Friday, April 24, 2009

Congo (62) Luebo, Congo 1/12/1922 [DCS]

Belgian Congo, Central Africa

(Via Antwerp)

January 12, 1922

Dear Hickman and Nettie:

I mailed a letter from B.M. to you which should not have been mailed until I got my letter written, but now you will hear from us twice instead of once, and we certainly owe you two letters at least. It seems like there has been so much going on at Luebo of late we don't have any time to ourselves. The Mission Meeting, Christmas, which meant more than I ever dreamed it would mean in the Congo. We had such a nice time. I got several nice presents. A porch swing, one dozen linen napkins from B.M. which I needed very badly, and an ivory bracelet. These were the nicest things, but we got a few smaller things.

I have been across the river to the state post this afternoon to pay my respects to the Commissaire's wife. I don't generally go across to call, but Miss Black didn't want to go alone, so I went to keep her company. The Madam is a very pleasant woman in her way. She is Dutch and her husband is Belgian and it would shock you to hear her speak of how it freshens one's mind to smoke, that when she was going to school she would take a cigarette and could study so much better. And, of course, she drinks wine, but not before us. All Belgians drink wine and when we were there they called us "ducks" because we drank so much water. The Madam is really an educated woman, and is interested in the study of Botany. She has beautiful flowers and always has a good garden. She was showing us this aftemoon her watermelons, one is about twenty inches, and that is very fine for the Congo, as they are hard to raise out here.

I get the "Club" (I guess you know what that is) either next month or March and I am certainly dreading it. It's one of the hardest jobs I have ever done.

James certainly must be a "dandy." I wish he could see my little monkeys. They are surely cute; sometimes I turn them loose in my paw-paw trees and they jump from one to the other; sometimes the leaf, there is only one leaf on every limb, falls and they go with it, but are up by the time they hit the ground and half way up the tree again; they seem to be very tough. All I lack now is a parrot, and they say they aren't very hard to get. I haven't tried yet. I am hoping to bring my monkeys home with me when I come if I find the duty isn't too high.

I have a baby goat five days old that I'm trying to raise, some of the village people have stolen its mother and I am giving it all the goat's milk we get and some canned milk, too. It seems to be getting along fine.

This is a beautiful moon light night and the village people are having a time. They have their dances and plenty of their kind of whiskey is drunk. You can hear them from all parts of the village. Then, too, the children from the two homes, girls and boys, are out at play and they are right at us. Some of the songs they sing are real good and we love to watch them at play.

9:20 P.M. It is late for the Congo, so good night. Kiss James for me and love to you.

Dorothy

P. S. Give Eva my love the next time you see her and that I want to write her a letter soon.

Dot

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Congo (61) Luebo, Congo 1/1/1922 [BMS] [DCS]

Luebo,

Jan. 1st , 1922

Dear Hickman & Nettie and James:

As this is New Year's Day, we send you our best wishes for this New Year, and trust there may be much happiness in store for each of you.

Your letter of Sept. 21st came a few weeks ago and it is needless to say that we enjoy your letters. You perhaps can't appreciate just what this means until you have been a good little bit further away from horne, and when you can't get letters any week. So you may be sure that this is one place you write where your letters receive a big welcome. This is beside the fact that we want to know how and what and why about you folks, not to mention James the First.

We have been busy enough during the past several weeks. Beginning the first of December we had our Annual Mission Meeting, which lasted two weeks. There were representatives for all the stations here, and with accommodations for about twenty w~ had thirty-six folks at one time, which means we were crowded. We had a couple in our horne for this period, and an eight year old boy, too. So this kept Dot hustling to keep them fed and so forth.

Christmas passed off rather quietly here, that is compared with the way it is celebrated in America. We all had a big spread together Christmas Eve night, and had a little program with quartets, readings, etc., and some little Christmas sox for everybody~ it was a pleasant evening. The "Missus" was one of the quarters. The biggest affair was that of our little missionary children, there being six on the station, from a few months up to 8 years old. They had their Christmas trees, presents, etc., and seemed to enjoy it.

In one section of our territory this is the season for ants, and the natives are having a big time getting a supply. They find them in big and little hills, from two to six feet high, and dig down to get them. After they get them, when they wish to preserve them they dry them or smoke them, which is when they don't eat them just so. I think this is when the young ants hatch out and are big enough to eat. It's turned around with you folks, I believe, for here the people eat the ants, while you the a(u)nts sometimes eat the people? However, these ants, or "nsua" are quite a delicacy (to the natives, of course.) They are not a stinging species, as they don't eat the stinging ants. But ants is too large a subject in this country to discuss in one letter, or in several letters.

Note that you had fourteen little chicks the last time you wrote, so that by the time you get this letter, they will be about big enough to eat. Hope you have been able to raise them. We have found it a difficult job to raise them here. We buy most of the chickens from the natives, and this is the most common meat we have. Just the other day, we bought a young pig and had pork, spare ribs, etc., which was a good change.

While you are perhaps having your coldest weather we are having our warmest, for January is our warmest month. However, even in this month it does not get as close and hot here as it does there, for it is seldom so hot that you feel the need of a fan when you are in the shade; it is only when you stir around in the heat that you feel it. It is very rare that it is so warm that you can not find a cool quiet spot, which is often the case there in July and August.

Well, let us hear from you again. We are always anxious for a letter from you.

With love to all,

B.M. and Dot

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Congo (60) Luebo, Congo 1/3/1922 [DCS]

Luebo, January 3, 1922

Dear Mother, Father, and Aunt Nennie:

We got mail at about 9:30 last evening, the first we have had for a long time, and this was only a scrap mail, I think. We are expecting a big mail on the Lapsley which is expected in two or three days, possibly tomorrow. It came from Lusambo to Basongo about three days run from here to get the Smith and Stixrud party.

I got more mail than anybody last night, or rather we did, and that's unusual as I don't get very many letters generally. I got one letter from you, the one with the clippings about the Dorothy S. [?] and the one from China. I also got a letter from Aunt Sarah, a very sweet letter which I must answer soon. I have wanted to write to her several times but did not know just how to address the letter. She says she is going to send me their little paper. And I got two Christmas cards and B. M. got a letter.

Well the club is here and I'm trying to teach and clean rooms for the expected party, too. I haven't been to school for the past two days for I had to fix rooms; it's just like it is at home. There is plenty of help but so very slow. Cisuana works hard and generally very well, but so very slow on some things. Yesterday we washed window frames, door base board and floor and windows, three of a room, (my back room) where I am going to put Miss Porter, and besides I made curtains for those three windows, not curtains hemmed at both ends but a two inch hem all around. Then we made up the bed and arranged everything. We stopped work at about 11:30 and began again at 3:00. When I think about it, that's not so much time for the amount of work we did.

Today I have fixed up Sarah's back room for Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. Anderson of Lusambo is bringing the Lapsley as Mrs. Daumery is expecting a baby soon and he is afraid to leave. But in this room I only swept, dusted, and made up the bed. It took much longer to do this than you would think, though, as it was so dirty.

I got my package this afternoon, and everything was very nice, but I am trespassing on B. M's ground as I told him he might write about that.

I guess you think I'm a mighty sorry teacher to stop to prepare rooms, but it's too hot in the afternoons, and I can't leave it to the boys. There are always some teachers you can call on as substitutes, and so you don't feel like you are letting everything go to rack as when they have no one.

I was getting started very well in school now, but the first few days I had a time. My pupils are women and girls and everyone acknowledges that women are harder to teach than men. They are hard to keep quiet and don't learn so well, either. I have administered three slaps since I've been up there, which is very hard for me to do, but if I didn't they would never know they had to mind me.

I'm enjoying the piano so much, don't have much time to practice now, if I had had it last month, I would have gotten in a good deal of good work, but now!!! The club seem to love to hear me play, but I’m so out of practice I can only play a few pieces. I don't mind playing before company near as much as I used to, but I suppose it's because they are so much like homefolks.

It's 9:00, our bed time, so as we got in late last night, must say good-night.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Congo (59) Luebo, Congo 12/25/1921 [DCS]

Letter No. 20

Luebo, Belgian Congo, Dec. 25, 1921

Dearest homefolks:

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all.

I guess you wonder what we do for Christmas way out here, where you can't go to town to buy things to give. Well, if you had seen the beautiful porch swing that Stegall made in the Industrial School and had put on my porch before I got up this morning, part of the question would be settled at least. He knew how I liked a swing and how I wanted one so he sent it under Sankie's name to her teacher. I certainly am proud of it. Sankie also gave an ivory bracelet made by Stegall's boys in the school.

I thought we decided not to give presents to each other in the Station Meeting the other night, and I was so glad, as I did not bring out a thing in the way of presents. You know I had all I could do to get myself ready to come out here, but things have been coming in all morning. It almost makes me sick to get things and not have anything to give in return, but there is not one of them that I did not tell that I was not going to give presents. I guess I could have made them, as some of the rest have done, but I have had all I could do entertaining "mission meeting" people. You should have seen the nice little Animals Mrs. Cleveland made for the children on the station. She is an artist along sewing lines, in fact she is good along most all lines--reminds me of my mother in that respect. Both the Stegalls and the Clevelands had Christmas trees for their children out of a kind of tree that looks a whole lot like our holly, only the leaves are smooth and it has flowers instead of berries.

We (the station) got to enjoy the Stegall's tree last night. We had a course dinner, furnished by all the ladies, and afterward some musical selections, a talk on Christmas, by Mr. Martin, and a reading by Mr. Gillian. It seems to me that perhaps you and I read that story together, I know I had read it before--where the colored valet of George Staunton tells of two Christmases. One where George met Miss Charlotte, and he also met the girl, Miss Charlotte's maid, that he afterward married. The next Christmas, George has broken up with Charlotte. He is invited to a Christmas entertainment, but does not know Charlotte is going to be there. When he sees her, he leaves the place of amusement, swims a swollen river, where he nearly loses his life. During his sickness, he is always trying to get across that river again to see Nancy and can't. On the last day of his illness, he tells Edinbourer he is going to try to get across for the last time. Charlotte comes in about that time and he's across. I did not mean to tell the whole story when I started, but wanted you to know what it was. I find B.M. has told you about all of the entertainment, so I will only add that we had a fine time. I furnished a duck, pickles, olives, and a piece of chocolate candy to go in each stocking. (Understand the duck did not go in the stocking!!) I also helped prepare the salad, stockings, and popcorn balls for the stockings. Mrs. Cleveland, Wilds, and I did this.

I never did tell you about the other I things I got. Mrs. Wilds sent me a little apron, and so did the Whartons and Vinsons. They also sent a sack of candy. Mrs. Larson sent a can of plum pudding. But I have saved the best til last, at least it is the thing I needed most--some nice linen napkins, one dozen of them. I guess you wonder why I need napkins so badly, but you see, the ones Aunt Hon and Aunt Nennie gave me are rather small for dinner use. They are for tea, and as we have lots of teas out here, when we entertain State people especially, I want to save them for that purpose. They are very pretty since I have the crochet around them. I have only made six as yet. I am going to get me some cheap cloth and make us enough napkins so that we may have a clean one every day.

You need not be afraid we will lose our manners as there is no one who believes in manners more than B.M. does, and oh well! it's just too easy to be good mannered in the Congo, I mean as far as table manners are concerned.

You should have seen me Christmas evening at the English service; I had on my white organdy and my little white cap, my white pumps, and my! I did look swell. B.M. still does not like the white cap, so this is the second time I have worn it since I've been out here, and it was the first time for my organdy in the daylight, but I have worn it several times, about four, at night.

I am practicing up on some of my pieces, it seems the "Shepherd's Evening Song" is the hardest to play now, but I'll get it up all right again. The piano is not so bad as I had expected, and I have not forgotten quite as much as I thought. You see, practicing on the organ has helped me a great deal. As I have said before, when Mr. Martin and Mrs. Cleveland leave, I'll be the only one to play, so I may ask to have the piano moved down there. B.M. does not seem to approve very much as there is not really any place to put it, but I would like to have it close, but have not mentioned it to anyone else.

I suppose you think that we will not get the package sent from Terrell as we got Carroll's letter and did not get the things, but packages did not come in the last mail at all. They do not come every time, but we hope they will come in the next mail. I'm so afraid you worked too hard on my dresses. I never thought of your sending so many. You have always been too good to me, and I know it. This will be enough clothes to last me until I come home. I'm still wearing my pink jacket, and the last time I wore it, I got two compliments on it. Those princess slips certainly will come in fine. I've been planning to make me some as my old ones are in rags nearly. Washed my nice kimono the other day. It did not take the washing very well, several holes came in it, but I can mend them fine, and it is still beautiful. I have always been sorry I took your kimono. It's a shame absolutely. I believe you would have let me have the house if I could have brought it! !! I know you needed it so badly. Thanks, Daddy, for your letter, we both enjoyed it.

I must begin to cut down on this letter. I always feel that I have left out something that I wanted to tell you. I can write you long letters, but when it comes to other people, I fall down.

Love,

Dorothy

Monday, April 20, 2009

Congo (58) Luebo, Congo 12/25/1921 [BMS]

At the top of the letter is written, "Happy New Year to All, from Dot & B.M. You can see from this date, that we can't mail letters everyday. This letter mailed on Jan. 1st.

We have just received your 2 letters of 15th and 20th Oct. and card of 14th (Oct.), but as mail closes again at 2:00 P.M. will not have time to write more this mail. B.M. "

Luebo, Christmas Day, 1921

Dear Mother & Daddy:

If I were there I would say "Merry Christmas" to you both, and as the circumstance is, I write it with just the same spirit in which I would say it.

We celebrated our Christmas together yesterday evening, at which time all of us gathered at the Stegalls, had an Xmas supper and some entertainments of various kinds. We all report a splendid time; everything went off in good order. After the supper (or dinner, if you please), which was at 7:00 P.M., we had a few hymns together, a xmas selection by a mixed quartet in which the "missus" sang alto, a solo by Mrs. Wilds, a talk by Mr. Martin on the Spirit of Christmas, a Christmas reading from Thomas Nelson Page by Mr. Gilliam, and the distributing from the Christmas tree of stockings for everybody, filled with candy and nuts. So ended our evening, which was a very pleasant one for us all. Dorothy will tell you more about the little trinkets that passed around from the ladies, and the various presents the children received.

We are expecting the arrival of Dr. Egbert Smith, of our Executive Committee, about the latter part of January, along with some of our missionaries, probably the Stixruds and Allens, as we have heard that they are both coming and sailing date was fixed, and we feel sure they will be coming out with Dr. Smith. We are all very happy to learn that

Dr. Smith is to visit our field, for we feel sure he will have a different conception of our work, and will give our Church at home a different one, too. I think you heard him talk on his visit to China, and know what a powerful presentation he made of the conditions on that field. Then there are a number of problems that we want to discuss with him, too.

I forgot to tell you about the Christmas we had with our boys. As it is very difficult to make them understand the true meaning of Christmas by giving them presents, which is shown by past experiences, we have made it a policy not to indulge in any free presentation of presents. So we gave them each a small amount with which to get something at their market ,yesterday (the native market is held here every Saturday.) We have tried to encourage them to make a free-will offering for the needy on that day.

We have not had much success with our pigeons so far, on account of the house not being suitable. It was the upper part of our chicken house and was too easy of access for rats; not long ago I shot a fair sized snake up there. But we have just moved the pigeons to a new house, built for that purpose, and are hoping for better success. The young squabs certainly make a nice dish, and the variety adds to the taste as well. Stegall has some rabbits, Belgian hares, but they haven't been doing so well. If we could ever be successful with them, they would be a help. We have gotten to the stage out here when we must begin to prepare for some other meat supply than chicken, for the traders and various companies, as well as the state, have been creating such a demand for them that it is difficult to get them and the price is going up.

The people amongst whom we are working at the Baluba and Lulua tribes, and then at Bulape, (where the Whartons are working) , we have the Bakuba tribe, which is quite a distinct set of people, both in appearance as well as manners and customs. They are most aristocratic and striking in looks of all the people in this section, and realizing this peculiar condition, the State has been trying to preserve this kingdom as nearly as possible in their original state instead of trying to force them to adopt civilization as the others. The result is that we still see one of the old and one of the most powerful tribes practically as it has been living; they wear practically no foreign clothes, only their own native raffia cloth, generally dyed red. These people have a king, and a real "king" in the literal sense of the word. He is now stopping at Luebo, has been here some weeks. While he is one of the most powerful native chieftains in our section of the Congo, still he is a paralytic, and cannot raise his hands, or stand on his feet. He must be carried about everywhere; and it is interesting to see the care his men take of him. He is a very large man, fleshy and has a rather pleasing face. This is the people who have the best organized form of government among these natives. They have a regular Congress, with a Speaker; there is the Attorney-General, the royal surveyor, and so on.

Dorothy is calling me to get ready for our English service, so I'll have to say good bye for the present. With all of our best wishes for you both, and much ,love.

B.M.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Congo (57) Luebo, Congo 12/21/1921 [BMS]

Luebo,

Dec. 21, 1921

Dear Mother & Daddy:

It has been our job during the past few days to adjust ourselves to the "quiet life" again after the Mission meeting, for we were certainly rushing from morn till night for those two weeks. Things are just beginning to settle now, and we are almost at normal again. Our Meeting began on Nov. 30th and ended Dec. 14th, at 9:00 P.M. This was an unusually long meeting, as it generally lasts about one week, but this year we were remodeling our Constitution and By-Laws of the Mission, and this was quite a task itself, beside the other problems.

I don't know at the moment what Dorothy has written you, as I am up at the office, and have only a limited time to write this letter-mail closes at 3:00 and this is after 2:00, so if we double up on what we say you will understand why. She has perhaps told you about our entertaining the Edmonstons and their little eight-year old boy; they left Luebo this past Monday.

There were some rather important changes made at this meeting, especially in the placing of the missionaries. Mr. Bedinger, who has been at Lusambo, is to take up teaching in the Bible Training School at Mutoto; and the Clevelands are to go to Lusambo. This will probably be in about three or four months. Also, Mr. Gilliam, who is our Educational man, is to have charge of the Normal Training class at the Bible School at Mutoto. You can readily see from these few changes the importance we attach to our Bible Training School at Mutoto. It is at this school where all of our Evangelists are trained, and we have adopted the policy of doing the utmost to build up this School to our very best ability.

We received your two letters and card yesterday; also a nice long letter from Carroll. He certainly writes an interesting "article". We note that they sent us a package which will no doubt reach us in the next mail, probably in one or two weeks.

I note what you say about our letters, your sending them to friends, et cetera. As you have no doubt received our letters explaining what we had in mind, it is hardly necessary to say more. It seems that we misunderstood you, and that you misunderstood us. After you wrote us how you were sending these letters, then we had absolutely no objection, but rather are pleased that others have news regarding us and the work. It was only the question of sending our letters, the personal part, that we were doubtful about. So you may be free to use them in the way you explained whenever you can. I shall try to send you copies of any letters we write to others that may serve you in this way.

Dorothy was certainly glad to get her music, and has been practicing on the piano, to which she has access practically all day. Then we have the little organ in our house, which she has been using quite often. It seems to me that she has improved a great deal since we've been here in her playing.

This isn't much of a letter for news, but I'll have to close, and promise to write more next time. It's nearly time for mail to close, and I have to go down to see Dot before we send mail. (Our house is about three or four hundred yards from my office.)

With love to all.

B. M.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Congo (56) Luebo, Congo 12/20/1921 [DCS]

Luebo, Belgian Congo, December 20, 1921

My dearest homefolks:

More nice letters this morning--two letters and a card from you all and a letter from Carroll. He certainly writes an interesting letter, makes me ashamed I have not written to them more often, but I do hate to write. I realize I'm going to lose all my friends and lots of my kin folks if I don't write more often. Why there is Aunt Nennie who I suppose is with you now. She has been so lovely to me, made me such pretty things before I got married, and I don't believe I've written her directly since I've been here, but I hope she understands that I meant those letters I wrote to Terrell for her! Aunt Nennie you have no idea how thankful we all are to you for coming to stay with Mother, she needs you so badly. It just seems awful to both B.M. and myself to think of her trying to teach again, but as she thinks it's her duty, it's so good to know there is someone with her to help her both physically and mentally and there is no one that could do that like you. If you see the least signs of her getting tired and nervous, please persuade her to stop teaching, and if you can't persuade her, call out the police forces.

You must be ashamed of the new school building, as you never say anything about it. I don't even know where it is located or how it is to be used.

Where are Miss Dora and her husband living? I ought to write to her, but want to write to Stella first so she won't feel bad. I'm sorry Stella's letter got lost, but it couldn't be helped. Where I failed was in not writing her more often. B.M. wants me to write a letter a day for awhile, but this is my vacation month. The people have just gone home from the mission meeting. My people left yesterday morning. My! but it's a relief, they had been here going on three weeks. You see there was also a child about eight, although he was, I believe, one of the best children I ever saw. Still he worried me sometimes, and most of all about our monkeys. You know when monkeys are teased, they get to be mean, and we never allow anyone to tease them, not even our own boys are allowed to play with them. They bit the child twice and monkey bites sometimes prove dangerous. While they have never bitten us, still they don't like children much and I was always uneasy. Another thing that will keep me from writing every day is that I am going to take up Baluba again and want to spend quite a bit of time on it. I hope if possible to take up a little French also. They are going to require us more and more to learn French, I understand. There are also a number of books I want to read. I was thinking last night that I would like to have some of those books for keeping up with what you read. Don't know whether you know what I'm talking about or not, but I had one in the Terrell school.

I believe you put the subject of our showing our letters in a stronger light than necessary. I never cared for you showing my letters to Aunt Hon and Aunt Nennie, but Aunt Lutie and Uncle Kent are very particular, and you know how you yourself used to make me be so careful when I wrote to them, and I am not careful when I write to you, if I were you'd never get as long letters as you do. I'll have to acknowledge that if Aunt Lutie and Uncle Kent had depended on hearing directly from me, they would not have heard very often. Please don't say I've lost confidence in you, for I haven't.

What was it about Dedye, that she lost her child? You told me you thought she had, that the Dr. came to see her and you never heard any more about the baby. That's all I remember. Which Dedye did you mean?

As to newspaper news, B.M. gets the "Literary Digest", and that's where he gets most of his news. I am taking "The Ladies Horne Journal." I was taking the "American" but have not subscribed to it again. Understand B.M. gets other papers besides the Digest, one is a French paper.

Love to all,

Dorothy

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Congo (55) Luebo, Congo 12/6/1921 [DCS]

Luebo, December 6, 1921

Dear, dear homefolks:

I have so much ground to cover this time and so many things on my list to tell you I wish I could write with a pencil, but you know what B.M. thinks about that, so I'll do the best I can with a pen. Have just finished reading over all your old letters--about seven in all--and making notes on what you asked me. You see, I don't keep your letters any longer than to answer them and you know how hard that is for me as I always kept all my letters, but I hardly ever read over them over [sic.] and have no plan to keep them. That is, I mean after the first few times, I don't read them over.

My first topic naturally is on the mission meeting, as that is the big thing going on here now. Everyone has all the entertaining they can do and many interesting things are discussed, while some subjects are far from interesting. The delegates from Lusambo are Mr. and Mrs. Bedinger, Mrs. Anderson, and Mr. Daumery, who runs the steamer; from Mitoto, the Smiths and Mr. Shive; and the Whartons from Bulepe. The Mc [???] came from [???]. The Edmonstons (colored) have just come from America and have not been placed yet. Understand the Edmonstons have been out here before, and Mrs. Edmonston especially is a very smart woman, having written a grammar in the native language which is to be printed soon. They are my special guests and very pleasant people. They also have their little boy (age 8) with them. The changes at Luebo after mission meeting we are expecting to be great, as ours is a large station and the others are wanting more people. The ones we are expecting to lose sure are Clevelands, Gilliam, Kings, and the Mission treasurer is almost certain to be moved to Lusambo sooner or later, but the subject has not been voted on yet. I haven't time to tell you much that goes on at the meeting, but these sessions are held morning, evening, and night.

The women have been having meetings each morning, but our problems are nearly all dispersed with. The most interesting subjects at our meeting were education of missionary children, appointing ladies to publish a book for new missionaries consisting of customs of natives that will help them get into their work and understand the natives more quickly, also the question of whether the ladies should come to doctors or doctors to ladies in confinement cases (expectant mothers.) The first subject (missionary's children) was settled by asking or deciding to ask the committee to send teachers primarily for teaching these children, but also using her spare time in working with natives. At present, this question is to be brought up at each station and one lady appointed to teach those children that need attention at present. I suppose this means that I continue my work with Sankie, while I feel I am not able to do her justice. On the last subject I feel you won't understand all. You see there is only one doctor on the mission at present, while we are expecting Dr. Stixrud soon, still the condition at present is hard. There are seven of our ladies pregnant at this time and Dr. King is the only Dr. to look after them and they are on different stations. The Dr.'s wife being one of them. I sympathize with the Dr. to some extent but I think it's wrong from him to expect these women to come to him as hard as a hammock trip is and as dangerous [sic.] I know the way he looks at it, "if I were in that condition" I would certainly not call on him unless I had to, and that's the way most of the ladies feel. I'm so glad Dr. Stix is going to be our Dr., though they tell me he isn't as good as Dr. King along those lines. The meeting has been expecting to close (Thursday) day after tomorrow, but there is so much to do we don't know when they will get through.

Our box of books came up on the Lapsley and what we thought was our cedar chest, but it turned out to be Stegall's honey extractor; now we have had no word from it since it got to New York, but we are pretty sure it got that far as the box of books came. You can't imagine how disappointed I was, but they tell us there is still some chance of getting it, especially if it is at the White Bible Training School at New York. We don't know just yet how to go about it, but something should be done right away. I certainly was glad to get my music and domestic science books, especially. I can't tell you yet whether I've forgotten all my music or not, as there has been a man in the room where the piano is and I hated to go in, at least two men most of the time and not our missionary people either. I am so anxious to try. The natives seem to like the songs in the Midway book, it's "kinda jiggy" and attractive to them. I may try to teach Sankie to play, as you know I brought my first book. I don't think the next term I try to teach the Dr.'s children from across the river, as that makes three children in three different classes and I can't give Sankie all the time I'd like to.

Mrs. Wylds my next door neighbor has a good voice and has taken some lessons, I don't know just how much she knows, but she has an invalid husband and besides her four months old baby and one of the hardest native classes, the class of teacher's wives. Women are very hard to get to learn. Mrs. Wylds told me the other day that after she had taught them the word "kusumba" (elephant) for a whole week, on Monday morning, she asked them to spell it, one woman spoke up and said, "If you teach us, we will know." Just a sample of their denseness.

I hardly ever play on my "uke" any more, the organ takes all my time musically. Mr. Martin plays for English service and plays well; he is to leave soon, though, then I hope Mrs. Cleveland will be able to play for church. They are the only two who play besides me. When the piano was talked about being put in the shed, Rowena was here and she plays songs, but that was only in the Educational meeting it was passed and the station, rather Mr. Martin, refused, so that was dropped before she left. We never said anything about it, but the Hobsons and we did not get along very well, not that we had any words, but once or twice, but we had entirely different ways and opinions. We feel that it was planned by God that they were sent to Bulape, for as it is, we write to each other and are on good terms as long as we are not thrown together all the time. We sometimes think that possibly it was because we were both just married and thought too much of ourselves. Everything is all straight now and we are good friends.

Mother, I hope you don't try to teach too soon, and I know you should not teach this year, for you are not strong enough. I know, though, how you feel about letting someone who does not know anything about it teach. As to the house, there will never be another place just like that one to me, but I feel that if you can get a good price for it now, it is the time to sell, for you can't live out there all the rest of your life. As far as B.M. is concerned, he likes it out there, but he is going to have to study up on the printing work if we come back. I'm afraid to say anything much either way, for you all will have to do what you think is best for yourselves, not for us.

I hope Hickman's arm is better now. I got a nice letter from Nettie in the last mail, and I certainly would like to see James, from what Nettie says he is as big talker as the rest of the family. We also got a letter from Frances Chambers, Miss Louise Evens, and Ester Davidson, she used to be, all just as sweet and nice as they could be--makes me wish I liked to write letters.

Yes, our kodak is in good fix and we have films. We want to take some more pictures soon, can't print them though as our paper is bad.

Of course, I'll be mighty glad to get some new dresses, my dresses are wearing out pretty fast, you see we have our clothes washed more out here and that makes them wear. I don't have any place to wear my organdy much and hate to wear it for nothing, but I have plenty of time to wear it yet. I fixed the yoke like you told me to, for Oh! I need things like that so badly, and I fixed it just in time for mission meeting.

I was surprised to death about Miss Dora, it seems to me that's a very good match. I can't remember hearing anything very bad about Dee Moye, and I know he is certainly good looking. I don't remember anyone by the name of Mr. Victory. I guess he just heard of me and wanted to make like he knew me. Where are Miss Dora and her husband to live?

You are not much ahead of us on the corn meal proposition, as we have ordered us one from the Mt. Gomery Ward [sic.]. Ours hasn't come yet, and there is no telling when it will. I have been doing a little cooking myself here lately. I'd made a cake all by myself and the cake part turned out real nicely, but the icing sugared and I didn't get it on quick enough. I have also made bread several times, and Mrs. Cleveland has helped me, but I haven't perfected it yet; however, it's much better than my cook can make.

You spoke of sending some shoes, well I certainly need them, but Mr. Stegal is making me a pair in the industrial school, and he. has a new last that is very nice. He has already made one pair for me, number threes, and I had to pass them on to another woman because they were too small. Surely hope this pair will fit or I'll have to go barefoot pretty soon. You would be surprised at the shoes they make here--almost as pretty as shoes you buy at home and real leather, too.

Mrs. Cleveland is expecting her little visitor in six weeks, and I have not made here a single thing yet. I have made Sara enough tatting for a little dress, and also some tatting insertion for just above the hem like Jo Carroll had, and Sarah and I together made Mrs. King a little dress. Sarah made the dress and I gave the tatting. It's certainly not because I don't like Mrs. Cleveland that I have left her last, as she and I are neighbors and good friends, but Mrs. Cleveland knows how to sew so well and she tats, and I just can't decide on anything.

My! my hand is so tired, but I decided I just must write you a long letter. After I started and had all the material ready, the boy came in saying mail left this afternoon, so I had to hurry.

I just love you, and love you some more.

Dorothy

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Congo (54) Luebo, Congo 11/28/1921 [DCS]

Luebo, Belgian Congo, Mon. Nov. 28, 1921

You dear, dear homefolks:

The mail leaves in less than an hour and it seems like I have so much to tell you, and I could fill several pages just with thanks for your five nice long letters and a card that I got this morning. Oh! if I could just make you understand how much your letters mean to me. After I have read them I almost feel like a new person for then I know you are getting along well, for I can't help but think and worry sometimes. Mother, your letters are coming fine now; you had better keep sort of quiet about the letters for a while for really I'm having no complaint now, and there isn't any use to stir up the subject of our old letters for that's all passed. They haven't any interest in my letters now, or shouldn't have, and I don't believe they would dare hold back my letters or yours either, for that matter, for you know that would be a mighty tender place with us now, and I believe they would be afraid to. There would be no use to get them in bad about our letters, that is if you just want to clean the country out, because if you start to clean it out there would be too many new things turn up. I don't think I've made my point clear, but I just mean that everybody and everything in that whole country towards Kiam is rotten. That certainly is putting it strong.

My goodness! I have just started, but B.M. has come in and said I must stop in order to get anything off. Will try to write tomorrow and the mail will go again in a day or so I think.

I love you all,

Dorothy

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Congo (53) Luebo, Congo 11/11/1921 [DCS]

Belgian Congo, Central Africa,

(Via Antwerp.)

November 11, 1921

Dearest homefolks:

How do you like my new stationery? B.M. said this heading took up too much space, but I wanted to use it just this once. My writing always looks so bad without lines, though. I've decided not to learn to write on the typewriter now, and I had rather spend all my extra time, which isn't very much now, on practicing hymns. Even if I do say it, I can play them much better than when I came. Mr. Martin's organ is certainly a dandy, and not very hard to pump, either. That reminds me that she, Mrs. Martin, has passed her examination (physical) and is expecting to come back with Mr. Martin at the end of his next vacation. That means I'll have to give up my cook, but I hope to have another trained by that time.

The most interesting thing that has happened lately in our "family" is that Cisuaka has a new boy baby, born day before yesterday, and named Mayele, B.M.'s native name. I went to see it yesterday evening, and carried a little dress I had made for him that morning, out of some of that cloth I had a dress of a long, long time ago when I was a little girl. I don't know whether you remember it or not, it has little wreaths of pink and green. It was the first baby dress I ever made, and really it did look cute after I got the pink ribbon drawstring around the neck and arms. I had intended to put the dress on myself, I mean on the baby myself, but when I got there they were giving the poor little thing a cold bath, splashing the cold water all over it, in its eyes to boot, and my, he was yelling as loud as he could. They then put him on an old piece of cloth and gave him to his mother; after he got quiet, I didn't have the nerve to disturb him to try on the dress. Some of the things about the natives--their superstitions and beliefs--at this time just makes you want to try to teach them the right way, and do something for them.

I forget to tell you in the last letter when I sent the picture of "our boys" why Cisuaka was not in it. You see, it was this way, he was fired for a while, then we took him back, and it was while he was away that the picture was taken. We want to take his and Ngoi's picture together and send it to you, for they are our best boys next to the cook. We are believing more and more that our cook is a thief. Thank you for that pie crust recipe. He doesn't make very good pie crust, but my! he made a good potato pie for dinner. You were saying we didn't make many pies and things, but we certainly do; we put our fruits into pies and puddings sometimes, but for desserts, we hardly ever use just the fruit alone, but use much fruit for salads, with dressing, and peanuts and lettuce. We have been getting such a nice celery up from the garden lately, and we had some very nice celery soup for dinner. I wish you could come eat with me just once, then you would want to come again, I believe. You see, I can talk as I don't do the cooking.

It was certainly nice of the Livingston people to come out to see you and bring their lunch. I believe they are among the very best friends we have. Why haven't you told me more about the new building, where it's going to be, what it's for, who's going to run it, etc.?

Now, Mother, don't go to teaching school too soon; you were mighty sick and if you go to working hard again, you might not be able to stand it. Think about us a little, when we come home, how anxious we are to find you in good health.

Mother dear, please excuse my statement a while back that you did not write long enough letters or something like that. Your letters are so sweet and interesting to me, and they are much longer, and more of them than I write you, but this is what was the matter. I was so anxious to get your letters, and just a little homesick, too, sometimes, that I could just read and read your letters and not get tired. It really wasn't the fault of your letters, if you just knew how much they meant to me. Now I wouldn't have you think for a minute that I'm not happy, but I'd like to see you mighty well sometimes. We sit out on the porch lots of nights and wonder what you are doing. At seven with us, it's about 12 a.m with you. I don't think we have missed any letters since we got to Luebo. My paper has run out so goodbye. I love you.

Dorothy

Monday, April 13, 2009

Congo (52) Luebo, Congo 11/11/1921 [BMS]

Luebo

Nov. 11th, 1921

Dear Mother & Daddy:

The last mail we had, on Sunday, was a good one and we enjoyed it, especially as the previous one was so long away. The mails get to Africa regularly enough, but during the dry season it is often difficult to get the mail to Luebo as only the smallest steamers come here during that season, and they have to make connection with the larger steamers coming from Kinshasa. The "Lapsley" does not come here during the dry season as it is stationed at Lusambo. As we wrote you in the last mail we are looking for the "Lapsley" here in the later part of this month.

You wrote something about the possibility of letters not having reached us, or our letters not having reached you. From your letters, I believe that practically all of our letters have been received on both ends. I hardly think that there is much chance, except that one gets lost occasionally. Our papers have all been coming.

We had one of our unusual rains this morning; it began about 6:30 A.M. and lasted until about 11:30. Usually you can depend on a rain not lasting over a half hour, or two hours at the most, and one of these long steady rains is seldom seen here. However, we have them in sufficient numbers to make up for the lack in length at this season.

This is Friday afternoon, or rather evening now. Friday is "ration" day with us, at which time we pay the natives their weekly ration. We are required by law to give the native workingman a certain amount every week for rations in addition to his monthly pay. In all large centers in this territory it is one franc a week (about 20 cents in normal times, and about .08 cents at present rate of exchange). Years ago we used to ration them with salt, a cup of salt a week; this is a coarse salt called fishing salt, and not our table salt. But salt hasn't the value now here that it used to, so we use francs entirely now for pay and rations, although salt is still a necessity as barter goods. A pint of salt is worth one franc. When we send a messenger or carriers to another station, we give them rations for their journey in salt; that is, where they have to sleep at least one night on the road. Salt is shipped in to the traders by the ton. This system of paying rations every week, of course, makes quite a bit of work, especially here at Luebo where we have about 500 employees, 300 of whom come in my payroll. This always makes Friday afternoon a busy one for me.

A few months ago, and up until right recently, we have had difficulty in getting the proper kind of cash with which to ration the workers. During the war, the Belgian Government issued a large number of paper 1.00 franc bills to the natives. With the houses, the rats, white ants, and other vermin, this is quite an imposition on the natives for they are not prepared to take care of paper money. In some places they would sell this paper franc for as low as one-half franc. And it became difficult to buy anything from the natives with the paper money.

Then for a while change of all kinds became scarce and we were not able to ration the natives weekly. However, the situation is better now as the government has been issuing a quantity of new money, both one franc and half-franc coins, which has relieved this trouble.

This is the most trying season of the year for the natives as regards their food supplies. They have just finished planting their new crop, in fact it is all up and doing fine, but that means that it will be about the late part of January before the new crop of corn and manioc, and other things, will begin to come in. So in the meantime, things become scarcer and scarcer, not only higher but harder to find. The native, of course, has not yet learned the wisdom of the ant, even though there are thousands of these insects about him on every hand, viz., that of laying up food in summer, all about which Solomon told them, but not knowing Solomon or his wisdom, they do not follow his warnings very fully. They lay up some food, but very few of them sufficient to carry them through the dry season, and until their new crops are harvested, which is from July to January. A few months ago manioc ("ciombe" as we call it here) was selling for 50 sticks for one franc; now it is 20 pieces for one franc and the sticks about half size. These are just a few of the little details that we come in contact, and while they are not very interesting, still they absorb quite a bit of our interest at times.

May get in a few more words before mail closes, but good-night for this time.

With love.

B.M

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Congo (51) Luebo, Congo 11/7/1921 [BMS], [DCS]

American presbyterian Congo Mission

Luebo, Belgian Congo, Nov. 7th, 1921

Dear Aunt Hon:

As you will soon find, this is not a letter, but a request. The mail just came in yesterday, and as it leaves this afternoon, we haven't time to write, but we are anxious to get this order in on account, especially, of the kodak supplies. We are ordering this from Montgomery Ward, as this will no doubt make it easier for you, and ask that you just send them the order we enclose with a money order for the total. We trust this will not inconvenience you, and shall send you a remittance in the near future to cover this order and the last one, too.

Everything is running along smoothly; we are both well. The end of this month we have our Annual Mission Meeting, at which time we gather at one of the stations for a Conference on our work and plans for the new year. It is to be held here at Luebo this year, and we shall have about eight representatives from the other stations, and with our eighteen already here, this will make a good sized bunch. Dot is getting along fine with her household; she has had a good cook and this man has helped her a great deal, but just now she is trying to see how things are done herself; she was making bread this morning (so we shall have some fine bread tomorrow.)

Had three nice long letters from Pinkney yesterday. It seems they are going to start on a new school--agricultural--in the very near future. And the road seems to be almost complete from there to Livingston.

Well, let us hear from you soon. With lots of love from us both, to you all.

B.M. and Dorothy

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Congo (50) Luebo, Congo 11/1/1921 [BMS]

Luebo, Nov. 1, 1921

Dear Mother & Daddy,

Here we are at the beginning of another month. The months have surely been slipping away. Of course, the months don't have the same significance to us out here as they do there, for Christmas and Thanksgiving don't hold such a place. The epoches that stand out in our year are the unusual and unexpected events. Perhaps the Annual Mission Meeting is our most important event, and this is to be held the latter part of this month. We have representatives from all the other stations; then the Meeting is not always held at Luebo. It will probably be held at Lusambo next year.

We had quite an exciting event to take place here yesterday. Last Friday night a leopard was shot by a trap which Mr. Cleveland set with a gun, at our farm which is about three miles from our station. He had fixed a gun in the trap so that he would be shot by stepping on the trigger. It went off and evidently struck him, for they could see where he dragged himself away from the trap. So Saturday afternoon, Cleveland went down with some men to hunt for him. He came upon him suddenly, and the leopard made a charge for him but failed to attack him. However, they did not hunt him anymore that day. So yesterday several of us went down to hunt for him and after quite a bit of searching, we found him dead from the wound which the gun in the trap inflicted. While Cleveland had a narrow escape on Saturday when the leopard made for him, it was the fact that he was mortally wounded that saved Cleveland from a struggle with him, for the leopard must have been near death at the time Cleveland saw him. So we got him and brought him up to the station, and the natives certainly made a racket over him. Unfortunately, he had been dead so long that a good part of his skin is bad, the wound having decayed and the skin is bad on both of his lower limbs. The natives have all kinds of superstitions in connection with leopards, and some of them wouldn't dare to touch the dead leopard for fear some calamity would befall them. Some believe that a leopard is the departed spirit of some man.

I don't know whether we have ever told you that the city of Luebo has a banking institution, "The Bank of Congo Belge," of course, a Belgian bank. This is quite a help to us in our finances. One of the bankers is very fond of tennis and comes over quite often to play tennis with us, and we return the visit over to the other side of the bank (for it is situated on the other side of the river.) Last week, Dorothy and I had two of them over to tea. However, as they do not speak much English, Dorothy didn't have very much fun talking to them. Another banker who left recently spoke very good English, and we liked him very much; we had him and his colleague over to dinner one evening just before he left.

Up until a few weeks ago, the floor of our kitchen was brick, and as they were rather soft, they wore very much, making it very difficult to keep it clean. A few weeks ago we had a cement floor put in, which makes it easy to keep spick and span. Then we had shelves put into the walls for cupboards, etc., so that now we have nothing resting on the floor under which dust and dirt can collect. This certainly has made it much easier for Dorothy to have the kitchen properly cleaned. And with our new stove, about which we have written you, we have a right neat appearing kitchen--which is saying a great deal out in this country, for you can imagine how hard it would be to keep a kitchen with a dirt floor looking tidy.

Our chickens, the little chicks, have not been doing so well, or rather we are not able to raise but a very small per cent. However, we are still pegging away with them, and get quite a lot of pleasure from them. Our pigeons are doing only moderately, but we are going to build a better house for them, and hope to be having plenty of them to eat within six or eight months. Our two little monkeys are still lively, and playful and frisky.

We are expecting some letters from you any day, as it has been sometime since the last mail and a boat is due soon.

Goodbye.

With love,

B.M.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Congo (49) Luebo, Congo 10/27/1921 [DCS]

Luebo October 27, 1921

My dearest homefolks:

This is a dreary, rainy evening, B. M. and I had planned to go to visit some of the people we work with on Sundays, but it looks like it will continue to rain all evening. I love to go to the village, for each time I see something new, and they always seem so pleased to see us. I never go alone, not that I'm afraid to, but I don't know just why; one reason is that I don't know the language very well. The other women go alone but I never have.

We are invited to Miss Larsons's for supper this evening, then after supper play forty-two. There are several of us who enjoy forty-two out here, and we play right often. Rook also has a high place in our evenings entertainments.

Mrs. Vinson has asked me to take "my" organ up to the school shed and play for the children to sing every Friday morning. They always have something extra on Friday morning from 9:00 to 9:30. The children go through the village with a drum in front, calling in the people to enjoy it also. They have had a victrola for some time, but they are tired of that now. Of course they get tired because they can't understand, and just like the Indians they enjoy a laughing piece. I am also teaching Mrs. Vinson's Sunday School class some songs. I suspect when my music comes I'll start Sankie on music lessons. She is a right smart child, but spoiled as any child would be to live with the natives and boss them as she does.

Nov. 1, 7:30 P. M.

Mrs. Stegall had a Halloween party last evening and it certainly was nice. She had the whole station over for supper, and served ham, potato salad, plantain chips (much liked potato chips), pickles, olives, sandwiches, gelatine, & cakes for desert and candy last. Also coffee, but I didn't take any of that, so I forgot. You said I'd start to drinking coffee after I came out here but I haven't yet. Well, we all dressed up in sheets and tried to keep people from knowing us as long as we could. After we got there, Mrs. Stegall asked all who wanted their fortunes told to come with her, so she took us to where she had fixed a little room in the side of the porch; here she told our fortunes with the victrola that had a yellow record with numbers on it. You stood in front of her, or rather the victrola, and she let the thing run a while then she stopped it and the number in front was your number. This is the fortune I drew that I'm sending. I am going to send the invitation and place cards, and also an invitation to another party she had not long ago that I think is cute. I know you are always interested in such things. After our fortunes we went to supper and after we finished, while we were still sitting around the table the different parts of a ghost were passed around; among them was the phantom and like we had that time. By the time all this was over and we went on the porch, it was 9:00 o'clock, time for all Luebo missionaries to go to bed.

I am sending you a few little things I thought you might be interested in. Among them are two pictures B. M. and I developed and printed. Our paper is not good is the reason they look so bad. We should have brought it out in sealed tins. There is supposed to be another table boy in the picture of our boys, but some way he failed to get in.

It's almost time for the mail to leave, so goodbye.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Congo (48) Luebo, Congo 10/2/1921 [BMS]

Luebo, Oct. 2, 1921

Dear Mother and Daddy:

It is hard to realize that a year ago, we have just reached London on our way out, but such was the case, and have now been on the field just about eight months.

There is hardly a month that passes, but that we have some unexpected news of some kind, not always bad. A few weeks ago, the Kellersbergers found that Mrs. Kelly has sleeping sickness and had to return to England to have her treated. Now in this last mail, we have news that Dr. Egbert W. Smith was due to leave the states sometimes in October for a visit to the Congo Mission. Also that a Mr. Carson, who gave $10,000.00 for our Industrial School, is coming for a visit to us along with Dr. Smith (to sail in November instead of Oct. as above mentioned.) We are all eager for this visit from Dr. Smith, as we have been trying to get some member of the Committee out here for some time. During the last few years Africa has had a bit more attention from our folks at home, but before this our field came about last in everything, China occupying the foreground when it came to new missionaries as well as interest. It isn't possible to give a very accurate description of our work, our surroundings, and our needs as they are, for there isn't much with which our folks at home are acquainted to compare them with. This perhaps is true of every field to a large extent, but not so much as with us because we are so far removed from the world's highways, and you find so very few people who have been here, even on the "outskirts," even the ubiquitous press agent or reporter very seldom penetrates our country. So we are looking forward quite eagerly to Dr. Smith's visit, and I think he would be our preference if one was stated.

The springs and mattress that Dorothy and I ordered from Montgomery Ward, or rather that I added to the grocery order, reached us a few weeks ago. The mattress was badly soiled on one edge, but otherwise in good shape, and the springs were all right, so we are enjoying them. The ones we had were not bad but these are much better.

Our chicken yard is in "full bloom" now, for we have about 35 little biddies and two more hens setting. But raising these chicks brings on more discussion, for it's a problem.

We have a new stove, just come from Montgomery W., not ordered especially for us, but several ordered for the station. We have been using a brick oven up to the present, and which has been quite satisfactory, but not as neat or convenient as a stove; and it takes up too much space in the kitchen.

Later. As I've had to write one of these "Church" letters I'll have to close here.

Love to all,

B. M.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Congo (47) Luebo, Congo 10/9/1921 [DCS]

Luebo, Oct. 9, 1921

My dear, dear homefolks:

Oh! we have had such a good time this weekend. Mr. Martin, Miss Black, B.M. and I went out to a village about two hours ride in a hammock, away from here Friday morning and came back yesterday, Saturday, at noon. B. M. and Mr. Martin went to hunt while Miss Black and I went to have a good time. We prepared our dinner and supper before we left, which consisted of a cake & a loaf of bread, some potato salad, hard boiled eggs, goat meat, lettuce & chow-chow sandwiches, peanuts, plantain chips, very much like our potato chips, pickles, olives, pineapples, and bananas, besides coffee and tea. And for breakfast a can of bacon and eggs and pancakes and syrup; so you see we fared well as far as eating was concerned. We left about nine-thirty, crossed the river and arrived at our village about eleven-thirty after a very pleasant ride; you know when there are very steep hills, we have to walk so much we are tired out when we get to our destination, but this time, we were not tired but very hot. Soon we ate our lunch then put up our beds and took a nap, "Congo style." About two o'clock, the men prepared to go on their hunt for monkeys, but they didn’t get to stay long as a rain was threatening, and it did rain a little after they got there, but after tea, they started out again, this time to hunt guineas. They came back again about dark empty-handed. Then we ate supper and Mr. Martin talked to a chief about a man from his village having sold his daughter into child marriage, which has lately become a state law against this, and I think they were going to send a soldier to arrest this man, but I can't understand the language well yet, so I may be wrong. We went to bed early as the men wanted to go hunting early next morning, but were awakened about ten o'clock by it raining in our room. My! It did rain and it did leak, but my bed had a top to it, so I was all right, but Miss Black had to sleep under two umbrellas all night, and B.M. in the next room had to move his bed several times. Mr. Martin had a bed like mine. Of course, they couldn't go next morning until after breakfast in account of the rain, as it continued raining until after daylight. We, Miss Black and I, left about eight and stopped in another village till about eleven waiting for the men. Mr. Martin killed one monkey and B.M. killed or wounded one, but he never found it. Found everything all right when we got back and the little monkeys were so glad to see us. While I was out there I took down my hair a half dozen times, and they wanted more, each time seemed just as interesting as the last. Miss Black also had to take down her hair many times, she even went to far as to let them touch hers, but I objected to her doing it, as there is no telling how many diseases could be spread in this way. So much for our trip; it seems very scattering and uninteresting to me, but I hope you don't find it so.

I'm going to cut this letter short this time as B.M. complains that he never has enough room.

My little table boy's mother died the other day with sleeping sickness, and we have been trying to convince them that they should not go in "mourning" for her, which generally lasts a month or more. This seems to be the hardest time to stick to the religion we are trying to teach.

Your names were in the prayer calendar for last Sunday, but we pray for you every day.

I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.

Dorothy

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Congo (46) Luebo, Congo 9/25/1921 [DCS]

Luebo, Sunday

Sept. 25, 1921

My dearest homefolks:

It's too rainy to have Sunday School this afternoon, so everyone is staying at home. I'm sorry to say that I don't generally go to church in P.M., rather Sunday School, as B.M. goes out to where we have church and at three o'clock in the afternoon, it's too hot and far for me to walk. Even at that I go to church more on Sunday than most of the ladies, for they think when they have gone to the English service that's enough. The people seemed to lose interest in the service, out where we go, for awhile; but they have started back again now, and we have quite a crowd, about two hundred and fifty or three hundred.

The elders said the reason the people didn't want to come was because they had to sit on logs and get their clothes dirty; they are like the Indians, put on the best they have on Sunday and it is not so easy for them to get soap to wash their clothes. A good many bring their own chairs when they have any. One of my hardest jobs is to keep the little ones quiet. The native children are not like the Indian children in that respect. The more attention they can draw the better it suits them. There is a bunch now that comes each Sunday and sits in front of my seat and talk, so as to make me call them down. We are going to settle that about next Sunday, though.

One of my little monkeys died this evening. You hadn't heard about this one. I only got it about two weeks ago. Mr. Martin bought it for Sankie, and she became afraid of it and wouldn't have it, so Mr. Martin brought it here as he knew I had a soft heart toward any kind of animals, and asked me to take care of it. It was a very hard kind to raise. In fact you hardly ever see this kind in captivity. I have never seen a large one, but they say when grown are one of the largest monkeys in the forest. I suppose you have heard or seen pictures of the Tombolo. When they are grown, they are black and white, but mine was white all over. I kept him longer than I had expected to, for I had one before that [who] was older than this one, and he didn't live a week. I think one reason he lived as long as he did was because we let him stay with "Belly-belly" (Mr. Martin's big monkey, that we are keeping for him while he goes on his trips) at night, as keeping it warm was the biggest trouble. My other two little monkeys are just alike, and are as cute and playful as they can be. I guess Mother won't be much interested in my animals, but it's my nature to love pets and I can't help talking about them. These little monkeys, especially "Jocko" are the best pets I ever had.

We got our bed from Montgomery Ward in the last ship load of stuff, and my! it certainly is comfortable. Only a mattress and springs is all we ordered, but we have a nice bed-stead. The mattress came in pretty bad shape. Had oil spilled on one side, two rat holes, and several torn places. I think I patched about ten places, but there were only two large ones, and I am going to try washing the grease off with soap and water and a brush. Even with all that, it does not look so very bad and it certainly is good. I am going to make a cover for it as soon as I have time.

"The Club" leaves next Sat. morning, and I certainly will be glad. It looks like at the rate they are going around that it won't be long before they come back to me again. There are three women expecting babies on this station now and those ladies won't want to keep the men when they get stout. Those three ladies are Mrs. Cleveland, King, and Stegall. Mrs. Vinson has been sick for nearly a month now, and continues to have a little fever every day. She has malaria and can't get rid of it.

The news from Mrs. Kellersberger is worse. She got up and they thought they would be able to start soon, but Dr. wrote the other day that he had to put her back in bed, and if she didn't get well enough to leave soon, she could not go. [A note on the side states,"She is better & able to travel OK now."]

I have read several books since I came out, and l'd read lots more if I had the time. There are so many good books in the library. I can't remember all that I've read, but "When a Man's a Man", "The Girl of the Limberlost," and "the Following of the Star" are some of them. My next book to read is "Innocents Abroad." B.M. and I are reading "Our

Mutual Friend" together when we have time, and Mr. Gilliam let us have "Martin Chuzzlewit," one of Dickens I'd never heard of to read.

I think I shall write to Mr. Myres and find where Francis is in school so I can write to her. If you know, please write her address in your next letter. I declare it's a shame the way I neglect my friends. I haven't written to Helena since she married.

Please don't say on your letter, via Antwerp any more, for we might get them sooner, you see they send the letters by the quickest way. If one of your letters got to Antwerp just after the steamer had left, if that letter didn't have "via Antwerp" they would send it to France if they had heard a French steamer was leaving soon. I must stop for today. Our houseboy, the one what was with B.M. out here before, says tell my grand father and grand mother "Moyo" (greetings). He says we are his father and mother, so you are his grandfather and grandmother. He has his faults, but as a whole we like him very much. .

I love you both a bushel and a peck and a hug round the neck. Give my love to Stella.

Dorothy

Monday, April 6, 2009

Congo (45) Luebo, Congo 9/22/1921 [BMS]

Luebo, Belgian Congo, Sept. 22, 1921

Dear Mother & Daddy:

We received a nice bunch of letters from you yesterday and certainly enjoyed them, even a whole letter by Daddy. But as usual, the boat leaves in the morning and we must rush with our letters.

I have been unusually busy for the last few days, and will continue so for several days, as we have just gotten in a lot of cargo, and have a lot more that came in this afternoon which we must get up from the beach in the morning. This is a little job itself, as the beach is a good mile from the station, and the path is up a good big hill all the way. Then, there's the checking, distributing and charging of the goods.

Things have been moving along as usual; we are almost thru with our month for the Club, for which Dorothy is glad enough. While it means quite a bit of extra work, still it is a pleasure for us, too, for it makes a good pleasant company when five of us get together for a meal, and we have enjoyed their company. This is quite an important task, for someone must look atter our single folks. I don't know whether or not Dorothy has given you the names of the "Club." Mr. Hillhouse, builder, Mr. Gilliam, educational man, and Mr. Craig, our business man. Mr. Hillhouse is quite up in years, in the fifties; Mr. Craig is in the forties; and Gilliam is about 28, so there's a chance for him to retire from his bachelorhood some of these days.

Mr. Cleveland, who has been our mission Treasurer, or Business man, until Mr. Craig came, has been on a visit to all of our other stations with Mr. Craig. They were gone about six weeks. A good part, or I mean nearly all of this trip was made overland. They took this trip so that Mr. Craig could get acquainted with the other stations and their people and their business problems and to discuss with him their problems and plans along business lines.

I had a very nice letter in this last mail from one of my friends-our friends--in Macon, Ga., the leader of the women's Auxiliary. She made some very helpful suggestions about writing letters, stating that so often one knew what would be found in some missionary's letters before they were opened, and that so many people were interested in the surroundings and everyday affairs of the missionary to enable the people at home to visualize the missionary at work.

We have just had some news that was quite a shock to us all. It was found that Mrs. Kellersberger has a case of sleeping sickness [some photos by Dr. Kellersberger]. The shock doesn't come from the seriousness of this disease, for if taken in the early stages, there is a cure for it that is almost certain, but Dr. and Mrs. Kellersberger have just returned from furlough, having been back on their station about six weeks, and then to have to turn around and go right back to England! And leaving only one doctor on our field, too. This makes quite a hard situation for us. However, it may be that the Lord will use this to get us the doctors out here that we sorely need. The Kellersberger are on their way home now, I believe; at least, they are going from here to England for the treatment. They will go down the river from Lusambo and not come by Luebo.

We are of course glad to know that you are back at home and that both you and Daddy feel better. Let us trust that your relief will prove to be permanent and grow better as you take better care of yourself. I only hope you will be able to carry out your resolve not to take up too much work.

With much love,

B.M.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Congo (44) Luebo, Congo 9/19/1921 [DCS]

"Luebo"

Monday, Sept. 19, 1921

Dearest homefolks:

I know I haven't been writing as often as I should, or as often as I hope you are writing, for I am expecting at least three letters from you in the mail that we have heard is to come in this afternoon, and oh! I'll be so disappointed if it does not come. B.M. says I do not deserve any mail at all the way I've neglected my correspondence, but Mother I have been busy this last month. Have had two boarders and last Sat. in came my third, Mr. Craig, who has been visiting the out stations. You can feed two more people on just a little more than we cook for just we two, but I tell you three more certainly makes a difference. Mr. Craig is a hearty eater, in fact, all of us are that. Mr. Craig is the most interesting of the three men and I would not have missed having him for part of the time anyway. I have gotten on much better than I had expected with the club, but I can fix the things we have as many different ways as the others can. Mother, can you picture me in a home of my own boarding three men besides my own man? It's hard for me to believe it yet.

I don't know whether I told you or not, but we are sure we are going to get our own cedar chest and box of books before long. Excuse me if I've told you before, but I'm so glad I can't help but tell it. There is cargo coming up from the river this morning. The boat came in Sat. evening. We have two boxes to come, but I think it's some more of our "chop" from England.

[Signed "Emma" and written on the side of the letter: "poor little girl. The cedar chest turned out to be a honey extractor for Mr.Stegall and sent to N. Y. for B.M. to take out. Mr. Bedinger called for two boxes, and the cedar chest containing Dorothy's hold linens was left in N.Y. I have just had it shipped back to me and am sending a package from it by other missionaries this month"]

Thurs. 7:30 We got some good mail this time so B.M. and I are going to sit up answering them tonight. The mail leaves tomorrow morning. We are sitting around our dining room table; he is writing to you on the typewriter now. Our two table boys are washing the dishes out on the porch. They are singing one of our religious songs that has been translated into their language, what time they are not laughing and talking. They always seem so happy. The club left early tonight as they are all going to write letters to mail tomorrow. This is a very busy night on the station. Every time we get the mail, I wish that I had kept up better with my correspondence. We could have so many more friends, and everyone seems so interested in us.

I feel you are wholly to blame for such great interest around home. I hope you don't feel hurt at what we have said about showing our letters, but you know that there are things out here that should not be told that you would not think was any harm. Mother, you know I have the greatest confidence in you, but I know I make mistakes, and if I had to write a letter to you that I wouldn't care for others to read I could not write them as long. You know too.....

[one page omitted]

.. .I have thought several times about writing to her, but wasn't quite sure of how to address her and was ashamed for them to know it.

We got four letters and two cards from you yesterday. Oh! it just seemed so long and I was so anxious to hear how you were getting along. I got them during the time for our noon rest, and B.M. was gone to work so I got to cry all wanted to, not that the news was bad, for I was glad to know you were better and back home. Well, I guess it was because I was so glad. I'd read awhile and cry a while. If I cry too much around B.M. he thinks I'm not happy out here with him, but I am. I just get homesick sometimes. There is no reason why I should not be happy out here. I'm always well, I don't have very hard work, but best of all, I have a kind, good husband.

Father, I was certainly interested in the pictures taken at Marlin, but Mother, I just think it's a shame you weren't in it. Papa looks so lonesome there alone. It looks like the place you had just left. It actually made me feel like when I look at that picture that I almost got to see Mother and something happened that I didn't. Didn't it even come to your mind that I'd be looking for you in that picture?

Mr. Martin had already gotten the news of his brother's and of his aunt's death. It was his best loved brother.

While I think about it. I wish you wouldn't call me Dot. It does not seem natural. I don't mind B.M. calling me that, in fact, I expect it from him, but I think Dorothy is much prettier and I want people to call me that.

I'm certainly sorry about Hickman's arm, but I hope it is alright by this time. Wish I could see James. His picture stands on my bookcase all the time in a frame I got in England, also Ruth Leggett's.

Of course it would be nice to get some new dresses, but I surely hope you don't work on them when you're feeling bad. I'm afraid you haven't time to make me dresses anyway. As for sending them by mail is concerned, the mail service is pretty good now, don't many things get lost. Make a list of the things you send and put it in a letter.

B.M. thinks there must be some mistake about the Eggerts moving away from Cameron. Says he won't believe it until she writes it herself. We heard from her just last mail. He does not remember Judge Cox.

Thank you, Papa, for your letter.

It's getting late, so goodnight. I love you both always.

Dorothy

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Congo (43) Luebo, Congo 8/30/1921 [DCS]

Luebo Tuesday August 30, 1921

Dearest parents:

I am very busy these days. The club comes to me day after tomorrow. Certainly wish I had someone about like you to help me plan their meals. I surely dread it. However I'm not going to make such a fuss over them as some of the other women have. I couldn't even if I wanted to. There will be quite a reduction in numbers when they get to me, as Mr. Craig has gone on a journey to visit the other stations and we don't expect him in until about the middle of the month and Miss Black is going to house keeping. Only Mr. Hillhouse and Mr. Gilliam are left, but still Mr. Hillhouse's lunches are what trouble us. I am sure we will enjoy them though as they are both pleasant.

Sarah has moved into her new house, and it is the prettiest house. Everything is so nice and convenient. They even have a bathroom outfit and sewer [?] system. I never realized there could be such a house in the Congo. Some people criticize Steag for building himself such a house, but if anyone out here deserves it, he does. She is going to have a house warming Monday evening.

Sat. The mail leaves this afternoon, so I will try to finish your letter. Have been so busy since this was started just could not finish it. The club came Thursday, and I have not found it near so hard as I had expected, only school comes next Monday and the Dr.'s children from across the river are going to start in again. So you see I'll have plenty to keep me busy, and I have also taken over the division of vegetables as B.M. has the farm, and that takes up part of my time in the morning.

Mr. Martin [also] came in this morning after about two months visit to out stations. Everyone was so glad to see him. There is just something about Mr. Martin that everyone likes. One of the greatest reasons I'm so glad he's back is because he will take the playing for church off my hands. And I'll be so glad as I don't know hardly any of the songs they sing here. It's a hymn book, but very different from any I've seen. Even if I do say it, I play much better now than when I left home, that is, I mean on songs. There are not many songs that I can't play pretty well.

Dr. King has gone to Bulape, as Mrs. Wharton is expecting her baby sometime this month. Mrs. Vinson who is Mr. Wharton's sister is going up there to wait on her, so there are two more people taken away from our station for a month. We don't know how long Mr. Martin will stay here, as he has not finished his itinerary yet. He is due a furlough the first of the year, that is he will be going home.

I got a long letter from Evelyn this morning. This was only some stray mail; we are expecting some letters from you folks this evening, but I don't know whether the boat will get back or not. I believe you misunderstood Evelyn. You told me she was to graduate from High School this past year, but it isn't until another. I suppose you have gotten it straight by now. The biggest piece of news to me she had was that Frankie Floor was married. Did you all get an invitation? I knew she was hearing regularly from a young man, and wanted to go home mighty bad, but her parents would not let her.

I'm going to close now or I may not get this off. I'll try to do better next time. I love you both, and please don't worry about us or anything cause I want you to be well and strong when I get home. If you could only know how anxious I am to see you all.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Friday, April 3, 2009

Congo (42) Luebo, Congo 8/28/1921 [BMS]

American Presbyterian Congo Mission

Luebo, Belgian Congo

Aug. 28, 1921

Dear Mother and Daddy:

This is just about the last of August, and we are wondering what your plans are for the coming term, whether it finds you at home or elsewhere. With us, instead of being the end of summer it is just the beginning of our summer, or warmer season. The dry season is almost over now, for we already had several rains lately.

In this mail I am sending you a list of names and a copy of a letter that goes to the Missionary Correspondence Department of our Executive Committee. I am writing the Committee that you may send them some names for this list, so if you have a few more to add just write this department; of course, do not send any that you think would not care for them. It may be that I'll have to send these papers under another envelope. These letters ought to be written every three or four months, but I don't guarantee that they will, only hope so.

This reminds me of another matter along this same line. I would not want to discourage you from letting our friends and your friends know about us, but from what you have written, it seems to us both that you have passed our personal letters to you around rather freely. This of course makes us hesitate to write as we would before. There are a good part, and no doubt the larger part, of our letters that we would not object to others seeing, but I don't like to think of our letters being passed around, even to your close friends. Perhaps these letters to the Missionary Correspondence Department will fill this want. It is not merely a question of our personal items, but there are things about the work that it would be better not to show others just as they are written to you sometimes, because it is so easy for people to misunderstand when they have only a very limited idea about the work. You take this one fact and state it to some people and it would create a wrong impression, that we have some eight or nine boys working for us, or helpers in our yard. you can easily see that some would get the idea that we have servants galore, in other words, that we are extravagant. However, as I stated at the beginning, I don't want you to get the idea that we don't want others to know about us all they can, but we both don't like to think of our personal letters being passed around in toto. It may be, too, that you always "clip" them. Please write us what you think about this.

As it is getting on towards bed time and we want to write another letter, I'll say good night for this time, and maybe add a few lines before this goes in the mail.

With love,

B. M.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Congo (41) Luebo, Congo 8/16/1921 [BMS]

Luebo, Congo Belge, Africa

August 16, 1921

Dear Friends:

Though we may not have written you often since our arrival, still we want to assure you that it is not because we have not thought of you often. There have been many things to do, first getting settled and straightened out in our new home, then getting started in our work--with one the resuming of work and the other taking up new work and studying of the language. Our early missionaries used to say so often that the two most important words in the English language out here were delay and interruption; this applies just as much today as it did 20 years ago.

We were pleasantly surprised at the kind of house that we found waiting for us at Luebo. Instead of one of the old style mud houses with mud floors and a thin ceiling of sticks through which dust continually found its way, we found a neat brick house with wooden floors and ceiling. It is true we still have wooden shutters without glass, and a grass roof, but these will be replaced in due time by glass windows and a tile roof. Our back yard is a regular barn yard, for we raise chickens, pigeons, and goats. We do not keep the goats for pleasure, nor for meat, nor yet to destroy our empty tin cans and old paper, but for the milk. We get enough milk daily for our coffee and tea and a few glasses to drink or to use in cooking. The rest of our menagerie comprises two small monkeys. Of course, this is very commonplace information, but a good many people like to know the things that go to make up our surroundings.

Our usual day's work runs something like the following: at 5:50 we have the morning sunrise prayer meeting at our main church shed, where from 500 to 800 natives gather to begin the day with prayer, and a good many more than this in the various sheds throughout our village. After this our day's work is begun. Here, of course, each person's time is occupied according to his special work, so we will give ours. Mr. S. has charge of the workmen on the station, about 75 at present, and immediately after the morning prayer services he gives them their work for the morning, such as repairing houses, fences, and grounds; we have also a little truck garden from which we get a good quantity of vegetables practically all year round. In the meantime Mrs. S. has seen to it that breakfast is being prepared; so about 6:45 we have breakfast, and our morning devotion immediately following. After this, Mrs. S. conducts a prayer service with the boys under our care, and Mr. S. goes to the office, for his work is to look after Luebo station business-Station

Treasurer, we term it, although this includes the Printing Office and a few other items. At 9:00 the morning school begins, Mrs. S.'s school work being the care of the missionaries' children, some of the other ladies teaching in the native school. There are now five missionary children who come under the kindergarten, although they are not old enough to take up lessons. The morning session is out at 11:00. From 11:00 the station catechism class is conducted by one of our native leaders, where those who have expressed a desire to become Christians are taught our catechism which is nothing more than an explanation of what it means to become a Christian. At 12:00 of course you will find practically all of us engaged with our noon meal. After lunch our station is pretty quiet until 2:00, when the bell rings for the afternoon service, which lasts about 30 minutes. After this work is again taken up according to each one's calling, and which continues till about 5:00 or 5:30 (it is dark about 6:00) or very shortly thereafter all the year round.) Very often shortly after 5:00 you may find some of our folks out on the tennis court (both of us indulge somewhat in this exercise.)

We mentioned above about "delay" and "interruption." The above schedule does not run through every day, far from it; we only wish it did more than we find it. A few examples of interruptions. Just the other day Mr. S. and another missionary were invited across the river for a visit, and as this was one of these "return" visits, they felt they should go. This was our banker here with whom we have official dealings frequently. Leaving the station at 3:00 P.M. this meant the entire afternoon was gone, for we could not hope to get back before 6:30, as it is about two miles with the river to cross in a canoe. Then a few days previous to this our station had an official call from the "Commissaire" who is the highest official of the State of Luebo, and this meant we all had to lay down "arms' and pay our respects to him and his wife till about 5:00 or a little later--afternoon gone. Of course, we don't have missionaries coming in every day, but when they come it generally means we all get together in a social and a business way, for we must decide on the arrangements, or re-arrangements of our work; there have been three arrivals (different ones) since our own.

As for the work, we will not say much of that, for you can find that more ably presented in our church papers. There is always an opportunity for every spare moment even in a lay missionary's life. Just this past week we have both been twice to see one of our sick workmen, and to give him what help we could. They are just like us in that respect; they appreciate a word of cheer when sick. Then also, we have had a meeting in a part of the village in the interest of building up our work there.

You may think this is just a circular letter, but we think of each of you as we write, and we shall appreciate a word from you, too. Remember us in your prayers, as we do you in ours.

Yours in the Master's service.

Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Schlotter

Nashville, Tennessee,

October, 1921

Any letter with five cents postage, or postcard with two cents postage, addressed to Mr. and Mrs. B.M. Schlotter, A.P.C. Mission, Luebo, Congo Belge, Africa, Per Kinshasa, will reach them in due course of mail

P.S. Sept 3rd. Just a few lines before we mail this letter as the mail closes this afternoon. We very seldom have much advance notice about the closing of the mails so don't have much time to write after we find out when the mail closes. Nothing sensational has happened lately. We are having at our house for meals this month Mr. Gilliam and Mr. Hillhouse, and later we will have Mr. Craig; this is what we call the club, composed of our "bachelors." I believe Dorothy is writing you more fully about this.

I hope you will not misunderstand what I have written about showing our letters. We merely want to say that we feel that our personal letters are not just what ought to be passed around whole, and hope you will understand it that way.

Love to all,

B.M.