Am sending you some Menus of the feast
as I sent you one of Xmas Dinner. (In seperate letter).

Also sending you a little piece of cloth used in decorating “Frog”
furniture. And too, some comminiques.

Received Xmas Card from M.E.S.S. Thank to them for remembering a
“hard-shell Baptist” when so far away.

Geo. Lukens and Merle Phillippi transferred to Brigade Hdq. Where Roy
Hall and Ralph Moore are stationed. They like the change exceptionally
well and I have the the pleasure of seeing them quite often as they are
billeted only a block from here.

Was up to rear echelon on 12/31 where I met Warlow, but failed to see or
learn of Geo Devin. Stopped on way at Field Hospital where I had two
small cavities in my teeth filled, they had never given me any trouble,
just safety first, absolutely fill [?].

On New Year’s Eve I received two letters from you under date of Nov
24^(th) and 28^(th), one from Aunt Nan, and one from a near by town
also.

Thanks for John J’s. address will try and locate him if not to far away.

Received an answer to the letter I wrote Sam Wacker. He is not over 40
kilometers from here. He is O.K.

Wish I had known you wanted some “Frog” perfumery when I was in
Gay-Paris, I certainly would have mailed you an assortment. But here we
have only ripe or rotten goat cheese to use.

Have not received Xmas box yet, never has Jew Phillippi nor a lot of
others.

Trusting you are well, I assure you I am well, never hungry and burning
heaps of wood. Don’t worry about my welfare, for I am “sitting on the
moon.”

By the way Chris is in this place, he is in charge of “A” Bat. mail,
another one of Uncle Sam’s heavy jobs, works as much as some of the rest
of the Gold Bucks.

Latest rumor, is that we are going to Germany, hope so, but army talk
never runs the same from one day until the next.

Hoping the “flu” is under ban, I remain

Your son and bro.,
Milo Main.
Bat F. 130 F.A.

A.E.F
% Regtl Hdq.