WWI Sept 1918 Letter from Major of 14th ENGINEER Regt. in France GREAT CONTENT

Description

World War I soldier's letter, 2+ pgs., approx. 5-1/4" x 7-1/8", dated
"France, Sept. 1, 1918"
, from Major Robert G. Henderson, 14th Engineer Regimen (Ry), to his sister-in-law, "Mabel" (married to his brother, Harry P. Henderson).
Includes the original envelope, addressed to Mrs. H.P. Henderson, at Burlington, Mass. with U.S. ARMY POST OFFICE postmark, purple "A.E.F. PASSED AS CENSORED" handstamp, and with  Major Henderson's self-censor signature at bottom left: "O.K., R. G. Henderson, Major Engrs", and with "O.A.S." (On Active Service) written at top right.
The 14th Engineer Regiment was recruited in New England, mostly from railroad men, and arrived in France in the fall of 1917. They did important work repairing railroads, building railroads and bridges, often under gun and artillery fire.
Great content
, writing from his billet, the only house with an intact roof in the entire village. He writes of a movie show given at the village church, attended by American and French soldiers, and when the American silent movie actor, John Bunny, appeared on the screen, all the Yanks yelled a greeting to him. He writes that the French and American soldiers "seem to hit it off very well together", but the "French must think we are a little mad". More good content.
Includes:
"Dear Mabel,
Tonight is rather chilly with the first touch of fall in the air. I am sitting in my billet with a fine fire in the fireplace, a candle on the mantlepiece and a blanket hung over the window. The house has a whole roof - the only one in the village, I think, and front and back there are rather disheveled little gardens. Also I have just had a very necessary bath in my rubber tent, so that I am clean and comfortable and of lazy conscience.
Last night there was a movie show in the village church with French and American soldiers filling the damaged seats & gibbering on the pulpit and banging at the rickety organ. One of the pictures showed John Bunny and the Yanks all yelled a greeting to him. Yanks and French seem to hit it off very well together, but the French must think we are a little mad. Here is a conversation and return between a Yank truck driver and a French M.P. (traffic cop) in a ruined town:
French M.P. (waving flag): 'Halte-la!'
Yank driver (halting): 'What the hell's the matter with you.'
F.M.P. delivers elaborate ration about one way traffic.
Y.D., 'Compree rations? For soldats au front, Toot sweet. Compree?'
F.M.P. (very polite) Oui, Oui. Je Comprend bien,..etc. etc.
Y.D. 'Compree --- ----- ----?' (unprintable)
F.M.P. (not compreeing) 'Oui. Oui'.
Y.D. 'Well, you --- ---- ---- ----, Let's go!'
(Steps on accelerator, just misses the M.P. as well as an elaborate automobile containing some elaborate staff officers and proceeds down the road at about 30 m.p.h., leaving F.M.P. frantically waving his flag and running around in circles).
We really do have a lot to laugh at when you are able to disentangle events from their environment...."
Some stains (see photos).
COMBINED SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE ITEMS.
[V]