Thursday, December 31, 2009

Congo (136) Luebo, Congo 12/12/1925 [BMS]

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CONGO MISSION

American Office: London Office:

154 5th AVENUE NORTH, 73-75, HOUNDSDITCH

NASHVILLE, TENN., U.S.A BISHOPSGATE, E.

BELGIAN CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICA,

(Via Antwerp.)

Luebo, Congo Beige, Dec. 12, 1925

Dear Mother:

Enclosed herewith I am sending you a check for $10.10 which is the bill Mrs. Tucker sent for the dresses. Please excuse this long delay. Also, I am having Mr. Willis, Ex. Committee Treasurer, send you a check for $50.00, which is in payment for the same amount we got from you quite a long time ago. I am not adding any interest, but am telling Dorothy that it will no doubt be of considerable "interest" for you just to have it returned!

I may ask you to try to get me a few clothes; perhaps Hickman could get them thru Gerlach's. I am not in a hurry for them, as I have enough to do me for more than a year and as it is "summer" suits, it would be more advisable to get them in the summer time.

As it is nearly time to send our letters over, will say goodbye for the time. Love to all.

B. M.

Congo (135) Luebo, Congo 12/4/1925 [DCS]

Luebo Dec. 4, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

I have read your last letter over and over. It is very interesting and I must have appreciated it more because I hadn't heard for a long time. However, I don't mean by that that I want you to wait longer about writing. I believe so far you are hearing from me oftener than you did last term, are you not?

We have had quite a diphtheria scare around here lately. One of Dr. Stixrud's children has it, and nearly died, but is out of danger now, they think. All the other children have had part of a dose of serum as preventative. So far as I know, Max has never been exposed to it. Several people, myself included, doubt whether it is diphtheria; there are no other cases that we have heard of and that is supposed to be very contagious. It has never been known in Congo before, either.

The Lapsley has gone to Lusambo to take the Daumerys and to get our things. They expected to be back about Xmas time. They will be a much needed and appreciated Xmas present.

Max is in fine condition again and it is certainly good to have so little trouble with him. He sleeps from three to three 1/2 hours a day besides going to bed at 6:30 and sleeping to 6. Our porch and wood floors are fine for him here. I keep them clean and when it isn't too cool he goes barefooted. The weather we are having is pretty bad for children as it rains every day and is damp most of the time. I try to keep him well wrapped. I don't have to depend so much on milk for him now as everything I give him seems to agree with him and we are getting quite a few vegetables from the farm. Just to think he is still in dresses, but all my materials are at Mutoto.

Well, what do you know about it! I have a wheel and have learned to ride. I can't turn corners yet., but I can ride on a straight road. I got my wheel on Mon., this is Saturday, but I only practiced 1 hour in all at night when the moon was shining and yesterday afternoon, I got on and rode right off. It tickled me to death to be able to ride. You see, I didn't care much about a wheel until I got here and all the ladies have one. We can't get hammock men and I didn't have any way to go places. I won't ever try a long trip through country as some have done; that would be too much for me. Do you remember how I used to long for a wheel but I see now there was no place to ride one out there much. Forty dollars is a lot to pay for a wheel, but I can get rid of it at a good price up here if I take care of it. A lot of the natives have wheels now.

B. M. and I are reading "Les Miserables" together. This is the second book we have tried to red together but failed 'on the other. We are doing fine so far-have spent about a week or more on it. Have you read it? I have been trying to think up some of the Indian language lately. So far I have only 75 words. I don't know why I didn't get one of the Indians to help me while I was at home. I may send this list home sometime and get you to see if they are right and get some more that I used to know and have forgotten.

I made some mayonnaise in about 10 minutes this morning. You remember how long it used to take me. Well, I am braver now and pour the oil faster.

We have given Joco to Georgia McKay. He took everything away from Max and acted like he was going to bite him once or twice, so I thought it best not to run the risk. We thought when we first came back that we would try by all means to take him home with us, but he has gotten pretty bad about biting and loses his temper if things don't go to suit him. When monkeys are mean, they can be very mean and we might have to kill him after we had gone to the trouble and expense of taking him home. He has never offered to bite us, but it's the other fellow. I think one little monkey will be enough to bother with when we are traveling.

You asked about the prince in your last letter. I have forgotten what I wrote you but think I told you all there was to tell. He never came out to the Mission after all our trouble. It seems that he was not on an official visit so did not have to go everywhere he would have otherwise. I saw him in a car once and he raised his hat and bowed. He was just a nice

looking bashful boy of 21 or 22. He was entertained pretty high here at Luebo. Miss Allen who drove him around over the station got an invitation to visit him in Brussels ! !

Dec. 12. Later. Your letter came in last night. It was quite a surprise, we knew the airplane came yesterday afternoon, but did not expect it over so soon. I was entertaining the Shives for supper. They had not seen Max for some time, not since Stixrud's child got sick, and they nearly went crazy over him. Well, he was cute. He just tried to show off,

looked like. He has said "Mama," "Daddy," U shoe" and "kitty" and tries to go like a goat, and jabbers all the time.

We were glad do get the pictures but we thought the one of Max fierce. I hope you did not send any of them to our friends. We can't remember for sure as everything was so stirred up at Lusambo about that time but I am most sure I sent you 3 or 4 negatives we took soon after Max began to walk. These I am sure were better but not the very best. I hope to take a lot when our stuff comes.

Dr. Stixrud's child is nearly well now and time is past to catch it from him. It must not have been diphtheria.

My wheel hurts the end of my backbone and I may not be able to keep it. We may get the seat tilted in such a way that I can use it.

Let us know how long it is taking our letters to reach you. I appreciate your looking after my dresses. I am looking forward to them.. I hope to write Miss Cassie soon. I may write Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Nickols or some of the Beaumont folks. They were mighty nice to us there.

It's strange to me about Dorris and Harry. She could have and must have many good chances, and Harry isn't even good looking. But let her marry the one she loves and don't try to change her. She is old enough to know what she wants.

I am glad you and Aunt Nennie are enjoying teaching. No. I don't believe you and Daddy are ever going to retire. Hope your rheumatism is better.

Lots of love to all,

Dorothy

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Congo (134) Luebo, Congo 11/1/1925 [DCS]

Luebo Nov. 1st, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

Things are going much better with us than when I wrote last. Max did not have to take another course of treatment as we had expected. He did not have abscesses from the hypodermics that were threatening then, and he is really fat again--weighs almost 22 Ibs. and continues to gain. And of course since he is better I am better, too. I was in very poor health at Lusambo and got down to 93 lbs. To tell the truth, I was ready to go home at once. But I began to get better as soon as I got to Mutoto and now I weigh 96, a very good weight for me in Congo. I feel fine and Dr. Stix finds no malaria in my blood. Max has had malaria, however, and I have been giving him a course of quinine. I do not give him quinine all the time, and I myself take very little. Lusambo is a very unhealthy place and I am certainly glad to get back to Luebo. No one that has stayed long at Lusambo has come away in good health. Not many get as bad trouble as Max got, though.

Now the good news is that we are back at Luebo in our own house and getting ready to keep house. Our dishes and cooking utensils are still at Lusambo and we will not get them until the Lapsley can bring them about 2 months from now, but we find there is enough in the Magazine to begin on, and what I can't get there, the other ladies are going to

help me with. Miss Black who has been living in part of our house moves tomorrow, but we will not begin for a few days until our trunks come in from over land containing some things that we need in the way of linens.

We have been staying with Rowena (for meals, I mean) and they are to go on the road next Tuesday. We are invited to Jean's (Mrs. Shives) from there. Jean is expecting a new addition in a few months and they are both very much pleased. There are several other babies expected soon. Mrs. Savels already has hers--a boy born during mission meeting. Mary is expecting every day now. Mrs. Daumery is also expecting. They have resigned the Lapsley and are to take our place at Lusambo. Mr. Watt, a new man, is to take the Lapsley after 8 months. Mr. Wilds is his teacher. Mrs. Gilliam and Mrs. Cleveland are also expecting. There are over 50 children already on our mission.

There have been and are still to be many changes in our house since we last lived in it. I hope some day to draw you a plan of it. Two big changes that are still to be in the near future are a tin roof and glass windows. We are going to be very comfortably fixed after two or three months. Stegalls are leaving on a month's vacation and after that they begin on our house again.

I am planning on having some flowers and have already started my rose garden and planted some touch-me-not-seed. I have some flowers that I started at Lusambo but they may not reach here safely. Rowena is giving me some.

It is so very hard for me to write letters these days. I guess I have just gotten out of the habit. When everything gets settled again, I hope to write everyone I know??-also that letter to the Enterprise that you asked me to write, but everything is the same old things this term so I don't think I can make it interesting to other people.

The air-plane came in this morning and the mail is to close in a few minutes, sol must say goodbye. Am hoping to get a nice long letter from you or maybe two. your letters have been coming very regUlarly.

Love to all,

Dorothy

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Congo (139) Luebo, Congo 3/1/1926 [BMS] [DCS]

Luebo, Mar. 1, 1926

Dear Folks:

We mailed one letter to you yesterday, of Dorothy's, as the plane came in and we wanted to be sure the letter got off and not get left like it did recently. Your letter of Jan. 11th came yesterday evening. Both planes came in yesterday, one about 1:00 p.m., and the other just as we were getting out of our English service, about 5:45 p.m. As Dorothy wrote you yesterday and wanted to write some other letters today she left me to do the writing.

The bundle of music came O.K. today; Dorothy says she is glad to get the music and especially the other pieces you sent.

There isn't anything exciting going on around here just now. The Hobsons, Shives and ourselves are pretty “thick" these days, and often have a meal together. We all ate at the Shives last night. Nearly every Sunday night we all eat at one place, each family bringing their left-overs from dinner.

Our pigeons are doing right well so far, and are beginning to nest. It takes them several weeks to get used to a new place, and as we started getting them only in January, they have just about had time to start building nests and just now are beginning to get real busy. We are both taking quite a bit of interest in them, and enjoy watching them. I built a pen of chicken wire, 25 ft. x 25 ft., and 10ft. high for flying space, and then their house where are the nests and roosts. We are hoping to have plenty of squabs in a few months. Stegall and Hobson are raising rabbits for meat, and are doing right well at it. I think we will begin to try some rabbits before long, as the meat problem here is beginning to be rather acute. The last part of our last term a fair sized chicken cost from 3 to 4 francs (15 to 20 cents), and now they are 10, 11, and 12 francs (from 50 to 60 cents) each. And in addition, they are hard to get.

You wrote that Houston's trial was to come off soon. I presume he will not have much defense to make, and the sentence will rest largely on the mercy of the court. It certainly was a shock to us to hear about Jimmy.

Max is doing as well as we could possibly expect, happy and cheerful and no ailments. We hope to have some films, or negatives to send you by next mail. It is hard to realize that we were in New York with him just a year ago getting ready to sail on the "Olympic." This makes almost a year for us on the field now. Just now every member of the Luebo station is out here, but by this time next year there will begin an exodus, not counting any emergencies. The Stixruds and Savels are planning to go early next year.

Mr. Crane has had a rather trying time of it at home this furlough. He went home with the sleeping sickness, and then had a number of teeth taken out. Suppose they will be leaving this coming summer some time. The McKees and Longeneckers are perhaps leaving this month, March. .

In your last letter you mentioned that both Daddy and yourself had been sick, and that you had missed a few days from school. We trust that you soon recovered. As you didn't say what the trouble was we just presume it was the grippe, colds, or something of that nature that generally comes in mid-winter.

With love to you all, from us all, including Aunt Nennie (although she has no doubt returned to Terrell by the time you receive this).

Dot, B. M., Max & Co.

P. S. I don't remember just now whether or not we wrote you in last mail about the "Enterprise". You state the Postmaster says that postage will be so high. We suggest that Nettie continue to send as she has been recently, say for a couple or three months and see how the postage runs. If it doesn't amount to more than 10 or 15 cents for three weeks, we might try it for six months, as Dorothy is very anxious to get it. I hardly think it could amount to more than $2, or $3 at the very most for a year. Anyway, let's try it for a few months as she had been sending it and see what it amounts to. There probably isn't so much to you in the "Enterprise" there, but not hearing all the news and gossip that you folks have the privilege??? of doing there Dot thinks it would be worth a great deal to her.

Congo (133) Luebo, Congo 10/12/1925 [DCS]

Luebo Oct. 12, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

I have had a mighty hard time in the last two weeks and more. The baby has been sick and I have been waiting until he was better to write you. There was no use to write you about it at the time as he would either have been worse or better before it reached you. He has had a chronic form of Amoebic Dysentery for over two months. For a long time and until we reached Mutoto, I did not realize that it was anything very serious. We thought at first it was caused (the looseness of his bowels, I mean) from weaning him, as it began about that time. Then we decided it musts be the goat milk so stopped that. Over a space of five or six weeks, we saw blood only twice, with from 5 to 6 stools a day. Miss Fontaine could think there was nothing wrong as he seemed so well and was gaining all the time. He began to get worse near the time for the Committee Meeting and we were expecting two Doctors. Well neither came and you can imagine how uneasy and disappointed I was. The State Doctor could find nothing and said to give him nothing but water for 27 hours--So this was the reason I went on over to Mutoto. When I got there Dr. King was down with tick fever and very weak, but he was kind and made his examinations as soon as possible.

I guess you can imagine how I felt in a strange station with a sick baby and away from B. M. They were all just as kind as could be, but most of the families have children and this disease is contagious so of course I could not take Max anywhere. The treatments were very severe--12 hypos and also another treatment by mouth, a newer one. The medicine made his mouth and throat very sore and as a consequence he lost his voice for over a week. They are to continue the treatment for a while longer--only part of it though, to be sure that he is cured. He is getting along fine now and everyone talks about how well he looks. He has never lost much weight for what he has been through. Still weighs over 20 Ibs. I asked Dr. Stix the other night if he thought there was any danger now and he said no. Max is a regular little job, for everything comes at once. He is cutting teeth along with it and the places on his buttock where the injections were given are still sore. It looks like I have certainly had my share of trouble since Max came. Perhaps a punishment to me for not wanting to come back to Congo. However, I am glad to get to Luebo again and am looking forward to getting my house fixed up.

The mission meeting is in session and many problems are to be settled. I must close now as air mail closes now.

Don't worry about Max as I have been waiting till worry was over to write you.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Monday, December 28, 2009

Congo (132) Mutoto, Congo [BMS]

Mutoto, Oct. 6, 1925

Dear Folks:

I have been very delinquent about writing you for the last few weeks, but, as Grape-Nuts says, "There's a reason." We wrote you about the Conference or Meeting we were expecting to have at Lusambo along the first of Sept., with some of the M.E.C.M. folks and some of our Mutoto folks. Messrs. Miller and Smith came over from Mutoto in the car, and as Smith was going for an itinerary from Lusambo, and hence not returning in the car to Mutoto, Mr. Miller offered to take Dorothy, Max, and Miss Fontaine on to Mutoto to be that much nearer Luebo at Mission Meeting time, which was not very distant. So Dot and Max came over here on the 16th inst., spending that night at a lake between here and Lusambo, and reaching Mutoto the following A. M. after a pleasant trip. Then I came over here last week; and no~ we are getting ready to leave for Luebo about Thurs. or Fri. of this week. And as we have no trunks here, having had to send them on to Luebo some days ahead so that they would be there on our arrival, we are in suit cases, or out of them, whichever you prefer. When we went over to Lusambo we were afraid that it could be near the first of the year before we would get back to Luebo, but as Dr. Moore agreed to relieve us at once, after the Conference, this left us free to return to Mission Meeting, or rather to Luebo in time for Mission Meeting. We have also been fortunate in coming by Mutoto, to see the station and the work here, not to mention the folks; as we don't often get many chances to get to other stations when settled at Luebo. I was here at Mutoto seven years ago, but the station has undergone radical changes since then. It is nearing the size of Luebo now.

Max is sound asleep just now, and has been for about an hour (It is now 10:30 a.m.), so hasn't anything to say just at the moment; guess he will soon be demanding his food. He sleeps more in the daytime just now, which of course is good for him.

This station is just "infested" with children; in the afternoon about five you can see them either running all around or riding around in their carriages. There are also a goodly number at Luebo, about ten (the last we heard, but two are expecting hourly! I mean brand-new ones! !) The Bedingers reached Mutoto last week, with a very fine, healthy and

happy little daughter.' They both look fine and healthy. Also, Craig, W. J. Andersons (Dorothy), Miss Black, a new nurse and a new Industrial man, Mr. Watt, arrived with the Bedingers; all these have not yet been placed, awaiting the Mission Meeting, beginning this coming Sunday.

With being a visitor, being visited, and visiting, you can imagine that Dorothy finds it hard to get time to write a letter. Keeping a baby under traveling circumstances in the Congo keeps one rather upset, so Dorothy asked me to write you now, and tell you that she will write you when we get to Luebo. You see we are planning to leave here the day after tomorrow morning bright and early. She received the dresses Dorothy Anderson brought, and is delighted with them. You will hear more on the subject from her; I didn't promise to "write up" her clothes. We take our meals at a new home every day, and you know that means sitting around and exchanging news and views, and other verbal matters.

This is not intended as a letter, but just a hasty note to let you know what is going on; but more specifically, that nothing serious is causing the delay in our writing. I had my hands full and a little more before leaving Lusambo in packing up our possessions. Then the week before, I went on a little itinerary with P. Smith to the Lusambo outstations, which took up about a week. This made me somewhat rushed in packing.

So you can expect to hear from us again at more length when we get to Luebo. I think Dorothy wrote you that we had asked for some changes, improvements we would call them, to be made in our house at Luebo; one especially was a small room to be enlarged for the baby's room. We have heard that these changes have already been completed.

With lots of love to you all, from us three.

B. M., Dorothy & Max

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Congo (131) Lusambo, Congo 9/11/1925 [DCS] [BMS]

Lusambo

Friday Sept 11, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

The Texas is expected in this evening and then my work begins. The Mutoto part of the Committee is due tomorrow evening. They will likely be here three or four days. The Texas perhaps longer as they are expecting the Reeves on their mission up from the pool about that time.

I got your letter with Aunt Nennie's enclosed last Tuesday and have read them over many times. I was so anxious to hear from you and then to get such a short letter. I suppose you don't feel much like writing to me since you haven't had a letter in so long; however, I couldn't help being disappointed. I have written you nearly every week since we reached here, but it was very hard for me to write on the way out. I haven't been very well lately and I suppose that is why I long to hear from you. I am hoping to feel better when I get around to Luebo. I haven't written any letters to anyone but you and one to Nettie since I left; therefore get none.

I felt the first earthquake I ever remember feeling the other day. We thought at first there was a cat in the ceiling running around, then it came the second time and sounded like a leopard or a person running the length of the whole house. My! but it did sound awful. B.M. called for the ladder to go see about it and the boys came and said it was an earthquake and that they saw the house shake. I certainly had peculiar sensations. The natives say this is the third one they have felt in a comparatively short length of time. From the papers they seem to be having them all over the world.

My hair is almost long enough to put up with the aid of a hairnet. It is certainly a miserable length now--in my eyes mouth, and everything I eat. What are the prospects for bobbed hair by this time?

I hope you have sent Lucille's music by this time; if not send it for I think that will be all right by mail.

Have you heard anything from Aunt Lutie lately? Is she teaching this year? I am anxious to know if you are going to teach or not.

There just isn't any news to write. Perhaps by next time I can give you something definite as to what and when we are going to do.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Sept. 16, 1925

Dear Folks: Just a few lines before I retire. you may be surprised to know that I am alone tonight, and that Dorothy and Max left today for Mutoto. Mr. Miller and Mr. Smith came over from Mutoto for the Conference here, in the Ford, and as Mr. Smith is not returning in the car, Dorothy, Max and Miss Fontaine went back to Mutoto with Mr. Miller. I will be here till about the end of the month, and return to Luebo probably with the "Lapsley." Dorothy will stay at Mutoto till about time for the Mission Meeting, and then go on the Luebo. Dr. Moore is here, and will stay at Lusambo to relieve us till the first of the year, and until the Mission sends another man. Mr. Smit~l left for an itinerary this AM and I am leaving early in the morning to join him for about a week. Then I will return here and pack and the "Lapsley" will probably be here in about two weeks, and then return to Luebo soon. As we never dreamed of this arrangement, of course Dorothy has been very busy packing and hasn't had time to write. Max is walking all over the place now.

Please excuse short note, but I ought to be in bed and still have a few things to look after.

With love to all,

B. M.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Congo (130) Lusambo, Congo 9/4/1925 [BMS]

Lusambo, Sept. 4, 1925

Dear Folks:

Just a few lines, although it is already about bed time. Dorothy is feeding Max, which always happens about 9:00 P. M., after which we retire. He hardly ever disturbs us after that, as he nearly always falls asleep immediately. His big thing now is walking; he gets around quite well, and can carry things about; he has a broom that he likes to "tote." And he also has gotten so big that he can reach on the table and grab things near the edge--especially dishes and other breakables.

Dorothy was writing about the "Texas"; this is the small steamer belonging to M.E.C.M. (Southern Methodists). They only operate between Lusambo and Kabengele, which is on a small tributary of the Sankuru, and near their main station, Wambo Nyama. Occasionally they go to Kinshasa for repairs, but it takes nearly a month from Kin to Lusambo, whereas the "Lapsley" takes about 16 days. We expect the "Lapsley" here shortly after the middle of this month; they left Kin on the 2nd. inst. , as we had a telegram from Kin today about some of the M.E.C.M. folks who are coming up on it. The Daumerys have all their goods stored here; they arrived at Kin on June 22nd, but have not yet been able to get here, so you may know they are anxious to come.

We are having a rather quiet time just now, and enjoy it, altho we are also glad to see folks when they come, as they don't come often. The "Texas" ought to be here about the last of next week, as Dorothy wrote you, also some members from Mutoto for the meeting of that Committee.

We are sending you the negatives, and ask that you send us a copy of each, or perhaps two copies of the best ones. I believe a couple of the pictures of Max are fine.

This time next month, we hope to be about ready to leave for Luebo.

With love to all.

B. M.

This letter is being sent via Capetown, South Africa.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Congo (129) Lusambo, Congo 9/24/1925 [DCS]

Lusambo Fri. Sept. 4, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

We have had lots of company since I wrote you last and for that reason I did not get you a letter off on last Friday. That was a pretty full day with me. The day before on Thursday, The Texas and also the two nurses we had been expecting up from the pool came in on the same day and I had a big dinner on Fri. with 8 people, and had to set two tables. We had thirteen visitors in all that day, but our company all comes by spells. Don't think we often are that popular. The Texas left the next day after it got in and the two nurses it brought left a few days after for the pool. Both of those ladies were from Dallas. I meant Texas, but one of them is from Dallas. She said she was going to write and tell you how sweet and cute Max is, but I don't think she will as she didn't write down your address. The Texas returns next week with the Committee who are to decide about Lusambo. Also three of our missionaries from Mutoto are coming.

We took some pictures of Max the other day--just a few days before he was a year old. Some are not very good, but we are going to send you the negatives and have you have them printed and send us some. I hope to take some better ones in a few days.

I am doing quite a bit of sewing this week trying to get enough rompers made to start Max in rompers and am making myself my voile. I can't tell how it's going to turn out yet. I think Max looks cute in rompers, but I hate to take him out of white dresses.

A telegram came from Mr. Kinman, the Methodist man who was in Brussels when we were there the first time. He is on the Lapsley coming up river.

They are fixing up our house for us at Luebor making a few changes and putting on a tin roof. There isn't any glass, so we won't have any windows.

I can't think of a thing interesting to say. I am tired as I have been sewing all day, but am feeling much better than I did two or three weeks ago. Haven't had a letter from you in a long time, but we expect one Monday.

Love to all,

Dorothy

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Congo (128) Lusambo, Congo 8/16/1925 [DCS]

AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN CONGO MISSION

AMERICAN OFFICE European Representatives CONGO OFFICE

154, Fifth Avenue North VAN SANTEN & VAN DEN BROECK Luebo, CONGO BELGE.

Nashville, Tennessee. 16 RLie Des Recolletes, Antwerp Central Africa

U. S. A.

Tel.: 5246 :-: TELEGR. GENEX-ANTWERP

MISSION'S CODE

Lusambo Aug. 16, 1925

Sunday-

Dearest homefolks:

B. M. and Miss Fontaine have gone to visit some stations across the river and I am staying at home to take care of the baby. I never like to take him out in the middle of the day, anyway. I can't take him to church yet. He is too much of a live wire. I took him to tea down at the "State" day before yesterday and did nothing the whole time but run after him

to keep him out of mischief. He is walking now and in a short while can go anywhere he wants to. The fartherest he has walked so far is about six feet at one time. Of course, we are proud of him and he gets lots of attention. He stands up, opens the screen door, goes out and is still standing up. Miss Fontaine thinks he has learned to do this unusually young.

So far he is ahead of all the other babies of his age out here. I don't know how it will be about talking for he shows no signs so far. I am so sorry you can't see him now for he is at the cutest age, I think.

Max is outgrowing his white dresses fast and I am going to have to get to work right away making him some rompers. I have been making me a dress out of the pink gown Miss Cassie gave me and it is going to be a beauty, I think. The sleeves are a mess so far but Miss Fontaine is helping me and I think they will come out all right in the end. I put a

drawstring around the waist and think I will have a crushed girdle. The pieces that went over the shoulders I am using as cuffs and the yoke I cut off above the eyelets where the ribbon was run and made a ruffle around the neck using the top hemstitching to bind off the neck. I am more undecided than ever how to make my voile dress, but I must make it before Mission Meeting, as it has been decided for us to go on if there is any way to get our stuff there. I took the loose panels off the red dotted dress you had made for me in Livingston and it looks nice now. The .85 dress I got in Dallas with all that embroidery to do on it I did on the boat leaving off most of the embroidery which was too coarse and too much and now it is one of the nicest looking dresses for everyday I have. It does not fade and fits nicely. If you have not already had the voile dresses made, please wait for a while as I think I have plenty to do for a while. There won't be anyone coming to bring them soon. The McKees are the next ones coming, I believe. Sometime after Xmas. I would rather you would wait until next spring styles come out. I imagine Mrs. Tucker would be the best one to make them;. I am very well pleased with the dresses she made me, only I had much rather you would pick out the pattern and material. Perhaps one light voile and one light colored silk, whether georgette or crepe de Chine might do, whatever they are using. Be sure if you get pink or blue to have a slip of some kind to go under it. I think sateen would

do. I believe the mail would be safe enough as there seems to be no trouble that way. Don't send the pongee dress now and perhaps I will need the pongee dress more when I come home.

I get plenty of Xword puzzles to work from a daily paper of a M.E.C.M. missionary on furlough that they said we might have as it came through and I enjoy them; very much.

A committee is to meet here the first of Sept. to decide what is to be done with Lusambo station and we are expecting two nurses for M.E.C.M. up from Kinshasa in a day or two so I imagine our quiet days are over. Four people from a mission three hours down river from us are to make us a visit tomorrow--together with doing some shopping at Lusambo.

Later. August 20. Our letter from Lusambo by cape (?) leaves here on Friday and I am trying to get you a letter off every Fri. So I will add a few more lines and send this oft. The baby walks pretty good now for a beginner and often walks the whole length of a room alone. My! but I'm proud of him. He weighs 21 lb. and looks real pretty to me with his hair in ringlets and his cheeks so rosy. I guess he is not what one would call a pretty child, though. He wins everyone though with his sweet smile even though he does hide his face in his mother's dress once in a while for he has gotten to the bashful stage. I dread putting him in rompers for he looks so sweet in his white dresses of which he generally has three or four a day. your card saying the map came reached us today, also the leather bound book from

August Miller. I can't make out whether it means he is a graduate or not. I can't understand though why I didn't get a letter. How often do you write?

I must close now. With lots of love to all.

Dorothy

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Congo (127) Lusambo, Congo 7/29/1925 [DCS] [BMS]

Lusambo

July 29, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

This is a very quiet place, only the routine work of the day and then a little walk or row up the river after five. B. M. has been putting out his lines, trying to catch some fish, but hasn’t caught any yet. There are plenty but very hard to catch. This morning our first visitor in two months came in, a man from an English mission about three hours below us by canoe. He has been out in the bush building a small house and has now come back after his wife. They will live over a day from any other white person. We think we have a hard time----Well I just wouldn't do it, that's all. When I say he is our first visitor in two months I mean for meals, for we have State people often but seldom ever for tea, then I forgot we had Dr. King two or three weeks ago. We are enjoying the quiet but enjoy having people come through. We are expecting several visitors from the M.E.C.M. in about three weeks, two nurses coming in and two leaving for America, also the Texas, their boat, is expected up from the Pool in a little while. We don't know when to expect the Lapsley and it is according to its movements what we will do about going to Mission meeting in Oct.

This is a lovely place to stay in every respect except one--mosquitoes. There are so many here and nearly everyone must be infected, for there is so much malaria. All of us have had it since we came but are taking quinine regularly. I have not given the baby any yet. I just try to watch him close and get him under the net early at night. For this reason, we are anxious to get back around to Luebo.

The baby is in splendid health now. He has cut his four upper teeth, is as good as weaned for I only nurse. once a day and all his other food agrees with him. I give him 1 cup porridge, 1 egg, 1 1/2 cups goats milk and 2 cups canned milk, besides some fruit juice each day. I shall wean him entirely in another two weeks. He does not get much; therefore

does not care much about it. He has one and sometimes two good actions a day, and I don't even possess any suppositories any more. He weighs a little over 20 pounds and has lately started taking a few steps alone. The book says 21 lbs at I year and he has a month yet. In fact, you would hardly know him to be the same baby that left your house last Feb. He has not changed in looks only is larger. His hair is growing and he will have curls a little lighter than my hair-I don't think he will ever be black headed but it will be darker.

The Prince of Belgium is expected to come to see us today and everything is ready. I can't write any more now. Will try to write again in a few days. We are enclosing 10 negatives. Please have them printed and send us a copy of each as we have not printed any. Send the bill along with pictures. Thanks. Hastily.

Dorothy.

I will write soon; we're having a conference of all evangelists in this section, about 24; then it's pay day and end of month for monthly statements, etc. Everybody is well, especially Mr. Max. We will take some pictures of him soon.

Love to all,

B. M.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Congo (126) Lusambo, Congo 6/19/1925 [BMS]

Lusambo

June 19,1925

Dear Folks:

This is one of our rainy mornings, which do not come often out here, so things are rather quiet around us; they cannot have school on a day like this for it is too uncomfortable for the natives. This is our dry season now, but we generally have about two rains during this season; this is the first drop we have had here since we came.

They have inaugurated a mail service by airplane from Kinshasa to Luebo, and from there over to Bukama, which is the head of the Cape-to-Cairo railroad. They make the trip from Kin to Luebo in one day, whereas it takes us about two weeks by steamer. The first trip was made while we were at Kin waiting for the "Lapsley," but I don't think they have made any since, on account of wet weather, I hear, but I think they really intend to keep this up. This will enable us to get our mail at Luebo anywhere 'from two to six weeks quicker than by water, and especially in the dry season when only the smallest steamers get to Luebo.

We were very much disappointed upon reaching Luebo to find that Cisuaka was not there, and as we were there only a few days, he failed to show up in time to come over here with us. He has been hoeing a hard row, and has not earned a very good reputation during the past year; he and Nzeba are separated for the present, whether on account of the father-in-law who is a hard-boiled and hard-hearted fellow, or whether on account of him and his own trifleness, I can't say from here. However, I presume we can straighten him out when we get to Luebo. We found a very good boy to come over here with us, ILUNGA (or Elunga with the long E). So far he has proven to be a good find, not as smart as Cisuaka, but faithful and industrious, and good to take care of Max. Nzeba's two children are doing fine, and are fine looking little chaps, both boys.

We are quite well fixed up over here, and like it. In some ways it is better living here than at Luebo. With only three of us here we don't have the continual interruptions and eruptions that we have on larger stations. We like Miss Fontaine very much. She was deeply disappointed at having to leave Mutoto where she spent over a year, but seems to be liking it here. She is around thirty, or a bit over, I should say, rather quiet, but quite pleasant and sociable. She seems to be an excellent nurse, and judging from where she comes, Johns-Hopkins, Baltimore, where she had charge of a department,

it speaks well for her.

Dr. Moore, the dentist for the Methodist Mission, has just completed a tour of our Mission doing dental work for our folks. The Boards of the two Missions made an agreement about his doing our work for us. He came around with us on the "Lapsley" and stayed here waiting on a caravan to take I,im to one of their stations. He left this last Tuesday.

The Daumerys are due to reach Matadi June 22nd. The Wilds have gone down to Kinshasa with the "Lapsley" and will no doubt wait on them, so the Daumerys can take over the steamer, and the Wilds return to Luebo. The Bedingers may come with them, or some time soon; also the V. A. Andersons. The Bedingers have a new daughter born to them, about the middle of March.

They have a Tennis Club in Lusambo, and they invited Dr. Moore and myself down while he was here. I suppose I'll go down occasionally to play. The City of Lusambo is about two miles from our station, but the road is good and I can make it in about 20 minutes on my wheel.

It's time to send the mail right away. This letter is being sent by way of the Cape, South Africa.

With love to all. As ever,

B. M.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Congo (125) Lusambo, Congo 6/19/1925 [DCS]

Lusambo

June 19, 1925

Dear homefolks:

I have started several letters to you but have never written enough to call a letter. I am ashamed of not writing you more often, but it seems I have just gotten out of the way of writing letters. I will enclose a few lines that I wrote on Sunday with a pencil.

It's a rainy cold day and everything is quiet. The natives don't come to school on a day like this, and you don't hear the hoop of the men cutting grass--a day I enjoy in Congo. I am going to build a fire in the fireplace for the baby when I finish this letter.

He is crawling everywhere now and I have to watch him like a hawk and keep everything put up out of his way. I have a pen for him; when I have to leave him I just put him in it with his playthings, but he is hardly ever satisfied there as he wants to be out and doing. He has as much curiosity as ever and comes over to where I am writing every once in a while to see how this letter writing business is carried on and looks as if he would like to write one himself. Miss Fontaine is very much interested in him and you may be sure anything that is best will be done for him. She is a smart, experienced nurse. Was head of a department in John Hopkins with several nurses and about five hundred patients. She is really better than a doctor for she is here all the time and notices everything that is the least bit wrong with him. It's such a relief to have her. I feed him porridge everyday and extra milk, but have not stopped nursing him yet. Don't think I have much for him, though. I am struggling with his temper now. He seems to have a pretty strong one.

Since it is all over, I'll tell you what an awful experience we had on the boat. We stopped in a village overnight coming up the river where there was smallpox and in the near village, a man had just died with it. A boy sat a hundred yards away from the boat with the wind blowing straight toward us scratching scabs which were all over his body. Our men

slept among them and probably in the same house with this boy. The next day was Sunday, so we spent Sunday there, too. When we found out about the smallpox, we tried to go on, but the; men were scattered and could not be gotten together. We went on to Luebo and stayed around here. Ten days exactly from that night, a man developed smallpox on the Lapsley and there was a rule of the State that no native should be put off boats on account of contagious diseases. Well!! I was simply scared to death for Max had not been vaccinated. There was nothing to be done, not even a way to exclude him from the rest of us, so I spent the rest of the journey-four days--in a continual worry. But it is twenty days now since we got off the boat, so Miss Fontaine says all danger is over. I think this had something to do with my not being able to feed Max for a while. We are anxious to hear from the Wilds going back down river.

We are comfortable here and it's so pretty to watch the little boats crossing the river and they always sing as they cross. I love to hear them. We go walking after five and I take the baby in his buggy which he enjoys. The boy rolls him and we sometimes go a long way.

I bought another nest of those raffia baskets. They are scarce here and very expensive. Thanks for fixing the curios. Did you send some to Miss Chapman? I wish you would do with them just as though they were yours. It seems as though you feel that you can't use them because they are ours, but it hurts me for you to feel that way. Please take that monkey ivory medallion if you like that one, or any of those little things you like and wear for my sake. I mean I want to give it to you, then perhaps you will wear it. Hope I will be able to send or bring you some beads. Tell daddy the pine burrs we got on the way to Warren came in fairly good condition. I have them on the organ--2 large and 2 small. My machine is nice and I am going to start right away using it. I have not enough thin dresses such as voiles and I got voile for a white one in Belgium. I could not buy anything of that kind ready made when I left. If you could get me about two thin dresses and have a dress maker in either Livingston or Terrell make them. My supply of ginghams and afternoon dresses is good, but I have nothing for nice. The evening dress I got in New York came in well on the boat, but is not likely to last long and is not exactly what I need. I hate to ask you to do this, but perhaps you won't mind after your school is out. You could send them by Georgia McKay or anyone you find coming.

If you fix your table on top, get one of those madiera table sets, cut off the fringe and use it. Mrs. Stegall had one on her table the day we ate there. She had napkins for doilies under the plates.

If you get my dresses, please keep all the bills and enclose or I won't feel free to ask you to do anything for me. So if you don't send bills, I will feel that that is your answer. Pink or blue, I believe are the colors I prefer, but be governed by the style. I want nice material and as pretty as possible. I want a pongee sometimes, too, but these voiles are what I need now. It was so hard for me to know what I wanted and needed when I was at home.

Dr. Moore left on Tuesday and B. M. took him about two hours on the motorcycle. He had to leave his motorcycle here on account of the roads. B. M. sprained his ankle on the way back, but it is much better now. He suffered pretty bad for a while.

It's time to send this off, so I'll say goodbye for this letter, but I have other things to say and this letter is too long already.

Love to all,

Dorothy

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Congo (124) Lusambo, Congo 6/1/1925 [DCS]

Lusambo June 1, 1925

Dear homefolks:

Quite a lot has happened to us since I wrote last. I suppose you never dreamed of hearing from me at Lusambo, nor neither did I dream of writing to you from here, but nevertheless, we were sent here for a few months. As there was no paper for the printing office owing to the difficulty of getting supplies and as there seemed to be no one to fill the need here for a few months, we were sent. As it happened B. M. heard at the pool of the shortage of paper and bought some there (from the pool, I mean--Kin) but as we had already been sent here in the meantime, B. M. has written a letter stating the needs at the printing office to which all will likely agree and we will have to pack up and return to Luebo in about three or four months. Likely I am just repeating what B. M. has written.

This is a pretty station; we have a nice house and while it is only a mud house, I like it better than our house at Luebo. Miss Fontaine, a trained nurse is here with us and there is a doctor and nurse at the state. Miss Fontaine is rather an elderly lady and ranked rather high at John Hopkins. I suppose you will know where that is; some large hospital. I am very well satisfied here and of course, I am glad of a stopping place after several months of travel. We reached here day before yesterday. The Wilds brought us around from Luebo on the Lapsley.

Mrs. Stixrud is expecting her little stranger next month. They were very nice to us. They are due by mission request to leave for furlough next March so that all the doctors will not all be due to go home at one time.

Company came yesterday and I did not get to finish your letter. I am very busy trying to get things settled today. I hope someday to write you a decent letter again.

Dorothy

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Congo (123) Lusambo, Congo 5/31/1925 [BMS]

Lusambo

May 31, 1925

Dear Folks:

You will no doubt be surprised to notice the above named station. We arrived Friday afternoon. It is almost as much a surprise to us to find ourselves here as it will be to you to know we have come. So I'll try to explain the circumstances that called us to Lusambo.

The yearly meeting of the Mission Ad Interim Committee was held at Mutoto station the latter part of April or first of May, and they found themselves confronted with the problem of supplying the Lusambo Station due to Mr. and Mrs. Higgins' departure. The Smiths were sent over here temporarily, but could not stay longer than May for family reasons. So in looking for someone to fill this place until the Annual Mission Meeting in October, they decided that since we had no paper for the printing office at Luebo, they would send us here temporarily. Of course it is inconvenient in a way, in that we are here only for four or six months at most, and then will have to return to Luebo. However, in some ways it is much nicer here than at Luebo.

As regards our trip, we had a good trip from Matadi to Luebo. We were in Matadi only one day -I think we wrote you this from Kinshasa. We went on board the "Lapsley" on the last day of April, and left early in the A.M. on the first of May. We had a lovely trip up the river to Luebo, arriving there on May 14th. If we are on the "Lapsley" the trip up river is really very pleasant, provided it is not crowded, and there were only seven of us counting Mr. (Captain) & Mrs. Wilds and little four-year old Ann. The Shives and Miss Farmer left Belgium on the steamer ahead of us, three weeks, but could get no boat for Luebo, so they waited for the Lapsley. So this makes three trips that we have traveled together; coming out, from Antwerp, in 1920, going home last year, and coming out this time.

We stayed at Luebo from Thursday afternoon until the following Tuesday afternoon, and then started for Lusambo arriving here Friday last. As the water is going down fast due to the approaching dry season, we had a rather slow trip up.

We found Mr. Smith (Plumer Smith), and Miss Fontaine, one of our trained nurses, here. Mrs. Smith and the baby went back to Mutoto the first part of last week. Also, Dr. Moore, of the Methodist Mission, and dentist, came over here with us from Luebo, as he had been making a tour of our Mission doing dental work. He will be here a week or so and then go on towards Wernbo-Niama.

Max is doing fine now; don't see how he could be much better. His two front teeth look pretty large and lonesome so far. He is happy nearly all the time; he still lacks a little training to learn to stay alone a little better, although he will do that a good deal already. It seems that he has almost lost that nervousness that he had so long, jumping at noises and fidgeting, of which you may be sure we are happy. He wakes up early in the morning about five to six, and that is the time when he is at his happiest. He will crawl around over the bed and spend a great deal of time standing up holding to the bed posts. His little legs no longer look so spindly and thin; he has filled out all around.

Referring to our trip up river, I sent you a map from Antwerp; this is not absolutely accurate, but fairly good. From Kinshasa to Kwamouth, the junction of the Congo and Kasai rivers, it is rather narrow for the Congo averaging only about a couple of miles, but above Kwamouth the Kasai spreads out, in some places nearly ten miles wide; in this

region there are a great many islands in the river, some flat grassy plots, and others large stretches of wooded land. For some distance the country is more or less flat with a long stretch here and there of plains on either side; but higher up the land begins to rise on either side to moderate hills, nearly always heavily timbered. We do not see a great many native villages close to the river, only a few 'fishing folk. When we get higher up, near the junction of the Kasai and the Lulua Rivers, the river narrows again somewhat, with ranges of hills on both sides, and always luxuriantly covered with trees, vines, and brush. This vegetation, all fresh and green, certainly makes a beautiful landscape; the vines are very energetic, and often cover many of the trees from top to bottom; then along the edge of the river it is thickly covered with large ferns, creeping vines or various kinds of grass. Then when we turn from the Kasai into the Lulua we have our most attractive part of the journey. Just at the mouth of the Lulua there are about seven small islands scattered about, all covered with trees and verdure, making a very beautiful picture. Then up the Lulua, which is a smaller

river, the banks are much closer together and we are generally close to the banks as the course is nearly always on the side; here we have the same thick growth of forest jungle, where nature is spreading herself without stint. Of course, the river winds itself in and out of these hills, each turn enhancing the beauty of the view.

We will have to write you more about Lusambo, our situation, the work, etc., later on. As I mentioned above, we will be really more free, and not under the strain here that we would be in Luebo. I failed to add above, that there is always a State doctor here, and a trained nurse at their hospital; then of course, we have Miss Fontaine with us, too. We have a much nicer house here than at Luebo, well screened with glass windows.

We will try to be more regular about letters, for this one no doubt is the first you have had in a long while, but of course, we have just finished our journey.

With love to all.

B. M.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Congo (122) On board the Lapsley 5/19/1925 [DCS]

On Board the Lapsley

May 19, 1925

Dearest homefolks,

Here we are less than a week from Luebo, and I am getting mighty anxious to get there for I am o! so tired of traveling. The baby has stood the trip fine. but has already gone through quite a bit of training, as we just can't have him out after dark at night on account of mosquitoes and I think it best to keep him under the net most of the day on account of the tsetse flies. The others on board agree with me and say they had rather hear him cry than to run the risk of his being sick. He is over the worst time now for he has learned to go to sleep by himself and sits and plays often alone. The baby is growing fast and weighs nineteen pounds--over the average for an eight months old baby. He is just as full of life as can be and has gotten over most of his nervousness since he sleeps more. His bowels act regularly every day. I can't see but that he is absolutely normal now, and just needs a little training. I don't know how I could do without him. We met the Allens and Longneckers on their way down river bound for home.

Excuse such short letters.

Love-Dorothy

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Congo (121) On board S.S. Olympic 4/7/1925 [BMS] [DCS]

On Board S.S. "OLYMPIC”

THYSVILLE April 7,1925

Dear Folks:

As we are due to reach Tennerifte, Canary Islands, tomorrow morning, we want to get off a few lines today to let you know the news. This is really the first day now since Friday that I have been able to write. We left Antwerp Thursday morning promptly at nine A. M., with fine weather. Thursday and Friday were as fine as one could wish; but Saturday was rough, we did not have a storm but the wind was high and the sea was rocky; Sunday was a little better but still quite a heavy sea, so Dorothy and I both spent these two days in bed. I had a touch of "mal de mer" but Dorothy didn't get sick. Today is much better. The top of the water is as smooth as glass, but there is a heavy swell that gives us quite a movement although it is much better, and it is fine outside. But little Max has not worried one bit about the heavy sea; he has been as happy and gay the whole time as though we were on terra firma; he really seems to enjoy it. Of course, this is quite a help to us. We have a comfortable cabin --the best we've ever had, I believe, and up on one of the upper decks; this is a great help to us. We have also found a few congenial companions. There is a young Norwegian girl going out to join her parents in the Congo, who are missionaries out there. She speaks only a little English, but is learning fast.

We have had a list of the passengers on the "Anversville," which is due in Antwerp the 10th inst., and find that the Cranes and McKees are on board. We are sorry that we missed them, and understand that they would have been in on the Thysville, but that Mr. Crane had a fever just as they were ready to leave Mutoto, and had to wait over for the next boat.

I found a very good map of the Congo in Antwerp, and left one in Antwerp to be mailed to you, which I trust will reach you. It gives quite a bit of detail about our field, and I think you will find all of our stations on it --Luebo, Mutoto, Lusambo, Bulape, and Bibanga. It is quite a recent edition. Please let us know if you receive it.

The weather has already turned much warmer. We no longer need our overcoats on deck. In fact, we have been quite comfortable, although we had dreaded the first few days on this boat on account of the cold weather in Antwerp, and on account of our experience on our last trip out, when we suffered from cold the first few days. But is has not been uncomfortable, and the baby has no cold.

The Chief Engineer is with us at our table in the dining room, a Scotchman, and is very pleasant. He has been coming out to the Congo for something like 20 years, so has quite a store of information. We also have a young English couple at our table. So far of course we have not been to a great many meals! ! We are due to reach Matadi on the 20th inst., that is two weeks from yesterday.

As there are still a few more letters to get off before we reach Tenneriffe will let this suffice for the present. Can't think of any more important items to mention. Dorothy may get time to add a few words, but I doubt it. She is getting the baby ready to bring up on deck.

With love to all from us all.

B. M. and Dorothy

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Congo (119) Kinshasa, Congo [DCS]

Kinshasa

April 28, 1925

Dearest homefolks:

It has been so long since I have written to you that I hardly know where to begin. B. M. has written you two or three times but I don't know what he has written so if there is a repetition, please excuse it.

The last train taking letters to the boat we came in on leaves tomorrow so I just must get some sort of letter written. We had a splendid trip out from Antwerp, only the 2nd and 3rd days were very rough and B. M. was seasick and I stayed in bed to keep from being;. The rest of the journey was fine and as soon as it began to get warmer I took the baby out on deck and at the last kept him out most of the time. He enjoyed it so much and we could just see him grow 'from day to day. He crawls, pulls himself up to things and has two teeth all the way through. We hardly knew he was cutting teeth until they were through ; he gave hardly any trouble and was not sick a day. The woman who took care of him at meal time was so good to him and he was crazy about her.

We had only one day in Matadi and stayed at the Mission (American Baptist). The trip on the little train was very hard and tiresome and the baby was cross on account of the heat, but we made unusually good time both days. When we reached the Mission house in Kin we found Mr. and Mrs. Shive and Miss Farmer waiting for a boat to go up the river; they came a whole boat ahead of us. So we shall have two nurses going up the river the part of the trip I dreaded without one. The Lapsley came in the next day after we reached Kin. So you see how fortunate we have been. We leave for Luebo on Friday after having been in Kin only one week. The Hobsons waited a month in Kinshasa.

When we reached Matadi, we learned that the Stonelakes could not stay at the Union Mission House on account of Mrs. Stonelakes health (she very nearly died not long ago and looks like a walking corpse), and we hear from every source that we are likely to be asked to take it over again, but I will not consider it at all.

We are going to-have to buy chop here to take up river as there is no telling when our chop will come from Belgium. We got some nice letters from Luebo welcoming us back, one a letter from Mrs. Stixrud; they say we are to get our house back.

The Wilds and ourselves went out to dinner last evening. It was to a single man's house--we met him when we were here at the Hostel. Nina Farmer kept the baby.

I will stop here and if I do not get another chance to write here--Goodbye.

Love

Dorothy

Please send me by the first missionary you can my hair switches and please pick out Lucille Wild's music. I think it has her name on it. Lucille has the piano in her home and wants her music. I was under the impression I left it here for her, but she says not.

Lots of love,

Dorothy

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Congo (120) Antwerp, Belgium 4/2/1925

Antwerp

April 2, 1925

Dear Folks:

Just a line as we are packing to go to the boat. We are scheduled to sail at 9:00 A.M. so will be going on board in a little while. We are all well; Max is doing fine right now and seems to be rid of his colds and coughs.

We haven't any exciting news to write. So far there will be only one other Protestant missionary on board, a Mr. Guyton, who went out with us last time. There will be a number of other English speaking people on board so there will be other company. We have been allotted a pretty good cabin, I think, up on the upper part and in the middle of the boat; haven't seen it but understand it is a good one.

Dorothy may find time to add a line or two, but may not. We will let you hear from us farther on, although I understand we are not to make but one stop, at Teneriffe, and perhaps not there, as the boat is leaving two days late.

With love to all from us all.

B. M. and all

Congo (118) On board S.S. Thysville 4/18/1925 [BMS]

THYSVILLE

Saturday, April 18, 1925

Dear Folks:

This is about the last opportunity we are likely to have for letters on this boat. It seems like it has been difficult to start letters, and since Teneriffe neither of us have written a line. We are due to arrive at Banana (the mouth of the Congo River) early in the morning, and Boma, the former capital, sometime about noon; then Monday morning we will go on to Matadi and disembark, sometime in the early afternoon, I suppose.

We have had a very good and smooth trip, except for the first Saturday and Sunday, when we had pretty rough weather and a rough sea. Since then neither of us have had any touch of seasickness at all and have enjoyed the trip. And Max—well, he's just had the time of his life, and is doing so well. He has a very friendly disposition with everyone who will pay him the least bit of attention; always a smile. And of course we think he has made quite an impression on others, for they will often stop to coax a smile from him, which is seldom difficult. He seems to be very anxious to walk, and he spends a great deal of his time while in the cabin standing on his feet with his hands holding the railing (the bunks have a railing that extends about 18 inches up from the bed to keep you from rolling out in rough weather). And I came very near missing a great event!! He has one tooth just starting through! It doesn't seem to have given him a great deal of trouble; and we think another is coming, lower front. He has fallen off, or out of, his bunk only once since we have been on board, but it didn't scratch or bruise him.

There isn't a great deal of other news to tell. We have met some very pleasant passengers; one is an American, a Manager of the large Diamond Mining Co. in our district, and whose little girl was born on our station about two years ago; he is a rather youngish man, and quite good company. Then there are others, some English, Scotch, and Belgians. Our meals have been somewhat of a disappointment to us, for there are so many things that we don't care for; of course this is not every meal, and we have some splendid meals.

It is needless to say that we will be glad when this part of the journey is over. Of course, the trip from Matadi to Kinshasa, two days on the railroad, will be somewhat trying, but the second night we will spend in the Union Mission House at Kinshasa and then we will soon begin our last lap to Luebo.

I'm not sure that Dorothy will find time to write before we get off at Matadi, but suppose she will add a few lines. We may drop you a few lines from Kin, which will reach you by the same mail as this. Of course, we have no news yet about what steamer we take from Kin to Luebo.

With love to all,

B.M.

Kin

We have both stood the trip out fine, and of course Max is A. NO.1. He still has a smile for everybody and loves attention. We should be at Luebo now in about 3 weeks.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Congo (117) Antwerp, Belgium 3/29/1925 [BMS]


QUEEN'S HOTEL

(Société Anonyme)

ANVERS.

Telephone 7214

Antwerp,

March 29, 1925

Dear Folks:

I think Dorothy has written you about all the important news. We are still waiting on our boat, but are due to sail on Thursday morning, April 2nd, at nine A.M. So far we know of but one other Congo missionary returning, a Mr. Guyton, who was on the same boat with us the last time we went out, and we like him very much.

Our agent here had a telegram from Mr. Willis, Treasurer of our Com., asking that I select a printing press. It seems that some money has been given for a new press, so they want to buy it. I had some correspondence about this with them before I left, but the money was not in hand, so they gave me no instructions about looking for one. So I will have to go to Brussels tomorrow for this purpose. As we are getting our things ready, I hate to leave now. but still we are almost thru with all our shopping, etc.

The Cranes and McKees are to be here on the next boat from the Congo, so we will pass them on the ocean; we are sorry for this, as we had looked forward to meeting them. No definite news has been received that Mrs. Edmiston, who has sleeping sickness, is on her way back, so we presume she is being treated by Dr. Kellersberger in the field, as he has the necessary medicine. He made a special trip to Germany on his way out to the Congo to get a good supply of this medicine from the factory where it is manufactured.

As Dorothy says, this is one time when we will enjoy the Hostel at Kinshasal ! This certainly relieves one of the big problems of our journey --a nice place to stay at Kinshasa, both comfortable and pleasant.

We have just heard that the "THYSVILLE," (our Congo boat) is to make only one stop between here and the Congo, which is to be Teneriffe, Canary Islands. She is leaving two days late is the reason for this. This will make our stay on board a couple of days shorter.

With love to everybody from us all.

B.M.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Congo (116) S.S. Olympic 3/12/1925 (BMS] [DCS]

On Board S.S. "OLYMPIC.”

Thursday, March 12, 1925

11.30 A.M.

Dear Folks:

Well, here we are on the broad broad waters, with a beautiful day and calm sea; we couldn't ask for a better day or sea, and all of us are feeling fine. However, this last cannot be said for us for the earlier part of the trip, for we had a very bad beginning. Dorothy had a little chill the first night we were on board, and I was seasick all that night and the next day. Our cabin was a bit cool when we got on board, and I think this was the chief cause for Dorothy's chill. However, she was fully recovered by Tuesday, and is now feeling fine. Strange to say, the baby has been well and cheerful all the way, even when Dorothy was not feeling well; we had anticipated trouble with him after he felt the effects of Dorothy's illness, but he has really given us less trouble on board than he ever has. He's just happy and cheerful practically all the time--just getting brighter and cuter every day! ! (Of course!) He hardly ever fails to smile at anyone who notices him. All the stewardess seem quite taken with him.

Our accommodations aboard are good, altho not quite nice as on the ACQUITANIA. Our cabin is small for the three of us, but since we are able to be on deck more it is much better. The food is fine, and the help in the way of stewards and

stewardess is better than any boat we have been on yet. We haven't been out enough to get very well acquainted with many of the passengers. There are a large number of foreigners in our class, lots of Italians, Germans, with some French, Bohemians, Czechoslovakians, et cetera; only a few Americans and English. I understand there are more Americans in First Class.

We have had no exciting events on board; that will take place tomorrow, for we are to reach Cherbourg, Franc, about noon tomorrow, and then Southampton, where we land, abut late afternoon. It is hardly possible that we will be able to cross the channel tomorrow evening, as we will reach Southampton too late, but we shall no doubt get to Antwerp some time Saturday. If we should reach Southampton early in the afternoon tomorrow, then we would be in Antwerp Saturday morning about eight.

As the Cranes and the McKees are due to be on their way home, we are hoping to meet them in Antwerp. Dorothy has never met them, and they are both old friends of mine, so we are anxious to see them.

We hope that you have received your wireless set by this time and that you will have no difficulty in getting it rigged Lip. If you get it in good working order it will no doubt be a source of great pleasure and entertainment for you, and I know you will agree with us that it was nice of Mr. Park to send it. He said he wanted to do this when we came thru in April last year. They were both very much taken with the baby.

We had quite a lot of packages to take out with us; in fact much more than we had anticipated, as it took over two trunks to contain them, Of course, a few people took advantage of the offer and sent a great deal, but most of the packages were small. It will mean a great deal to the folks out there to get them.

It has not been quite as cold as we thought we would find it this time of the year on the ocean. Of course the air has been cool and bracing, but not really cold. This has of course been fine for the baby.

We will write you again from Antwerp. By the time you receive this we will no doubt be preparing to sail for the Congo.

One important event is that the clock is set back 45 minutes every night, and Max seems to think it is still about 8:00 o'clock when it's twelve by the ship's time!

We are thankful to be feeling fine today, and also that we are to land tomorrow. With love for all from us all.

Dorothy and B. M.