July 1909 Flora Beard Leaves China on the S.S
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1909 July 1909 Flora Beard leaves China on the S.S. George Washington via the Atlantic Ocean for the U.S. She is 40. October 19, 1909 Willard's cousin Frederick Wheeler Beard dies Willard is 44 years old, Ellen- 41, Phebe- 14, Gould- 13, Geraldine- 11, Dorothy- 8, Marjorie- 3, and Kathleen turns 1. They are all living in Foochow, China. [This letter dated Feb. 1, 1909 was written from Foochow, China by Flora to her sister, Phebe. She tells about baby Kathleen who would be six months at the time of the letter. She briefly mentions plans of going back to the U.S. Letter donated to Yale by family in 2006.] [Feb. 1, 1909.] Dear Phebe:- Thank you so much for the little tie. I shall proudly wear it because you made it “all by your lonesome.” It is a little beauty and may adorn my travelling suit home. The Xmas gifts all reached here safely and made each one as happy as he could be- even to baby Kathleen- “Cackaleen” – as Marjorie calls her. She is the happiest little mortal you can imagine. She has so many smiles for people that it keeps her busy the whole time to give them. She has grown so much in the two weeks I have been away that she is fast losing her “wee, tiny baby” look. I miss her more than most any one for she is the one free-to- love person in the house. The corsets I found here when I returned yesterday. A dozen letters and ever so many packages, just filled my desk top full. I have just written a long letter home which I have asked to have sent on to you- as it takes so long to write the description of my trip over. It also tells you of my latest plans for home coming. I think I shall ask the home people to buy my ticket home from Europe and send it to me for if I take the trip north as I wish my money may come short. However, don‟t do anything about it until I write. There is one more request I wish to make of you and this is to get some more gloves for me. I would like two pairs of white silk ones and two pair of light tan silk ones something that will look all right with my dresses- the samples, enclosed. I think that number ought to get me home or at least to where I can get some. The size is No. 7. Our house is getting alabastined and all the rooms are turned loose into the halls and it looks about the same as a dress wrong side out with the seams not overcast. We ought to look pretty fine to pay for it all. Will is away with Gould at some meetings up the Ing Hok. Phebe and Geraldine are off on a trip, too, so we are a very small family just now. I go this afternoon to spend a few days with Mrs. McLachlin and then I shall be back in school on Feb. 9. I close June 4th and shall leave for home the next week, if possible. Lovingly- Flora Beard. Feb. 1, 1909. ***** [This partial letter dated Feb. 14, 1909 was written from Foochow, China by Willard to the folks at home. He tells of a trip to Ing Hok with 12 year old son, Gould and how Gould became sick on the trip, probably with malaria. He has remained sick after returning home. Willard talks about his pig and the cost of pork. Letter donated to Yale by family in 2006.] Foochow Young Men‟s Christian Association Feb 14th 1909 Dear Folks at Home:- I cannot remember that I have written you since Gould and I went to Ing Hok. We started Jan. 27th and reached home again Feb. 4th. Gould was not perfectly well for four days before starting and he has not been out of bed since we reached Ing Hok. The doctors think it is malaria. His fever got as high at 104.6 at Ing Hok once. It has been normal twice since returning. To day it was normal all the morning but rose this afternoon. He is very thin. He says he has no pain and he sleeps well each night with naps in the day time. He has missed two parties and keeps count with precision. Last evening the other children came home from a Valentine party with cakes and pop corn balls. Gould got his mother to put some into a tin hoping to save them till he was well, and he suggested this afternoon that she might paste strips of paper over the cracks to make the boxes air tight. Yesterday morning I arose at 3:30 o‟clock and killed and dressed my pig. We were talking about it this afternoon and Gould wanted to know if I had engaged any of it. I asked him what he meant and he said, “Have you promised to give any away?” He said “Oh dear you are having all the good things while I am sick. Can you keep some of the spare ribs till I get well?” I bought the pig Dec. 15th 1908. It weighed 72 lbs alive at 16 cents. I gave my check for $11.00. I have fed it about $12.00. The pork after hanging all day weighed 96 lbs. To buy such pork as I shall have if all goes well would cost here at the very least 50 cents per lb. We never buy foreign ham for it retails at 75 cents per lb. Spare rib can‟t be bought- neither fresh sausage, - that is such as we eat. I have now on the place three rabbits 1 horse 5 hens 1 rooster and 3 capons (One hen should come off with chickens in a day or two and two dogs. The garden is a daily joy. We have had for two weeks carrots, cauliflower and cabbage, and we have had lettuce for six weeks. Then beets, parsnips, onions, turnips, radishes, tomatoes, and beans are coming on. Our strawberries are just beginning to turn red. We shall be eating them in a month if all goes well. During the vacation we had some of the alabastine put on the walls. It is difficult to get the Chinese workmen to do good… [remaining part of this letter is missing] ***** [This letter dated Feb. 21, 1909 was written from Foochow, China by Flora to the folks at home. She tells them her travel plans to return to the U.S. Flora discusses various items she has purchased and how she will ship them back to the U.S. There is concern over nephew, Gould’s health. He was treated for malaria but doctors now believe it might be typhoid fever. Baby Kathleen has been a delight. Letter donated to Yale by family in 2006.] [Feb. 21, 1909.] Dear folks at home:- Ruth‟s letters are here at hand. I have her orders for lace all ready to send but am waiting for one or two from here. The amount of the bill does not matter so long as it is over $10 silver, so Ruth need not feel that I am put to any inconvenience about it. The only trouble that it may be may occur to you people at home as it may be necessary for me to ask you to send me some money. I will let you know very soon for I expect to complete my travelling plans very soon. Now, it looks as if I should take the water trip, for it is so hard to get travelling companions to go across Siberia. Besides, I prefer the water anyway and people who have taken the trip in July and August say it is no worse then than any other time. This will make a difference of about two weeks in the time of my reaching London. I expect now to take a Japanese steamer at Shanghai, which will land me in London. About the luncheon set. I think your plan of giving it to Helen for an engagement gift is O.K. If you decide to do that I‟d like to join in and let it come from us. It would make each one of us five give about 50 cents gold. Is that too much? If you think it is, plan as you think best and let me know. I have a set nearly down and will send them. The pattern is not like the one I sent mama but I think is prettier. I shall send it in two parcels and there will be one centerpiece, six plate doilies, six finger bowl doilies, and six tumbler doilies. I have written Helen and was sure I had sent a waist home to her, but am having one embroidered for her now, so she will have it very soon. Mrs. Newell has your dress, Ruth, and she arrives in New York on the 7th of April on the Princess Irene of the North German Lloyd line. I have given her your address and she will visit you on her way up to Boston. She will write you from New York when she is to come so that you may meet her in time to reach her on the Princess Irene as it lies in quarantine and ask her to write a day or two in advance so you would be sure to get it.