Title
Dahringer to Besley, September 30, 1909
Subject
Personal correspondence during first semester of college.
Description
Homer Dahringer writes to Ruth Besley shortly after starting his freshmen year at the University of Illinois.
Creator
Homer Dahringer
Date
September 9, 1909
Format
Correspondence
Type
Document
Text
September 30, 1909
Have to get up early in the morning and cram for a trigonometry quiz at 9 oclock.
Thursday A.M. 10.15
September 29 [written over with] 30, 09
My Dear Ruth:
I received your letter yesterday the 28th and find that it takes a letter two (m) (I came near saying months) days to get here as well as to get there.
In the first place (I got this far in the letter when Ed Crist came in and wanted me to play tennis with him so we got our Spannish lesson first and then went over to play tennis until noon. The only study or class I had this afternoon was 3 hours of forge work. We have learned how to forge weld iron and to day we learned how to make a chain. That is we all started to make a chain (each) I haven’t one link done yet. I picked up one piece of iron that was hot and burned a blister about ½ inch long on my thumb so you see what difficulties I am writing under.
It is 11.30 oclock now and the house has just become quiet. The landlady called us down 3 times so far to-night for making too much noise. The evening started with locking Raffin up in the garret. He made so much noise up there that the landlady came up and gave us boys a “calling.” Then just as we were settling down to study somebody discovered that there was a large fire “just around the corner.” We all jumped and ran to the fire without coats or hats and when we got there we were about 1 mile from home. The fire was down in the main part of Champaign. A large wooden frame store house burned down. It made a great display and lit up most of the city. It certainly looked great to see all the people gathered around. There must have been 1,000 people standing around gazing. As far as I can find out no one was hurt and the store house was empty. After the fire we all came home and have been raising “Cain” since.
Yesterday a “Convocation” meeting was held in the University auditorium. The auditorium holds 5,000 people and it was almost full. All the students were there and some outsiders. The meeting was opened by everyone singing Illinois. It sure sounded great. Then some “speakers” said their say and then the student body sang My Country Tis of Thee or in other words “America.” It made the prickly feeling go up my spine to hear it. Friday at 4 oclock we have a mass meeting in the same hall. I bet that will be great.
As I started out to say in the beginning of this letter I have dropped the title of K.M. at the request of my folks. Of course I was sorry to do it but it was strictly a case of compulsion.
You sure are haveing a fine time at your place. Be sure and take in all that is coming to you. The “wakes” as well as the “sleeps.” That where you girls (young women) have the advantage of we boys. You go to college for the experience and we go so that we can earn bread and butter afterwards. So be sure and get all the experience. I would like to see 200 girls sitting at in one dining room. It must be a great sight for the inexperienced. Also that scramble for the “mail” (no pun intended)
Your course in college really sounds hard and between studying and all those parties you must be kept pretty busy. In regard to that laboratory of yours. The U of I has just erected the largest and best equipped Physic’s laboratory in the world. Going some. You sure are getting some exercise too. I have only played basket-ball once since I have been here but I have had a swim in the tank about every day and play tennis about every day so I get plenty of exercise.
I set Rosencrans’ alarm clock at 12 oclock just before I came down stairs and I just heard it go off so you know what time it is. Also I heard a noise of something falling and somebody talking but I couldn’t hear what they said so it is alright. Anyway I’m not to blame if they were asleep.
I suppose you have heard the news from Waukegan that Orpah went home from a dance with a certain Mr. Salom. Wasn’t that careless of her. You see there would have been no chance for me. I haven’t gotten (rotten) received a letter from Al. M. yet altho I wrote to him about a week ago.
We have a big foot-ball game he[re] Saturday. I suppose there will be some big doings if we win.
Hazing down here had resulted quite seriously so far. One Freshman got a broken leg and rib while running from the “Sophs.” One Sophomore was killed by being hit in the head with a hammer while trying to take some Freshman out of a house. The Sophs just clip a path thru the hair of the Freshie and then throw him into the “bone yard.” (An altogether too close and convenient stream). So far I am safe but we got the tip that our time is coming next week. Maybe yes, maybe no. So I can imagine how you are feeling.
I sort of wish now that I had left the P.S. off that last letter. Not that I didn’t mean it but that I think a good talking to would be good for me. Honestly I haven’t been scolded for so long that I am beginning to believe I am good. Anyway I would have liked to have heard your opinion on the subject. Of course you know mine. But if you insist of upon it I can but reiterate. (No I’ll spare you this time. But you know what I am thinking.)
Your guess was right. That last letter was addressed by Dwight. I spoiled exactly 3 envelopes trying to address it and he finally became exasperated at the wastefulness of such methods and insisted upon writing it.
Be sure and let me know all about “Grimd Night..”
We have our first military Drill to-morrow afternoon. You ought to see Mr. Dahringer Company A Batallion 3 in his uniform.
I have an order to report to Seargent ( (spelled right?) Post to-morrow. I don’t know whether it is for good or bad. You know he is the brother to my Fathers employer so it may be some kind of a “pull.”
It is just exactly 12.30 oclock (midnight) so I will quit. Ever Yours.
Homer
P.S. [on page 4 of letter] What was the meaning of that sign after the word Friend in your letter. Was that a nothing or just a mutual understanding. (mans curiosity)
P.S. [on page 7 of letter]I bet you read this before you finish the letter. (Womans curiosity!) If there is anything that you want to know that I haven’t told you please let me know and I will tell you.
Have to get up early in the morning and cram for a trigonometry quiz at 9 oclock.
Thursday A.M. 10.15
September 29 [written over with] 30, 09
My Dear Ruth:
I received your letter yesterday the 28th and find that it takes a letter two (m) (I came near saying months) days to get here as well as to get there.
In the first place (I got this far in the letter when Ed Crist came in and wanted me to play tennis with him so we got our Spannish lesson first and then went over to play tennis until noon. The only study or class I had this afternoon was 3 hours of forge work. We have learned how to forge weld iron and to day we learned how to make a chain. That is we all started to make a chain (each) I haven’t one link done yet. I picked up one piece of iron that was hot and burned a blister about ½ inch long on my thumb so you see what difficulties I am writing under.
It is 11.30 oclock now and the house has just become quiet. The landlady called us down 3 times so far to-night for making too much noise. The evening started with locking Raffin up in the garret. He made so much noise up there that the landlady came up and gave us boys a “calling.” Then just as we were settling down to study somebody discovered that there was a large fire “just around the corner.” We all jumped and ran to the fire without coats or hats and when we got there we were about 1 mile from home. The fire was down in the main part of Champaign. A large wooden frame store house burned down. It made a great display and lit up most of the city. It certainly looked great to see all the people gathered around. There must have been 1,000 people standing around gazing. As far as I can find out no one was hurt and the store house was empty. After the fire we all came home and have been raising “Cain” since.
Yesterday a “Convocation” meeting was held in the University auditorium. The auditorium holds 5,000 people and it was almost full. All the students were there and some outsiders. The meeting was opened by everyone singing Illinois. It sure sounded great. Then some “speakers” said their say and then the student body sang My Country Tis of Thee or in other words “America.” It made the prickly feeling go up my spine to hear it. Friday at 4 oclock we have a mass meeting in the same hall. I bet that will be great.
As I started out to say in the beginning of this letter I have dropped the title of K.M. at the request of my folks. Of course I was sorry to do it but it was strictly a case of compulsion.
You sure are haveing a fine time at your place. Be sure and take in all that is coming to you. The “wakes” as well as the “sleeps.” That where you girls (young women) have the advantage of we boys. You go to college for the experience and we go so that we can earn bread and butter afterwards. So be sure and get all the experience. I would like to see 200 girls sitting at in one dining room. It must be a great sight for the inexperienced. Also that scramble for the “mail” (no pun intended)
Your course in college really sounds hard and between studying and all those parties you must be kept pretty busy. In regard to that laboratory of yours. The U of I has just erected the largest and best equipped Physic’s laboratory in the world. Going some. You sure are getting some exercise too. I have only played basket-ball once since I have been here but I have had a swim in the tank about every day and play tennis about every day so I get plenty of exercise.
I set Rosencrans’ alarm clock at 12 oclock just before I came down stairs and I just heard it go off so you know what time it is. Also I heard a noise of something falling and somebody talking but I couldn’t hear what they said so it is alright. Anyway I’m not to blame if they were asleep.
I suppose you have heard the news from Waukegan that Orpah went home from a dance with a certain Mr. Salom. Wasn’t that careless of her. You see there would have been no chance for me. I haven’t gotten (rotten) received a letter from Al. M. yet altho I wrote to him about a week ago.
We have a big foot-ball game he[re] Saturday. I suppose there will be some big doings if we win.
Hazing down here had resulted quite seriously so far. One Freshman got a broken leg and rib while running from the “Sophs.” One Sophomore was killed by being hit in the head with a hammer while trying to take some Freshman out of a house. The Sophs just clip a path thru the hair of the Freshie and then throw him into the “bone yard.” (An altogether too close and convenient stream). So far I am safe but we got the tip that our time is coming next week. Maybe yes, maybe no. So I can imagine how you are feeling.
I sort of wish now that I had left the P.S. off that last letter. Not that I didn’t mean it but that I think a good talking to would be good for me. Honestly I haven’t been scolded for so long that I am beginning to believe I am good. Anyway I would have liked to have heard your opinion on the subject. Of course you know mine. But if you insist of upon it I can but reiterate. (No I’ll spare you this time. But you know what I am thinking.)
Your guess was right. That last letter was addressed by Dwight. I spoiled exactly 3 envelopes trying to address it and he finally became exasperated at the wastefulness of such methods and insisted upon writing it.
Be sure and let me know all about “Grimd Night..”
We have our first military Drill to-morrow afternoon. You ought to see Mr. Dahringer Company A Batallion 3 in his uniform.
I have an order to report to Seargent ( (spelled right?) Post to-morrow. I don’t know whether it is for good or bad. You know he is the brother to my Fathers employer so it may be some kind of a “pull.”
It is just exactly 12.30 oclock (midnight) so I will quit. Ever Yours.
Homer
P.S. [on page 4 of letter] What was the meaning of that sign after the word Friend in your letter. Was that a nothing or just a mutual understanding. (mans curiosity)
P.S. [on page 7 of letter]I bet you read this before you finish the letter. (Womans curiosity!) If there is anything that you want to know that I haven’t told you please let me know and I will tell you.