EV's letters home 1916-- Eight in all
Worcester, Mass
5-14-16
Dear Mother: -
I am writing in bed--hence the scrawl. I once heard that there were 1500 Turks living in Worcester, and that they didn't have a woman amongst them. Now that was fiction, and I used to believe it. It doesn't hold true. Now there are only three of us here and if we don't have a woman pretty quick there is going to be trouble. Dad does his best and Donald and I help some, but we are all sick of it. So you had better send Emily home! I have also read that the Turtks really are just like us, human you know! If they are built like us that story of the 1500 Turks is a lie. I can prove it!
Young Ernest
I have just returned from the Y.P. meeting. We had one of the best in several weeks. Charlie Alvord was the leader. I am on the nominating committee again this half, (chairman) my second consecutive term. Miss Hanchet and Gladys Munroe are the other members.
We also hold our first rehearsal of the play tomorrow night. Tuesday night I am going to a dance at the Green Hill Mansion. I couldn't very well back down, tho I dread the consequences of my acceptance of the invitation.
Thursday night Emily, Donald and I go to the Turkey supper gotten up by the Missionary Exhibit. Some time!!
I think those pictures of the baby were good, fine. Didn't you think my bald spot and teeth showed up in good shape? Well, they are my own!
Clare plans to come on an excursion June 16-27 inclusive. Don't worry mother dear about my deciding too hastily to go to Rochester in July. I haven't decided to yet. I have a whole month yet.
Give my love to R., H., and Betsy and keep some for yourself. Ernest
******
Rochester N.Y.
Sept. 10 `16
Dear Mother: -
I landed in Rochester all O.K. at 10:10, an hour late. I got into Albany on time but lost time all the way from there on. I guess it must have been the trunk. At least the carrier thought so who brought it this morning.
Ray, Uncle Arthur and Clare were at the station to meet me, so I was well cared for. I got to bed at about 11:15 and slept well until 7:00 this morning.
I went to church and took dinner at Ed's also supper. Uncle Arthur was there to dinner and came back with me. We went all hands Ed Uncle Arthur Clare and I to a band concert over in South Park this afternoon. It was very fine. The day has been perfectly clear and beautiful.
Elmer is home for two weeks as his school opening has been postponed due to the prevalence of infantile paralysis.
I wish you would express to Emily and Donald my sincere appreciation of the tennis raquet. I wanted one very badly and thot some of buying one but forebore as they are pretty expensive. It was one big surprise when Donald presented it to me. He made a wonderful presentation speech.
I will write another letter tomorrow after I have been to the school, which will doubtless prove more interesting.
It is funny to know that you are not going back to Worcester again or to look forward to it. Still it will be interesting here I know.
Give my love to Dad and all the rest.
With love, Ernest.
*****
Rochester N.Y.
Sept. 19, 1916
Dear Dad: -
I am going to send this letter to you for a change. I have just come from Uncle Arthur's office and am now in the P.O. during my noon hour.
I begin my duties next week at Gleason's, but have not been able to get any particulars as yet. The co-ordinator is a hard man to get hold of for he is always out and in. I like him very much. His name is Campbell, a man about 50 years old and of wide experience.
Th chief incident of note at 46 Paige St is the addition to our equipment of a new Double Sterling Range. Two ovens one heated by gas and the other by coal. It is certainly a beautiful stove. It sells for $95 but Ray got it cheaper.
At church Sunday night I met a boy and girl by the name of Kieth who are nephew and niece of the William H. Hieth we knew in N. Brookfield. It was a surprise to both of us. He is living (our Mr. Kieth) on L.I. and has a little boy. I am invited to the house for a visit some night. They are Worcester people, and related to the N. Worcester Eldridges, the children being cousins.
Clare has invited the Snyders to dinner Thursday night, also myself. Elmer has not gone back yet. They have all been in Cleveland over the weekend visiting their cousin out there, Mary Beth ----?
There is a rumor that Mr. Snyder is better and that he is taking Christian Science cure but please do not repeat as nobody knows.
I suppose you had a nice visit with Ralph and Helen and the new car, altho I would not be surprised to hear that they did not come.
It is great weather here cool and clear sometimes even cold. Saturday night particularly Ray and I walked into town to the Y.M.C.A. where he treated me to a shower and a swim. If I have the time I would like to join under the student rates which are cheaper. They have a very fine building and equipment.
I have forgotten whether I wrote that Mr. Martain my instructor in Mech. Draw. is a Plattsburg man. We have had some interesting chats about our respective camps. He has been in the Institute since 1904.
Well, I am going out to get a Shredded Wheat so will say goodbye.
I shall probably find a letter when I get home.
With love to all Ernest
*****
Rochester N.Y.
Sept. 24, 1916
Dear mother: -
I rec'd a letter from Everett and thought at first you must be there but later decided that Donald had probably carried it there in his pocket. You ask a lot of questions which I will endeavor to answer.
The bicycle which Ray rides is Uncle Arthur's old one, so there is no chance in that line. I shall get along this fall without it but may buy one in the spring.
It is a great country for a bicycle.
It does not pay me to go home to lunch as it only costs me ten cents a day for meals in town. I could only come home to lunch one day anyway and it is easier to stay down. I walk both ways to school and from so my carfares for the week are not very great. My largest bill is board and I go to work tomorrow at Gleason's. I am to make my own arrangements in regard to wages. I will tell you better later what I may get.
Maude does my washing. I send my laundry out. The laundry is quite an item at three cents apiece for the collars
I certainly hope that the Plattsburg men get their money for we can use it. At least I can. Still I think I can pay the larger part of my way.
Esther Leota was baptised today and behaved remarkably well under the ordeal. Uncle Arthur and I were there as godfathers.
Thurs. night Clare had a dinner party. Uncle Arthur, Cousin Belle, Madeline, Elmer and I were the guests. We had a very nice supper and a very enjoyable evening. They had all just returned from a trip to Cleveland stopping there with Mary Potts Barnhardt.
I am glad you have in the new boiler. You'll need it for there is some cold weather here heading your way. I get the weather before you do so I know what is coming to you. Not much rain here, more short showers than anything else.
Give my love to all. I will answer Emily's letter shortly.
With love, Ernest
*****
Rochester N.Y.
10-11-16
Dear Mother: -
I am very sorry that my letter is so delayed this week. I wrote one Mon. night but made a botch of it I was so tired, and I threw it away.
` As I sit here I hear Maude and Esther having a great set to upstairs, it being the seven o'clock feeding and bedtime. Can you believe me when I tell you I am to take full charge of the baby for two evenings next week so that Maude and Ray can go out! She never makes a fuss so I do not anticipate any trouble.
Saturday I walked to the lake with two other Mechanics fellows by the Summerville Road,i.e. on the right bank of the Genesee. It was a fine day for a walk, so enjoyed it very much.
Sunday Cousin Belle invited me to go to church with them and spend the day. I had a very pleasant time. They certainly know how to entertain even in a quiet way. In the afternoon Uncle Arthur, Madelin and I went to a band concert at Maplewood Park, after which we took the Indian Trail along the river bank which brought us eventually to the Kodak Park where we took a car home.
You seem to want to know what has happened at the Shop so I will tell you. Nothing! Only one ray of hope. I had a planer job Monday on a big planer and made good as they know what I can do. It was a fussy job too and a costly one. A "bull" would have meant a great deal of expense.
I just had a little news. There arrived at 7:30 at Arthur's a little baby girl. It is now 8:00 p.m. Maude is so excited she can hardly keep still at the prospect of the two little girls growing together, etc.etc.
Well, I have been thinking over the prospect and thinkin' and thinkin'! I want some more money and I've got to get some more tho I am not badly off at present. My alternate holds me back for he has never had any previous experience. My plan is to get if possible a job nights for my alternate week (they pay time and one third). That would make it possible for me to squeeze by I think and might give me some over. I had also thought of going to a munition plant here in the city and working on an eight hour shift everyday from 3-11 P.M. Inspecting if possible, but will only do that as a last resort. I am going to talk the matter over with my co-ordinator anyway and see if between us make anything out of it. I don't believe in serving another apprenticeship.
The school work is going better than at first as I am loosening up a bit. I can see that things are coming quite a bit easier.
Please send Donald's letter as soon as possible. I have not heard a word from him altho I wrote him a couple weeks ago.
Tell Emily I shall positively write her before the week is out. She has written me twice and I haven't deigned to answer even once.
That squad picture is for you. I have another. Thanks for the overalls, but I thought I had some old ones at home. I know I have an old coat there.
I would like it very much if you would send me a calendar from Central Church everyweek. It would keep me posted on affairs there.
I wish you would encourage Roger to write. I would like to see some of his letters, and I am sure it would represent real effort on his part to write one.
That was a very interesting journey that my letter took to Rochester Vt. Ernest C. Flanders must have wondered who he was the son of.
Clare goes to Groton, N.Y. Saturday, for a few days vacation. Going to visit a friend Rev. Mrs. Haglund. I believe you have met them.
It is great weather, clear and lots of "pep." Too bad to have to stay in.
With love, Ernest
****
Rochester N.Y.
10-16-16
Dear Mother: -
I am not going to write a long letter for I owe Emily one so she will get the news this week.
We are to get our money back from the gov't all right but only for transportation
and board amounting in my case to about $35, which will cover my tuition for one quarter.
The letter was in regard to the letters I had received from claim agents who wanted to collect my money for me, taking 10% of the collection. I had been warned from several sources not to pay any attention so the letter was not really needed. The Military Training Camps Association stated that it would handle the whole affair as soon as possible.
You must have had a fine time on your auto trip. Wasn't you a little tired on getting home? I shouldn't have thought Mr. Woods would have driven so far.
I find my time pretty well occupied. I am trying to read "Our Mutual Friend" but haven't opened it for a week and a half. Uncle Arthur has taken me to a couple meetings of the Engineering Society here which have proved very interesting. He's a good scout.
My one ambition is to save money enough to get home Christmas. I may do it yet!
Love to you and dad. Emily's will come later. Ernest
*****
Rochester N.Y.
11-5-16
Dear mother and family: -
It is a gloomy grey day for Sunday, the first since I have been here. It rained hard yesterday afternoon.
There have been some interesting events during the last week. For one thing I am working for Uncle Arthur during all my spare time which will amount to ten or fifteen hours a week. He said he would pay me all I am worth. It is very interesting work and very instructive. My experience with him is putting me ahead of the rest of the class. I am also taking extra drawing through the kindness of Mr. Martain. Ray has a drawing table and an extra Tsquare so I have put it in my room. I may be able to do extra work at home for Uncle Arthur when I know more what he wants.
Yesterday Ray took me to lunch with the City Club at the Powers Hotel. We had an excellent lunch and some interesting speakers. They represented all four parties listed on the ballot. They were allowed 15 minutes each and five minutes rebuttal.
Mr. Kelly of Glen Falls spoke for all the Democrats (good). Senator Fernald of Maine spoke for the Republican Party (bum). Mr. Schalber, a local grocery man, spoke for the Prohibition Party and drew more applause than any of the others. He was mighty good! Mr. Strebel of Syracuse spoke for the Socialist Pary. He had to be hushed. He was a little man with a big voice.
It was very interesting and was attended by all kinds of men who could afford the price of the lunch. It is needless to say at .60 a plate it included some of Rochester's big business men.
I met Mr. Kieth's big brother there. He is a most impressive looking man. Big, broadshouldered, heavy beard and moustache. An apparent contradiction in every way to his little brother. He has a family of seven children - quite a regiment. I have been invited to their home, which I hope to visit some time.
I am glad to hear that the new boiler works so well. Hot air doesn't compare with steam heat. I would never install it.
I had a fine visit with Mrs. Stoddard. Believe me, it looked good to see a small portion of Mass. in New York State even if it was four weeks old.
Clare and I are going to see the Snyders tonight after C.E. They feel quite upset because I do not come more often. But I don't find the time some way or other. It is a lot easier to run into Magnolia St. yet I haven't been there to stay over half an hour for three weeks. Uncle Arthur and Ray are the only relatives I see much of.
Maude wants your receipt for Brown Bread, and for head cheese. They are thinking of buying a 1/2 pig this year and their souse last year was a failure.
Don't tell anybody, but they use oleomargarine here part of the time and I can't like it. I've tried faithfully.
I sent the postal to Nettie Long.
Give my love to Dad,and Grandmother and Emily if they are there.
With love, Ernest
*****
Rochester N.Y.
Dec. 3, 1916
Deaar mother: -
The candy came all O.K. Wednesday night. I had to eat it alone as Maude and Ray care very little for candy. I should have shared it with anybody, if anybody had been around but nobody showed up, not even Clare. It was mighty good,and almost made me homesick. There is nobody else that can make that kind of candy.
Thursday was a very pleasant day for all of us. It went off without a hitch. Sixteen of us sat down to dinner, and we all ate until we groaned. The meat dish was roast pork (awful good) served with all the fixings. It must have meant an awful pile of work.
After we had settled our dinner we played games of all kinds. Everybody took hold and helped to make a good time, and we had it. Arthur was very entertaining, also Ray, who opened up wonderfully. Ray has a vein of humor distinctly his own but nobody ever gets the benefit of it, outside the family ordinarily. Yet he helped make things move. Mr. Snyder was in excellent spirits, also.
Your good telegram came just after the first course and while we were waiting for the dessert. Everybody was much pleased so I suggested we send one back, which they all fell in with. After dinner I passed out slips of paper to all and asked them to write a ten-word message, leaving it to Cousin Belle to decide whose should be chosen. Arthur's was the one taken, I think, tho I am not positive of it. I hope you rec'd it that night.
Friday and Saturday I worked, making in all $4.02, for we were given a vacation from school after Thanksgiving.
Friday night I went with Clare to a party given at Marion Wilder's home. I met her the year I spent my vacation here, she and her mother going over to Koburg the day Clare and I did. Next Tuesday night I am going to a bang up church supper and anticipate a good time and a good meal.
I am beginning to count the days before I can come home. It will not be very long now. I have written to Dr. Cooper trying to arrange a date so that I can have a little work done while at home. It will be cheaper now than next summer.
I missed your letter Saturday but knew you had lots of company and were too busy to write. I am writing this letter in my room sitting on a high hard stool at a drawing table. I have a dandy room. I want you to see it sometime.
The Taylor Instrument Companies make the Cyco thermometers, barometers, baroscopes, stethoscopes, pyrometers, and all kinds of fine instruments. They make some great stuff, but it's out of my line.
With love to all and Aunt Avis if she is there --- Ernest
*****