Dere Mable: Love Letters of a Rookie (WWI Centenary Series)

By Edward Streeter

This early work by Edward Streeter was originally published in 1918 and we are now republishing it as part of our WWI Centenary Series. 'Dere Mable: Love Letters of a Rookie' is a cute comic work that takes the form of letters sent to a lover by an American soldier in the First World War. It is illustrated with wonderful cartoon drawings by G. William Breck. Both the author and illustrator were serving with the American Expeditionary Force in France when this was written. This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Last Post Press
• Release date: Mar 10, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473367562

Edward Streeter

Edward Streeter (1891–1976) started his career as the World War I correspondent and travel writer for the Buffalo Express. He grew famous for his “Dere Mable” letters, a humorous column which was serialized between 1917 and 1919 and which were collected and published in two books, Dere Mable and Thats Me All Over, Mable. After the war, Streeter became a successful businessman. Yet he continued to write short stories for magazines, and later, bestselling novels. His most successful novel is Father of the Bride. Other notable works include Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter (1956); Chairman of the Bored (1961); Along the Ridge (1964); and Ham Martin, Class of '17 (1969).

Book preview

Dere Mable

LOVE LETTERS OF A ROOKIE

BY

EDWARD STREETER

With 35 Illustrations In Black-And-White By

G. William Breck

Copyright © 2016 Read Books Ltd.

This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without

the express permission of the publisher in writing

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Illustration List

Image 1. American troops on the march

Mable

The Only Place There Flat Is On The Map

You Can Read Em To Your Granchildren

You Walk A Post But There Aint No Post

I Just Found It In My Bakin Can

I Dont Like Any Sargeant

I Dont Care Much For Horses, They Feels The Same Way About Me

Max Glucos What Lives On The Next Cot

Smith Are You Laffin At Me?

One Day It’s Our Teeth

Remember Me To Your Mother

Not The Kind Your Father Has

I Wear Them Every Night Over My Uniform

I Been Made An Officer

Somebodied Set A Trunk On The Turky

Built Like The Leg Of A Sailurs Trowsers

You Paint A Horse Black And White Stripes

I Spent Mine Doin Kitchen Police

I Wish That Hired Girl Could Come Down

A Croquette Is A French Society Woman

"I Sat Next To A Colonels Wife

Men Hate To Be Watched While They Are Freezin

I Had A Reputashun For A Devil With The Wimen

It Seemed To Depres Them Awful

If I Catch One Of Those Ailin Enemies Windin Up Your Victrola

Stuck My Head Out Of The Blankets

When I Looked In The Tin Mirror I Thought I Was Starvin

They Come Round And Watch You Eat It.

Army Food Always Runs

He Smokes Cigarets Something Awful

I Poured Some Oil Out Of His Lamp

I Even Got Mud In My Hair

The Water Comes Through On Me

The Last Time I Will Take My Pen In Hand For You

It Wont Be No Use Runin To The Door

Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series

The First World War was a global war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. More than nine million combatants were killed, a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents’ technological and industrial sophistication – and tactical stalemate. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, paving the way for major political changes, including revolutions in many of the nations involved. The war drew in all the world’s great economic powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances were both reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, and the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers. Ultimately, more than 70 million military personnel were mobilised.

The war was triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist, Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, June 28th 1914. This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to Serbia, and international alliances were invoked. Within weeks, the major powers were at war and the conflict soon spread around the world. By the end of the war, four major imperial powers; the German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires—ceased to exist. The map of Europe was redrawn, with several independent nations restored or created. On peace, the League of Nations formed with the aim of preventing any repetition of such an appalling conflict, encouraging cooperation and communication between the newly autonomous nation states. This laudatory pursuit failed spectacularly with the advent of the Second World War however, with new European nationalism and the rise of fascism paving the way for the next global crisis.

This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world’s bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history.

Amelia Carruthers

A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe