Dahringer to Besley, October 26, 1909

Dahringer to Besley, October 26, 1909

Homer Dahringer writes to Ruth Besley in response to a letter he received from her. He discusses his trip home to Waukegan, from beginning to end.

Homer Dahringer

10/26/1909

Correspondence

Document

Page 1 Ed sends his regards Tuesday eve. Oct 26, 1909 My Dear Ruth: I received your letter this afternoon. I wont scold you any for waiting so long before writing because I was glad enough to get any letter at all besides when I was in Waukegan I got the impression that you were very busy also I dont think it would do any good if I did scold not implying that you are a hardened sinner or anything like that. Page 2 Enough said. I got your letter ad was everlastingly glad to hear from you. You asked me to tell you all about my trip home so I will begin at the beginning and not stop until the end is reached. We left here Saturday Morn at 7:30 oclock. Reached the 63st station at a little after eleven. My friend (Pat Rockwell) and I being the only bachelors in the bunch got off at 63st near Marshall field. The others went on to the city in quest of their (we) girls. We (Pat and I) loafed around the Chicago campus and buildings Page 3 until it was time to go to the game then we lined up at the Illinois entrance of the field to get our tickets. The line was about a block long when we joined so it took quite a while to get the tickets. Then we got our seats and watched for the rest of the bunch. We saw them coming (Orpah, Evelyn and Albert, Maurguerite and Ed) and went down from the bleachers and spoke to them Maurguerite made quite a hit with my friend. We didnt have seats together so we had to leave them. After the game my friend and I ran to the Illinois suburban and then had to wait till it filled with people from the game. That made us sore after running so far. Then we ran from Michigan Ave and Randolph to the Northwestern Depot and my friend missed his train by minute. He lives in St Charles. I expected to see him rage and tear but he is nice and I quiet and did nothing of the kind. I caught the 6:04 train home and after getting half way found that Orpah and Evelyn & U. H. M. D & EC were on this same train. Almost not quite nor nearly seemed like old times. Got home, had supper and Al called for me then we went to Adelis to see if she was going to the dance. Stayed there until 10 and then Al & I went up and looked an at the dance. There was a very small crowd. Page 4 (Monday) I should say Sunday Morning I took a nice long ride. No one in the Machine but you and I. I had a peach of a time. In the afternoon Al and I went to Adelis and about 3 oclock we got Evelyn and had a ride around the square. Didnt have as good a time as in the morning. I guess it was too cold or something. That is all that happened to me in Waukegan. Ed C. D.M and I left for Waukegan am on the 6.20. Orpah brot Albert or rather let him Page 5 leave on the 6.54. Dwight had his innings in the afternoon. Had quite a time on the way from Chicago to Champaign. Got here at 1.45 in the morning and went to a 8 oclock class. Going some. It dont seem now as tho I had been home. Yes. Dwight took Genevieve to the game. If she is anything like the picture I dont blame him. I forgot to tell you that Al H. took Orpah to the dance Sat. night. I have only received 1 letter from Al. Mackey so far so you cant kick very hard. I guess he is very busy. Page 6 Manager of the Flashlight and playing on the foot-ball team. It bed-time now so I will quit. Tomorrow we have the Push Ball contest. If I come out alive I will finish this letter. Wednesday Eve. All is well that ends well. We freshmen got beat 15-0 but it was some fun. For a free for all rough & tumble fight it (push ball) is the ticket. You get steped on, rolled over, pushed-pulled an finally carried off senseless. You can imagine five hundred fellows all pushing and crowding about a big ball that is up in the air. Those who had rubber soled shoes on were put on the shoulders of their friends and they would push the ball from that advantageous position. I happened to be one of the lucky ones. The job on top was alright until somebody pulled you down and then the others stepped on you. There were a couple dozen people Page 7 P.S. That is too bad about the scarcity of boys. Now there are plenty of girls here but it is a fact that since I have been here I have not spoken to one yet. I have only tipped my hat once in a month & a half. __________________________________________________________________________________ carried off the field. Some of them were hurt quite serious. I came off with a bruised lip, bump on my head and sore toes and then considered myself lucky. When I would get in the middle of the crush I would make up my mind that I would never go in again if I got out alive but there was something fascinating about it. Our defeat was due to a bunch of fellows who had Page 8 a streak of yellow or an attack of stage fright. They would stand on the edge of the crowd and yell but not mix in. The bleachers and field were crowded with spectators. There were some sore heads who tried to start fights but as a rule it was just straight play. You know the object is to push the ball over the goal line. Each goal counting five points. After the game Crist and I got chased by some Sophs but they didnt get us. I guess they were too tired to run far. The caught some freshies and ducked them tho. In our house this noon Page 9 We caught a sophomore (he rooms in the house with us/and tried him up then carried him to the attic and let him stay there all afternoon. Last night a bunch of sophs chased a freshie right thru our yard and caught him and ducked him in the bone-yard. We could see it from the window. You may know that we didnt go out last night. The senior boys were all at the contest dressed as a hobo bands. There were some awfully funny costumes. We have afoot-ball game here Saturday. Purdue vs. Illinois but I think it will be a walk over for Illinois. About that Tool Question you must understand that I hadnt heard from you for over two weeks. I heard you had a little trouble with you room-mate. Not exactly with her but a little trouble anyway. You may count on me on your side. I could keep on writing all night but I know you have a hard enough time reading this much and besides I might say something I hadnt ought to. Most Truly yours H.D.