Category: Extra letters

To Bertha from Evelyn Hope –

April 6, 1919
107 East Palm Avenue
Tampa, Florida

Dear Bertha,

As you see by the above address, I am in Florida and cursing my luck for being here. Your letter finally reached me after it had been in New York, Minneapolis, back to New York and then here. Needless to say, I was most happy to hear from you once _____ but very much grieved to hear of Reba’s death and you know you have my heartfelt sympathy for I realized what I terrible blow it is to you. I have been so miserable and unhappy myself all winter _____ if you can undoubtedly applicate your feelings. We came down here for C.C.’s health and I can’t say it has helped him much. I have “sweat so much blood” over that long. I haven’t much left of his summer. I am going to get entirely away from here I hope for I really do need a change and a _____ to keep my own health from going, too. At present, I am planning on going to Paris to visit one of my girl chums who is annoying and _____ over there. She has _____ over in the Y.M.C.A. _____ and is marrying in June and expect to have a villa just outside of Paris and wants me to spend the summer with her there. Of course I will be delighted and only hope I can manage to go for I would severely enjoy the trip and change from this doleful winter. However, I have been disappointed so many times lately in the things _____ plan to do. I am trying not to _____ much about it. You spoke of going over yourself and if I go and you do too next fall perhaps we could _____ over there. Let us pray for it anyways and keep up with each other a little better.

I came here right after Christmas and can’t say I care much aloud. This part of _____ ______ is my own fault and that the country _____ but believe me, I never have been homesick and lonesome before but this winter has made me know what that feeling is much to my sorrow. I haven’t done a bit of work since last summer in the way of painting or designing. All I do is try to amuse C.C. and help with the house _____. We are staying until a ______ have and she has been lovely and good to us and kept us _____ “______ the _____” entirely. When I came, I had no idea of staying more than a month but found I couldn’t leave C.C. without some young person to help make life bearable. Don’t know how much longer we will be here but hope not more than this month. I have been so wild to get ____ to New York and do some of the things I like once more, something I feel just ____ a man in prison laughing to break the bards. However, if I can go to Paris this summer, I will forget all these bad times I hope always we all get there if not at one time another. I sent your letter to Sally as I knew she would be glad to hear from you. I saw her in New York. Christmas just a few minutes. She was there visiting “Cousin George.” We _____ died and left Sally his money yet. She is teaching at Wesly College in _____ and I planned to sop and see her on my way home but don’t know whether I can or not.

I know you are glad your father is back in this country again. Have you any idea where you will be stations next? I _____ surely you would see Bill Clay feel when you saw him again and am surprised to hear you are still crazy about him when you let yourself _____ about it. Being in love is not always a _____ I am somewhat in your fix of caring an awful lot for someone that isn’t so wild about me. You remember I told you about him last summer will be _____ here for a week soon after I came down and I don’t believe he really cares about me this and may be mistaken and it as for me _____ _____ is gone entirely _____ _____. Oh, well. I guess I will recover _____. I must say I am pretty hard hit. He is in New York, now and that is one big reasly why I am so crazy to be back there again. Well nothing can last forever so perhaps I will escape from this prison cell some day.

This is a gloomy letter to write you when you already feel sad enough I should be _____ to add any more gloom to yours. Wish I could see you again sometime and as I said who _____ but what we will meet in Paris at some ___ to far distant date.

Much love for you and remember me to your mother. If you write soon, send often to 345 E 70 St., New York. Let’s not wait too long next time about _____.

Evelyn Hope

To Bertha from Emma –

(Date is approximate, year is 1919)

309 West 72 Street
New York

My dear Bertha,

Your good letter reached me while I was yet in Mobile where I went to recuperate after a very serious illness. I believe that I am now thoroughly well as you see I have returned to New York, came with my father and Mrs. Mann and am staying here a short time before going to the farm.

My father spoke so pleasantly of his visit with you all and I so regret that I could not have stopped in Washington on my way home _____ but I might have seen you and some other dead friends there also if all places, I have ever been, I like Washing the best and sincerely hope that I may work _____ make my house there.

When you write your father, give him my kindness, regards, and tell him that I really long to hear of his experiences abroad and that I quite forgive him for not sending me just a _____ while he was over there.

I am more than glad that your dear mother is so much better, my father thought her very charming.

I still have a money interest in the _____ you wrote of, but I do not work on it, and have not or a long time.

I am so glad that you are doing so well with your painting. I too am having trouble to get servants to go to the _____ with me. I had a man and his wife last summer but the wife died of the flu. This winter so I have to get both cook and housemaid if I can. Of course I can do housework but I do not like it and a not strong enough for heavy work.

Today, my father is in bed with a heavy cold. We went out to the farm yesterday and were caught in a snow storm and both took cold I dared myself last night am alright today, but am keeping quiet as at my age, it does not pay to take chances with my health.

Do write me again soon and I will try to _____ prove that I should be here for two weeks yet but always mail reaches my address _____ C/O Your Yopies, 2 West 24 Street.

With love to all.

Devotedly your Emma Mann _____

To Bertha from Beth Cary –

(Date is approximate, year is 1919)

Dearest Bobbykins,

Christmas season is upon us and I am prepared as usual. Really think that is one thing that the war taught a lot of us, that a jolly Christmas was possible without working half the year. We even took to cards and letters as a family and have enjoyed things. The children and I are at home this year for the first time since I was married. Sort of hard on Leigh to leave him alone at this season but if he gets too lonely, he can go to his mother’s or come here. It is great fun to fix for the kiddies this year. They telephone Santa every day for a different toy. They are typical kids. Alice asks for a dolly, buggy, hot water bottle for it, etcetera, and Fred for wagons and trains. He wants a dolly to ride in the train. Good old babykins is the only one that makes no demands and he will probably cause a _____ by garnering everyone’s store.

Too bad or rather I might as well have married an Army man. My menfolk have the wanderlust again and have sold out lock stock and barrel. Have the ______ to go with it. Plan on driving out in the spring and camping in the mountains sounds ______ but I fear I’ll wish for my screened porch and running water. We stay where we are for at least two months so the worst weather should be past. This year we can’t state anything as a positive fact. It has been frozen up since 1st of October.

We’re having a _____ this year. Have a _____ a birthday club and the ladies aid. All good eating affairs. Keeps one baking most of the time. I’m having a fine time taking in a dun shows. Have been in the cities in the summer the past four years and hence missed out on the theatre. Saw ______ last week and have three before me this week.

Surely was tickled to hear of your father’s decoration if that is the proper term. Really feel quite “set up” to have as friend the daughter of such a man. Really I’m am very proud of him and know you are. Wonder if Reba’s boy will be an Army man, too. You’ll have a regular Christmas if you have him there. Will know what it is like to satisfy a few youthful demands.

Sally sounds like a _____. She is 17 this winter and the best looking girl you ever saw. A _____ _____ and butterfly but with an ability to work and manage what she wants.

Haven’t any further pointers on our unfortunate romance. Things seem to be at a standstill but the man is making a better fight than he was still crazy but tries to be interested in other things and people.

Wish the holidays were over for they have disgraceable memories and dead hope galore and I’ve a hunch his letters rattle quite a few dead leaves.

Must bundle my family up for an airing. Quite a task when the thermometer stands at zero and below.
Wonder who will be next president of R.M.W.C. Notice Webb died in November. Sundial says Helm Becker is married to a minister. Katie McKriuer writes from Paris that she may move to Coblenz or Warsaw. She writes a _____ letter.

Won’t we all have a grand Christmas with folks safe at home again. Allyn and I both had steak last year but it is a gobbler and _____ this time.

Lots of love and good wishes for the holidays.

Beth