To Cora Hendricks from Bertha – February 23, 1913
[Note: Bertha’s letter is written immediately following the “The Ten Tragic Days” – a series of events that took place in Mexico City between February 9 and February 19, 1913, during the Mexican Revolution. This lead up to a coup d’état and the assassination of President Francisco Madero. The US government reacted strongly, and its intervention is credited with paving the way for increasing Mexican nationalism.]
Mrs. C.C. Ballou
Camp McGrath, Batangas
Philippine Islands
Dear Mamma,
I imagine great excitement is reigning at Leavenworth today. The _____ left last night for Galveston so I _____ the paper this morning. The 19th is to go to the hospital company and the signal company and just about everything else. Just think, if Papa hadn’t had to go to the Islands, he would have to go into camp down in Galveston indefinitely with a possibly of being sent on into Mexico. They are hoping for the best here now though, and I think it is great that we have as conservative of a man as _____ to hold us off. It may not prove to be the best _____ but it meets with my approval at present anyway. I believe nothing further has been done about 1st Division. Bowd is probably just where he was and the news this morning said that the 13th Calvary would remain with headquarters at Bliss to patrol the border. This is rather as I had expected for it didn’t seem reasonable that they would move the troop engaged in guarding the border and besides they can gather them quickly if need be. I’m wondering if it was cheapness of transportation, the calmer aspect of afraid that determine the government to send the 5th Division instead of the 1st.
We are still having most peculiar weather, a slight thunder, storm last night. The cook got drunk Friday night and we had a hilarious dinner but since she was discharged, the food has been excellent, which is lucky because I’m now sitting at the housekeeper’s table and can’t complain with as much satisfaction to myself and little offence to others and either to. I haven’t seen or heard from a soul lately except a few lines and a clipping from Mr. Godfrey last week. You know, he was down here one Saturday and I tried to convert him to woman’s suffrage and I don’t think he wanted to be converted. In fact, I really tried hard to shock him than to convert him, which was very tactless of me. Hence I fully expected that I had seen my last of him. He is too polite to be rude and insists that he is seeing things in a modified light but I do wish the English subjects would quiet down. They have chosen an inappropriate movement to be exceedingly rampant and I’m very much ashamed of them for I don’t think woman need a vote that badly and I don’t approve of suffrage as a movement of woman against men because when it is considered as a same proposition of the best men though, of course not as interested as women, are nevertheless in favor of their having the vote and are in every way devoted to women’s interests. [Note: Women’s suffrage would be enshrined in the US Constitution seven years later – in 1920.]
Since I began writing, Mrs. Guthrie’s fiend, Miss Eilers, has called and I have accepted an invitation to undertaking going over to Brooklyn but I can’t with Mrs. _____ and go to the opera afterwards tomorrow evening. I hope it doesn’t rain because Miss Eilers tell me that Mrs. Guthrie has a new little on, Belly. Isn’t that lovely? I didn’t know anything about it. I must write to her this afternoon to congratulate her.
I must write to Francis Newcomer too. [Note: Read more about Newcomer, who would become Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, here.] I haven’t heard from him in so long that we are quite strangers. Not since Christmas. I guess he’s busy and I know I am. I’m planning to run up to W.P. for the day when the excursions start, the river boats, in the spring. I want to take another _____ around before leaving this part of the country. I’ve nearly finished a waist I have been working on. I’m so glad because it makes it easier for me to sew them when things get finished almost without realizing it. Evelyn Hope and I are going to a lecture tonight. [Note: Read a letter from Evelyn Hope here] I am so busy these days that I can hardly turn around, work progressed much better last week. I had a very favorable criticism from Mr. Drummond in which he said he was expecting me to do something very good. That helps. Now I must close as I have lots more to do this evening.
Love to all.
From,
Bertha