ss,
_Bill._

_Mon Croquette:_

Thats not the kind with the evenin dress tooth pick in the top, Mable. A
croquette is a French society woman. Study these letters of mine an see
how I use the words. You ought to be able to pick up enough French to
understand me talkin it when I come home.

Well, Mable, New Years are behind us again. Once more I made a lot of
revolushuns. Its no use sayin there wasnt nothin for me to change. Youre
prejudiced. I can see falts where others cant. Underneath a plesant
exterior I am made of sterner stuff, as the poets say. I have gave up
frivolity with the exception of goin into town once in a while to take a
bath. Im strong for this sanity stuff under any conditions.

Im makin a study of war. Im goin to tell you a sekrut. Im workin on a
plan to end the war. I got thinkin, as I will, an it struck me that no
one had gone into this at all. There all figurin how to go on with it
but none of em how to quit it. Dont say nothin till I get it worked out.
I guess you always knew youd here from me when I got goin, eh Mable?

[Illustration: "A CROQUETTE IS A FRENCH SOCIETY WOMAN"]

I also resolved not to put off till tomorrow what I can do today. (Old
motto.) For instance if I can get out of a fatigue today whats the use
of waitin till tomorrow. The same with sleepin and restin.

I cut out cigarets to. I was gettin to be a feend. Got so I had to lite
one whenever I got thinkin. I was usin up most a package a day. Nervous
an high strung. Thats me all over, Mable. I smoke cigars an a pipe
instead. A fello with an active mind has got to have somethin. You
remember what the fello what trained the high school show said when he
saw me act. Temperature. Thats me. Of course its harder to borrow pipe
tobacco and cigars but Im tryin to show the fellos how bad cigarets is.
Pretty soon Ill be all O.K. again.

I got that watch your father sent me for a New Years present. Tell him
thanks very much an not to feel bad because he forgot to send me a
Christmas present cause this wipes out the debt entirely. He said it was
a military watch an the latest thing out. I guess they call it a
military watch cause it works two hours and stops four. Its the latest
thing round here. If I answered call by that watch Id be fallin in for
retreat round taps. Its so slow it cant stop quick.

I got the blacksmith over at headquarters company workin on it now. Hes
an awful good man. He was a plumber in civilian lif