No. 105.
France,
16/10/18.

My Dear Nerta,

I was surely glad to receive yours of a month ago, enclosed with Dad’s letter. I am very glad that Dad is feeling so much better.

I hope you have dresses with which to wear these collars. I was undecided about them but they were so nice that I couldn’t resist. Is it necessary to have a square “sailor” collar to wear them on? I also wondered this. I think I will send Floss for Christmas a scarf in either white or champagne. They are I think pretty good. This town is noted for its lace, etc. They have all kinds of fancy lace, built on net, in all widths, also the heavy hand made laces, but they look almost clumsy when you see the more delicate work, all of which I think is machine work. I can’t really see the difference, if they use the same grade of thread, because the “hand” work is done on those lace machines. Of course it is much slower.

I was a long time getting that vanity case away to Floss, because it had a flat and very poor mirror in it. I sent it to Blighty to be engraved, and to have a good convex mirror fitted. It took them two months to return it. Talk about prices – I was looking at nickel alarms the other night, the ordinary Waterbury with bell on top which we used to sell for $1²⁵ is 30 francs, the Ansonia, same grade, 40 francs, to both prices there is an import tax of 10% and divide by five for dollars. That is the limit and I don’t know of anything else that compares with it. Of course, all prices are up a little, but nothing like as high as that. The only other thing I have seen so high is the .25 colt automatic ammunition – that is for the little pistol like I left with you – they charge 50 francs. per. box of 50 or twenty cents a shot. Some shooting what!

That round silver box you speak of, is a match box. They were to send it out to Dad from Blighty after engraving it, but they returned it to me. Put it with the other stuff I have sent home, as I expect to be back to use it some day.

Say, speaking of Clarence Prueter, don’t you remember the trouble he had with his ear when he was a kid? I do, it always gave him more or less trouble.

You don’t mention those cigaretts, for goodness sake hurry them along. It is almost impossible to get any smokeable ones over here now and decent Turkish or Egyptian are absolutely out of the question.

One of the English papers, published a statement that on account of the “Flu,” all schools and Churches in Canada were closed. I sincerely trust that it is not so bad as that.

I am still inside, but feeling jake.

Love to all,
Your loving brother,
Worth.