July 29th, 1922

Klybechstrasse 78

July 29th 1922

Mrs. L.L. Bunnell

Dear Mother :- I received your very welcome letter of July 10th and 13th last Wednesday, July 26th, and was as usual glad to get a word from home.

I haven't been back to Liestal since that day, but I am going to start working there agian soon. Don't worry about anybody knocking me down the steps, because these people like to talk too much but when it comes to doing the act, it is different. And to as long as I am in the work of the Lord, and do my duty, nobody will harm me. These people must be warned, then if they don't take it on , they can throw it away, but they must have the chance.

I sure do take that attitude towards all of these bad women. I had also an experience in Germany while I was there in Munchen. A lady about 30 years old came up behind me, touched me on the arm, naturally I turned around, and she said "come and go to the hotel with me." I told her right out to go straight to hell. She then went on about her own business. This country is lousy with such people, but let them stay with themselves, and not bother the Americans.

Tell Dr. Hughes hello, and there is room for his son Russell over here in the mission field. Say how are those girls (Margarite Cluff and the Anderson girl) who were hurt in the automobile accident. Are they disfigured? Last Tuesday I was talking with two missionaries who just came over, and came with Bob Anderson of Provo. Bob is sent down into Vienna Austria. They have about 12 missionaries there now.

We have also been having cool weather hear lately, but lots of rain. Through the months of June and july, the weather has been always fairly cool, considering what it usually is. They tell me it will melt during August.

Tell Leona hello for me and that she must hurry up and get better. I should write her a letter, but I suppose she reads all of these any how, so she knows I am not dead. How are all of her kiddies, I mean children, not goats! Does Nora still remember me, or has she forgotten that I exist? How about Arlo? Does he talk yet at all? You know he never talked when I left. And of course Wayne talks, and runs all around like a little duck. I sure would like to see the kids now, but I suppose the time will come when I can see them.

Yesterday morning, I went out tracting rather tired, on account of going so long the day before. I felt just a little grouchy. Elder Gleich was with me. I tried to give a lady a tract and she turned it down. I then gave one to a young man just across the hall. This old hen kept chipping in, and throwing insults, then besides that a man yelled down from the story above to throw me out. That me sore and I sure tore loose and told that old Hen something. I also talked loud enough so the man over, could hear me. My main topic was that it was too bad that the people of the world were so ignorant, that when something good came to them they turn it away and slam and slur it, and wanted always to stay in their wickedness. I also told them right out, that when they slammed and slurred the message I had brought to them, they done the same to their Father in Heaven. Nobody then offered to put me out and then I had a very good talk with the young man, and he promised faithfully he would come and visit the meetings with us. he told me what I said was just right. While i was talking to him, Elder Gleich went back and had a talk with the lady, that wouldn't take a tract from me, and gave her two tracts, and had a very good talk with her. After we went out Elder Gleich said to me, "you sure did talk sharp to that lady, he said the cap must have fit or she would have put you out." I sure can't help but get out of patience, with the ignorance of some of these people.

At present in our missionary work, we are hunting up some old saints who haven't been to church for from 5 to 15 years. Most of them we can't find, some others have been baptized in other churches, others kick us out, and a few give weak promise that they will come back. We have about 50 such names to hunt out. We sure will have to excommunicate quite a number. I hate to do it, but when a person denies the gospel, what do you do?

Elder Plewe and I just got to joking and we changed writing tabs and wrote a little nonsense on each others letter. We like to play sometimes.

Well there isn't more to tell about so I will close for this time. Hoping you are all well and happy.

Sincerely,

LeRoy  

July 22nd, 1922

No. 8

Basel.

July 22nd

Mrs. L.L. Bunnell.

Dear Mother:- I was sure glad to hear once more from home after a two weeks lay off. I thought perhaps America had all blown up. I felt about like Lamond did in Australia when he wrote that song, When the boat didn't bring a letter for him, when i waited so long and heard nothing. Of course though i didn't write any peotry about it.

Don't worry about me being tarred and feathered or anything like that. It isn't that bad here. These people here like to talk, but that haven't any force behind it. I don't worry about such things at all. In fact, it tickles me when they start yelling "help, murder here is a mormon," and they want to throw me down the stairs. Still this doesn't happen very often. We are treated much better now than a while ago. The police never say anythign at all. All they have police for, is so they can get on the best side of the women. Last week I saw two men scraping on the street, and the police sticking their heads around the corner, watching them, but didn't say a word. The men were trying their best to hurt each other, but neither one could do it. I see now why they haven't any pugilists here. when the people once turn me out, I don't go back again. There is no use throwing pearls among the swine. I never try and quarrel with them, when they say they don't want it, I let them go.

Say for Pete's sake, tell Lake View to put their gloves away to the little kids. They might as well let me play, so they could beat you a little worse. Who plays? And who pitches? I think I will go out this afternoon and play football, whith the fellows of the branch. this isn't in a game, but just for fun.

Tell Leona she had better eat a little more, so she can grow. She certainly must be skinny now. I sure hope she soon gets better. I have also lost 11 lbs in the last couple of months, but I am feeling better now than for a long time.

So Merrill is stepping American Fork again. I thought he would, and I don't blame him. Just wait til I get the chance again, I won't be as dead, (and bashful) as before. Just go until old top.

Monday is the 24th of July. We missionaries are going to celebrate, by not working. Probably we will take a walk out to some of the neighboring towns, possibly to Dornach, and see some more of those old castles out there. The saints are not celebrating.

Nothing has happened since I wrote the last letter, only, I have been, very busy, just with the missionary work. We are working a little with the friends again now, and I enjoy it much better.

I think the saints are all feeling better now. In the meetings we have better spirit, and there isn't so much backbiting as there was. I know myself I feel much better. There are a few that we must disfellowship but that when done will make a better feeling here.

Last week it snowed down to 3,000 feet altitude on the Alps, so you can see we have had some cold weather here. It is much better now though. It is more like summer weather.

Well there is nothing more to write at present, so I will close for this time, hoping you are all well and happy, and that Leona will soon be better.

Sincerely,

LeRoy

Klybeckstrasse 78.

P.S. Say I sent to New York and got a boy scout handbook. We intend to start up scout work. Ask Irwin if he would send 40 cents to 200 fifth Ave. New York to the scout headquarters, and tell them it is for me. I would do it only i haven't any American cash.

P.P.S. How is Karl coming with the scout work. Is he first class scout yet? Tell all the scouts hello for me. 

July 16th and July 17th 1922

No. 7

July 16th 1922.

Mr. Irwin J. Bunnell.

Dear Bro.:- I thought I would get a letter from you today, but the darn thing didn't come. I haven't heard a word from home since Vinna wrote the "Variwood Weekly" on June 22nd, and that is a long time back. What's that matter, have you run out of writing paper, envelopes, stamps, or have you forgotten this little old scrub over here eight thousand miles from home, like most of the others have, that I have written letters to, and they don't think it would do me a nickel's worth of good just to hear from them, just once.

Much hasn't happened since I wrote you last, because I haven't been doing anything only passing the time away. Wednesday I worked fourteen hours, came to the room at eleven o'clock, and the light was on here, and the door was locked from the inside. I called Elder Plewe, but no one answered. I called, yelled, howled, hammered, kicked, squealed and everything, to try to get the door opened for me. Nothing doing, so I go in another fellow's room, take my pocket knife, use it for a screw driver, and took the lock off. After about half an hour's work I got in, and here was Elder Plewe sound asleep. He was waiting for me, but was tired and fell asleep, and with all my yelling I didn't wake him up.

Thursday morning, I got up, half dead, and after breakfast, I went back to bed again. I got up agian at noon, and went to dinner, but as soon as possible, I was back in bed. I got up again, and went to supper, to try to pass it off, but I was glad to get back to bed again. Friday I thought i felt better, so I went out tracting. I got pretty weak before i was through, and after dinner I went to bed again, and stayed until the morning. I feel fine now, couldn't ask to feel better, only the hives have come back on me double dose. I look like I had the small pox. It seems to me the Lord is trying me, like he did Job. If it wasn't for these hives, I would feel better tonight, than for a long time, but I can hope these will soon leave me. This sickness has been working on me for some time, but now it can go find somebody else, because I am through with it for this time. Don't worry that i will get out too soon or anything like that after you get this letter, because everything is fine.

Elder Plewe wants me to go to bed now, so I will finish another time.

July 17th 1922

Well I have been out tracting this morning again. It sure seems fine to get to work again. A person feels so much better when he can work than when he lays around. I feel much better today, except I couldn't sleep much last night, on account of the bees stinging me, in those hives of theirs. I should soon be sweet enough to eat, if those bees work much more, storing the honey in the hives on me.

Well it is time that I go again now. Please forward this envelope and letter I am sending to Grandpa and Grandma Johnson. Tell Grandpa and Grandma Bunnell hello. Hoping you are all well and happy.

Sincerely,

LeRoy Bunnell.

P.S. Say Irwin didn't get peeved over what I said in the last letter about you and Mai. I just said it as a joke, but after I had sent the letter I thought it might hurt your feelings. So let it go or just as if I hadn't said it. Sometimes I say lots of things that I don't mean, so when I write something in the letters that way just pass it off again.

P.P.S. The missionaries tell me to send you their best regard.

P.P.P.S. It has been so cold here the last two days, that a man almost needs his overcoat. I did wear it to Sunday school yesterday. There were a few snowflakes mixed with the rain. It isn't storming today but it certainly is cold. The Rhine has raised again higher than it has been since I have been here, on account of so much rain. I don't think there be frost because that is very unusual here.

P.P.P. P. S. I forgot to tell Leona and the kiddies hello, and that I hope Leona will soon be better again. 

June 17th, 1922

Basel

June 17th, 1922.

Dear Folks:-

I have about 20 minutes to finish this letter and send it off, so you won't get much more.

Trouble is coming up here all the time. You know I told you about Luscher family, where we had to go and settle so many quarrels, and now he is making Hell for us. He is to blame because Bro. Haltinner and Elder Gliech were driven out of Liestal. He is a pretty big man with the police, and he sure has been feeding them not only in Liestal, but here also. I have to register here with the police again, and I fear I will have trouble doing it. they are sure getting to know us "mormons" here now. I think the old man Luscher must of wrote an article in the paper, because everybody are sure against us now. Some of the friends have turned back on us, but it is them to suffer and not me. yesterday Elder Plewe took his watch to a jeweler to get a crystal put in his watch. He never told the jeweler who he was at all, but when he came back to get the watch, the jeweler had a tag on it "a mormon". How he knew is more than I can tell, because we've never been there before. They seem to know us everywhere we go.

I am afraid I will have to have my eyes tested. Every afternoon for the last week I have had a terrible headache, and my eyes also ache. I think I will buy a pair of dark glasses, and try them a while. I blame it on the sun shining on the cement street and glaring up in my eyes.

For the last couple of weeks we've been buying milk from the milk man, and drinking it cold. It hasn't been treating us very good, so we will have the Frau boil it for us. It must be terribly dirty in the barns. Milk costs 7 cents a quart here now.

I expect I will have to go to Germany now to see the Passion Play. I think Elder Snell has ordered my ticket. The trip will cost about 20 dollars but I can save that on a suit of clothes alone, that is if I can get it back again. I must also buy socks, shoes, and shirts. I would never consider going if I thought I couldn't make more money than it cost, by buying my clothes there.

It has been very cold here again for the last two weeks. We have had much more rain, and  I think it will rain more today.

Well I must close, so I can go to the meeting. Hoping you are all well.

Sincerely

LeRoy

P.S. How are the crops looking? Is the stand of beets good?

P.P.S. I am going to start to number the letters and you do the same, because other fellows are losing letters, and I want to see if we do. 

May 18th and 19th, 1922

Basel.

May 18th 1922.

Dear Varwood.

It has been better than a week since I received a letter from home, and also since I wrote I sent "Der Stern" but that wasn't a letter.

I have just been out tracting a couple of hours, and have a little spare time before I go to dinner, so I thought I would tell you of some of the troubles.

we are sure having hard work here in Basel. A good many of the Saints have got the big head because they have a little office, and ever since I and Bro. Hirschi has been here they have been plotting against us. The local missionaries have also had a good hold on it to. Finally Sunday in Priesthood meeting it came to a head, and these "no nothings" took turns standing up and told even a bunch of lies about us, about how we wanted to take his friends away from him, and that we were trying to push him out. I was by that time so mad I was sweating. I ask Pres. Ballif if I could say something, and he said no, you hadn't better. I guess it was a good thing or I am afraid I would say something that wouldn't have pleased them. Then the President of the Branch (also a local man) got up and told more lies. Talk about a church, this is more of a lodge here.

You see they haven't had any American missionaries here since the war began, and they had to put local men in to win things. They can't get into their beans, that we should do anything only tract and that they should tell us how the church should be organized. Because we didn't follow their advice, that has caused the trouble. Won't I be a rich man, when I can get back and work with Americans again. You can't imagine difference in the class of people. Pres. Ballif has to be as wise as a cat, because if he isn't, the whole mission would turn upside down. He is changing the branch, and con. Pres to Americans as fast as he can, but he has to be very careful, or a good many of the Saints would turn against him. A good number here are not worthy to be called saints. There are a few that are good, but that isn't many. Some join the church here because they are poor, and they know that the church will help them. Such is life.

Say if you want some pretty shade trees, get some of those chestnut. They are sure pretty. Half of the trees in Basel are chestnut and if it isn't pretty now. They are all out in bloom now.

Last Monday I went to another funeral. It was the Father of a Saint. The services were Protestandish and if it was dry. The Pastor done everything, read prayer from a book and even read the sermon. He never mentioned resurrection. In the particular graveyard where this man was buried, it is the second time, for people to be buried , it is the second time, for people to be buried in the same place. The ground had all been stirred up, and talk about stink, it was worse than a dozen dead horses.

It is raining again today for a change. It never goes a week here without rain. Pres. Ballif just came back from Ger. last Saturday and he said there they have had so much rain and snow, and it has been so cold, that the farmers hadn't yet done anything on the farms.

May 19th 1922.

I didn't finish yesterday so I will just add a few lines now. Bro. Hirschi, my good old American companion goes to Liestal Schwiez today, with Bro. Haltinner. They are going to open up a new branch. I have got to stay here in Basel, and work with Bro. Brunner, a local bird, that kept saying, when tracting that I was extra from America, until I put him on the right path. He is a fine fellow (for local man). I am either going to have a little better order here or I will pick up a walk out.

There is a ten day forlough from July 1st-10th given to all missionaries who want to go and see the Passion play in Germany. I believe I explained it before to you. It is considered the best in the world, and only plays every 10 years. It has been played for hundreds of years. There is people coming from all over the world to see it. The only trouble is for us missionaries from Schweiz to go over it would cost us $10 for a visa to get into Germany. That would cost more than all other expenses there together. President Ballif was pricing field glasses in Germany last week. He can get a pair of the best for $12 or $13. they would probably cost $60 or $75 in America. Should i get a pair?

Well I just received three letters from home. One from Merrill, one from Vinna and one from Grandma. I am glad you are all well, and think that I am learning the language so fast. Maybe if you heard me talk you wouldn't think so. Forgive the way I have wrote but I haven't told it all. I am sure hoping we can make it better.

you are not the only ones that have the Spring fever. I would like to get out on the farm myself. How happy I would be when I can get there once more, and especially in good old U.S.A.

April 5th, 1922

Kybeckstrasse 78

Basel, Schweiz

April 5th 1922.

Honorable Irwin Grant Bunnell.

Dear Brother:- I got your very welcome letter this morning. I don't understand why you have any reason to be discouraged there. I suppose that letter I wrote made you all discouraged and cross. But nevertheless I am not that way all the time. I know you haven't anyone there to chum with, but I didn't either. I have had to fight here like sixty three, to get to work and not always be discouraged. You will all have to do the same there and bear the hardships of this old world and smile it off. At home sometimes I used to feel like the whole world was against me and everything I done was upside down, but we all have faults and it never and it never helps one to think of the dark side of everything that happens. Forget that, and always do everything with a smile, pass everything that is said against you with a smile and soon you will all be smiles and have know feelings. Excuse what I have said, but a missionary gets so used to giving advice, it seems thats all we are. But listen, Satan's time is near its end and he is working very, very hard to caues the down fall of everybody. Cast him out, live the cleanest, sweetest, purest life a man can live. Make everything bright for yourself and others, and never miss your prayers, both secretly, and always have the family prayer.

Perhaps when you wrote that letter, you were having your first spring day. If it has been anything there like it is here, it was your last also. This morning at seven o'clock, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It is the first morning for about 17 days. But ---- at ten o'clock it was raining pitch forks and grindstones. It has had several turns at it during the day. Three weeks ago the leaves on the trees just started to come out. It has been so cold since that, they have stood still. Sniff-sniff-sniff. I have a slight cold.

I got a letter from Samy this morning. Tell him I got it and appreciated it very much tell him & Marley to, that as soon as I get time I will answer. It is very hard to find time to do such things as write letters any more. Now that Jim and Leona are in town I suppose they hear from you real often. I owe them a letter, but as I said before where comes the time. I hate to steal it from study period. It is nearly always after ten o'clock when I come in at night, and sometimes nearly midnight.

Yesterday I watched part of a marriage ceremony here. The Priest married them, then there was about twenty of these carriages, (like was out on Jim's farm,) to take the bride and groom, and they witnesses for a ride. Those carriages are all the style over here.

This morning while I was tracting I found a Frau from Brazil. We had a fine time talking three languages. I found another frau, that wanted to know about polygamy. I told her, and she said that is perfectly all right. She asked me if I had time to come some evening next week, and teach her and her husband the principles of the gospel. I told her sure, so next Monday night Bro. Hirschi and I are going to make the visit. We found a couple yesterday that seemed to be willing to study our gospel.

I think I will soon have some Deutch books now. I got after President Ballif yesterday, and he has wrote to Ger. and ordered a Bible sent to Lorrach Ger. just over the line from Schweiz. The mission has an office there. Evelyn, President Ballif's daughter is going to Lorrach tomorrow and she promised me she would bring a Doctrine and Covenants to me. She will have to write my name in it before she can bring it across the line then maybe she will not be able to do it. They won't let her bring two books at a time. They are very, very strict what they let one bring over the line from Germany, because things are so cheap there and so high here. It is certainly different than living in America.

The Rhine is better than five feet higher today than yesterday on account of so much rain, and a much warmer wind blowing.

Well I think I will stop for tonight and go to bed, before I lose my nose, because it is running so fast. May God bless you all.

With Love,

LeRoy

Klybeckstrasse 78

Basel.

I suppose just now you are all sleeping to beat the band. It is eight o'clock here, and I thought I would write another line or two before sending the letter...

I sure have got fat over here. You should see my double chin. People here can't find me on that picture you sent me because I am so much fatter now. President Ballif said he was going to take my picture and send it homoe for an example of a missionary. Every place I go, my how fat you are getting. My face is as round as a bowl. I haven't gained any pounds in the last three weeks. it doesn't seem to me like I am getting fatter but they tell me I am always.

Well it is snowing like sixty again this morning. It is always too dark to take a picture.

It is time now for me to go to other work so - Auf Wieder Sehen Frosch.

p.s. My cold is much better this morning.

P.P. S. Thank Bro. Sumsion for the dollar for me and tell all hello.

Well I could write lots more but I haven't time now. It is time that I am going to the Pastor, and see how he is feeling. May God bless you all.

LeRoy

Klybeckst. 78.

P.S. I just received word that the Pastor hasn't time this week to talk with us. 

March 20th, 1922

Mar. 20th 1922.

Dear Folks.

I suppose I was mistaken about those castles being so old. I was told yesterday they were from 1000 to 1500 years old. There is a Roman amphitheater about ten miles from here that was built before Christ. They say it is in good condition.

I am afraid I have got myself into trouble with one of the Saints here. Some time ago I ask him how many friends they had in meeting. He wouldn't tell us, because he said he had some friends, and we had nothing to do with them, that he was the missionary for them. Last night I was called on to speak again, and I took the subject the war in heaven. I explained that Satan wanted the honor for doing Gods work. I told them for that Lucifer was cast out. then for a example I told that when a friend was found that was interested in the church, not to hold to him for yourself, and hunt for the honor to baptize or bring that person into the church. I talked better than ten minutes. It was terribly broken but they said they understood me. I can't understand but very little or speak very little but every day it comes just a little better. I hope that inside of a year I can do all of my studying in Deutch.

Well, it would sure be easier if I could learn to preach in English. It is very, very hard to memorize or do anything in Deutch. I suppose when it is necessary I can talk a little better. It is time for me to study now so I will close for this time. May God bless you all.

Yours truly,

LeRoy

Klybeckstrasse 78