From the Phillippines Mrs. S. K. Bement and Family: Well, here I come again, and I wonder how I will find you all. In good health and enjoying yourselves, I hope. We are having more rain today. It rains most all the time. I was on commissary detail this morning. Had to go down town to the wharf and get meat for our reg. Got wet though, too. The meat is kept on board the boat till it is wanted. They bring just enough ashore at a time for one day. It is fine beef we are getting now. There is a man here with a ship load of everything you can think of almost, from Sidney, Australia. He went there from Jamestown, N. Dak., about nine or ten years ago. His name is Ward Bill. Our regiment has started a store, buying goods of him. I heard last night there had been cablegram received stating that there had been enough influence brought to bear on the President so that he had issued an order to replace the volunteers here by regulars. I suppose you know whether it is true or not. I hope they won't send us back before the first of March now. We lost our first man out of our company last week. He had been in the hospital for about two weeks when he died. He was the oldest man in the company. About two weeks before he went to the hospital, he was on a big drunk, and I know that killed him or was the cause of his death. There is quite a good bit of sickness here of one kind or the other, in a great many cases brought on by self abuse. Six months in the service of U. S., and I can't help but wonder how many more I will be. We have our quarters fixed up quite nice now. We have cots and mosquito netting for each one of us, and we just got lamps yesterday. There are several American newspapers published here now, with all the latest telegraphic news, so it begins to seem quite home like. Well, by the time this reaches you the excitement over election will have died out. I suppose you will have quite a time, I see by the papers and the letters I have received from New Rockford, they are having a great time out there also. I hear the mail leaves for the U.S. tomorrow, and if it does, you should receive this by the first of December. My, that seems a long time when I think how long it will be before I get an answer to this letter. Well, eat lots of turkey and chicken for me, but keep all your presents till I come, for it is too far to send anything. I think I shall sent the children some silk handkerchiefs of Chinese pattern. I guess I will have my picture taken and send that, too. Well, I will close. Hope this will find you all well. I have excellent health. As ever your brother, F.R. Graham P.S. Best regards to all the friends. F.R.G.
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