25 Random Facts About Me

OK – I know this is the big fad right now and, *whew*, pretty tough to come up with all of that (lol!)  Mark

1) I was born at 5:20 p.m. on May 17 at Pasadena Bayshore Hospital in Pasadena, Texas. A partially developed conjoined twin was embedded in my right buttock. I have since named him Mark2 and keep him in a shoe box under by side of the bed. To this day, every May 17 I pull him out and drink a toast to him. I laugh and cry and tell Mark2 what’s happened to me over the previous year and I imagine what he would say to me. As I imagine it, he’s kind of a sharp tongued bastard.

2) Pasadena, Texas really stinks (literally) and I have always wondered if I did something to cause that. My mother would always tell me that it used to smell better than average before I was born.

3) As I think back on it, Preschool was just fine, Elementary School was splendid, Junior High was orgasmic, and High School was nirvana. Since graduation, life has been a series of progressively bigger disappointments.

4) When I was growing up, my mother was always pretty open and clear that I was not her favorite, yet I am an only child.

5) I played the jug in a progressive rock band in college. Our one album, never released, was titled “A world on a speck of dust that’s part of a cell in the fingernail of God.”

6) At Star Trek parties, I always play the part of Spock. I always want to play the part of Chekov. Deep inside, I secretly feel like Sulu.

7) For some reason on Saturday nights, I frequently find myself balled up in the corner of my basement shrieking to myself. It’s my precious “me” time – my way of unwinding.

8) My favorite book of all time is the 1972 edition of The Farmers’ Almanac. A great read in an even greater typeface. Check out the footnotes!

9) I’ve been told by several people on different occasions that I have very bad breath, but I’ve decided it’s just “sour grapes” on their part.

10) Sometimes I fantasize that I’m Jack Bauer on 24. A baby has accidentally swallowed the location of a nuclear device that is set to go off within minutes, killing hundreds of thousands of people. ‘Cause I’m so tough-minded, I do what I must, tearing the baby open (I have no knife!) and killing it in order to save everyone.

11) I simply can’t tell you this one. I wish I could, but I just can’t. You would never think of me the same way again. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

12) Sometimes when I making lists like this, I think 25 random facts is a lot to know about one person. In times like that, I often think 10 higher quality random facts would be lot fucking better.

13) Like lots of people, I have my morning rituals. Unlike most, mine involve bloodletting and animal sacrifice (and of course, my coffee!!)

14) My favorite film is The Adventures of Pluto Nash. At least once a week, I pop in the DVD, open a bottle of wine, sit back in my favorite chair and just cry. For all of us.

15) I’m a chess nut. I used to like to hang out in a local coffee house and try to join in on the chess matches. I don’t really know how to play, but I can say things like “Of course that’s a legal move, genius!”, “Have you even READ the rules?!” and “So are you forfeiting?” until I’m asked to leave. In my book, a forfeit is a legitimate win.

16) At heart, I’m a shy and insecure person. For instance, at parties I sometimes try to curry favor with others by intentionally losing at Jenga on my first move.

17) I grew up in Texas, where it is true that everything’s bigger - including boils and abscesses, in my experience. While I will always love Texas, I was happy to have moved away for a variety of reasons. And – to be fair – perhaps it was all just a coincidence.

18) I always try to nurture my inner child, but sometimes I get drunk and my inner child does things to make me mad (pushes my buttons, y’know?) I do bad things, things I later regret - but I really love my inner child and I always beg him to forgive me. I’m working on my problem and I hope to soon regain custody.

19) I love music, but I have no innate musical talent. My mother forced cello lessons on me, but I had no sense of the instrument whatsoever (At first, I tried to blow into it like a horn.) I later became very close to my cello and my mom, worried, took it away from me.

20) I love to cook. Frozen pizzas, mainly. Sometimes I improvise and add extra toppings that weren’t originally supposed to be on the pizza. I consider myself quite a “foodie” – I mean, I really eat a lot of it every day. I’m also quite a “beerie” and a “vodka-ie” (is that what you call them – seems awkward?)

21) My butt hurts! I mean ALL the time! Dumb doctor says it is “stress.” What kind of stress does my butt have?! The doctor never has an answer for that!

22) I’m a very angry person deep down. People can’t tell. Yet. I bet they figure it out.

23) I went through a phase in high school where I thought Robert McNamara was the “rad-est” thing since sliced bread. I dressed like Robert McNamara, I talked like Robert McNamara, did my hair like “McNam”. I would talk about the Cuban missile crisis as if I was there and acted like I had actual opinions about it (I wasn’t born yet!) I can’t believe I’m telling you all this, but I’ll bet my high school friends reading this are like “oh, wow, a lot of things make a lot more sense now!”

24) My very earliest memory is watching “Midnight Cowboy” with my brother and mother. I must’ve been, oh – 2 ½ or so. I didn’t really fully understand and appreciate it until I watched it again when I was about 7.

25) Whew – having trouble thinking of a last one… they do this one in magazines sometimes: What are my “turn ons?” Sexual intercourse (me doing), naked ladies, vaginas, oral sex (me receiving), My “turn offs?” Rotting flesh/gangrene, anything infected, puss, dog feces (really any feces), boils/sores/pimples/etc, etc.

Moving the Congo Letters to a New Blog

So my personal ranting and sick humor does not interfere with the flow of the letters or offend anyone who is more interested in the Congo letters than my other stuff.  I’m new to the blogging thang, so I’m really sorry for any confusion this may cause.

The new location for the Congo letters:

http://congoletters.blogspot.com/

Hope you are enjoying them.  I’m really enjoying typing, reading, linking.  Any comments, found typos/errors, or recommended hyperlinks are welcome!

Mark

Ann Arbor, MI

February 14, 2009

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

Brussels

October 24, 1920

Dear Mother and Daddy:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With love to all.

B.M.

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

Brussels, Belgium

October 8, 1920

My own dear homefolks:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monday evening

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

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

I must close now with much love for you both.

Lovingly,

Dorothy

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

Wednesday evening Oct.

Dear folks:

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

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

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

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

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Congo (4) 10/8/1920 in Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, Belgium

Oct. 8, 1920

Dear Mother and Daddy:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

With love to all,

B.M.

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

Congo (3) - 10/1/1920 in London

London, England

October 1, 1920

My dear homefolks:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday afternoon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lovingly,

Dorothy

Congo (2) - Still aboard the Caronia

Monday Sept. 20, 1920

Dear homefolks:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday—

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday afternoon

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

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

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

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

Dot

Sat. morning

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

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

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

Love,

Dorothy

Sunday Sept 19th 1920, On Board the Caronia

On Board the Cunard R.M.S. Caronia

Sunday Sept. 19^th

8:45 p.m.

Dear Mother and Daddy:

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

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

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

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

B.M.

Schlotter Congo Mission Letters - Introductory Letter

My uncle and aunt Max and Joann Schlotter transcribed the original letters a number of years ago. This was Max's cover letter for the final product.

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The Letters of B. M. and Dorothy Schlotter

From the American Presbyterian Congo Mission

1920 – 1928

San Maros, Texas

January 9, 2000

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

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

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

Max Wallace Schlotter

My Grandmother's Letters from Congo

In the 1920's, my paternal grandmother traveled to the Belgian Congo to do missionary work for the Presbyterian church. I plan to post her (and her husband's) letters from their journey here on my blog. I will do at least one letter per day - some of them are short, so I might do several. I hope you find them interesting.

My grandmother was Dorothy Chambers. She married Bruno Max Schlotter. The letters start on September 19th, 1920.

Mark