Dear Bess: May 19, 1913
Transcript
Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, from Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. This National Park is just about to turn 40 years old. We are grateful to everyone who has made that possible. Today, we especially want to thank the City of Independence, Missouri, and its citizens for their exceptional support and friendship!
This is a fun letter, written by Harry S Truman, to his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, on this date in 1913. It’s a fun insight into the inner workings of the Truman farm home in Grandview, Missouri. And it’s always fun to have an insight into Harry Truman’s mother, Mrs. Martha Ellen Truman and his Uncle Harrison Young.
Truman, too, writes a bit about a hired hand that was working for them. We regrettably don’t know a lot about these hired hands, and, prior to things like Social Security records, employers didn’t keep such records. But the stories they could tell!
As always, thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.
Grandview May 19, 1913
Dear Bess:
How do you appreciate my ability as a weather prophet? We had a small rain out here this morning. I hope you had none and that we'll have more.
I started this letter before breakfast and had to quit because there were so many congregated around the desk to see what I was about. We have the freshest hired man that ever hopped a clod. He has to know where every letter comes from and to whom every one goes. I informed him that I was writing a business letter and it was none of his affair where it went. He immediately got the Sunday Post and said he would peruse the personal column and see if he couldn't find a reason for a business correspondence. He found one which said a rich widow desired to hear from a bachelor of some means, object matrimony. I suppose he is going to investigate. I told him he was no bachelor; he's only twenty-one – a perfect infant. He thinks he's older than I am. I told him I was forty-two my last birthday. He had to go to work with a post auger this morning.
I am sorry the picnic note didn't arrive, but I shall look forward to another one later. Uncle Harry pulled out this morning. He's going to Monegaw Springs in the morning. He says they have the finest set of hillbillies in America down there. They give a formal dance every Wednesday evening during the summer. Full dress consists of a hickory shirt and blue overalls for the men, and red calico dresses for the ladies. They must have a good time. He said he showed them how to dance the pigeon wing and crawfish wire, evidently two very complicated steps if names count for anything. I have an idea that he would make a better instructor in poker and seven-up than in dancing. He's too pigeon-toed to dance. It is all he can do to walk without getting tangled up.
I am going to Harrisonville today and Wednesday night too if nothing happens here at home and it will keep on raining. It looks very much like we were going to have a trash mover. I suppose you and the Southern girls will have another party if it rains. You ought to have played tennis yesterday afternoon. It was an ideal day for it. You couldn't possibly have gotten too warm at it. Mamma has a broom just raising sand in here. I never saw anyone but Aunt Sallie who takes any more pleasure in creating a disturbance with a broom than Mamma. The coldest day in winter she'll raise all the windows, get a broom and a dust rag, and just be perfectly blissful while the rest of us freeze. Whenever the dog and cat see her coming with a broom they at once begin hunting means of exit. They know by sore experience that Mamma's broom is a poor implement to get in front of. When eating time comes though they forget the broom as well as the rest of us do.
Please now you owe me a letter if you'll let the stationery count for one. Do you approve of Electric Park? If you do we'll go out when the weather gets warm enough. Mary saved me a dish of strawberries. I can't imagine what she wants, a new dress or hat I bet. See you Sunday if not sooner?
Most sincerely, Harry
We've shared this letter before, but it's so fun, we thought we'd share it again! Such fascinating insight into the Truman Farm Home life, and family experience!
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