Perigueux, France, Sept. 28, 1918

Dear Mrs. Cook:

I received your most welcome letter last night and six other ones wo I am quite busy today trying to answer all of them but I guess I will manage it some way. I am enjoying my stay in France more every day. I am working every day now, railroading isn’t much like it is in the states. This is certainly a beautiful place and a person couldn’t help but like it over here. The country is covered with vineyards and all kinds of fruit trees. You seldom see a fence, as they have most of their fields surrounded by blackberry hedges. The roads are the finest I ever saw, and it is some sight to see some old farmer with a team of oxen and a huge two-wheel cart com creeping down one of these fine roads on a warm sunny afternoon.

I believe they are the most patient people on earth. Nothing ever seems to worry them. They have all the animals and poultry trained the same way. You often seen some old lady out in the green fields, carrying a long stick and watching over a flock of geese, turkeys or chickens, while she is knitting all the while. The animals all seem to know just what is wanted by their master, and all he has to do is wave the stick in the air and they obey.

The buildings too are very interesting. They are all built of stone and you see some fine works of masonry in them, also, the bridges. I saw one bridge that they were thirteen years building. It was certainly a fine piece of work. It is a great adventure for some of us boys to go into some of the old churches, some of which are five hundred years old. One place I saw the statue of the Virgin Mary, erected on a church spire. It had been placed there nine hundred years ago, and they say it had been made many years before that.

I certainly had the surprise of my life day before yesterday. I met Leo Keefe. He was looking fine and very happy. He told me that I was getting fat, so you see this country agrees with me. He is the first boy from home that I have met over here, although I have met several boys off the road that I used to know.

I was very glad to hear of the splendid crops they had at home this year as it will be a big help to Uncle Sam and his Allies. So the men are working night and day on the road now. Well, I don’t think they have anything on us fellows railroading over here. I know there is a lot of them that would like to be with us but their work at home is as important as ours is over here. Only we are the more fortunate, having the chance to do our bit over here.

I received a letter from Burt Zumwinkle, the other day, he saw my address in the paper so took advantage of it and wrote to me. I was very glad to hear from him. I too receive the paper from home. It is sometimes two months old when I get it, but it is just as new to me as if it were right to date, and I am always glad to get it. To read its columns is just like talking to an old friend from home. We have two very important days over here, Mail Day, first and next Pay Day. I heard from Harold too, he is getting along fine and says he thinks they have the best place in France, but I told him it wasn’t any better than our place, although I let him think it would have to see it first to be might possibly as good but I believe it.

Everybody says the old town is very quiet, well, I guess all the towns are now, as that is what almost all the boys hear from home.

I am very glad to hear that mother is feeling so well. I know she will get along fine. I always look for her letters first. I get two or three every mail day and they are always very cheerful. Well, I think I have about reached the limit of my news. I mean what I can tell, of course, if I were home I never would stop. Will close for this time. Give my regards to Mr. Cook and tell him I am still carrying the watch and it keeps just as good time in France as it did at home. It stopped once on the boat but started again after about twelve hours. I think it was sea sick. Tell everybody hello.

As ever your friend, Pvt. Clarence Hassinger, Co. A, 52^nd Reg. T.C., Perigueux, France. A.E.F., A.P.O. No. 794