Thursday, October 10, 1918
Benjamin Franklin, when he was running a country newspaper in Philadelphia, called attention to the fact that solitary trappers and hunters in the woods never suffered from colds, but that only those who lived in crowded places take cold. This is true of the grippe, which is causing so much discomfort in the country now, and which is the cause of so many cases of pneumonia.
Avoid crowded places.
Keep away from those who are coughing and sneezing.
And as for those who have to cough and sneeze, let them cough or sneeze into a handkerchief, for it is the little particles of spray that carry infection to the well persons. As to going into crowds: the only rule that will hold good, year in and year out, is in times of contagion, only go to those places where crowds are when your work or your business takes you there. Cut out all unnecessary junketing and running around. Go on and do your work. For an idle man is in more danger always than a working man…
SOLDIER’S LETTER
Miss Stella Dilley,
Huntersville, W. Va.
My Dear Niece:
This is Sunday morning, and I will try and write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and getting along all right, and I hope when these few lines reach you, they will find you all the same and getting along good.
I landed all O. K. Enjoyed my trip over very well…
This is a very pretty country over here, but I don’t like it very much as it does not come up with the good old U. S. A., for that is the only place that looks good to me, and I hope to get back very soon. But we will have to fleece the Huns before we return. I don’t know how long that will be; we cannot tell when the job will be finished. I would love to see you all and the home folks.
We have been moved several times since coming here. My company was split up – some sent one place and some another. I don’t know where Joe Fertig is; we have been separated. I am near the place called L. C. Mons. If you look on the map you will have some idea of where I am.
There are lots of girls here, but they don’t look like the West Virginia girls to me, and never will. There are some good looking ones, but I can’t understand anything they say.
Give my love to Silva and Goldie. Tell your papa to have the Ford just right and when I return we will take a spin, also tell him to be good and not work too hard.
I wrote father yesterday, but when you get this letter, give the home folks my love and tell them not to be uneasy about me…
I expect I will be trying to get me a Hun soon. The sooner we get them licked the sooner we will get back home. I trust it will not be very long until we can all return.
Well, I cannot think of anything more to write for this time. So be good, one and all, is my prayer. I am trusting in my Savior and He will guide me safely through. May God be with you, one and all, until we meet again.
I am, sincerely,
your uncle,
Private Everette A. Dilley
Co. 1-330th Inft. No 762, A. E. F.
DIED
After a long illness Mrs. Mattie Elizabeth Ruckman passed away early Tuesday morning, September 24, 1918, rather suddenly, but not unexpectedly. A fatal disease of the heart had been for months taking her strength. For some time she had been confined to her home.
Mattie Elizabeth Patton, the daughter of Alexander and Nancy Patton, was born in the Little Levels, August 8, 1851. On January 28, 1879, she was united in marriage to the late W. W. Ruckman. To this union were born three children, all of whom are living. In 1886, Mrs. Ruckman united by letter with Oak Grove Church, her husband coming in on profession of faith, and from that time forth proved a most loyal member…
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Mrs. Mary Jackson, wife of J. W. Jackson, died at her home at Frost on Thursday, October 3, 1918, after a long illness of heart trouble, aged 52 years. Burial at the Frost graveyard on Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Jackson was a daughter of Lewis Simmons. She is survived by her father and a number of brothers and sisters, among whom are L. O. Simmons, Miss Fannie Simmons and Mrs. Sterling Yeager, of Marlinton. Mrs. Jackson was a good, useful woman, a professing Christian and a member of the Methodist Church.
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The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Young, of Clover Lick, were greatly shocked by the sad news of the death of their daughter, Thelma, on the night of October 4th, 1918, aged 15 years and five months, caused by influenza and complications.
Thelma was a student at the Marlinton high school, going in each morning from her home at Clover Lick. She attended school as usual on Thursday, but on Friday morning was not feeling well and did not go. In the afternoon she grew worse and medical aid was summoned, but to no avail, the fever grew more intense, until she was relieved by the Great Physician who took her to himself about midnight…
