Letter from Frank to Mother and Sister, August 21, 1917

Title

Letter from Frank to Mother and Sister, August 21, 1917

Subject

Frank writes about getting several letters from friends and family. Hilda, his sister, sent a cake through the mail, but he is worried it will be “hard as a rock” by the time he gets it.

Frank updates them that he has not yet got in touch with Meyer despite their being stationed near one another.


Frank also apologizes for sporadic contact. At this point Frank was preparing to be deployed to Europe. “I don’t know when I will be in New York again”, “nothing definite about going anywhere. We may be here all winter or may move in an hour.”

Aside from general news, Frank talks about financial worries, and the ease of going into debt while in the army, “done as easily as in civil life.” Providing an insight into the society of the time Frank relates that the phone company has pooled $1500 for a mess fund to provide things that the army does not, “cake, pudding, fruit, etc”

Frank mentions that he wishes he had a camera, a continuing desire throughout his letters to home.

Description

Dear mother and sister,

Just had my picture taken again sitting on our oil stove. I hope it comes out good. Am enclosing a couple of pictures. never even remember their having been taken.
I heard from Hilda Francis, Oscar Rose, and Dave Mandel yesterday, and wrote a few letters to some friends. Hilda sent me a cake, but now it will be in the mail over Sunday and by the time I get it it will be hard as a rock.
Have not heard from Meyer as yet. He is probably doing his best to get in touch with us so don’t worry. It may be that you will have to go without hearing from either of us for great lengths of time, but we will both do our best to keep in touch with you.
I don’t know when I will be in New York again. You see I am only going to receive $15 a month now and will have to give up a great many things.
I am not going to get into debt. That is very easily done in the army and, as in civil life, it is a bad thing.
Nothing definite yet about going anywhere. We may be here all winter or may move in an hour.
Just had dinner: chicken, cream potatoes, gravy, tea. The telephone company had collected fifteen hundred dollars from the employees to give us for a mess fund. A mess fund is used to buy little things that the army does not supply such as cake, pudding, fruit, etc. When the money has all been spent, another fund is collected.
My cold is as bad as ever, especially at night, when I can hardly talk.
I wish I had a camera so I could get a few pictures. I guess I’ll borrow one of the boys and get a few views.
I hope you are tyring to make good in your lessons and don’t waste any time. Just keep on trying hard to learn and you will soon get it down pat.
Let me hear from you soon.
Will close now as I am going to clean up.
Love to you from
Frank

Creator

Frank Eisenberg

Source

UMJA box 48, file #1

Files

to mother and sister from frank 8:21:17 1.jpg
to mother and sister from frank 8:21:17 2.jpg
to mother and sister from frank 8:21:17 3.jpg
Date Added
December 3, 2013
Citation
Frank Eisenberg, “Letter from Frank to Mother and Sister, August 21, 1917,” Discovering the Importance in the Ordinary:, accessed March 28, 2024, https://eisenbergexhibit.omeka.net/items/show/41.