Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey
Title
Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey
Creator
Kappelmann, Otto Carl Wilhelm, 1888-1960
Identifier
WWP18916
Date
1918 April 24
Source
Daniel Metraux
Subject
World War, 1914-1918
Language
English
Text
Camp Wadsworth, So. C.
My dear Anna-Marie,
Your letter of the 21st inst arrived yesterday. I was very much interested in everything you wrote and want to thank you sincerely for same. Of course, I understand how busy you are at home most of the time and therefore appreciate your writing as often as you do.
Your news about father retiring from MS & Co. was really quite some news to me as father hadn’t written to me about it up to the time your letter arrived. To-day, however, I received a letter from father with particulars. It certainly is a shame the way M S & Co acted and I feel very sorry for father on account of this. On the whole, however, I am very glad that father did get out—you know, I always said I wished he would quit work and take a well deserved rest. This, as you say, will change your summer plans considerably, and I am glad that you can spend the summer together at some nice place. You bet, I certainly do wish I could be with you all—well, one can’t tell, possibly I’ll take another furlough in a couple of months and visit you all in your summer resort, where ever that may be.
You will see from this that I do not expect to go over for quite a while, in fact, it sort of looks as though this outfit is booked to stay right here. In regard to other organizations, especially the 27 Division, it is quite a different matter as things have begun to look very interesting around here lately. Of course, I can’t go into details but can state that quite a few new troops, drafted men, have arrived this week, mostly from New York. This news has been in the papers, so I’m not disobeying any orders in by writing about it. Of course, I was very much interested to find out who the men were and so, when they arrived, had some interesting conversation with some of them. Now it is a general rule that all new arrivals are quarantined for ten days in order to prevent any sickness which they may have brought along from spreading. While talking to the men, one of their officers came up and shouted at me that I was disobeying orders and would be quarantined with his men. Well, I sure was in some pickle! However, just as soon as the officer turned away, I made one jump behind a freight car which was conveniently standing close by, and got away.
The other day we were all examined by our dentist. I guess I’ll have to report back to him again as he managed to discover a couple of small cavities. They haven’t been bothering me, however, but it’s just as well to have them attended to. The best part of it is that it doesn’t cost a penny to have it done.
Yesterday I bought an army locker for $9.25. Its a small sized steamer trunk and I can now keep my things in better shape and a little more conveniently. Furthermore, I figured that in case I should have to move some time, my surplus stuff could be sent home in it.
Quite an interesting spectacle occurred yesterday evening just before dark. We heard what sounded like distant shots, then saw a streak like lightning in the sky followed by a thin bluish and then white streak of smoke. Didn’t know at first what it could be but thought it a meteor and that’s exactly what it was according to the paper this morning. I enclose the clipping. It certainly was a very interesting and rare sight.
I am quite busy in the office now but don’t have to work too hard. The hours are not long—8:am to 12:— & 1:pm to 4:30 pm.Have not been in town for about two weeks as I got kind of tired of things down there. The town doesn’t offer much variety and I’m rather tired of movies just now. Most of my evenings are spent in writing letters, & reading and once in a while there’s a band concert in the YYMCA tent.
How do you like the Gas Attacks? There are some pretty comical articles in the one I’m mailing to-day. Once in a while I’m not quite so busy in the office as you will notice by the enclosed sketch. It isn’t exactly original, that is, I got the idea from a magazine.
Received a letter from Edythe lately. She says she has given up her position at the bank & is now with the Erie RR. From Uncle Gus I hear that the two bales of cotton I sent the kiddies arrived O.K.; he asked me to send him some.
Was very interested to hear about Gustav Elsner and hope he will soon manage to come to New York for good. I suppose, however, this will not be before the end of the war? Please let me have his address as I would like to send him a few lines. I promised to write him a few years ago but haven’t done so as yet. Wonder how our distant relatives are getting along!
I sincerely hope that you have gotten over your malaria attack by this time. It is too bad that you have to suffer with this every year. Glad to hear that the kiddies are well and that Pauly is getting along nicely in school. Please give my love to all.
Have to close as ‘Call to Quarters’ is sounding and all lights have to be out in 15 minutes.
Please tell father that I thank him for his letter and will answer soon—probably to-morrow.
With love,
Otto
My dear Anna-Marie,
Your letter of the 21st inst arrived yesterday. I was very much interested in everything you wrote and want to thank you sincerely for same. Of course, I understand how busy you are at home most of the time and therefore appreciate your writing as often as you do.
Your news about father retiring from MS & Co. was really quite some news to me as father hadn’t written to me about it up to the time your letter arrived. To-day, however, I received a letter from father with particulars. It certainly is a shame the way M S & Co acted and I feel very sorry for father on account of this. On the whole, however, I am very glad that father did get out—you know, I always said I wished he would quit work and take a well deserved rest. This, as you say, will change your summer plans considerably, and I am glad that you can spend the summer together at some nice place. You bet, I certainly do wish I could be with you all—well, one can’t tell, possibly I’ll take another furlough in a couple of months and visit you all in your summer resort, where ever that may be.
You will see from this that I do not expect to go over for quite a while, in fact, it sort of looks as though this outfit is booked to stay right here. In regard to other organizations, especially the 27 Division, it is quite a different matter as things have begun to look very interesting around here lately. Of course, I can’t go into details but can state that quite a few new troops, drafted men, have arrived this week, mostly from New York. This news has been in the papers, so I’m not disobeying any orders in by writing about it. Of course, I was very much interested to find out who the men were and so, when they arrived, had some interesting conversation with some of them. Now it is a general rule that all new arrivals are quarantined for ten days in order to prevent any sickness which they may have brought along from spreading. While talking to the men, one of their officers came up and shouted at me that I was disobeying orders and would be quarantined with his men. Well, I sure was in some pickle! However, just as soon as the officer turned away, I made one jump behind a freight car which was conveniently standing close by, and got away.
The other day we were all examined by our dentist. I guess I’ll have to report back to him again as he managed to discover a couple of small cavities. They haven’t been bothering me, however, but it’s just as well to have them attended to. The best part of it is that it doesn’t cost a penny to have it done.
Yesterday I bought an army locker for $9.25. Its a small sized steamer trunk and I can now keep my things in better shape and a little more conveniently. Furthermore, I figured that in case I should have to move some time, my surplus stuff could be sent home in it.
Quite an interesting spectacle occurred yesterday evening just before dark. We heard what sounded like distant shots, then saw a streak like lightning in the sky followed by a thin bluish and then white streak of smoke. Didn’t know at first what it could be but thought it a meteor and that’s exactly what it was according to the paper this morning. I enclose the clipping. It certainly was a very interesting and rare sight.
I am quite busy in the office now but don’t have to work too hard. The hours are not long—8:am to 12:— & 1:pm to 4:30 pm.Have not been in town for about two weeks as I got kind of tired of things down there. The town doesn’t offer much variety and I’m rather tired of movies just now. Most of my evenings are spent in writing letters, & reading and once in a while there’s a band concert in the YYMCA tent.
How do you like the Gas Attacks? There are some pretty comical articles in the one I’m mailing to-day. Once in a while I’m not quite so busy in the office as you will notice by the enclosed sketch. It isn’t exactly original, that is, I got the idea from a magazine.
Received a letter from Edythe lately. She says she has given up her position at the bank & is now with the Erie RR. From Uncle Gus I hear that the two bales of cotton I sent the kiddies arrived O.K.; he asked me to send him some.
Was very interested to hear about Gustav Elsner and hope he will soon manage to come to New York for good. I suppose, however, this will not be before the end of the war? Please let me have his address as I would like to send him a few lines. I promised to write him a few years ago but haven’t done so as yet. Wonder how our distant relatives are getting along!
I sincerely hope that you have gotten over your malaria attack by this time. It is too bad that you have to suffer with this every year. Glad to hear that the kiddies are well and that Pauly is getting along nicely in school. Please give my love to all.
Have to close as ‘Call to Quarters’ is sounding and all lights have to be out in 15 minutes.
Please tell father that I thank him for his letter and will answer soon—probably to-morrow.
With love,
Otto
Original Format
Letter
To
Bubendey, Anna-Marie Kappelmann, 1887-1986
Files
Collection
Citation
Kappelmann, Otto Carl Wilhelm, 1888-1960, “Otto CW Kappelmann to Anna-Marie Bubendey,” 1918 April 24, WWP18916, Otto Kappelmann Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.