Weil im Schonbuch.
Wiirttenberg.
Deutschland.
Feb 13th 1923.
Mr. Irwin G. Bunnell.
Dear Brother:- I am out here in this little horse town of Wheelbarrow, waiting for a train to take me back to civilization.
We held a Cottage meeting here last night, and had thirty friends present. Many of them are relatives of Elder Zenger, of S.L.C. There are about 2,000 people here, but I can assure you it shows the peasantry, if it ever existed. If you will excuse my week way, I will try and relate a few of the conditions to you.
We three missionaries came into the town at six o'clock last night, with our grips, and naturally we done our conversing in English. It wasn't long until the report was thru Weil im Schonbuch, that the French were here, taking possession of the town. Naturally it caused a little excitement, but it soon cooled off.
We walked down the mainstreet, and met half a dozen teams of oxen with women driving them. The street was dark, and muddy, and there wasn't very much to be heard, except here and there the boo of an ox.
We came into Elder Zenger's Aunts place, and how surprised I was, when we met her. She was large of stature, and built just like a man. Her hands were large and wide, showing the hard work which she had done with them. She had a little scarf tied around her head, and an old dirty dress on, carrying many stains with if from the cow farm.
She gave each of us a cup of milk, the first I've got since I got to Germany.
This particular house, on the bottom floor on the right, has the cow barn, and on the left, their machinery, a small threshing machine, hay and other stuff for the animals. We entered the farm, then climbed up a flight of stairs, and, entered a little side room, which was the living room, direct over the cow stable. The kitchen was just on the other side. I looked out of the window, and saw the manure pile, built right up against the side of the house. The perfume was great.
I went next, down to the meeting, and the old peasents came dragging in with their capes, shawls, wooden shoes, pipes, etc., and sat down and prepared for a good nap,- and had it while I talked. After the meeting I went down to a rooming house and go to a neat little room which cost 200 marks.
This morning we went down to another relative, and they gave us milk. They pulled out a loaf of bread from a drawer, about fifteen inches in diameter, and three to four inches thick and handed us each a knife, and said help yourself. It tasted fairly well.
Their barn, was just at the side of their living rooms, but the manure pile was just under the window. They had a flour mill, just on the other side, which was run by water power. To make white flour, the wheat had to be ground seven times. The Mill was about the size of our Fanning Mill, but I don't think would make 500 lbs of flour in a day.
I must say though, that their living room, was clean considering the way it was built, with foot board on the floor, all warped out of shape.
I also ate dinner there, and had soup, potatoes, and sauer kraut, but the kraut was very poor. They brought a big wash dish full of soup on the table, and we all had to help ourselves, with our own spoon with which we ate. It was the same all the way through.
When we came back through the town again, all of the women were sticking their heads out of the windows watching us, as if we were somebody. Often the remark was made in a sneering way,”Huh! Frenchmen!”
We met several more teams of oxen being driven by women, because it is their job here, and the men enjoy themselves home.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
February 11th 1923
Karlsruhe, Feb. 11, 1923.
Miss. Vinna Bunnell.
Dear Sister:_ At last I received a letter from home, and lo and behold I was darn glad to get it. I received one from Barbara this morning too, but listen, when you send me newspapers, please tie them up better. They are all undone when they get here.
Get off the typewriter you are too slow; so they tell me.
Elder Russell Swensen of P.G. Wants to write. Ask Merrill if he knows him. I will write with my pen. NIT? HEY YO, sagte der Schwaber.
You sure have been going easy on the letters and stamps lately. I came very near thinking you had forgotten I was over here. All of the letters that I had received since I left Basel, were two weeks and more apart. I got two this morning, one from Mother and one from Siss. The letters also only had a 2 cent stamp each, and it cost me a dime each to get them. Yes it is true.
You are all the weeds pigweeds too. When the Y plays a game, and wins or loses, why don't you tell me about it, and how much the score was. Irwin was going to but he hasn't done it yet. Maybe you hear so much from me, you don't care to write back. If that's the case, we must repent on both ends, because I am not yet so pious, that I don't enjoy news from home.
I hope to the _ _ _ _ Sam harry Lamond & Lavina gets along OK. That big town of Provo is getting to feel quite proud, when you can't get a nurse there. Write an article in the Herald for me, and tell those geekite Provoites, not to buy a cap that won't fit, that all the girls are so big they won't help a poor guy out when he brings one of those poor spirits out of the spirit world to nourish. I think the gospel needs to be preached there, as much as here, especially “repentance,” that the people don't get too proud of themselves, they won't stick their hands in the dishwater. Believe me, they need to live like these people here for a while, and they would learn something.
I suppose the geekite Merrill John, will be running for student body Pres. Next year.
Miss. Vinna Bunnell.
Dear Sister:_ At last I received a letter from home, and lo and behold I was darn glad to get it. I received one from Barbara this morning too, but listen, when you send me newspapers, please tie them up better. They are all undone when they get here.
Get off the typewriter you are too slow; so they tell me.
Elder Russell Swensen of P.G. Wants to write. Ask Merrill if he knows him. I will write with my pen. NIT? HEY YO, sagte der Schwaber.
You sure have been going easy on the letters and stamps lately. I came very near thinking you had forgotten I was over here. All of the letters that I had received since I left Basel, were two weeks and more apart. I got two this morning, one from Mother and one from Siss. The letters also only had a 2 cent stamp each, and it cost me a dime each to get them. Yes it is true.
You are all the weeds pigweeds too. When the Y plays a game, and wins or loses, why don't you tell me about it, and how much the score was. Irwin was going to but he hasn't done it yet. Maybe you hear so much from me, you don't care to write back. If that's the case, we must repent on both ends, because I am not yet so pious, that I don't enjoy news from home.
I hope to the _ _ _ _ Sam harry Lamond & Lavina gets along OK. That big town of Provo is getting to feel quite proud, when you can't get a nurse there. Write an article in the Herald for me, and tell those geekite Provoites, not to buy a cap that won't fit, that all the girls are so big they won't help a poor guy out when he brings one of those poor spirits out of the spirit world to nourish. I think the gospel needs to be preached there, as much as here, especially “repentance,” that the people don't get too proud of themselves, they won't stick their hands in the dishwater. Believe me, they need to live like these people here for a while, and they would learn something.
I suppose the geekite Merrill John, will be running for student body Pres. Next year.
February 4th 1923
Stuttgart. Ger.
Feb. 4th 1923.
Mr. Elvin Wayne Bunnell.
Dear Brother:-
What do you know about it, I am still in Stuttgart, and haven't been picked out yet. That seems peculiar to me, to be in one place one week at a time.
Just think, this is the second time I have had to write to Elvin for his birthday, since I left home. The time sure fly's, or flies, however you spell it. I think after I write you another letter after this one, (for your birthday). I will be home shortly after. What is that saying? I sent it something like "sweet eleven and never been kissed." If I am not mistaking, that is your age Feb. 28th, isn't it? Keep a going, and you'll be a man before your Mother yet. Es ist eigenturnlich, wie die kleine kinder wachsen. Nit?
I suppose you think I am extravagent writing on golden edged stationary. It is terribly, but twenty five sheets, and twenty five envelopes , cost me all of 6 cents, it did, it did, yan't did. Ach! du beiber heinrich was ist Los?
These prices are learning me bad habits, everything I see is so cheap, I want to buy it and all in all it counts up. Still I have nothing yet, that I didn't need. I have been here now three weeks, and with all of my bills, debts, train fares, taxes, and all I have paid out about $12.00. There is lots of stuff though, that I would like to buy, and send home. I am going to start doing it as soon as I get some dollars here. What do you think about it? Ask Papa what he thinks about me buying some stuff up and sending it home. There will never be another oppurtunity like now. In the form of pocket knives, necklaces, beads, cameras (very best $10). Small field glasses etc.
It has been ten days again since I received anything from home. It lacks only four days of being a month since I heard any news from America. Wach awf, briefe sind sehr angenehm in Deutschland. Ich bin hien busse zupredigen. Es ist geit jetzt fur einen Bruf.
Last Wednesday, the mark dropped to 46,000 to the dollar. I took advantage of it and bought me a very comfortable pair of shoes for 83,000 marks, or about $1.90. That is what it costs to half sole a pair in Basel. The next two days it raised to 36,000 for $1.00. The street car fare here lately is 1/4 and 1/5th cent. Things sure are cheap, but by taxes from the government here, it costsa quite a bit. Tonight, I had a good supper in a high classed restaurant, with beef steak, potatoes, vegetables, bread and a piece of pie for 4.400 marks, or 10 cents.
I have some good news to tell you. maybe though it is better for me than you. On Feb. 17 & 18, there is a conference iin Berlin for the whole mission. Apostle McKay will be there. All missionaries are specially instructed to be there. How does that sound? It is over a twelve hour ride from here with a through train, and the cost for 2nd class is 17,000 marks, or about 40 cents. Get that! 40 cents. Shall I go? Nine, garnicht, dassist zu teuer! Ach! du biebe zuit, wir mussen hier ein korb tragen, unser gelt unzunehrner. Excuse me, can you read German? While I am there, I am going to take time Berlin anguschauen, I mean to see Berlin, was denken Sie? We sure intend having sometime up there. Ah boy, all American's getting together like that once more, Hip! Hip! Hoo- Excuse me, I am now in Germany.
Well Elvin, how is the world treating you? I'll bet you don't say "Now quit that"!!! Like you did when I was there, or do you? I can just see you hustling to the wood pile, to get Mamma some wood, or to the coal shed, to get coal, or running some other small errand to save those tired legs of Mothers.
Feb. 4th 1923.
Mr. Elvin Wayne Bunnell.
Dear Brother:-
What do you know about it, I am still in Stuttgart, and haven't been picked out yet. That seems peculiar to me, to be in one place one week at a time.
Just think, this is the second time I have had to write to Elvin for his birthday, since I left home. The time sure fly's, or flies, however you spell it. I think after I write you another letter after this one, (for your birthday). I will be home shortly after. What is that saying? I sent it something like "sweet eleven and never been kissed." If I am not mistaking, that is your age Feb. 28th, isn't it? Keep a going, and you'll be a man before your Mother yet. Es ist eigenturnlich, wie die kleine kinder wachsen. Nit?
I suppose you think I am extravagent writing on golden edged stationary. It is terribly, but twenty five sheets, and twenty five envelopes , cost me all of 6 cents, it did, it did, yan't did. Ach! du beiber heinrich was ist Los?
These prices are learning me bad habits, everything I see is so cheap, I want to buy it and all in all it counts up. Still I have nothing yet, that I didn't need. I have been here now three weeks, and with all of my bills, debts, train fares, taxes, and all I have paid out about $12.00. There is lots of stuff though, that I would like to buy, and send home. I am going to start doing it as soon as I get some dollars here. What do you think about it? Ask Papa what he thinks about me buying some stuff up and sending it home. There will never be another oppurtunity like now. In the form of pocket knives, necklaces, beads, cameras (very best $10). Small field glasses etc.
It has been ten days again since I received anything from home. It lacks only four days of being a month since I heard any news from America. Wach awf, briefe sind sehr angenehm in Deutschland. Ich bin hien busse zupredigen. Es ist geit jetzt fur einen Bruf.
Last Wednesday, the mark dropped to 46,000 to the dollar. I took advantage of it and bought me a very comfortable pair of shoes for 83,000 marks, or about $1.90. That is what it costs to half sole a pair in Basel. The next two days it raised to 36,000 for $1.00. The street car fare here lately is 1/4 and 1/5th cent. Things sure are cheap, but by taxes from the government here, it costsa quite a bit. Tonight, I had a good supper in a high classed restaurant, with beef steak, potatoes, vegetables, bread and a piece of pie for 4.400 marks, or 10 cents.
I have some good news to tell you. maybe though it is better for me than you. On Feb. 17 & 18, there is a conference iin Berlin for the whole mission. Apostle McKay will be there. All missionaries are specially instructed to be there. How does that sound? It is over a twelve hour ride from here with a through train, and the cost for 2nd class is 17,000 marks, or about 40 cents. Get that! 40 cents. Shall I go? Nine, garnicht, dassist zu teuer! Ach! du biebe zuit, wir mussen hier ein korb tragen, unser gelt unzunehrner. Excuse me, can you read German? While I am there, I am going to take time Berlin anguschauen, I mean to see Berlin, was denken Sie? We sure intend having sometime up there. Ah boy, all American's getting together like that once more, Hip! Hip! Hoo- Excuse me, I am now in Germany.
Well Elvin, how is the world treating you? I'll bet you don't say "Now quit that"!!! Like you did when I was there, or do you? I can just see you hustling to the wood pile, to get Mamma some wood, or to the coal shed, to get coal, or running some other small errand to save those tired legs of Mothers.
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