WILL & KATHLEEN 1919 LETTERS: ~INTRODUCTION~----the letters---related-pages---site navigation
In the fall of 1919, Kathleen took the kids (Margaret, Billy, and Kathleen) to stay with her family in Savannah, Georgia, leaving Will behind in Cincinnati, Ohio.
This was by no means a trial separation. I think that Kathleen had been feeling a bit under the weather, but since she was a faithful Christian Scientist, I would not expect her to talk about it much.
Will and Kathleen had just moved to Cincinnati from San Antonio, Texas. They had lived in Cincinnati previously, before Will's Army assignment to San Antonio, and now they were back, but they had not found a house yet for their family. Kathleen's sister Ruth was visiting them, and it was agreed that Kathleen and Ruth would take the three children (Margaret/Maggie aged nearly 7, Billy aged 2 1/2, and Kathleen/Kay aged 9 months) to Savannah, where Kathleen would stay for a month, while Will looked for a house.
This page has transcriptions of the letters that Will and Kathleen wrote to each other during this time, plus one letter written by little Maggie. I'm planning to get the letters all uploaded someday, but even after I've done that, I'll keep this page here, because the transcripts-and-nothing-else format makes it easier to see the back-and-forth between Will and Kathleen, which can be fun.
So far, I've uploaded the scans of the first four letters:
1919-09-21 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
1919-09-22 LETTER FROM KATHLEEN TO WILL
1919-09-26 LETTER FROM KATHLEEN TO WILL
1919-09-28 LETTER FROM KATHLEEN TO WILL
This was by no means a trial separation. I think that Kathleen had been feeling a bit under the weather, but since she was a faithful Christian Scientist, I would not expect her to talk about it much.
Will and Kathleen had just moved to Cincinnati from San Antonio, Texas. They had lived in Cincinnati previously, before Will's Army assignment to San Antonio, and now they were back, but they had not found a house yet for their family. Kathleen's sister Ruth was visiting them, and it was agreed that Kathleen and Ruth would take the three children (Margaret/Maggie aged nearly 7, Billy aged 2 1/2, and Kathleen/Kay aged 9 months) to Savannah, where Kathleen would stay for a month, while Will looked for a house.
This page has transcriptions of the letters that Will and Kathleen wrote to each other during this time, plus one letter written by little Maggie. I'm planning to get the letters all uploaded someday, but even after I've done that, I'll keep this page here, because the transcripts-and-nothing-else format makes it easier to see the back-and-forth between Will and Kathleen, which can be fun.
So far, I've uploaded the scans of the first four letters:
1919-09-21 LETTER FROM WILL TO KATHLEEN
1919-09-22 LETTER FROM KATHLEEN TO WILL
1919-09-26 LETTER FROM KATHLEEN TO WILL
1919-09-28 LETTER FROM KATHLEEN TO WILL
WILL & KATHLEEN 1919 LETTERS: ----introduction---~THE LETTERS~----related-pages---site navigation
2228 Nelson Ave.
Mt. Auburn
Cincinnati, O.,
Sept 21, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
Both of our prospects went fluey, if that is the way you spell it. Mrs. ___ didn’t call me up Tuesday as she said she would, but Wednesday the agent did and tried to rent it to me for $75 per. I felt like telling him where to go but didn’t. By that time the Herkness house had been leased at $100, so you know how I felt about trying to do business with a woman who didn’t know her own mind a la Mrs. Rushmore.
As you may have figured out from the address above, I am at the Ross’, having their “blue room” and getting breakfasts and suppers there, also Sunday dinners. I can take just what meals I want. The blue room is the front room with a bay window on the second floor. It is very comfortable. If she had room, and she may have, you might do worse than board and room here. I certainly think that if you can find a good place to room and board it is much better than trying to keep house as things are now.
I didn’t get the pen off yet, but sent the books last night. I saw a McGuffy’s Fifth Reader but it had very few of the old strings in it, in fact it was absolutely ruined.
I have just finished my laundry and my dry cleaning work. I did the cuffs of a shirt as I had come to my last one except the pleated one, and my coat needed some retouching.
There was quite a severe windstorm here Friday noon, not like the one at Corpus Christi or the one at Springfield, but it tore the big front awning down in our old house. I was quite pleased that it happened after we left instead of before. It was ripped from one side to the other at the top, so that it fell right down on the steps, leaving a little strip attached to the porch. Also Dr. Morrison went away leaving all his windows open so that rain could beat in. Aren’t you glad you haven’t a husband like that? He might be worse because he is commencing to paint the upstairs floors.
I have gone to several picture shows, one every night except last night, when I went to a fairly good vaudeville show at the Empress.
I certainly miss you and the family, so you musn’t overstay your leave - one month.
With lots of love and kisses,
Will
Mt. Auburn
Cincinnati, O.,
Sept 21, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
Both of our prospects went fluey, if that is the way you spell it. Mrs. ___ didn’t call me up Tuesday as she said she would, but Wednesday the agent did and tried to rent it to me for $75 per. I felt like telling him where to go but didn’t. By that time the Herkness house had been leased at $100, so you know how I felt about trying to do business with a woman who didn’t know her own mind a la Mrs. Rushmore.
As you may have figured out from the address above, I am at the Ross’, having their “blue room” and getting breakfasts and suppers there, also Sunday dinners. I can take just what meals I want. The blue room is the front room with a bay window on the second floor. It is very comfortable. If she had room, and she may have, you might do worse than board and room here. I certainly think that if you can find a good place to room and board it is much better than trying to keep house as things are now.
I didn’t get the pen off yet, but sent the books last night. I saw a McGuffy’s Fifth Reader but it had very few of the old strings in it, in fact it was absolutely ruined.
I have just finished my laundry and my dry cleaning work. I did the cuffs of a shirt as I had come to my last one except the pleated one, and my coat needed some retouching.
There was quite a severe windstorm here Friday noon, not like the one at Corpus Christi or the one at Springfield, but it tore the big front awning down in our old house. I was quite pleased that it happened after we left instead of before. It was ripped from one side to the other at the top, so that it fell right down on the steps, leaving a little strip attached to the porch. Also Dr. Morrison went away leaving all his windows open so that rain could beat in. Aren’t you glad you haven’t a husband like that? He might be worse because he is commencing to paint the upstairs floors.
I have gone to several picture shows, one every night except last night, when I went to a fairly good vaudeville show at the Empress.
I certainly miss you and the family, so you musn’t overstay your leave - one month.
With lots of love and kisses,
Will
What did the Reds do, Daddy?
Did you write to Grandmother?
510, Bolton Street East,
Savannah, Ga.
Monday.
My darling Will,
I expect you have been looking for a letter every day. I should have written, but I have been lazy. I think I shall come back fat for I have a big appetite and am quite lazy. I hope you have a comfortable place to stay. Hope they took you in at the Glencoe. I wondered whether you went to church yesterday. I hope you did + took Mr. + Mrs. Ottermann. Mother took Billy + Margaret to Sunday school + they enjoyed it +and were very good. Kathleen is getting so fat + is so sweet and good. I talk to her about Daddy everyday, so she will not forget you.
Margaret’s books came today + she likes them. Today she did some reading + tomorrow is to read + write. The children are all very well. Mother + Father enjoy having them here.
I hope to have a letter from you tomorrow. I have not heard from you yet and I am quite lonesome for a letter from you. I wonder if you have arranged anything with Mrs. Hodges. I remembered that the sink drainboard was in very bad condition and we ought to ask for a new one. I do hope that she does not expect us to take the house until the repairs have been made. Please write soon and tell me all about it.
We were glad when the journey was over. It was so very dirty. The train was crowded + everyone was remarking about the dirt. It was a wonderful trip. Ruth gave up her lower berth to a sick man + slept upstairs with Margaret. We arrived at Jesup on time and only had about an hour to wait. Found Father at the station to meet us. Billy made friends at once. I think his legs are straighter than they were. I hope your errors are better. Please write as often as you can. I don’t like to think of you all alone but maybe you are having a gay time! I hope you delivered that baking pan to the Ottermanns.
Billy asks about you. Yesterday he had dinner with the family and he wanted more + then still more potatoes + gravy. I said no, but after awhile he should have some tapioca. He sat awhile + then said “I thought Billy was going to have some tapioca.”
Mother + Father + I went to Moving Picture one night. There is a Pressler Cafeteria here, also in Macon + Atlanta. We asked if they were same in Cincinnati + the man said Mr. + Mrs. Pressler were divorced + Mr. Pressler managed the ones in the South + Mrs. Pressler had the two in Cincinnati.
I must get Kathleen’s bottle for her + go to bed. I don’t enjoy going to bed without my boy + the little white bed does not seem so comfortable as before.
Much, much love to you -
Kathleen
Did you write to Grandmother?
510, Bolton Street East,
Savannah, Ga.
Monday.
My darling Will,
I expect you have been looking for a letter every day. I should have written, but I have been lazy. I think I shall come back fat for I have a big appetite and am quite lazy. I hope you have a comfortable place to stay. Hope they took you in at the Glencoe. I wondered whether you went to church yesterday. I hope you did + took Mr. + Mrs. Ottermann. Mother took Billy + Margaret to Sunday school + they enjoyed it +and were very good. Kathleen is getting so fat + is so sweet and good. I talk to her about Daddy everyday, so she will not forget you.
Margaret’s books came today + she likes them. Today she did some reading + tomorrow is to read + write. The children are all very well. Mother + Father enjoy having them here.
I hope to have a letter from you tomorrow. I have not heard from you yet and I am quite lonesome for a letter from you. I wonder if you have arranged anything with Mrs. Hodges. I remembered that the sink drainboard was in very bad condition and we ought to ask for a new one. I do hope that she does not expect us to take the house until the repairs have been made. Please write soon and tell me all about it.
We were glad when the journey was over. It was so very dirty. The train was crowded + everyone was remarking about the dirt. It was a wonderful trip. Ruth gave up her lower berth to a sick man + slept upstairs with Margaret. We arrived at Jesup on time and only had about an hour to wait. Found Father at the station to meet us. Billy made friends at once. I think his legs are straighter than they were. I hope your errors are better. Please write as often as you can. I don’t like to think of you all alone but maybe you are having a gay time! I hope you delivered that baking pan to the Ottermanns.
Billy asks about you. Yesterday he had dinner with the family and he wanted more + then still more potatoes + gravy. I said no, but after awhile he should have some tapioca. He sat awhile + then said “I thought Billy was going to have some tapioca.”
Mother + Father + I went to Moving Picture one night. There is a Pressler Cafeteria here, also in Macon + Atlanta. We asked if they were same in Cincinnati + the man said Mr. + Mrs. Pressler were divorced + Mr. Pressler managed the ones in the South + Mrs. Pressler had the two in Cincinnati.
I must get Kathleen’s bottle for her + go to bed. I don’t enjoy going to bed without my boy + the little white bed does not seem so comfortable as before.
Much, much love to you -
Kathleen
510 Bolton St. East
Savannah, Georgia
Friday
Dearest Will -
I look every day for the pen but it never comes. It would be such a help with the baby. I do hope you have sent it off by this time. I expect you do not realize how much difference it makes in looking after the baby. I was very glad indeed to have your letter and I hope to have another before long. I feel very disappointed when the mail comes + there is no letter from you. I know I have not written much but then there always seems something I have to do or want to do, moreover I am supposed to be getting fat! + rested! I was very disappointed about the house. I think Mrs. Hodges might have been a little more direct with us. She told the Ottermanns $60.00 + that was plenty for that house. $75 is ridiculous. I have been wondering whether we could have had the other house for $70 if we had taken it at once but it seems as if the rent would soon have been raised on us. I do hope you can find a house. I don’t want to board as you know. Perhaps if you found a house with rent too high we could rent a room + then pay the extra rent. It does not seem as if we ought to pay $75 every month for rent.
I see Col. Alstaetter’s in the paper quite often in connection with Savh R + it made me feel tonight as if I wished you had been ordered here instead of Cincinnati. I feel lonesome for you and yet it does seem as if Father + Mother should have some of the children while they are young, and so I really came to the conclusion I wished you were stationed here instead of in Cincinnati.
I hope you are still comfortable with Mrs. Ross, also hope she does not see your old socks. Please buy some new ones and also a nightie + also please try to have your things in as good order as possible. I felt as if I left you with your things in a muddle + I should hate for anyone to think I let your clothes go unmended. I have been thinking that if it turns cold you will have to have the warehouse people look for those boxes of warm clothing. You have the numbers on that paper I gave you. Your winter uniforms coat +c are all in the France box. I hope it will keep you warm until we find a house and the furniture can all be brought over.
I enclose a letter to you from Margaret. She copied it, but I did not help her + I think it is good as she has not written for so long. Pape starts next Wed + I am going to send her there as long as we are here. She is very anxious to go. The children all have good appetites + are growing. Billy says he would like Daddy to take him in the Buick. He talks more + more all the time. Kathleen is developing rapidly + I ask her “Where Daddy” every day + Billy does to sometimes.
The books arrived + Margaret has read a good deal of the Reader.
I hope you have written to Grandmother. I hope to write her tomorrow. You might send her Margaret’s letter.
Father + Mother are pretty well but they need a change. Father really looks very well to me. He is very fond of Billy + so is everyone else.
I suppose the Geres will be back by the time you get this. Please give the family my love, also from Ruthie. I wore my $1.25 shoes I had from Mr. Argus yesterday + they are very comfortable. Did you notice the cover of last week’s Sat Evening Post - the man going to play golf. I thought it was very good.
Thank you very much indeed for the chocolates + thinking about them. Mother was very pleased to be remembered + I liked the surprise very much. I hope you will write as often as you can. I believe I like letters better than you do because I know you once kept from letters from me unopened and I know I could never do that, so please do write often.
The mosquitoes are bad here but Father has recently got some new stuff which seems to do for them. They specially attacked Billy. Savannah seems much as usual. The post office has been altered + I suppose it is being enlarged. I hope your errors are disappearing. Won’t you please go to Church while I am away. You could go with the Ottermanns. It would please me very much. Would it be a good idea for you take the Beaches out while I am away. I mean in the Buick. You could tell Mrs. Beach to bring a friend along. Maybe you had better wait until I get back, but just do what you think best. I suppose I had better let Mrs. Herkness servant go. As we have no home we do not need a cook. When we do get a house I promise “cross my heart” to get a maid so please find one.
I go to bed early here so will stop now. I wish I were going to sleep with my boy tonight.
Much love to my dearest boy + many kisses and please write often.
Have you seen anything of the Morrisons.
Kathleen
Savannah, Georgia
Friday
Dearest Will -
I look every day for the pen but it never comes. It would be such a help with the baby. I do hope you have sent it off by this time. I expect you do not realize how much difference it makes in looking after the baby. I was very glad indeed to have your letter and I hope to have another before long. I feel very disappointed when the mail comes + there is no letter from you. I know I have not written much but then there always seems something I have to do or want to do, moreover I am supposed to be getting fat! + rested! I was very disappointed about the house. I think Mrs. Hodges might have been a little more direct with us. She told the Ottermanns $60.00 + that was plenty for that house. $75 is ridiculous. I have been wondering whether we could have had the other house for $70 if we had taken it at once but it seems as if the rent would soon have been raised on us. I do hope you can find a house. I don’t want to board as you know. Perhaps if you found a house with rent too high we could rent a room + then pay the extra rent. It does not seem as if we ought to pay $75 every month for rent.
I see Col. Alstaetter’s in the paper quite often in connection with Savh R + it made me feel tonight as if I wished you had been ordered here instead of Cincinnati. I feel lonesome for you and yet it does seem as if Father + Mother should have some of the children while they are young, and so I really came to the conclusion I wished you were stationed here instead of in Cincinnati.
I hope you are still comfortable with Mrs. Ross, also hope she does not see your old socks. Please buy some new ones and also a nightie + also please try to have your things in as good order as possible. I felt as if I left you with your things in a muddle + I should hate for anyone to think I let your clothes go unmended. I have been thinking that if it turns cold you will have to have the warehouse people look for those boxes of warm clothing. You have the numbers on that paper I gave you. Your winter uniforms coat +c are all in the France box. I hope it will keep you warm until we find a house and the furniture can all be brought over.
I enclose a letter to you from Margaret. She copied it, but I did not help her + I think it is good as she has not written for so long. Pape starts next Wed + I am going to send her there as long as we are here. She is very anxious to go. The children all have good appetites + are growing. Billy says he would like Daddy to take him in the Buick. He talks more + more all the time. Kathleen is developing rapidly + I ask her “Where Daddy” every day + Billy does to sometimes.
The books arrived + Margaret has read a good deal of the Reader.
I hope you have written to Grandmother. I hope to write her tomorrow. You might send her Margaret’s letter.
Father + Mother are pretty well but they need a change. Father really looks very well to me. He is very fond of Billy + so is everyone else.
I suppose the Geres will be back by the time you get this. Please give the family my love, also from Ruthie. I wore my $1.25 shoes I had from Mr. Argus yesterday + they are very comfortable. Did you notice the cover of last week’s Sat Evening Post - the man going to play golf. I thought it was very good.
Thank you very much indeed for the chocolates + thinking about them. Mother was very pleased to be remembered + I liked the surprise very much. I hope you will write as often as you can. I believe I like letters better than you do because I know you once kept from letters from me unopened and I know I could never do that, so please do write often.
The mosquitoes are bad here but Father has recently got some new stuff which seems to do for them. They specially attacked Billy. Savannah seems much as usual. The post office has been altered + I suppose it is being enlarged. I hope your errors are disappearing. Won’t you please go to Church while I am away. You could go with the Ottermanns. It would please me very much. Would it be a good idea for you take the Beaches out while I am away. I mean in the Buick. You could tell Mrs. Beach to bring a friend along. Maybe you had better wait until I get back, but just do what you think best. I suppose I had better let Mrs. Herkness servant go. As we have no home we do not need a cook. When we do get a house I promise “cross my heart” to get a maid so please find one.
I go to bed early here so will stop now. I wish I were going to sleep with my boy tonight.
Much love to my dearest boy + many kisses and please write often.
Have you seen anything of the Morrisons.
Kathleen
510 Bolton St. East
Savannah, Ga
Sunday.
Dearest Will -
Again I was disappointed when the pen did not come and I hoped for a letter too but none came - so I hope on for tomorrow. Perhaps you are not sending the pen, but in that case I wish you would let me know but I hope you have sent it. It would be such a help in taking care of the baby. She is growing fast now. Gets 8 ounces 6 times in 24 hours and has practically stopped throwing up - she will poke her rattles + so on too far down her throat + that makes her throw up sometimes.
Ruth starts work tomorrow + the school opens on Wed. I am going to send Margaret there as long as we are here. It will be better for her to be going to school. I have not much time to teach her here. She did some reading again today - has read up to page 60 in the new Reader - nearly half the book.
Are you going to the World’s Series? I will send you Mrs. Braden’s letter which you sent on to me. I have not a good deal to write. I am at home most of the time on account of the children. R & I took them all over to Mrs. Ken Mustin’s one day last week - they all thought Billy had grown very much indeed.
It seems as if a good deal of money is to be spent on improving the Savannah River. I wish you were going to do the spending!
Has Mr. Ross bought his Buick yet? Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Ross.
It is cooler here now, and pleasant.
Billy + Margaret went to Sunday school today. It is quite a long walk for Billy but he does not mind it.
I write in pencil as the ink here seems to be a war variety. I must buy some more tomorrow and then write some letters. I do hope you will find a house for us.
We got a nice baby carriage $10.00. It is a good deal like our big one, and in good condition. Can sell it again when I am through with it.
I have just remembered - there will be a bill from Shillito’s for $12.50 I think a sweater for Ruth + one for $16.50 from Pogue's a sweater R & I got for Mother. If you will pay them you can take the money out of my allowance!!
That is all there is to pay - everything else I bought I paid for on the spot.
If I don’t get a letter from you tomorrow I think I shall cry with disappointment.
Much love to my dearest boy. I wish you were here.
Kathleen.
Savannah, Ga
Sunday.
Dearest Will -
Again I was disappointed when the pen did not come and I hoped for a letter too but none came - so I hope on for tomorrow. Perhaps you are not sending the pen, but in that case I wish you would let me know but I hope you have sent it. It would be such a help in taking care of the baby. She is growing fast now. Gets 8 ounces 6 times in 24 hours and has practically stopped throwing up - she will poke her rattles + so on too far down her throat + that makes her throw up sometimes.
Ruth starts work tomorrow + the school opens on Wed. I am going to send Margaret there as long as we are here. It will be better for her to be going to school. I have not much time to teach her here. She did some reading again today - has read up to page 60 in the new Reader - nearly half the book.
Are you going to the World’s Series? I will send you Mrs. Braden’s letter which you sent on to me. I have not a good deal to write. I am at home most of the time on account of the children. R & I took them all over to Mrs. Ken Mustin’s one day last week - they all thought Billy had grown very much indeed.
It seems as if a good deal of money is to be spent on improving the Savannah River. I wish you were going to do the spending!
Has Mr. Ross bought his Buick yet? Please give my kind regards to Mrs. Ross.
It is cooler here now, and pleasant.
Billy + Margaret went to Sunday school today. It is quite a long walk for Billy but he does not mind it.
I write in pencil as the ink here seems to be a war variety. I must buy some more tomorrow and then write some letters. I do hope you will find a house for us.
We got a nice baby carriage $10.00. It is a good deal like our big one, and in good condition. Can sell it again when I am through with it.
I have just remembered - there will be a bill from Shillito’s for $12.50 I think a sweater for Ruth + one for $16.50 from Pogue's a sweater R & I got for Mother. If you will pay them you can take the money out of my allowance!!
That is all there is to pay - everything else I bought I paid for on the spot.
If I don’t get a letter from you tomorrow I think I shall cry with disappointment.
Much love to my dearest boy. I wish you were here.
Kathleen.
510 Bolton St, East,
Savannah, Ga.
Wed. Oct. 1
Dear Will,
I cannot imagine why you do not send the pen. If there is any reason why you cannot send it I think you might have written to tell me you were not sending it. With the pen I could have had a restful time - more or less - here. Without it I have always to have my mind on the baby. She has had two falls and it certainly hurts me very much that you cannot at least let me hear why you do not send it. We have been here two weeks today + I have had one letter from you. I don’t see how you can care very much if that is all the trouble you take about me when I am not with you.
I hope you have bought yourself some new socks and new nighties. I have wondered how you have managed about your laundry since you said you were down to your last shirt. I thought you would arrange to send it to the laundry. Maybe you have done so now.
Margaret went to school this morning + was very pleased to go.
Last night I went to picture show with Mother + Father. It was a pretty thing “Lord + Lady Algy”. If they have it in Cincinnati I think you might enjoy it.
It rained hard here last night + there was a high wind. Are you doing anything about finding a house or have you given up?
I wrote to your mother on Sunday. I am sending Mrs. Braden’s letter as I promised.
Kathleen is growing fast. She has 8 oz. 6 times a day + is doing well. She still only has 4 teeth, but she is very lively + energetic + is heavy to hold + carry around.
Love from us all
Kathleen
Savannah, Ga.
Wed. Oct. 1
Dear Will,
I cannot imagine why you do not send the pen. If there is any reason why you cannot send it I think you might have written to tell me you were not sending it. With the pen I could have had a restful time - more or less - here. Without it I have always to have my mind on the baby. She has had two falls and it certainly hurts me very much that you cannot at least let me hear why you do not send it. We have been here two weeks today + I have had one letter from you. I don’t see how you can care very much if that is all the trouble you take about me when I am not with you.
I hope you have bought yourself some new socks and new nighties. I have wondered how you have managed about your laundry since you said you were down to your last shirt. I thought you would arrange to send it to the laundry. Maybe you have done so now.
Margaret went to school this morning + was very pleased to go.
Last night I went to picture show with Mother + Father. It was a pretty thing “Lord + Lady Algy”. If they have it in Cincinnati I think you might enjoy it.
It rained hard here last night + there was a high wind. Are you doing anything about finding a house or have you given up?
I wrote to your mother on Sunday. I am sending Mrs. Braden’s letter as I promised.
Kathleen is growing fast. She has 8 oz. 6 times a day + is doing well. She still only has 4 teeth, but she is very lively + energetic + is heavy to hold + carry around.
Love from us all
Kathleen
Cincinnati, O.
October 2, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
How could you expect me to do any writing this week with all I had in hand? Before this week you were only one little postcard ahead of me. I intended to go to church this Sunday and started in the car rather late as I had been trying to get it in running order. I offered to take Mr. + Mrs. Ross to their church on the way as I saw they were ready to go. The engine missed very badly and when we got up on McMillan Street I was afraid we could not make it. I forgot to say that they decided to go to our church instead of their own. I turned around then and took them back to their church on Maplewood Ave. and went back and worked on the car. I went to the Ottermann’s for dinner and started up to Logan, W.Va. on the 7 P.M. train. It was a hard trip. I arrived at Huntington at midnight and finally got to bed at 12:45 am time. I had to get up the next morning at 4:45 am time to take the train to Logan. I held a bridge hearing there. The man interested in putting up the bridge was the only one there until a few minutes before we adjourned when the Country Road Engineer happened in because the hearing was in his office room.
I went to the bridge site about 3 miles below the town before the hearing. After it I had about 45 minutes to spare and got them to take me into a big coal mine. The handle the cars in the mine with little electric locomotives. It was very interesting. The mine was quite cool and after I went out in the open air again it felt so hot that I didn’t get cooled off the rest of the day. I got back to Huntington in the evening and thought I would get a fairly good night’s rest 4 hours in the hotel, and a little more than that on the train. They didn’t sell berths at Huntington but said there would be plenty on the train. Instead there were plenty of people who had to sit up. As I got up at 3 o’clock am time you may know how I felt when I got in.
I went straight to the office and worked until nearly ten, went out and got a combination breakfast and lunch, went back to the office until nearly eleven and then went home and went to bed. After a pretty good sleep I came down again for the last part of the afternoon, bringing down the pen as I received your rather pathetic appeal about it on my return. I had decided not to send it as it had to be crated and I thought the rates were too high. Anyway it's sent now but I haven’t received the bill for it yet.
I saw both games and was delighted I have a ticket for the third game here if the series goes that far.
I worked on the machine some more Wednesday evening and made a great improvement in it. I took Mrs. Ross, her niece Edna Perry aetat XIII and the Ottermanns to church in it. After church we all stopped in at the Ottermanns for a little while.
The Geres came back early (Wednesday morning I think) on account of Mr. Gere’s having a cough and because it was so wet and cold up there. The Geres asked to be remembered to you, also the Ottermanns, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Morrison, I think, and Mrs. Herkness. The last time I saw Mrs. Gere was two or three days ago and then she said that Mr. Gere’s cough was better. Mrs. Ottermann said she would try to find us a house and so did a lady at the church. I think she was a Mrs. Randall. Mrs. Ottermann said this lady was around in Clifton a good deal and that she might get one. I think she may be a practitioner.
I really didn’t have time to write this letter but wrote it anyhow, and now I will have to quit.
I am glad to hear that you are resting and getting fat and that the kids are doing so well.
I love you very much even if I don’t have time to write as many letters as you ought to write to me.
I will try to write more often now and get my average up.
With lots of love to you, the kids, and the family,
Will
P.S. Kisses for you and the kids.
W.
October 2, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
How could you expect me to do any writing this week with all I had in hand? Before this week you were only one little postcard ahead of me. I intended to go to church this Sunday and started in the car rather late as I had been trying to get it in running order. I offered to take Mr. + Mrs. Ross to their church on the way as I saw they were ready to go. The engine missed very badly and when we got up on McMillan Street I was afraid we could not make it. I forgot to say that they decided to go to our church instead of their own. I turned around then and took them back to their church on Maplewood Ave. and went back and worked on the car. I went to the Ottermann’s for dinner and started up to Logan, W.Va. on the 7 P.M. train. It was a hard trip. I arrived at Huntington at midnight and finally got to bed at 12:45 am time. I had to get up the next morning at 4:45 am time to take the train to Logan. I held a bridge hearing there. The man interested in putting up the bridge was the only one there until a few minutes before we adjourned when the Country Road Engineer happened in because the hearing was in his office room.
I went to the bridge site about 3 miles below the town before the hearing. After it I had about 45 minutes to spare and got them to take me into a big coal mine. The handle the cars in the mine with little electric locomotives. It was very interesting. The mine was quite cool and after I went out in the open air again it felt so hot that I didn’t get cooled off the rest of the day. I got back to Huntington in the evening and thought I would get a fairly good night’s rest 4 hours in the hotel, and a little more than that on the train. They didn’t sell berths at Huntington but said there would be plenty on the train. Instead there were plenty of people who had to sit up. As I got up at 3 o’clock am time you may know how I felt when I got in.
I went straight to the office and worked until nearly ten, went out and got a combination breakfast and lunch, went back to the office until nearly eleven and then went home and went to bed. After a pretty good sleep I came down again for the last part of the afternoon, bringing down the pen as I received your rather pathetic appeal about it on my return. I had decided not to send it as it had to be crated and I thought the rates were too high. Anyway it's sent now but I haven’t received the bill for it yet.
I saw both games and was delighted I have a ticket for the third game here if the series goes that far.
I worked on the machine some more Wednesday evening and made a great improvement in it. I took Mrs. Ross, her niece Edna Perry aetat XIII and the Ottermanns to church in it. After church we all stopped in at the Ottermanns for a little while.
The Geres came back early (Wednesday morning I think) on account of Mr. Gere’s having a cough and because it was so wet and cold up there. The Geres asked to be remembered to you, also the Ottermanns, Mrs. Green, Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Morrison, I think, and Mrs. Herkness. The last time I saw Mrs. Gere was two or three days ago and then she said that Mr. Gere’s cough was better. Mrs. Ottermann said she would try to find us a house and so did a lady at the church. I think she was a Mrs. Randall. Mrs. Ottermann said this lady was around in Clifton a good deal and that she might get one. I think she may be a practitioner.
I really didn’t have time to write this letter but wrote it anyhow, and now I will have to quit.
I am glad to hear that you are resting and getting fat and that the kids are doing so well.
I love you very much even if I don’t have time to write as many letters as you ought to write to me.
I will try to write more often now and get my average up.
With lots of love to you, the kids, and the family,
Will
P.S. Kisses for you and the kids.
W.
Newspaper clipping stapled to the top:
Lieutenant Colonel W.C. Lemen, after spending some time with his daughter, Mrs. Alvin Rowe, has returned to New York.
The letter:
510 Bolton St., East,
Savannah, Ga.
Friday
Will dear,
What is the matter with you that you do not write. At first I was disappointed - very - not to hear from you, now I am wondering if there is something wrong. It maybe you have been away on a trip but even then I should think you could find time to write and I cannot think why you do not write.
I was so pleased today when the Express Co wagon stopped for I thought it was the pen, but no!
This afternoon Miss Alsina took the family for a ride. It was very enjoyable. She has a seven passenger Reo - has had it three years + never had any engine trouble, has just gotten her second set of tyres.
Margaret likes the school very much.
I send you a cutting about Mr. Lemen.
I am watching the Baseball Returns - Hope Cincinnati is going to win. I wonder whether you are seeing any of the games.
I had a very nice letter from Mrs. Morrison this week.
We are all well. The children all have good appetites, specially Bill. I talk to them about Daddy + they have no chance of forgetting him.
We have been eating some of the chocolates tonight. They are very good. It pleased me very much that you bought them. Dear boy, you are my dearest possession, + when you do thoughtful things for me it makes me very happy - when you forget to write + so on it makes me very unhappy. Well, I must run to mail + hope that tomorrow there will be a letter from you.
How about a house?
Much love from us all -
Kathleen
Do you remember to send A+N journal to your Mother. If you will send me some I will send them on to her.
Lieutenant Colonel W.C. Lemen, after spending some time with his daughter, Mrs. Alvin Rowe, has returned to New York.
The letter:
510 Bolton St., East,
Savannah, Ga.
Friday
Will dear,
What is the matter with you that you do not write. At first I was disappointed - very - not to hear from you, now I am wondering if there is something wrong. It maybe you have been away on a trip but even then I should think you could find time to write and I cannot think why you do not write.
I was so pleased today when the Express Co wagon stopped for I thought it was the pen, but no!
This afternoon Miss Alsina took the family for a ride. It was very enjoyable. She has a seven passenger Reo - has had it three years + never had any engine trouble, has just gotten her second set of tyres.
Margaret likes the school very much.
I send you a cutting about Mr. Lemen.
I am watching the Baseball Returns - Hope Cincinnati is going to win. I wonder whether you are seeing any of the games.
I had a very nice letter from Mrs. Morrison this week.
We are all well. The children all have good appetites, specially Bill. I talk to them about Daddy + they have no chance of forgetting him.
We have been eating some of the chocolates tonight. They are very good. It pleased me very much that you bought them. Dear boy, you are my dearest possession, + when you do thoughtful things for me it makes me very happy - when you forget to write + so on it makes me very unhappy. Well, I must run to mail + hope that tomorrow there will be a letter from you.
How about a house?
Much love from us all -
Kathleen
Do you remember to send A+N journal to your Mother. If you will send me some I will send them on to her.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Oct 6, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
No, I don’t believe I will do any more househunting until after you return. I put an ad in the Enquirer last Sunday and got only one answer, and I thought it was a very good ad too. Don’t you think so. I intended to look up those advertised in the Sunday Enquirer but didn’t find time to go to more than one, as I went to church in the morning and then went to a lecture in Norwood in the afternoon. I found that the house I went to see was not for rent, there had been some mistake, and as it had commenced to rain I called it a day.
My conscience is uneasy so I will confess I bought 6 pairs of sox and two nighties before I received your permission. Please excuse. I was very hard pressed for them. I haven’t had a shirt since I was down to the last one. I sent 4 to the Model Laundry two weeks ago today and when my things came back only a week later there were no shirts. You can imagine how much laundry work I have had to do. I gave the girl until the latter part of this week to find them, she said it would take until then to go over all of their stations. I expect to buy a couple to-morrow anyway. Mrs. Gill said to tell you that Nancy had her tonsils and adenoids removed Saturday morning and had Science treatment for it, and that she got on wonderfully well. The doctor thought N would be sick (American style) all day and instead she was up playing with her dolls a short time after it was over. She said that one of the nurses asked her if she had not had C.S. treatment for N. when she saw how well she got along. She said Mrs. Rastict (?) said she might as well have them removed when she was surrounded by people holding their belief about them. Mrs. G said it had strengthened her belief in Science.
Mrs. Gere’s cold is better. Daddy’s errors are better but I put something on the one under my legging.
Colonel Herkness’s resignation was accepted and he left a week ago last Sunday night. He is having trouble finding a place there. Mrs. H. telephoned to me and I wrote to Laura to see if she could find a boarding place in Canton.
I neglected to say that the answer was for a house at 2206 Highland Ave and that I took it. We get it for $65 until June 1st by subletting. After that if we keep it, it will be $75. It belongs to Mrs. Gere’s firm. They may sell and if they do we get 60 days notice. It is the next house above the corner one with the 2 flats, where we looked at one of them. It is a red brick with a long front porch, 4 rooms and pantry and washroom, on 1st floor, 4 bedrooms on the 2nd floor, maids room and storage in attic, laundry in cellar; has hot air furnace, [illegible 2 words] water heater, no garage. We get it November 1st. I am counting on your coming back then to attend to the moving so we can be all settled down by my birthday!!!
I have seen each of the games here. There is one more tomorrow but I don’t believe I will go.
With lots of love and kisses
Will.
P.S. Same to the children and the family.
W.
Oct 6, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
No, I don’t believe I will do any more househunting until after you return. I put an ad in the Enquirer last Sunday and got only one answer, and I thought it was a very good ad too. Don’t you think so. I intended to look up those advertised in the Sunday Enquirer but didn’t find time to go to more than one, as I went to church in the morning and then went to a lecture in Norwood in the afternoon. I found that the house I went to see was not for rent, there had been some mistake, and as it had commenced to rain I called it a day.
My conscience is uneasy so I will confess I bought 6 pairs of sox and two nighties before I received your permission. Please excuse. I was very hard pressed for them. I haven’t had a shirt since I was down to the last one. I sent 4 to the Model Laundry two weeks ago today and when my things came back only a week later there were no shirts. You can imagine how much laundry work I have had to do. I gave the girl until the latter part of this week to find them, she said it would take until then to go over all of their stations. I expect to buy a couple to-morrow anyway. Mrs. Gill said to tell you that Nancy had her tonsils and adenoids removed Saturday morning and had Science treatment for it, and that she got on wonderfully well. The doctor thought N would be sick (American style) all day and instead she was up playing with her dolls a short time after it was over. She said that one of the nurses asked her if she had not had C.S. treatment for N. when she saw how well she got along. She said Mrs. Rastict (?) said she might as well have them removed when she was surrounded by people holding their belief about them. Mrs. G said it had strengthened her belief in Science.
Mrs. Gere’s cold is better. Daddy’s errors are better but I put something on the one under my legging.
Colonel Herkness’s resignation was accepted and he left a week ago last Sunday night. He is having trouble finding a place there. Mrs. H. telephoned to me and I wrote to Laura to see if she could find a boarding place in Canton.
I neglected to say that the answer was for a house at 2206 Highland Ave and that I took it. We get it for $65 until June 1st by subletting. After that if we keep it, it will be $75. It belongs to Mrs. Gere’s firm. They may sell and if they do we get 60 days notice. It is the next house above the corner one with the 2 flats, where we looked at one of them. It is a red brick with a long front porch, 4 rooms and pantry and washroom, on 1st floor, 4 bedrooms on the 2nd floor, maids room and storage in attic, laundry in cellar; has hot air furnace, [illegible 2 words] water heater, no garage. We get it November 1st. I am counting on your coming back then to attend to the moving so we can be all settled down by my birthday!!!
I have seen each of the games here. There is one more tomorrow but I don’t believe I will go.
With lots of love and kisses
Will.
P.S. Same to the children and the family.
W.
510 Bolton St. East,
Savannah, Ga.
Tuesday
Dearest Will,
I expect by this time you are somewhat tired of my letters about the pen and so on. I was very glad indeed to have your letter by special delivery on Sunday morning. How was I to know you had been so busy and that that was why you did not write!! I was sorry to hear you had such a tiresome trip + hope you are rested now.
It is extremely hot here most uncomfortably so and mosquitoes are numerous, altogether the weather conditions are not very conducive to good temper either on my part or the kids. The baby is angelically good. Bill is so fat, he gets so hot and quite cross at times but the mosquitoes do plague him.
Margaret enjoys the school. I am enclosing a letter from her.
I was delighted to get the pen yesterday. It is such a help + Kathleen was so pleased when I put her in it. I am surely grateful to have it at last. Kathleen is so fat. She is too heavy to carry. I want to get her weighed. Her hair is growing, + it is curly. Billy is funny sometimes. I gave him a handkerchief with a hole in today + he said “I don’t like this one.” I said “Why not.” “It broken” he answered. He fell half way downstairs today - stopped in the middle until I rescued him, howling. Other day he fell out of the swing + today Margaret fell out of the swing + also down in the street, so you can see I am kept busy comforting the fallen.
I went to Church on Sunday morning. People enquired after you + were pleased to see R + me - or said they were.
I send a piece out of the Savh paper today.
Father says to send Hambone too.
I am glad the Ottermanns had you to dinner on Sunday and hope you were invited somewhere last Sunday.
I received the check for $32.02 + Father cashed it for me as I do not go downtown very often.
I am glad you enjoyed the Ball game. Darling Boy Will you excuse if I smile when you say you have no time to write to your wife but still you had time to take afternoons off for Ball games? I am really awfully glad that you went and enjoyed them + hope you get to see the sixth game in Cincinnati.
I do hope you will be able to find a house. I shall be glad when we can settle down again.
How are your errors. I recently had a visitor to tell us we had not started an additional member to the family. Expect you are glad to hear this.
Mosquitoes are just feasting off me now so you must excuse the way I write.
I am sorry the Gere’s holiday was cut short - Hope Mr. Gere is alright now. Please remember me to all the people around.
I cannot sit still with mosquitoes anymore so I must take this to mail.
Much love + thank you very much indeed for sending the pen and also for your letter.
Kathleen
Savannah, Ga.
Tuesday
Dearest Will,
I expect by this time you are somewhat tired of my letters about the pen and so on. I was very glad indeed to have your letter by special delivery on Sunday morning. How was I to know you had been so busy and that that was why you did not write!! I was sorry to hear you had such a tiresome trip + hope you are rested now.
It is extremely hot here most uncomfortably so and mosquitoes are numerous, altogether the weather conditions are not very conducive to good temper either on my part or the kids. The baby is angelically good. Bill is so fat, he gets so hot and quite cross at times but the mosquitoes do plague him.
Margaret enjoys the school. I am enclosing a letter from her.
I was delighted to get the pen yesterday. It is such a help + Kathleen was so pleased when I put her in it. I am surely grateful to have it at last. Kathleen is so fat. She is too heavy to carry. I want to get her weighed. Her hair is growing, + it is curly. Billy is funny sometimes. I gave him a handkerchief with a hole in today + he said “I don’t like this one.” I said “Why not.” “It broken” he answered. He fell half way downstairs today - stopped in the middle until I rescued him, howling. Other day he fell out of the swing + today Margaret fell out of the swing + also down in the street, so you can see I am kept busy comforting the fallen.
I went to Church on Sunday morning. People enquired after you + were pleased to see R + me - or said they were.
I send a piece out of the Savh paper today.
Father says to send Hambone too.
I am glad the Ottermanns had you to dinner on Sunday and hope you were invited somewhere last Sunday.
I received the check for $32.02 + Father cashed it for me as I do not go downtown very often.
I am glad you enjoyed the Ball game. Darling Boy Will you excuse if I smile when you say you have no time to write to your wife but still you had time to take afternoons off for Ball games? I am really awfully glad that you went and enjoyed them + hope you get to see the sixth game in Cincinnati.
I do hope you will be able to find a house. I shall be glad when we can settle down again.
How are your errors. I recently had a visitor to tell us we had not started an additional member to the family. Expect you are glad to hear this.
Mosquitoes are just feasting off me now so you must excuse the way I write.
I am sorry the Gere’s holiday was cut short - Hope Mr. Gere is alright now. Please remember me to all the people around.
I cannot sit still with mosquitoes anymore so I must take this to mail.
Much love + thank you very much indeed for sending the pen and also for your letter.
Kathleen
415 Customhouse,
Cincinnati, Ohio,
October. 8, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
This is being written at the office after 4:30, so I feel like a boy being kept after school. I have seen the first three World’s Series games played here, but don’t expect to go again if they play here. I didn’t go to day as I was quite disgusted with yesterday’s game and besides I had enough to do at the office.
I am starting on a trip to Zanesville and Lowell to-morrow night. I expect to get back Saturday morning.
I am enclosing two letters from the dairy. You will notice that they have a balance of 34¢ carried forward from August. I think that was deducted for two bottles with flies in them. I wish you would write them a letter, if you want to make any deductions and sent it to me to send to them with a check for the right amount.
Why don’t you all get weighed? I would have a better idea of how fat you were getting. I weighed and haven’t lost a pound.
I go down town every night now and nearly always go to a picture show. I know when I tell you, that there hasn’t been a single chance to see Charley Chaplin, that your conscience will hurt you for not letting me go when I had the chance.
I bought two new white shirts this afternoon with $6.00 of the money that may be I am going to get from laundry. I expect to get a couple more with the rest of it after putting a couple of dollars to it.
It is getting to late and dark to write any more tonight. I intended to write to Margaret but it took me too long writing this.
I miss you very much and hope to hear that you are coming back soon. Tell me when in the next letter. It is positively to be not later than the end of the month.
With lots of love and kisses to you and the kids.
Will.
Cincinnati, Ohio,
October. 8, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
This is being written at the office after 4:30, so I feel like a boy being kept after school. I have seen the first three World’s Series games played here, but don’t expect to go again if they play here. I didn’t go to day as I was quite disgusted with yesterday’s game and besides I had enough to do at the office.
I am starting on a trip to Zanesville and Lowell to-morrow night. I expect to get back Saturday morning.
I am enclosing two letters from the dairy. You will notice that they have a balance of 34¢ carried forward from August. I think that was deducted for two bottles with flies in them. I wish you would write them a letter, if you want to make any deductions and sent it to me to send to them with a check for the right amount.
Why don’t you all get weighed? I would have a better idea of how fat you were getting. I weighed and haven’t lost a pound.
I go down town every night now and nearly always go to a picture show. I know when I tell you, that there hasn’t been a single chance to see Charley Chaplin, that your conscience will hurt you for not letting me go when I had the chance.
I bought two new white shirts this afternoon with $6.00 of the money that may be I am going to get from laundry. I expect to get a couple more with the rest of it after putting a couple of dollars to it.
It is getting to late and dark to write any more tonight. I intended to write to Margaret but it took me too long writing this.
I miss you very much and hope to hear that you are coming back soon. Tell me when in the next letter. It is positively to be not later than the end of the month.
With lots of love and kisses to you and the kids.
Will.
510, Bolston St East,
Savannah, Ga.
Sunday
Dear Will,
Big tease!! But I am very glad you have found a house. I should like to know some more about it. I suppose you are quite proud to have found a house all by yourself. I hope it is not too large + that it is in good condition. It ought to be at that price. I expect I shall come about the first week of Nov now that we have a house to come to. I should like you to get the house cleaned. There is a colored man named Tom that Mrs. Ross + other people on Nelson Ave employ, whom I think you might get to clean it. The floors probably will need washing, windows cleaning, + walls + ceilings dusted down. It would be much more convenient if you could get that done while the house is empty. Then if you got the furniture moved into the clean house there would be some place for us to sleep when we come back + it would not take so long for me to get straight. You might find out whether the people who are leaving have a servant + if she is a good one perhaps we could get her. If not you might ask John at the office. I would prefer a white servant but I suppose cannot be too particular, only please don’t get me a R. Catholic. Please tell me some more about the house + whether you can get it cleaned before we come. If you cannot get Tom you might be able to get a man that Mrs. Gere was getting to clean her house.
I return the milk bill. I think you had better pay the bill just so. I can explain it when I see you. Those bills of Pogues should be $16.50 + of Shillito $11.50 I believe. I spoke of them before.
The children are bonny. It is hot here and it is just like the summer.
I am sorry you were disappointed about the third game. Am glad Cincinnati won. I expect there was plenty of excitement.
I have just remembered we have no gas stove and of course I should need one right away on account of the babies. I suppose the house does not bring a gas stove along with it? I liked the stove at Mrs. Morrison’s better than any I have ever seen or need. It was “Estate” I believe. You might find out how much it cost. How about Coal!
Maybe it would be better for us to board a few days until I got the house fixed up. Please write what you think we had better do. The family is migrating to bed so I had better go along.
Much love to you.
Wed.
I did not get this mailed so will add a little more. I am going to get coats made for the children here from some goods Mother has given me. I had to buy the linings and they’re three times as much as they used to, so you had better fix my allowance before I come back or I shall be thinking I need more when things are so high. By the way I shall need some money to get our tickets with to come home, but shall not need it until the end of the month. I have been very economical while here, the fact of the matter being that Mother will not let me spend any money while I am staying here. I hope you have not forgotten all the birthday presents I want when we move in. How would you like a gas stove + fireless cooker or some such useful article for your birthday. We might even bring Margaret’s birthday in and give her a chair for the nursery! I have thinking that we had better get a bureau for our room as we shall need the drawer space. I have gotten to the point where I want what I want when I want it so you may prepare yourself. Most of all at present I want YOU.
Margaret is at school - enjoys it very much. Kathleen is in her pen on the front porch + Billy playing beside her. Kathleen has 5 teeth now.
Please send the money to Mrs. Jervey. The enclosed came this morning.
I have written a letter to Eva this morning. Had a letter from grandmother yesterday.
Hope you had a good trip and I hope to have a letter from you soon. Am sorry I have been so long sending this.
Much love to my dear boy,
Kathleen.
Ruth says thank you very much for sending her drawings on. Mr. Harris also sent on the negatives of the pictures you took.
Savannah, Ga.
Sunday
Dear Will,
Big tease!! But I am very glad you have found a house. I should like to know some more about it. I suppose you are quite proud to have found a house all by yourself. I hope it is not too large + that it is in good condition. It ought to be at that price. I expect I shall come about the first week of Nov now that we have a house to come to. I should like you to get the house cleaned. There is a colored man named Tom that Mrs. Ross + other people on Nelson Ave employ, whom I think you might get to clean it. The floors probably will need washing, windows cleaning, + walls + ceilings dusted down. It would be much more convenient if you could get that done while the house is empty. Then if you got the furniture moved into the clean house there would be some place for us to sleep when we come back + it would not take so long for me to get straight. You might find out whether the people who are leaving have a servant + if she is a good one perhaps we could get her. If not you might ask John at the office. I would prefer a white servant but I suppose cannot be too particular, only please don’t get me a R. Catholic. Please tell me some more about the house + whether you can get it cleaned before we come. If you cannot get Tom you might be able to get a man that Mrs. Gere was getting to clean her house.
I return the milk bill. I think you had better pay the bill just so. I can explain it when I see you. Those bills of Pogues should be $16.50 + of Shillito $11.50 I believe. I spoke of them before.
The children are bonny. It is hot here and it is just like the summer.
I am sorry you were disappointed about the third game. Am glad Cincinnati won. I expect there was plenty of excitement.
I have just remembered we have no gas stove and of course I should need one right away on account of the babies. I suppose the house does not bring a gas stove along with it? I liked the stove at Mrs. Morrison’s better than any I have ever seen or need. It was “Estate” I believe. You might find out how much it cost. How about Coal!
Maybe it would be better for us to board a few days until I got the house fixed up. Please write what you think we had better do. The family is migrating to bed so I had better go along.
Much love to you.
Wed.
I did not get this mailed so will add a little more. I am going to get coats made for the children here from some goods Mother has given me. I had to buy the linings and they’re three times as much as they used to, so you had better fix my allowance before I come back or I shall be thinking I need more when things are so high. By the way I shall need some money to get our tickets with to come home, but shall not need it until the end of the month. I have been very economical while here, the fact of the matter being that Mother will not let me spend any money while I am staying here. I hope you have not forgotten all the birthday presents I want when we move in. How would you like a gas stove + fireless cooker or some such useful article for your birthday. We might even bring Margaret’s birthday in and give her a chair for the nursery! I have thinking that we had better get a bureau for our room as we shall need the drawer space. I have gotten to the point where I want what I want when I want it so you may prepare yourself. Most of all at present I want YOU.
Margaret is at school - enjoys it very much. Kathleen is in her pen on the front porch + Billy playing beside her. Kathleen has 5 teeth now.
Please send the money to Mrs. Jervey. The enclosed came this morning.
I have written a letter to Eva this morning. Had a letter from grandmother yesterday.
Hope you had a good trip and I hope to have a letter from you soon. Am sorry I have been so long sending this.
Much love to my dear boy,
Kathleen.
Ruth says thank you very much for sending her drawings on. Mr. Harris also sent on the negatives of the pictures you took.
415 Customhouse,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
October 13, 1919.
Dear Margaret,
This will have to be a short letter as it is 5:18, which is nearly time for me to go home for supper. I am in closing the plans of our new house. I sketched them in a hurry the other morning before going to the office. You may let Mother see them if you feel like it, and are on good terms with her. Under the same conditions you may give her the inclosed draft for $75. If you don’t, I don’t know how you will get back to Cincinnati.
I told Nancy about your first letter and that you said, that you had broken the big doll, but neither one of us knew who the big doll was that you had broken. Anyway it is better break a doll than to have a doll break you.
I saw the little Glencoe baby and her mother a short time ago. The mother asked to be remembered to Mother. The baby was walking very nicely.
I sent Aunt Ruthie’s drawings by express Thursday. I suppose she has them by this time.
I am expecting you to do well enough to get in 2A grade before coming up here, and I know you can do it if you try. You might have that as a surprise!
Several of the people at the church have asked what had become of you and Billy. I went to church yesterday with the Ottermanns, but on the street car as the Buick wouldn’t start.
With love and kisses,
Daddy
P.S. Also to Mother, Billy, Kathleen, Aunt Ruthie, Grandma, and Grandfather or such of them as you are on good terms with.
Daddy
Cincinnati, Ohio.
October 13, 1919.
Dear Margaret,
This will have to be a short letter as it is 5:18, which is nearly time for me to go home for supper. I am in closing the plans of our new house. I sketched them in a hurry the other morning before going to the office. You may let Mother see them if you feel like it, and are on good terms with her. Under the same conditions you may give her the inclosed draft for $75. If you don’t, I don’t know how you will get back to Cincinnati.
I told Nancy about your first letter and that you said, that you had broken the big doll, but neither one of us knew who the big doll was that you had broken. Anyway it is better break a doll than to have a doll break you.
I saw the little Glencoe baby and her mother a short time ago. The mother asked to be remembered to Mother. The baby was walking very nicely.
I sent Aunt Ruthie’s drawings by express Thursday. I suppose she has them by this time.
I am expecting you to do well enough to get in 2A grade before coming up here, and I know you can do it if you try. You might have that as a surprise!
Several of the people at the church have asked what had become of you and Billy. I went to church yesterday with the Ottermanns, but on the street car as the Buick wouldn’t start.
With love and kisses,
Daddy
P.S. Also to Mother, Billy, Kathleen, Aunt Ruthie, Grandma, and Grandfather or such of them as you are on good terms with.
Daddy
Cincinnati, Ohio.
October 15, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
You don’t seem to be in any hurry to come home or even to set a date upon which to come. I have been looking up your trains. So far the best I have found is as follows:
Lv Savannah 1:35 A.M. } S.A.L. train # 4 and Southern train #9
Ar. Asheville 2:30 P.M. }
Ar. Cincinnati 8:30 A.M. Southern train 27 - 14
I think if you take a Savannah sleeper Saturday night, the train leaving Sunday morning at 1:35. But if you leave on any other day of the week you have to wait until the train gets in from Jacksonville. I think you can find out better about that in Savannah.
I am inclosing the draft that I forgot to put in Margaret’s letter.
There is a Sub-deb [???] story entitled “Finders Keepers” in the SEP of October 4th I think. You ought to read it.
When did your visitor arrive? Don’t tell me that you have forgotten. If you don’t come back soon you are likely to receive no more visits and it will not be my fault either. Also I may get an electric washing machine, a dish washer, an ironer, and a vacuum cleaner!
Do you know that it will be a month to-morrow since you left here. As your leave will be up then I may not write you any more letters, because, what is the use of my writing letters that would get to Savannah after you left?
As it’s about time for supper and I am feeling tired and grumpy (about being left alone so long) I think I would better quit before I get too much of my grumpiness into this letter. But first you haven’t told me whether Kathleen still says “Daddy” and how much she weighs and whether she still gets her dose of skin.
I was going to go to church to-night but don’t feel like it now.
With love and kisses (as usual)
Will
October 15, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
You don’t seem to be in any hurry to come home or even to set a date upon which to come. I have been looking up your trains. So far the best I have found is as follows:
Lv Savannah 1:35 A.M. } S.A.L. train # 4 and Southern train #9
Ar. Asheville 2:30 P.M. }
Ar. Cincinnati 8:30 A.M. Southern train 27 - 14
I think if you take a Savannah sleeper Saturday night, the train leaving Sunday morning at 1:35. But if you leave on any other day of the week you have to wait until the train gets in from Jacksonville. I think you can find out better about that in Savannah.
I am inclosing the draft that I forgot to put in Margaret’s letter.
There is a Sub-deb [???] story entitled “Finders Keepers” in the SEP of October 4th I think. You ought to read it.
When did your visitor arrive? Don’t tell me that you have forgotten. If you don’t come back soon you are likely to receive no more visits and it will not be my fault either. Also I may get an electric washing machine, a dish washer, an ironer, and a vacuum cleaner!
Do you know that it will be a month to-morrow since you left here. As your leave will be up then I may not write you any more letters, because, what is the use of my writing letters that would get to Savannah after you left?
As it’s about time for supper and I am feeling tired and grumpy (about being left alone so long) I think I would better quit before I get too much of my grumpiness into this letter. But first you haven’t told me whether Kathleen still says “Daddy” and how much she weighs and whether she still gets her dose of skin.
I was going to go to church to-night but don’t feel like it now.
With love and kisses (as usual)
Will
510, Bolton St. East,
Savannah, Ga.
Sunday
Dearest Will,
Thank you for your letter, also Margaret’s letter and the check. I hope we can find a better train than the one you found, but I have not enquired yet. I think we had better stay here until it is time to get into the new house. I am lonesome for you, and it will not be very long before we get home and then I hope we can get settled down quickly. I hope your loneliness will not induce you to buy an Electric washer + ironer because there are so many other things I want. Perhaps you would like a list.
-1. Gas stove
-2. Fireless cooker
-3. White Kitchen table
-4. Dining Room furniture
-5. Dining Room rug
-6. Set of china for table
-7. Bureau for our bedroom
-8. New crib or old one done over
-9. Vacuum cleaner (maybe)
-10. Few new chairs for upstairs
-11. Soiled clothes basket
-12. Electric iron
-13. Bedroom rug
-14. Bookcase
By the time we have supplied all these wants I expect we shall decide to do without an electric washer. You see I should have to have a laundress anyway and so it would not save so much. Have you had your shirts back from Laundry or have they refunded the money?
It has turned cooler here last night and it is much pleasanter, Children are all bonny. I went to church this morning and I hope you did the same. Margaret went to Sunday School but Billy did not go. There was no one to bring him home as we all stayed for Church. I have been wondering how we shall manage with him when I get back. I shall be going to Church + shall want you with me so who will bring Billy home from S.School. I do hope I can get a good trustworthy servant. I hope you will not be too lonely until we get back. I really do not know when my visitor came. I never thought of the date. It was about the second week or so that I was here.
Thank you for the A + N Journal.
I am going to bed. It is cooler + I hope to get a good night. Ruth weighed herself + has lost about ten pounds!
Much love to you and please do not carry out your threat of not writing any more letters.
Kathleen
Savannah, Ga.
Sunday
Dearest Will,
Thank you for your letter, also Margaret’s letter and the check. I hope we can find a better train than the one you found, but I have not enquired yet. I think we had better stay here until it is time to get into the new house. I am lonesome for you, and it will not be very long before we get home and then I hope we can get settled down quickly. I hope your loneliness will not induce you to buy an Electric washer + ironer because there are so many other things I want. Perhaps you would like a list.
-1. Gas stove
-2. Fireless cooker
-3. White Kitchen table
-4. Dining Room furniture
-5. Dining Room rug
-6. Set of china for table
-7. Bureau for our bedroom
-8. New crib or old one done over
-9. Vacuum cleaner (maybe)
-10. Few new chairs for upstairs
-11. Soiled clothes basket
-12. Electric iron
-13. Bedroom rug
-14. Bookcase
By the time we have supplied all these wants I expect we shall decide to do without an electric washer. You see I should have to have a laundress anyway and so it would not save so much. Have you had your shirts back from Laundry or have they refunded the money?
It has turned cooler here last night and it is much pleasanter, Children are all bonny. I went to church this morning and I hope you did the same. Margaret went to Sunday School but Billy did not go. There was no one to bring him home as we all stayed for Church. I have been wondering how we shall manage with him when I get back. I shall be going to Church + shall want you with me so who will bring Billy home from S.School. I do hope I can get a good trustworthy servant. I hope you will not be too lonely until we get back. I really do not know when my visitor came. I never thought of the date. It was about the second week or so that I was here.
Thank you for the A + N Journal.
I am going to bed. It is cooler + I hope to get a good night. Ruth weighed herself + has lost about ten pounds!
Much love to you and please do not carry out your threat of not writing any more letters.
Kathleen
Cincinnati, Ohio.
October 20, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
Mrs. Durrell called up this morning to find out whether or not you wanted to get her wooden curtain poles and her brass curtain rods. I am supposed to have asked you about it, but am not sure that I did. There are three long poles and two short ones. There is a long one across each of the three wide doors downstairs, and I think the two short ones are on the doors leading from the hall to the dining room and from the hall to the telephone room, which connects with the wash room. There is a brass curtain rod for each window. I think the number is on the plan of the house that I sent to Margaret. She wants $20 for the lot. How reasonable!!
Mrs. Durrell said she was sure to be out by the first of November. I asked if she would be out a day or two earlier so that the house could be cleaned and she did not know. I have arranged to have the moving done on the first, which is a Saturday. Yes, I agree with your second idea, that is that you come home and board and tend to having the house fixed up. I am taking on 3 tons of coal that are in the house, at $7 per ton. I b’t [???] an enameled kitchen table for $10 this morning from the unclaimed freight sales room, and also a gallon of Waxit auto polish.
You are reminded to get your letter from the church and also to join the Mother Church if it is not too late and if they will let you do it.
Somebody asked to be remembered to you, but I have forgotten who it was. It might have been Mrs. Herkness, or Mrs. Beach or the Geres. So you can consider that I have done it in each case. I had dinner at the Beach’s Friday and the Gere’s Saturday.
I hope you will let me know soon about Mrs. D’s poles and rods.
It will be five weeks in the morning since you left. I told you could be gone only a month. You are getting to be a regular Jessie.
With love,
Will
October 20, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
Mrs. Durrell called up this morning to find out whether or not you wanted to get her wooden curtain poles and her brass curtain rods. I am supposed to have asked you about it, but am not sure that I did. There are three long poles and two short ones. There is a long one across each of the three wide doors downstairs, and I think the two short ones are on the doors leading from the hall to the dining room and from the hall to the telephone room, which connects with the wash room. There is a brass curtain rod for each window. I think the number is on the plan of the house that I sent to Margaret. She wants $20 for the lot. How reasonable!!
Mrs. Durrell said she was sure to be out by the first of November. I asked if she would be out a day or two earlier so that the house could be cleaned and she did not know. I have arranged to have the moving done on the first, which is a Saturday. Yes, I agree with your second idea, that is that you come home and board and tend to having the house fixed up. I am taking on 3 tons of coal that are in the house, at $7 per ton. I b’t [???] an enameled kitchen table for $10 this morning from the unclaimed freight sales room, and also a gallon of Waxit auto polish.
You are reminded to get your letter from the church and also to join the Mother Church if it is not too late and if they will let you do it.
Somebody asked to be remembered to you, but I have forgotten who it was. It might have been Mrs. Herkness, or Mrs. Beach or the Geres. So you can consider that I have done it in each case. I had dinner at the Beach’s Friday and the Gere’s Saturday.
I hope you will let me know soon about Mrs. D’s poles and rods.
It will be five weeks in the morning since you left. I told you could be gone only a month. You are getting to be a regular Jessie.
With love,
Will
Cincinnati, Ohio,
October 22, 1919.
Dear Jessie,
This is to advise you that the moving has been postponed until the 5th proximo, and that a Mrs. Steel will utilize the time from the 1st to the 4th in cleaning the house. She must know how that particular house should be cleaned as she has done it several times for Boffinger + Hopkins. She does all of their cleaning, I believe. Mr. Gere sent her to me.
I made my party call on the Gere’s last night, so as to ask Miss Attee and Mrs. Green if I could take them to the station to-day. However they have postponed their start until later probably Friday on account of the serious illness of Mrs. Green’s brother-in-law, who lives in Lawrence. I am to take them whenever they do go. Mr. Gere seemed to be in quite a fussing mood, and he didn’t think Mrs. Gere was a martyr because she had three meals a day to cook and one child to take care of! When Miss Attee started to draw the plan of a house she was talking about, he seized the pencil and insisted on drawing it himself from Miss Attee’s description, and one of them told him he was the stubbornest man in the world. He thought Mrs. Gere ought to have 14 husbands and she thought one was trouble enough and Miss Attee thought one was too many. But as Mrs. Gere does not go off and take six weeks’ vacation when he can’t go, perhaps he knows the most about managing wives.
I took a half day off yesterday afternoon and worked on the Buick. I think I got it to running all right again although I got through so late that I didn’t take it out to see how it would go.
Sunday, when Mrs. Ross had quite a family party, I said that I thought Mrs. Morrison had gone to Virginia to her brother’s wedding. Mrs. Ross said she was sure she had not, and then turned and whispered something to her sister-in-law. Well, I was mistaken in what I thought, because the next day Mrs. Ross told me she had just learned that Mrs. Morrison was in the hospital, and that another daughter had arrived Wednesday.
I am inclosing a set of pictures of our two babies. I think you might bring the originals back. Don’t you feel like a slacker, staying away so long, and making me have the house cleaned, and tend to the moving? I weighed this afternoon and am gaining. How are you doing?
You don’t deserve to have me stay after office hours to write you a letter, so I am going.
With love,
Will
P.S. I am tired telling the Geres that I have not heard from you since I saw them last.
W.
October 22, 1919.
Dear Jessie,
This is to advise you that the moving has been postponed until the 5th proximo, and that a Mrs. Steel will utilize the time from the 1st to the 4th in cleaning the house. She must know how that particular house should be cleaned as she has done it several times for Boffinger + Hopkins. She does all of their cleaning, I believe. Mr. Gere sent her to me.
I made my party call on the Gere’s last night, so as to ask Miss Attee and Mrs. Green if I could take them to the station to-day. However they have postponed their start until later probably Friday on account of the serious illness of Mrs. Green’s brother-in-law, who lives in Lawrence. I am to take them whenever they do go. Mr. Gere seemed to be in quite a fussing mood, and he didn’t think Mrs. Gere was a martyr because she had three meals a day to cook and one child to take care of! When Miss Attee started to draw the plan of a house she was talking about, he seized the pencil and insisted on drawing it himself from Miss Attee’s description, and one of them told him he was the stubbornest man in the world. He thought Mrs. Gere ought to have 14 husbands and she thought one was trouble enough and Miss Attee thought one was too many. But as Mrs. Gere does not go off and take six weeks’ vacation when he can’t go, perhaps he knows the most about managing wives.
I took a half day off yesterday afternoon and worked on the Buick. I think I got it to running all right again although I got through so late that I didn’t take it out to see how it would go.
Sunday, when Mrs. Ross had quite a family party, I said that I thought Mrs. Morrison had gone to Virginia to her brother’s wedding. Mrs. Ross said she was sure she had not, and then turned and whispered something to her sister-in-law. Well, I was mistaken in what I thought, because the next day Mrs. Ross told me she had just learned that Mrs. Morrison was in the hospital, and that another daughter had arrived Wednesday.
I am inclosing a set of pictures of our two babies. I think you might bring the originals back. Don’t you feel like a slacker, staying away so long, and making me have the house cleaned, and tend to the moving? I weighed this afternoon and am gaining. How are you doing?
You don’t deserve to have me stay after office hours to write you a letter, so I am going.
With love,
Will
P.S. I am tired telling the Geres that I have not heard from you since I saw them last.
W.
October 24, 1919.
Dear Kathleen,
I am afraid that my last two or three letters were rather grumpy. So I thought I would try to write you one that was not. I had a letter from Mother to-day and one from Eva yesterday. Mother was very glad to get Margaret’s letters. She sent one to Fred and kept the other one.
The way that I had the washing machine figured out was, that if your husband ever broke himself of going down town every night, he might do the laundry work in the evening. I think from what I saw of Mrs. Ross’ machine and what she said that it would be done in 3 hours, say from 5 to 8:30 allowing a half hour for supper. You could then get a laundress to do the ironing, probably the next day. Now if that can be done we would save at least $2.50 per week, and the price of the machine in a year, being ahead by the owning the machine. I don’t think your husband would care to run the machine in the basement if you did not spend some of the time there telling him how nicely he was getting on. The dishwashing machine should require little work to wash the dishes if it will do them at all. I would like very much to see it demonstrated. As they put them out on 30 days’ trial I suppose it must work all right. If it saves 2¢ work on the breakfast and lunch dishes and 3¢ work on the dinner dishes, it will save 7¢ per day, or 49¢ per week, or $25.56 in one year. Next year it would be $25.63. Are you convinced? I expect to get all the other things too, so that you will not want to go away again, and so that you can not afford it if you should.
I am enclosing clipping from Luke McLuke. I wonder where he makes his observations as I don’t find it that way. This reminds me that although my chances for observation were not what I should have liked, I think Ruthie could afford to lose 10 lbs much better than you could, and I hope you have followed the opposite course.
With love to all,
Will
Dear Kathleen,
I am afraid that my last two or three letters were rather grumpy. So I thought I would try to write you one that was not. I had a letter from Mother to-day and one from Eva yesterday. Mother was very glad to get Margaret’s letters. She sent one to Fred and kept the other one.
The way that I had the washing machine figured out was, that if your husband ever broke himself of going down town every night, he might do the laundry work in the evening. I think from what I saw of Mrs. Ross’ machine and what she said that it would be done in 3 hours, say from 5 to 8:30 allowing a half hour for supper. You could then get a laundress to do the ironing, probably the next day. Now if that can be done we would save at least $2.50 per week, and the price of the machine in a year, being ahead by the owning the machine. I don’t think your husband would care to run the machine in the basement if you did not spend some of the time there telling him how nicely he was getting on. The dishwashing machine should require little work to wash the dishes if it will do them at all. I would like very much to see it demonstrated. As they put them out on 30 days’ trial I suppose it must work all right. If it saves 2¢ work on the breakfast and lunch dishes and 3¢ work on the dinner dishes, it will save 7¢ per day, or 49¢ per week, or $25.56 in one year. Next year it would be $25.63. Are you convinced? I expect to get all the other things too, so that you will not want to go away again, and so that you can not afford it if you should.
I am enclosing clipping from Luke McLuke. I wonder where he makes his observations as I don’t find it that way. This reminds me that although my chances for observation were not what I should have liked, I think Ruthie could afford to lose 10 lbs much better than you could, and I hope you have followed the opposite course.
With love to all,
Will
WILL & KATHLEEN 1919 LETTERS: ---introduction-----the letters---~RELATED PAGES~---site navigation
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