Congo (18) At Sea (Anversville) 12/16/1920 [BMS]

"Anversville"

16 Dec. 20

Dear Mother and Daddy:

We are now on our way to the Congo, and this afternoon, are almost past the coast of Spain. Saturday morning, we are due to reach the Canary Islands and will stop at Teneriffe about eight hours. This means that we shall go on shore, the weather permitting.

We sailed from Antwerp Saturday, 1:00 P.M., the appointed time, and reached Plymouth Eng. Monday morning early in a big snowstorm. It snowed so hard that it delayed our departure several hours. There were about 20 passengers taken on at Plymouth, amongst whom were three missionaries for the Congo whom I had met out there. There are about 20 Protestant missionaries on board now, so we have plenty of company and are already among acquaintances. There are five whom I knew in the Congo, one of these being a Swedish young lady about whom we wrote you in Brussells. Returning to the subject of our trip: We left Plymouth in a heavy snowstorm, and the next day were crossing the Bay of Biscay which is nearly always rough; so we had a bit of rolling that day. But today has been ideal, the sea as smooth as a millpond and the weather just cool. The first two nights we had to use our overcoats and raincoats on our beds to keep warm, but we are already in a warmer zone.

There were four people at the steamer to see us off Saturday, which made it very pleasant, Mr. Gilliam and Mr. Kinman (about whom we have written you), and the two ladies who keep the house in Brussells where we have been staying. Then there was a big crowd on the wharf, between 1,000 and 2,000 people, with a brass band in full blast.

We have spent a good part of today out on deck playing games and studying some, too. Of course our meals occupy a very important part in our day's program.

Our accommodations on this boat are very good. Our meals are fine, so we are enjoying our trip. This is the same boat on which I came home from the Congo, and as I spent 27 days on her, I feel somewhat at home.

After Teneriffe (Canary Island) our next stop will be Dakar, on the coast, only two or three days from Teneriffe. Then after that I think we make straight for the Congo, our first stop being Boma, the capital of the Congo, and then to Matadi where we disembark.

Goodbye for this time. With love to all.

B. M.

Congo (17) At Sea (Anversville) 12/16/1920 [DCS]

"Anversville"

Thursday, Dec. 16, 1920

Dearest Mother and Father:

We are away out on the deep blue sea again, and I know what it is to be really and truly seasick; however, 1am all right now, as the boat isn't rolling so much today. I got used to rolling to some extent anyway, though. "II take it back, I wasn't very seasick, and when I lay down, I was all right. The days are getting fine now if they don't get too hot.

This boat was a surprise to me for I was expecting to find things much worse. I like our cabin very well; it's a little small with both our steamer trunks and other things, but we don't stay down there very much. It is so nice on deck and we enjoy the games.

We had such a pleasant stay in Antwerp, saw some of the famous paintings by Ruebens in the Cathedral there. One of these, “The Descent from the Cross,” is said to be his last work. The famous head of Christ by Leonardo De Vinci painted on a piece of marble [is there] The large stained glass windows in this cathedral were the most beautiful we have seen anywhere; we think they were even more beautiful than St. Paul's. We saw a few very old buildings dating back to 1100.

We are to land at Teneriff tomorrow and will write you about our visit there. We stop there six or eight hours. They say we can get all the grapes we can eat on this island.

The food on this boat is certainly fine and well prepared. I am always hungry when meal time comes, only of course, when I am seasick, which isn't often.

They have many nice people among the missionaries going out and are having such a pleasant journey. .

B.M. says I ought to be whipped for not writing more in this letter, but I wonder who is going to give it to me.

I study Baluba some, but it's hard to study on the boat.

With all my love that's not B.M's.

Your daughter,

Dorothy

Congo (16) At Sea (Anversville) 12/12/1920 [BMS]

"Anversville"

12 Dec., '20

Dear Mother and Daddy:

Just to add a few lines more. We sailed from Antwerp yesterday at 1:00 P.M. and are now on the English channel between Antwerp and Plymouth, where we are to stop a few hours tomorrow morning to take on a few more passengers. However, we will not be permitted to go on shore as we stop such a short time. So we are going to mail this letter at Plymouth.

The accommodations on this boat are very good. This is the same boat on which I returned from the Congo, and as I spent twenty-seven days on board, I feel somewhat at home.

We had an English service this morning, as there is another party of Protestants on board, and we are about fourteen in all. There is another party going out to a Mission in the French Congo, three couples.

We shall try to write you again from the next stop, so it will not be too long before you hear.

Love to all,

B.M.

Congo (15) Brussels, Belgium 12/8/1920 [DCS]

Brussels, Belgium

December 8, 1920

My own dearest homefolks,

The most exciting thing that has happened lately was your letter. It was at my breakfast plate the other morning when I went down. I don't think I ever was so glad to hear from home. It had been so long since I had even heard from you.

Tomorrow is the day set for us to sail so of course we have been very busy all day. I meant to say that tomorrow is the day we go to Antwerp from this place-we sail Saturday. Our trunks left this morning. We are going to send them from here to Antwerp by truck to save time and money, a distance of only twenty-five or thirty miles. We were not expecting the man to come until in the morning and had only a short time to pack. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson went to Antwerp today. The girls are to go with us tomorrow.

I am certainly tired tonight, having packed, then I washed two pair of union suits and one pair of pajamas. I felt like I had done a big washing when I got through. Then I have washed quite a bit today. These people walk more than any I ever saw. They had rather walk than catch a car any day. What I brought this subject of being tired for was to ask you to excuse my writing, but got off the subject before I finished.

We are going to have a little exchange of gifts on the boat at Christmas time. You would not call them gifts, only remembrances, and we have a limit of 5 francs or 40 cents in our money. B.M. says we will be somewhere near the equator at Christmas time.

The people here have been so nice to us, and so we are going to give the Mademoiselle of the house a nice cake plate, and have already given the man of the house, her brother, a collar and chain for his dog. We got you some little things for your Christmas, but found afterward that it would be at such a risk to send these things out of the country, we decided not to send them.

I got a nice shampoo yesterday. The water here is so hard I decided to have my hair done down town and it certainly was fine. Rowena got her hair bobbed today and it makes her look awful; of course, we tell her it looks nice, though. Her hair is real straight and she had it curled, but in just a little while it looked worse than ever. Miss Setser has hers bobbed and it looks real well on her. They have tried to get me to have mine bobbed but no sir. I know how awful I would look.

Will try to write more later.

Lots of love,

Dorothy

Congo (14) Brussels, Belgium 12/8/1920 [BMS]

Brussells

Dec. 8,1920

Dear Mother and Daddy:

This is not likely to be a very long letter as we are getting ready to leave. Dot has written you that we have packed up and sent away our trunks today. And now we are leaving tomorrow about 2:00 P.M. for Antwerp. Our boat does not sail until Saturday at 1:00 P. M. but we want to spend one day there looking around.

You should have seen Dot when your letter came last week. She began to jump up and down and sideways and other ways. We were both considerably glad to get this letter, for it has been two months since we had your last letter in London (addressed to White's Bible Training School.)

Leaving Antwerp the 11 th we should reach Matadi (our Congo port) about the first of January. Then allowing ten days in the lower Congo, and two weeks to reach Luebo from Kinshassa (on what is called "Stanley Pool," it will be nearly the first of February before we reach Luebo. Of course, we shall write you along the way and no doubt have opportunity to mail letters at places where we stop. This boat on which we are going, the "Anversville," is the same boat on which I came back from the Congo; it is a right nice boat and the accommodations are good. She is not as large as the "Caronia," so of course there will be more motion. The "Caronia" was almost as smooth as a house on land. The food on the ".Anversville" while not as fancy as that on the "Caronia” will be first class.

Sunday night we met a Miss Karlsson who was out on our field, in fact we were on the same station together, so you may know that I was glad to see her. She is Swedish, but has been working on our field until her Society gets located. Then Mr. and Mrs. Karlsson (but not related to Miss Karlsson), also Swedes but with another Mission Society, whom I also knew in the Congo." They are also going out on the "Anversville." Miss Karlsson is going to work on our field for a while at least. She is a fine character and I'm sure Dot will like her. It's good to meet some of my Congo acquaintances, and to be with someone we know on the boat.

We have gotten just about everything we feel we need (and of course some things we don't need.) I'm afraid if we stay here much longer we will get a good deal that we do not need. We now have the following baggage; Dot's wardrobe trunk, my steamer trunk, the big black trunk we bought in New York (just a little larger than Dot's big trunk), a small trunk I had, and another smaller trunk we had to buy here, and a box containing our dishes, then of course our hand baggage (and pocketbooks.)

We are sending you in another envelope some pictures taken on our trip to Ypres, which we trust will reach you with this letter. They are not all good, but they are interesting.

It's time to retire as we have had a big day ahead of us in getting off to Antwerp. There are of course a number of things to do, so I'll say good night.

With much love,

B.M.

Congo (13) Brussels, Belgium 11/28/1920 [BMS]

Brussels, Belgium

Nov. 28, 1920

Dear Mother and Daddy:

No doubt you often have wondered how we could spend all this time over here and that we must be hard pressed for ways in which to spend our time. But we never have time enough to do what we would like to do. Then having this extra class in Baluba now (with the Hudsons and the two nurses) every day, our day is pretty well taken up (of

course both with the preparation and the recitation of my French and Dorothy's Baluba.)

Dorothy has been making good progress in Baluba and has taken quite an interest in it (which later means a great deal as you well know.) I have been pegging away at French and have made some progress, but it takes longer than a few weeks for one to be able to speak French fluently. However, I feel that our stay has been worth the wait in this respect.

Dot has written you something about our visit to the big battlefield around Ypres. This, as you perhaps know, was one of the most important and strongly contested points of the entire front. I can't give you a description of the whole field as we saw it, but will give you a few impressions. We took train at Brussells for Mennin; at Mennin we took a car thru the country for Ypres, passing a number of important (tho small) places in the war. I have often read and heard about how whole cities were literally wiped out. In all these small villages there remains not one house, only a few walls and the foundations, absolutely obliterated. And Ypres, poor Ypres, before the war a splendid city of 20,000 or 30,000, not one house remains--a mass of crumbled brick. And to see them gathering out from these ruins brick that can be used over again and trying to erect other buildings on these foundations is pitiful; the task looks so hopeless. Thousands of

heaps of crumbled brick. There are some people living among these ruins in all kinds of makeshifts for dwellings. All their buildings were of brick--and all razed to the ground. But the wrecked buildings cover only half the tale, for the land! The land seems to be almost worse. All around Ypres there are fields ruined by the shell holes; in many places you cannot find a spot on which you could put your dining room table without one or more corners being in a shell hole, and these shell holes are from two to five and six feet across and deep in proportion; some of them are tremendous caves-and there are all too many of these. The ground was ploughed over and over by these great shells, these splendid well kept and smooth farms. Each one of these holes must be filled up and smoothed. And what were once large forests--you see a few shattered tree trunks here and there, no limbs and most of them broken off; you can not easily imagine that these desolate looking places with a few broken tree trunks and the ground broken and heaped here and there with great holes were once beautiful forests. The destruction was on such an enormous scale that it is hard for one who has not seen to conceive how tremendous it was.

In walking around some of the trenches and scratching around in one of the dugouts, I found a little collection of souvenirs; some rifle cartridges, a spoon, some buckles, etc. Mr. Gilliam was stationed just out of Ypres during the war and found his trench and dugout still there. He having been there of course could tell us quite a bit about the field.

Dot has told you about our Thanksgiving Day dinner. The Methodist Mission had a Thanksgiving Service at 11 :00 A.M. at which the Hon. Brand Whitlock, American Ambassador to Belgium, gave a talk. Then a lady with a fine strong voice sang "The Star Spangled Banner." So you see we felt a little like we were among our own folks again to see "Old Glory" waving around us.

The "Anversville", the boat on which we are to sail for the Congo, is due in Antwerp tomorrow, Nov. 29. Antwerp is about 60 miles from here, and we expect to leave Brussells two or three days before the sailing date for Antwerp. So it will be not long now till we leave, between the 10th and 15th of Dec. I think we shall know some time soon, I suppose. Outside of our trip to Ypres and our Thanksgiving Day dinner, life has been flowing along smoothly enough. We have our lessons, study, go to our meals, and baths (for you know we have to get these at a public bath down town) and do a little shopping from time to time, and occasionally some sight seeing. So the days go by.

We have here near us two very great and historic battle fields, Waterloo and Ypres. Waterloo covers only a few miles in all, while Ypres, not to mention the other fields, is a great area. This trip to Ypres has made quite an impression on me for I never realized before the magnitude of this late war.

It is possible that we may hear from you before we leave, as we still have about two weeks. But at any rate we shall let you hear from us again soon.

Trusting this finds you all well, and with love to all.

As ever,

B. M.

Congo (12) Brussels, Belgium, 11/23/1920 [DCS]

Brussels, Belgium

November 23, 1920

My own dear homefolks,

Seems that I never get a very great spell of writing letters anymore. I am very sorry we have not written you more often, but I think of you just the same, and wonder what has happened at home and the country around since I left. It’s been so long since we heard from you.

I have been keeping up with my Baluba better the last week or so, and have had a lesson regularly. B.M. says I am getting a pretty good start. Rowena and I are planning to sing one of the religious songs in Baluba with our “Ukes” accompanying us. Rowena has gotten her a mandolin and if she learns to play it well enough by that time she will play that. The two go well together.

I am so glad we put my light dresses in my wardrobe trunk, for you have no idea how they have helped me out here. I wear them every morning until we go out for dinner. Every one has something to say about how nice they look. None of the others left out their gingham dresses, thinking they would have no use for them. I got my napkins out of the trunk the other day, and am going to work on them at odd times. I certainly dread that table cloth. I have plenty to use until I get it finished, though.

While we were walking the other morning, we found a very good bargain in a tennis racket so we got it. Now I am going to learn to play tennis. Dr. Kelly says for me to be sure and play tennis as it is such good exercise. He says the reason some of the women out there are so sickly is because they do not take enough outdoors exercise- that they get interested in their work either at home or among the natives and don’t take time to get out doors. He says a day should not pass without a certain amount of exercise. That reminds me, B.M. and I take gymnasium exercises every morning soon after we get up. If we can keep it up out there, it will be good for me. It certainly did make me sore the first few times, but I soon got over it. B.M. has been in the habit of taking these exercises a long time.

I want you all to please do this much for me, will you? Don’t have anything to do with the moonshiners. If you only knew how often I thought and worried about this. Those are sneaky rascals and I got afraid to stay out there myself, and to think of mother there by herself gives me all kinds of feelings. There will come a day when all these people will get their reward, I am sure.

We went to the city hall today. It is a very ancient building, 1449. We did not take in all this time, but expect to go back some other time when we are not in a hurry. What we saw mostly was beautiful paintings and tapestries. The one most interesting to me in a way was the picture of a lady with a bugle; it was painted on the ceiling and as you went around the room, she turned clear round and faced you. This struck me as being very wonderful. Of course, the tapestry work known all over the world as Brussels tapestry is unusually beautiful.

Friday evening

The last few days have certainly been wonderful for this time of year here. The sun has shone every day and it does not seem so cold to me. But just listen, I have been to the real battlefield and have seen with my own eyes the destruction and desolation which exists there. The two nurses, Mr. Gilliam, B.M. and I went last Wednesday. We left here on the train and rode for possibly two hours where we were met in a car and went from Mennin to Ypres, a distance of about 12 miles through the country. Mennin had been bombed considerably, but when you went further, you saw so much worse. We passed through several villages which had been completely wiped awar, but they are trying to build the places again hoping that they can make Germany pay for the building. Many say there is not much hope of this, though. You see it is not only their homes, places of businesses, etc., which they have to rebuild, but their land is so torn up it will take years of work before they will be able to cultivate it. We saw large piles of shells which they have piled there while cleaning off the land. These shells had been shot not striking anything hard enough to explode them. In places you see these shells lying all over the ground, also the barbed wire and debris has not been gathered up and you see piles and piles of this wire that has been gathered up. There are many “pill boxes” as they are called, built of concrete which can hardly be penetrated by even the largest shells. These were built for protection. I was sorry but we did not get to go inside one of these. You see Mr. Gilliam was an officer of some kind in the war and was stationed right near Ypres for some time, so you see it made that more interesting having someone to explain everything. He went to visit his old trench and “dugout”. He had quite a time finding it as everything was so changed. I am surprised he found it at all for there was a woman in Mennen who spoke English that told us she lived about half way between Mennen and Ypres and which she went back she found no trace of her old home. Would not this be awful? But there were many cases like this. You just can’t realize how bad it really is unless you could see it. We took dinner in Ypres. This is a larger place than any of the other towns we visited, or at least it used to be. There was not a house left standing there, but more of the walls are left there. We took some pictures of different places, and if any are good, we will send you some. B.M. found several souvenirs in some old “dugouts;” he said they must have had to leave in a hurry for there were so many things left. It is my opinion that the owner was killed. We did not get home until nearly twelve o’clock that night, having had to wait quite a while in the cold for our train, but the trip was worth all that. I would not have missed going for anything.

The next day was Thursday, “Thanksgiving,” and I had to rise early for we were to have a Thanksgiving dinner here at our boarding place. We planned the dinner, Rowena, the two nurses, and I; and our landlady was to prepare it for us, all except the salad and the dessert which we were going to prepare ourselves. Miss Farmer and I made the dessert which was fruit sherbert. It certainly was good, too, even if we did make it. There was a service at the Methodist church we have been telling you about. There were a lot more there than I had expected. Then we all came home to dinner, our crowd, I mean, which now consists of eight. The dinner went off real well, only we had twice too much of nearly everything. That night we went over to hear Gillham’s victrola. He certainly has a good selection of pieces, and we spent such a pleasant evening. Almost made me wish we had gotten a victrola, but I will get so much more use out of my machine and we could not afford to get both.

B.M. and I went shopping this afternoon, and we found the best place to shop that we have seen since we have been there. I don’t know whether I can remember everything we got, but the main thing was a nice big lamp, with a shade both paper and a china one. We still have some room in our trunk where we can pack it. Also got an American flag and a Belgian flag, as B.M. says it shows disrespect to not put up the other nation’s flag.

B.M. has just finished having his French lesson and it’s nearly ten o’clock, so good night and pleasant dreams. I think of you often and wonder if everything is going on smoothly at home. Please write me all the news for you know I am interested in everything that happens out there.

I love you all,

Dorothy

Congo (11) Brussels, Belgium, 11/19/1920 [DCS]

Brussels, Belgium

November 19, 1920

My dearest Mother and Father:

B.M. has already written to you, and I am late, but we have had so little time to write this week. The last two evenings we have been out until after eleven. Wednesday we were invited out for the evening to a Mr. Fraters. He is a minister and an Englishman; they speak so we can understand them, so we had a very nice time. They served tea first, then cocoa with small wafers, for these people here always serve tea to their visitors. Then we played ping-pong for amusement.

Last evening we were invited out to Dr. Anet’s. He and his wife speak good English; in fact they have been to America and he has visited different churches speaking for help for Protestantism over here. He has also been very kind to our missionaries as they pass through Brussels. We had such a crowd of us there, it seemed more like a party than a visit. There were three new Methodist missionaries there besides the seven of us, all from America, no longer than two months ago. Seemed grand to be in the company of Americans again. Of course, there is a crowd of us, but the more the better.

While we were there we were shown the “Survey” with my picture, also the Hobsons. Was so glad they did not use our passport picture. However, this one didn’t look much better in there.

We went down town shopping this afternoon, the two young ladies, B.M., and I. I got me a new dress, as the one I got in. Terrell last spring has simply gone to the bad. After it started to wearing out, it certainly went fast. I was so sorry, for I liked that dress. I got a brown crepe de chine dress, a very plain pattern, but quite becoming, I believe. B.M. said as I had so many blue dresses, it would be nice to get another color. I have never worn brown, but I believe this will be all right. The two young ladies thought so. I really need a woolen dress, but we have such a short time to stay here now, and I couldn’t use it out there, and would want a new one when I came back anyway. I decided I would get one I could wear in the Congo. The dress cost us $14.00, or 175 francs (prewar exchange = $35.00).

That’s the reason I got crepe de chine. I never told you about the dress I got in London. We found that dresses were cheaper there than at home, and I decided I’d like to have another nice dress, so B.M. got me a very pretty white crepe de chine dress. It needed quite a bit of altering, and they didn’t get it altered very well there, but I have fixed it since I’ve been here and I like if very much. Makes me look quite fleshy, also older and this is why B.M. likes it, I think. Have forgotten just exactly how much we paid for it, but about $21.00 with the present exchange rate – or about $27.00 before the war. You see, we have a rather low exchange now. It would have cost the Belgium people about thirty-five dollars. I also got me a table runner to work. It is very easy and I can make it at odd times. It is tan colored and will match the crocheted one you gave me. You can imagine how anxious I am to get out there and get my home fixed up. If I just had you to help me a little, I would be so happy. We are so uneasy about our dishes that we got in New York. I think it will be a miracle if they get out to the Congo in good shape, but as far as we can tell, it is packed real well. I believe I told you one of the glasses you gave me was broken. We had a good deal of room in our larger trunks, but they are so heavy now we hate to put much more in them. However, we are going to get a lamp, haven’t decided just what we want yet, but a rather large one. We will have to take quite a few chimneys and that will take up lots of room. We had some stamps (rubber stamps) made. Had some made last week, but they were so poor B.M. wanted some more. I haven’t gotten to printing them very well yet, but we are well pleased with them. The first two are for marking linen, and the other two are for letters, etc.

We are going to have something on Thanksgiving Day, but haven’t decided just yet what it will be. There is to be a service at the little Methodist church after which we are going to have a picnic either in our room, or out in the woods if it is a pretty, warm day.

Want to mail this soon and there is a crowd in the room, so goodbye.

With lots and lots of love to you all,

Dorothy

Congo (10) Brussels, Belgium, 11/14/1920 [BMS]

Nov. 14

Brussels, Belgium

Dear Mother and Daddy:

We wrote you last week that we had failed to get off on the November boat to the Congo, and that we would have to wait till about Dec. 10^th. But we are pretty certain to get off next time as our reservations have been assured to us.

Everything has been moving along very fine for us. We have had enough studying, along with various odds and ends, to keep us busy nearly all the time. We always go out for lunch and this always takes at least two hours. We get our breakfast and supper here at the house, but our noon meal we get downtown at the “Cafés” which are about fifteen minutes walk from the house. Our lunch usually amounts to something like this: soup, meat (either beefsteak, porkchops, mutton, roast beef, or Irish stew; vegetables, two, one of which is generally boiled potatoes with cabbage, spinach, or something similar; then for dessert one or two nice little pastries.

Nov. 16^th – Just now we are somewhat busier, for two nurses are here with us, also bound for the Congo with us. They have a room just around the corner from us. Then we are having a Baluba lesson every day, the two nurses and the Hobsons in one class, and Dot in another as she is further along. The Hobsons have not been studying Baluba but putting in all of their time on French. Dot has put in most of her time on Baluba and has been doing well. I am glad that we put more time on this latter, for she could not have gotten enough French to help her whereas she has gotten a good start in Baluba. She also has had a few French lessons from her husband, but the two at one time is a little confusing.

It seems as though we would have plenty of extra time, but with breakfast at eight, and a two-hour dinner, with our classes, we don’t have much idle time. Our bed time is nearly always between 9:30 and 10:00 P.M., the same hour when we used to have to put out the lights, if you will remember.

Habit, you see.

In traveling, it is often difficult, or inconvenient, to have prayers every day, but we have been regular in this and have failed very few days. It is a link which always keeps us close together and a way in which we can each know that we are remembered by the other each day.

It has been right cold until the last two days, but the last two have been warmer with rain. Our hot water bottle has come in handy here, not that our room is uncomfortable for we have a good fire every day. Our overcoats and heavy underwear (Dot sought hers without any urging) have been in constant use. But the cold is not unpleasant as it is dry. Outside of the fact that we are anxious to get out to the Congo and to our work and home, we are really enjoying our stay here. Of course, Dot is anxious to try her art on me (and to burn her hands with our new biscuit pans).

We have ordered the following reading materials: “The Ladies Home Journal,” “American Magazine,” and “Literary Digest,” and we are hoping some of these will be there when we arrive as well as some letter from you. We have gotten a few books, two of Dickens’, “Ben Hur,” “When a Man’s a Man,” and “Pilgrim’s Progress,” which latter we bought here. Then, of course, we have our box of books, and I think you know about what we have in that.

Must say good-night here, as it’s after 9:30.

Later: This is a beautiful day; but the air is clear and the sun is bright. In fact the larger part of our time here the weather has been fine.

We do not know yet the exact date we are to sail, but it will no doubt be somewhere between the 12^th and the 15^th. So unless you get this about Dec. the first, a letter would hardly reach us here.

The Methodist Mission church is to have a Thanksgiving service next Thursday in English, so we shall attend an American Thanksgiving service. We are also planning to have a little celebration of some kind amount our own crowd. There are eight of us, seven of our own mission and a young man who is going out to the Congo for the Methodists when we also consider in our crowd. There eight are: Mr. and Mrs. Hobson (Kemp and Rowena), Misses Setzer and Farmer (two nurses), Mr Gilliam who is going to the Congo for us, but who is to stay here until January to study French, Mr. Kinman (the young man of the Methodist Mission), and ourselves = 8.

Trusting this finds you both in normal good health, and that the Lord is blessing your work, and with love to all.

B.M.

The following is our Congo address.

B.M. Schlotter

A.P.C.M.

Luebo, (Congo Belge),

AFRICA

(leave off the brackets on Congo Belge).

Congo (9) Brussels, Belgium, 11/6/1920 [DCS]

Brussels, Belgium

November 6, 1920

My own dear homefolks:

As I make very little progress with the typewriter, I prefer to change back to my own penmanship.

The weather still remains cold, but it seems to me I do not feel it here as much as we would if it was this cold in our country. This weather, I suppose, is an exception as they tell us they never have such dry weather this time of the year. It is always very damp and disagreeable. The other day at noon time there was ice over all standing water and we didn’t feel the cold so much. It was such a dry, still cold; however I was ready enough to put on my heavy underwear when the cold started.

We went out to the battle fields of Waterloo yesterday, and spent an enjoyable day. Walked over around where thousands of soldiers were killed. This was certainly an awful battle. We were shown first, the position of the soldiers on the day of the victory of the English with Wellington as commander on a picture supposed to be taken in the center of the fighting. It was certainly a wonderful picture. Where the picture stopped and the ground started was somewhat hard to distinguish. There were horses made of wood, I suppose, and dead men lying all around. Then we went to view the same battle field as it is today from a mound made by three hundred women that carried the dirt in baskets on their backs. This took four years to finish. When Wellington came and saw what had been done, he said “you have ruined my battlefield.” This mound is 165 feet high and there are 220 steps to the top. I was completely out of breath when I got to the top. There is a statue with a huge lion on top of this mound. We took several pictures of this; if any are good we will send you one.

We visited a farm which was attacked three different times. There is a well here where hundreds of soldiers were buried, also the remains of an old chapel. There were other farms to see, but as we were in somewhat of a hurry, we came on home, or rather to Dr. Anet’s where we had an engagement. The men want to talk over some affairs with him.

We certainly get our laundry done nicely here. It seems to me they do a great deal of extra work on them for all the gowns, teds, underskirts, etc. are pleated in small pleats about a fourth of an inch wide.

Must close for this time.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Congo (8) Brussels, Belgium, 10/31/1920 [BMS]

Brussels, Oct. 31, 1920

Dear Mother and Daddy,

While I have access to this machine I want to write to you as I can write so much more quickly on one, and I believe even think better while using one (not to mention the fact of writing more legibly.)

So far the weather has been beautiful and it has been pleasant to be outside, but today it feels more comfortable inside by a good warm fire. Dorothy has been taking a nap, and is just waking up. We went to church this morning and heard a sermon in English at the Methodist Church. They had the communion service after the regular service, and saw what you have no doubt seldom seen, a Baptist taking communion with other denominations. However, this man was a Congo missionary where they are more liberal in this respect.

Mr. and Mrs. Hobson have had a sick spell and were kept in bed a couple of days, but they are up today and just about well, as they went to church. Mr. Hobson’s vaccinated arm was the cause of his sickness. All four of us were vaccinated last Monday and only Mr. Hobsons’s (Kemp) and Dorothy’s made much impression; however, Dot was not sick. She felt rather badly one day and her arm was sore, but she didn’t have to go to bed, and now is pretty well healed up. Rowena’s (Mrs. Hobson) and mine didn’t do very much. This was small-pox vaccination.

Our friends, Mr. Kinman (who is here taking a course in Tropical Medicine and who is going out to the Congo which the Methodist Mission) was up here to see us all this afternoon. He is more like one of our own missionaries; this is also true on the fiend, for we feel out there like Methodists belong to our family. This, of course, makes it very pleasant for us, too.

We are still pegging away at our languages. Learning to speak French is a much more tedious, as well as painful, operation than those who never tried it imagine. Learning to read it is one thing, and learning to speak it, and especially learning to understand it when spoken another.

Must close here for today. We think about you often and remember you and your work in our prayers daily.

With much love to all.

As ever, B.M.

Nov. 9^th: Dear folks, we failed to get passage on this boat so shall remain in Brussels until about Dec. 10^th. So please write us here at once.

Congo (7) Brussels, Belgium, 10/31/1920 [DCS]

Brussels, Oct. 31^st, 1920

Dear Mother and Father:

Only a few minutes before supper, but I’m going to start your letter now. We are talking of going out to Waterloo tomorrow if it is not too cold, and that will mean another day gone and no letter to you. It has been real cold the last few days, but we have kept very comfortable. Kemp and Rowena have both been sick and we have been letting them sleep in our room, and we sleep in theirs. They certainly have a cold room; however, we don’t expect to be here much longer.

Mrs. Rhine (our friend we met on the Caronia) is in Brussels now and came to see us this morning. We were so glad to see her again; they are to travel nearly all over Europe.

Thursday.

Quite a skip, but we have been so busy again this week, have been shopping and this takes up lots of time. B.M. is having a suit made at the tailors, a khaki suit, and I am having me a khaki skirt made. We can’t get what we want ready made. I have gotten several more tablecloths, three mercerized and one cotton. Got three scarfs for the dresser and small table cloths yesterday. The dresser scarf is hand made here in Belgium, and I think it is very pretty indeed. The others are not hand made but are linen and real nice.

Rowena and I went out to see Mrs. Clark (Mr. and Mrs. Clark are missionaries to the Congo also, but to a different part of the Congo) yesterday. She happened to, what might have been a very bad accident the other day, she was carrying a tray of tea, cakes, etc., up the steps, and at the top her foot slipped and she slid clear to the bottom. She burned herself a little and bruised her leg considerably, but otherwise she is alright so far as they can tell. They are expecting a visitor about the last of December or the first of January, so you see the fright was as bad as anything.

Mr. Gilliam, one of our missionaries who came over with the Bedingers, is coming in from England this evening and we are going to the station to meet him. He is to study here for some months.

My vaccination is almost well now, one of the scabs came off this morning. The scar will be about as big as a dime, I suppose. I’m glad it’s over with now, but I certainly did dread having it done. From what they say, it would have been dangerous to go out yonder without it.

Must close, will write more later.

Love to all,

Dorothy

Congo (5.5) Brussels, Belgium, 10/20/1920 [DCS]

Brussells, Belgium

October 20, 1920

Dearest homefolks,

Hasn’t very much happened to us the last few days, we are leading quite a quiet life here in Brussels. Studying pretty hard, and it’s so nice to be able to stay somewhere this long at a time. It seems to me we have been on the go so long and still not half way.

It has been quite cold for several days, and we have had to have a fire. But we manage to keep real warm. The Hobsons have a north room, also not so good a stove as ours so they are having quite a time keeping warm. They stay in our bedroom part of the time.

Coal is pretty hard to get both here and in England. The miners are striking for higher wages in England and many of the trains and possibly boats will be taken off Monday. We are hoping this will not interfere with the Bedingers plans, as we were expecting them here the latter part of this week or next.

We were all four vaccinated day before yesterday and the Dr. said it would swell by Saturday or Sunday (5 or 6 days). B. M.’s and Rowena’s are red and have begun to swell already. They have been vaccinated before, and Kemp (Mr. Hobson) and I have not been. I am afraid ours will not take, but some say if a vaccination doesn’t take it’s good for two years anyway. Whether this is true, I don’t know.

There are very few negroes here, in fact I have only seen one, and we have seen him several times. B M. spoke to him today and found he was from the Belgian Congo, but further south than Luebo. He had large holes in his ears, just as the natives do in the Congo, and this is what attracted B. M’s attention.

We are enclosing a check which Mrs. McKee sent us to New York as a wedding present and which we didn’t have time to get cashed. Please get it to the bank soon so the check can go forward. Just keep it for us as we’ll be asking you to get us something.

[This letter ends without any complimentary closing, but it is, of course, from Dorothy.]

Congo (6) Brussels, Belgium, 10/24/2009 [MBS]

Brussels

October 24, 1920

Dear Mother and Daddy:

Unfortunately good intentions alone do not write letters, for we fully intended to get this letter off yesterday. However, we are really kept pretty busy with our studies and with other distractions that always manage to come just at the wrong moment – such as our going out to tea yesterday afternoon, being vaccinated Monday afternoon, seeing the big parade Thursday, etc. Then I have my French lesson at 8:30 to 9:30 P.M. So with the studying our time is pretty well taken up.

The Bedingers have reached London, but we do not know yet whether we shall all go out together or not. There are two single ladies with them, one being a trained nurse and the other a doctor (female M.D.). The Bedingers evidently left Martha Reid, their oldest child now about 3 ½ years, at home.

As Dorothy wrote you, Bedinger brought our two pieces of baggage over with them, the cedar chest and the box of books. This, of course, is good news to us, for you know we have some nice things in the chest. It certainly is expensive traveling with so much baggage, as the excess costs pretty heavy as well as the transferring.

Last Thursday, they had the funeral of General Leman here. He was the first prisoner taken by the Germans at Liège, although he survived the war. They made quite a big parade of it all, the soldiers-infantry, cavalry, artillery, gendarmes, bands with distinguished officers from France, Italy, and England, also automobile loads of flowers. (General Pétain of France was one attending.)

The weather has turned cold, although we have had sunshine every day and the days are beautiful. Only a few days have been unpleasant outside. While the first snap was a bit disagreeable, still since we have gotten coal and can warm up when it gets cold, we find it fine now.

As you have no doubt been reading about the coal strike in England, you know the situation. This would hardly affect our going out unless it continued a long period. It looks as though they are in for a tough time in England.

You may perhaps think that we are having quite a time here and ought to be able to write long letters, but we have quite a bit of routine and don’t get out to see much of the city. We have been to very few places of interest, although we expect to do a few of them. Then there are some American Protestant Church headquarters here that we expect to visit, too. One is the Methodist, which has a school for girls; and another is Presbyterian, which is under the auspices of the Moody Bible Institute and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Cal. I don’t understand yet just how this is managed. They also have a school. Of course, you must realize that before the war this was virtually a Catholic country, the government being dominated by that church with almost absolute control. This is the reason we have had so much difficulty with the Roman Catholics in the Congo, because the officers there have been domineered by the church as the government was here. But this has changed to some extent, as the clergy no longer have a majority in the cabinet.

The King is “out of town,” so we have been unable to call [?] on him. He is in South America but will return next month.

A Mr. F. J. Gilliam of Va. [see also –ed.] came over with the Bedingers and is coming here to Brussels to study French for a couple of months. I understand he is to take charge of our educational work (schools) in the Congo. He will get here about Nov. 1.

Our mission has a strong friend here in Dr. Anet, one of the leading Protestant workers of Belgium. They formerly had a mission in the Congo, but were forced to abandon it after the war began. So our mission took over three of their missionaries who are now out on the field. Dr. Anet has helped us in our relations with the government, especially in getting concessions for our stations., as these must all come thru the Brussels Colonial Dept. here.

We have been going to the movies about once a week (or twice so far). Tonight is our night for getting our bath. Dorothy wrote you that we have no bath but this isn’t as bad as it sounds, for the place is nice enough and the only thing is the inconvenience of about seven minutes walk – everything furnished but soap. They evidently don’t bathe as much here as in America.

We are enclosing a few pictures taken along the way. A few of them do pretty well.

With love to all.

B.M.

Congo (5) Brussels, Belgium, 10/8/1920 [DCS]

Brussels, Belgium

October 8, 1920

My own dear homefolks:

Here they talk French and French only, unless by chance they have picked up a little English somewhere. The lady in whose house we are staying speaks English and teaches French. She is such a nice pleasant woman and so kind to all of us.

We took our first lesson in French last evening, as the evening is the only time she can give us – she has several other pupils. I have about decided not to study French now, but spend my time on Baluba. That is what I shall need most. Shall study French with B.M. later on. However, I think I shall pick up some from hearing the language spoken all the time.

Have just been down town to take a bath. This may sound a little odd, but someway they haven’t good water connection here and they advised us to go there. This seems a very common thing here, for there were nice women and men there and everything was clean and nice. The woman got to telling me about the hot and cold water, and of course, I just stood and stared at her. I do know the word for ‘thank you’ though.

I’ve been telling you all these things, and really I should have told you first when we got here, etc. We reached Brussels Thursday evening about six thirty, leaving London at eight thirty. Arrived in Dover, where we went to sail for the mainland at ten thirty; left Dover at eleven and reached Ostend, Belgium, at somewhere about three thirty or three. We had an unusually smooth voyage. You know the English Channel is nearly always very rough, but as it happened, there was very little motion to the boat. Rowena got seasick coming over, and Mr. Kinman (of Methodist Mission) said it was rough the day he came over, but he has had quite a little experience in sailing. He was in the war and was in France for quite a while. They all told me I would certainly get seasick crossing the English Channel. As we entered the harbor at Ostend, we saw where the Germans have dropped bombs and torn up things considerably. The station which was made of glass was shattered and only the arches where it once was were left. Also the boat which the Belgiums used in blocking the channel, or rather the entrance to the harbor, is still there.

The country is beautiful between Ostend and Brussels, very flat, and nearly every strip of land has been cultivated or flowers and trees planted, showing that the Belgian people are industrious. As I said, the land between here and Ostend is very level, but I am told that in the other direction there is rolling land, and perhaps rather high hills.

It is about two hundred and twenty five to fifty miles from here to Paris, but I fear we shall not be able to go. It would be quite an expense, and our out-fit has cost us quite a bit. It is possible that we will decide to go.

We sent our wash out this morning. The first we have had done since leaving New York, except what few things I have washed out myself. I did some washing this morning, also pressed a little. I am so glad I can press here, for I never feel dressed up unless a dress is pressed. I had my blue georgette and ruffled voile pressed on the boat and such a mess. They did not even press the ruffles.

Nearly everything is much cheaper here than in England. Our meals are from fifty to seventy-five cents and you get plenty, too. What I like best is the pastry (cakes) they make here. All kind of little cakes, we would call them cookies at home. Wish father could eat some of them, for he likes cakes so well. We had lark (bird) for dinner today. None of us could eat them. They looked like little chickens when they are first hatched, heads on and all. Nearly everything here is cooked like Americans cook – better than they were in England. This was an exception, though.

We eat breakfast here, these people always serve a light breakfast, generally bread and butter; coffee and orange marmalade; dinner, our heavy meal, we eat down town and supper here. We have to order in the morning what we want for supper, and Madame Busé puts our order in with hers. She prepares all the meals.

We have a very pleasant room. It is somewhat crowded as we have two small beds, quite a large writing table, two large chairs, three small ones, about like our dining room chairs, a wardrobe, hat or coat rack, a small sofa, a towel rack and a stove. Also two of our trunks. I put my trunk in the wardrobe, open, so it is not very much in the way. Oh! I did not mention the Washstand and dresser combined. One strange thing about these people, they always have two bowls and pitchers, two soap dishes, etc. We have a large double window which lets in the morning sun, and makes our room very pleasant. We have had no cold weather since we got here, that is uncomfortably cold weather, and we keep this window open most of the time.

We went out to the museum of the Congo, about a forty or fifty minute ride on the street car this afternoon and saw many interesting things there. It makes me want to go on, so I can see everything. It is such a beautiful ride out there, and we are talking of taking our dinner out there some day soon.

Monday evening

While B.M. is having his lesson in French, I am going to finish my letter to you. I have just finished studying my Baluba lesson and have only a few minutes before he comes. I am studying both French and Baluba from B.M. He is pretty well advanced in French, in fact more so than anybody of our party, and I rather take from him.

We went to hear an English service yesterday morning, but in the evening went to a French service. It was held by an American who had been over here a comparatively short length of time and had learned French unusually fast. While I understood only a few words, it was something new and I didn’t get very tired. They sang a song or two that we knew, but the words were entirely different.

I must close now with much love for you both.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

P.S. Be sure and tell me everything that happens, for I am very interested.

Wednesday evening Oct.

Dear folks:

I thought B.M. would have finished his letter to you and we would have started this on its long journey back to Texas, but he has been kept busy and has not been able to write.

I am wondering how you are tonight and what you are doing. Wish so much that I could be there with you for a while at least. I am well and happy, though. There never could be a better man to me than B.M. is. It’s been such a long time since I’ve heard from you, and I don’t suppose we will hear until we reach Congo.

We went to the picture show last evening, and among other things we saw some views of the Belgian Congo. Lusambo was one place they showed, also some dances, markets, etc. All was very interesting, and B.M. said it gave one good idea of how the natives live.

I am very sleepy so good-night and pleasant dreams.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Congo (4) Brussels, Belgium, 10/8/1920 [BMS]

Brussels, Belgium

Oct. 8, 1920

Dear Mother and Daddy:

We left London Thursday (yesterday) morning at 8:30, reached Dover at 10:30, sailed from there across the channel at 11:00 and reached Ostend at 3:00 P.M. Here we had to pass thru the customs (which is more of a ceremony that real examining), leaving Ostend at 4:25 and reaching Brussels at 6:30, where the Hobsons and Mr. Kinman (a Methodist missionary for the Congo) met us and took us up to our lodgings. At Ostend we saw quite a few places that had been destroyed by shells from German submarines, although the larger part had already been rebuilt or is in course of rebuilding. The channel was as smooth as a mill pond when we crossed, and you know this is at times the roughest piece of water known. It was a little choppy when the Hobsons crossed, but it could not have been more placid than it was yesterday; I had fully expected it to be rather rough.

Our ride from Ostend to Brussels was thru a beautiful stretch of country, the richest part (agriculturally) of Belgium. The country is absolutely level and the well tilled farms, neat and quaint Flemish towns and dwellings, are a most pleasing sight. This section was occupied by the Germans during the war and hence was not torn up or damaged as the battlefield section.

As we came in last night, we have not had time to get an idea of the city, but will tell you more of this later; also about our boarding place. We expect to begin the study of French tonight. As Dorothy is going to study Baluba while here, I don’t know yet whether she will take French or not. While nearly everything is in French still we often run across people who can speak some English; our landlady speaks fairly good English.

We are having beautiful weather just now, ideal Indian summer. Dorothy thought it was cold in England, and while we had a few cool nights, still it was so much warmer than I had expected to find – this no doubt accounts for our different expressions in our last letter.

Dr. Kellersberger (on our mission) is in London taking a three month course in tropical medicine and diseases. We saw him the night before we left; he had just started and was delighted with the school. His wife and baby are coming to meet him in either London or Brussels about Christmas and go on to the Congo; She will of course come with the other missionaries.

Oct. 12, 1920. As Dorothy and I have not looked for each others letters so far, there will no doubt be some repetition in them, and perhaps some contradiction on account of differences in impressions.

We like our hostess here very much; while we have nothing elegant, still it is nice and clean as well as pleasant socially. Our hostess also teaches us French and I think is a splendid teacher. Dorothy, as she wrote you, is not taking French from her, but is devoting most of her time to Baluba and also studying French with me sometimes too.

We have not yet been to any of the important places – parks, etc., of Brussels, except the Congo Museum. There are a number of beautiful parks, buildings, and grounds here. Of course, we expect to visit them while here.

While none of us speaks French, still we have managed to get along; then we often find someone who speaks a little English. Flemish is spoken by the working class, about which we know nothing.

We are both feeling fine and have a healthy appetite. The weather is bracing here, and I think doing us good. We retire about ten o’clock and get up between 6:30 and 7:00 – and always sleep well. Breakfast is at eight, and the Belgians eat only bread and butter with coffee, but Mademoiselle Busé, our hostess, prepares us an egg each, by special request. Up to the present we have had no regular schedule, but we expect to spend more hours each day in study, and some time in exercise. My hours for French lessons are from 4:00 to 5:00 P.M. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 8:30 to 9:00 on other evenings.

It is rather strange that since leaving New York Dorothy has not had the slightest touch of nettle rash. I only hope it will continue.

Later: Here in Brussels we do not see any great effects of the war. As the Germans occupied all this territory through this section for practically the entire period of the way, they of course, did no damage to the buildings, etc. Really, to see how well everything moves - - the shop windows are full, people are well dressed, and apparently fairly well-off. They have their amusements – in fact there isn’t much outward evidence that they suffered here as much as elsewhere. Of course, it was in the battlefield sections where they really suffered and I suppose the very poor class here is Brussels suffered considerably.

Somehow we don’t have much spare time here. We spend quite a bit of time studying. I am putting most of my time on French and Dorothy is struggling with Baluba. She is also studying French. So far we have not spent much time sightseeing.

We were fortunate in finding such a good place to stay, as everything is clean and comfortable, and we all like our landlady very much. She is also a good French teacher.

Not having seen very much of Brussels yet am of course not able to tell you much about it. It is like all of the old places, laid off (or rather not laid off) without any regard to streets, as they are mostly narrow and winding or crooked. There are no skyscrapers here nor anywhere in Europe for that matter, although of course some beautiful buildings and grounds. Brussels has about 800,000 inhabitants, so is a pretty good sized place. You still see the dog carts here, a dog and sometimes the dog is hitched underneath the cart and pulls it while the man guides it by handles behind. Autos are scarce, and a good percentage of these are of American make, “John Henry” being prominent. There are also other American goods on the market here.

In order to be sure that this letter gets off today, I’ll close here. We intend to write you again next week.

With love to all,

B.M.

As we expect to leave about Nov. 1^st, a letter from you would hardly reach us here.

Congo (3) London, England, 10/1/1920 [DCS]

London, England

October 1, 1920

My dear homefolks:

Here we are in the big city of London. Arrived here Monday morning, but landed in Plymouth Sunday morning and stayed there over Sunday. We are almost as busy here as we were in New York and have done nothing but shop every day since we got here until today. Have almost finished now, and are going to do some sight seeing the rest of the time we are here. Went to the Tower of London this morning and it certainly is worth visiting. The rest of our crowd are going to go on before we do. Mr. Kinman, a Methodist missionary to Africa whom we met in New York, and has been a very pleasant member of our party, leaves for Brussels this evening, and Mr. And Mrs. Hobson leave Monday. It is, as B.M. says, we don’t want to miss this opportunity of seeing London and we are not in any hurry anyway as we are not expecting to leave for the Congo until the first of November, and I want to stay among English speaking people as long as possible, for B.M. says, very few of the people in Brussels speak anything but French.

I have forgotten whether we told you or not, but we met Dr. Kelly who was stationed at Bibanga, while we were at New York and is going to stay here for some time studying medicine. He and Mr. Kinman came over together on the Aquitania.

We did not get our Victrola in New York and we were certainly glad when we landed here for Mr. and Mrs. Hobson brought one and they had to unpack it in the Customs House and pay about 1/3 the worth of it. We have about decided to get a sewing machine (turned by hand, not by foot) instead, if we get either.

Dr. Kelly saw to our cedar chest for us, or at least found that it was there in N. Y. and Mr. Bedinger is going to bring it when he comes. We were so glad to know that it was found. It is at the White Bible Training School and they will take good care of it for us. The box of books are safe, also. He, Dr. Kelly, brought Mrs. Robbin’s present and I am so proud of it; think it will almost exactly match my silver ware. Was so sorry not to get to write her. If you have time, wish you would write her a few lines and explain how it is and tell her I will write as soon as I can, but you know the mail will be so uncertain for now on. Your letter also came on the Aquitania and we were so glad to hear from you all.

Am so glad you all are getting along all right, but was sorry to hear about the car. How did it get broken? Please don’t fail to tell me if you are not well, for I will be so anxious about you. I am so sorry Hickman is having such a time with the nettle rash. I believe the ocean trip has cured me of that for I had it pretty bad in New York but not even any signs of it since I left. Tell Hickman he had better come to Africa and perhaps he will be cured also. Of course, I’m not there of half way there yet.

Mr. Rhyan, the man we man we met on the ship, gave Mrs. Hobson, or Rowena as she wishes me to call her, and me a beautiful gold Eversharp pencil apiece, one you can hang ‘round your neck. Wasn’t that nice of him. They are such lovely people and don’t you tell, but Mr. Rhyan seems especially struck on me. Don’t worry, he is at least forty-five years old, but we all liked both of them.

I could not begin to tell you all the things we have gotten, so I’m not going to try. We have decided to make our order of food stuff over again and have them send it from here. You see, we heard nothing from Montgomery Ward, not even acknowledging the order. Dr. Kelly says he heard nothing from them also and neither did the Hobsons, so we are of the opinion that they have stopped shipping.

Wednesday afternoon.

In the morning we leave for Brussels. We have all our shopping done and the last two days have been spent in sight seeing and getting our trunk ready to leave. We have six pieces of baggage now, not counting my cedar chest, and the box of books. B.M. got his trunk at Macon, and my wardrobe trunk and a trunk larger than my old one that we got in New York. My kitchen utensils and other things we bought here in London. My dishes are packed in a separate box. They packed it for us and I am so anxious to know if anything has been broken. One of our glasses you gave me is broken, but other than that there is nothing hurt that we found.

We got your card and a letter from Evelyn forwarded from Pinckney. Of course, I am always glad to hear from you all. Evelyn is going back to room 22. She seemed to think I was trying to keep my marriage from her.

We have our helmets and they are not near as bad looking as I had expected. Mine looks fairly well on me.

Have not been able to get washing done since we left New York and won’t until we get to Brussels. You can imagine how many clothes we have. I am getting along fairly well with my crepe gowns and underwear (knitted).

It has been rather cold since we have been here. There has been a scarcity of coal, so we generally go to bed to keep warm, the little time we are in the room. Which is very seldom only at night, for we are busy or sightseeing most of the time.

Dr. Kelly is going to take dinner with us this afternoon. He has been over to his school the past few days. The Hobsons left yesterday, so we are the last of our crowd at the Devonshire House Hotel.

It is rather late and I am a tiny bit tired, so I’ll say, Goodbye. Hope you are well and happy.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Congo (2) At Sea, 9/20/1920 [DCS]

Monday Sept. 20, 1920

Dear homefolks:

This seems like the first chance I have had to write you since I’ve been on board. Everything is no new and wonderful. It seems I can hardly comprehend everything. Have not been feeling so very extra part of the time, and haven’t much appetite; however I have not been what you would call sea sick. They tell me the ocean has been unusually calm, but I must admit it hasn’t seemed so at times. I love to stand out on deck and watch the waves rise and fall, and break causing white caps to form on the water.

Since the first afternoon it has been too cold to stay any length of time on deck, of course if we have plenty of wraps and our steamer rug it is quite comfortable. We play forty-two, the Hobsons and we, I mean, read and study Baluba, we only started that this morning. All I know is the alphabet.

Occasionally, ships pass us, and it is interesting to watch them struggle against the waves. There is a great deal of sea weed on top of the water, which is much like sponge [sic.] in appearance.

This ship gets to Plymouth on Saturday I understand. This means only seven days on the trip. We leave this boat at Plymouth, and I don’t know what the plans are from there on.

They are having a dance tonight, but as I left my evening clothes at home, I declined the invitation to attend.

We have some nice friends here that I imagine are quite wealthy. We played a game with them this afternoon and certainly did enjoy it. It is better to stay out on deck as much as possible.

Tuesday—

Another day of quiet sea. The cool weather, good meals and everything put together makes one feel fine. We have been out on deck a good part of the day playing games etc., of course we spent some time on Baluba. I spend more time than Mr. and Mrs. Hobson, and B.M. says I am doing very well.

I had planned to do so much writing but the time just flies and I hardly know where it goes.

The ship is much nicer that I had ever dreamed. While there isn’t much room in each cabin, and ours hasn’t even a port hole, yet everything is very convenient folding washbasins, chairs, etc.

My bath is at six with plenty of good warm salt water already fixed for me, but the first evening I washed by face in it and !!

I never answered your question about Aunt Nennie. I think she is every so much better, at least she seems to be, so much better than I had expected to find her. B. M. fell in love with her I think, but every one does, you know. I don’t know whether it was the lunch he fell in love with or her herself. He made the statement that he hoped I was enough kin to them, Aunt N., and Aunt H., that I would learn to cook as well as they do. B. M. is just as good to me as he can be and we are very happy, at least he seems to be.

We have the very best to eat and B.M. says he is going to get you a few of the orders in order that you may see just what we had. There is music the whole time we eat, and they played two pieces that I knew today, Barcerole and The Flatterer.

Thursday afternoon

I have just finished a game of shuffle board. This is my second today and I am to play again as we are having some contest games today and my partner, a Mr. Shaw, and I have won two games which means we have to play against B. M. and his partner. I certainly like to play and have threatened to have one of my own someday.

We had to dress up for dinner last night, and there were lots of cute costumes. I dressed as a Hawaiian girl and carried my “uke”. Rowena (Mrs. Hobson) and Mrs. Rhine helped me fix my costume, and some said I should have taken the prize, but you know people say things to be nice sometimes. Just to hear me tell how I was dressed will not sound well, I don’t believe. However, I wore that plain white petticoat without any trimming covered with straw for a skirt, my blue sweater, lots of different colored beads, and a wide beaded band around my head with two braids. A red sash and red piece reaching from one shoulder under the other arm as all Hawaiians have you know. Red stockings and black bedroom slippers. The one that took the prize was draped up in a United States flag. I think they chose her through patriotism, for there (were) several others better than she.

I am feeling all right now, have gotten used to the rocking of the boat, but we really haven’t had any rough weather.

They are playing and dancing in here so you know how I can write. Think I’ll have time to write more tonight. I just love you lots.

Dot

Sat. morning

Stayed in bed this morning and did not go to breakfast. Hardly anyone gets up early on board this ship, but this is the first time I’ve stayed in bed later than 8:00 A.M. There was a entertainment for the benefit of the disabled seamen and their children last evening, and we certainly had some good numbers. Music, recitations, songs, and comic selections. Had a good time, but these people keep such miserable hours. It did not start until 9:00 o’clock, and it was about twelve when we got in bed.

I have to pack up today as we land tomorrow and have to get our baggage ready today.

Have written a good many letters and cards (mostly), but not as many as I had planned.

Love,

Dorothy

Congo (1) At Sea, 9/19/1920 [BMS]

On Board the Cunard R.M.S. Caronia

Sunday Sept. 19^th

8:45 p.m.

Dear Mother and Daddy:

Here we are at last far out on the deep blue, a long way from shore but on this nice big steamer, with every comfort and convenience, we feel as safe as on land. The “Caronia” is a large passenger boat, with splendid accommodations; our cabin is nice, our meals are the very best, and so far our companions and associations have been very agreeable and pleasant.

As this is Sunday they had a “Church of England” service which consisted entirely of reading and prayers from a book with a few hymns and a good anthem. There was a good deal of responsive reading, but no sermon as the Purser conducted the service.

So far we have both been free from sea sickness, although I felt a few peculiar sensations yesterday, and I don’t guarantee my condition for the future. But I’m glad I escaped for one day at least.

There are six of us at our dining room table, the Hobsons, ourselves and another couple who have been very pleasant and sociable. They are just past middle age and are Presbyterians by denomination. We haven’t become acquainted with the other passengers, but no doubt will soon as this is only first day after starting. Of course the Hobsons as ourselves are having a good time together; they are fine young folks and we like them. It’s nice to have company like this, especially until we get acquainted, and then being in the same work for the same field makes us feel pretty close together. Will have to close for this time, so good-night till tomorrow.

B.M.

Congo (0) Introductory Letter

The Letters of B. M. and Dorothy Schlotter

From the American Presbyterian Congo Mission

1920 – 1928

San Maros, Texas

January 9, 2000

The letters as typed in this document are word for word copies of the text of letters written during the eight years that Dorothy Chambers Schlotter and Bruno Max (B.M.) Schlotter served as missionaries to the American Presbyterian Mission in the Belgian Congo. Most of the letters were written to Dorothy Schlotter’s parents, Rev. Caleb Wallace Chambers and Emma Daniels Chambers, missionaries to the Alabama-Coushatta Indians in Texas.

Each letter was copied from the original by their son, Max Schlotter, and their daughter-in-law, Joann Day Schlotter. Some liberty has been taken with some off the spelling and punctuation in the letters for the purpose of clarity. Otherwise, nothing has been changed.

The originals have been placed in the archives of the Presbyterian Church. Because of their age, they are fragile and would not be suitable for research use in their original condition; therefore, the effort has been made to reproduce them in typed form to be read by family and anyone interested in knowing more about the day to day life of servants of our Lord in Africa early in the Twentieth Century. The hope is that the reader will gain an appreciation, as we have, for the dedication of the many missionaries in whatever their field of service to bring the gospel to a people whose previous worship had been of idols.

Max Wallace Schlotter