March 16 & 17, 1918 - Honeymoon Travelers to Texas

  

 I had no picture for this entry, just the two parts of one letter written while my grandparents went to visit their brother before he left for war. I knew we had a few train schedules, so planned to just add a general photo of a train schedule.  Imagine my delight when I discovered that the newly married Susan kept the train information and time table publication from this trip.  I am so delighted that she was so diligent at keeping al this correspondence between family and friends.  Note that the publication date on this train schedule is 3-1-18 so that date and the destination indicate that this was the honeymoon journey   These are the front and back covers as the publication and it is folded over, probably for ease of placing in a pocket.

As the folded schedule is opened, the traveler could see the name of this particular route - the Sunshine Special.  In the lower left corner is the edition 3-1-18. 

Somewhere in Illinois

March 16, 1918

12:25 P.M 

Dear Folks at Home:

            Have just finished diner and thought I would write you a few lines just for fun and I know you will want to hear from us. 
            We left the Union Station at Chicago at 10:10 A. M and have not made a stop since until just now after I finished the heading and salutation when they stopped at Pontiac.
            It is beginning to look like spring here, there is green grass in the yards and parks there and I see some fresh plowing now.
            This is supposed to be the fastest train from Chicago to Houston. As I said, we left at 10:15 this forenoon and are scheduled to reach St. Louis at 6 o’clock this evening. At St. Louis we change from the Chicago & Alton to another road, one leaving at 6:25 and if we heard correctly due at Texas 24 hours later though possibly it is 36 hours later instead of 24 hrs.
            There are quite a few soldiers, and a sailor or two, on the train.  The girl at the information bureau at the Union Station said that this was the train that the soldiers took to go back to Texas as it was a fast through train.

Somewhere in Texas

March 17, 1918

 Dear Folks,
            I notice that I said this was the train that most of the soldier took to go back to Texas so will just remark that though the personnel (don’t remember the exact spelling) changes little from time to time that we have between 20 and 30 soldiers in this car, most of the way and I don’t know how many there are on the train but as it is a very long train indeed would not be surprised if there were nearly a hundred on this train though it is possible of course that most of them are in the one car, as I suppose they would get together as much as possible.

            Reached St. Louis about 6 o’clock last night and left at 6:25.  We are supposed to reach Houston at 6:10 tonight according to the folder though “information” said 5 o’clock.  Will have to change trains at Palestine at 1:00 today but that is the only change expcept the one at St. Louis.

            It is nearly impossible to write so guess I will address an envelope and not try to write more until we reach Houston.

            Goodbye dear hearts.  Oh so much love to you all from us both. Have you sent George anything yet?

                                                                        Love and love and love from
                                                                                    Mr. & Mrs. Herman Weber

 

If there was any question before, the notations at the top of this next scan show grandmother's writing making notes on the top -- probably considering some extra travels with George in the area.

 

The map below is also taken from the train schedule publication.  They picked up the Missouri Pacific Line in St. Louis and continued south and west until they reached Palestine where they again changed trains for Houston. For ease in orienting this map, start at Galveston at the  nearly center bottom and follow the crescent backwards from Galveston through Houston to Palestine and then north east to St. Louis

 

 



March 2, 1918 - George Explains Absence from Wedding

 

Camp Logan, 3-2-‘18

 Dear Home Folks:

            This includes Dora and Margaret and Guy if he is there.  At least I hope by the time this reaches you that they will be there.  This Eve I received your letter of the 26^th saying you were sending $45 in case I could come. I’m afraid when I get it it will have to come back as I really don’t see my way clear to come at this time.
            Skinny has come back, but is expecting a Sergeantcy in this or some other Co & does not want his job back he says.  Who can blame him?  And I think the Major is resigned to it for he has taken me on as tent orderly as well as mounted.  It’s a job I don’t like (make his bunk, sweep, shine shoes, etc.) but most of the mounted orderlies do both jobs so I couldn’t very well refuse. He said try it for a month anyway, so it looks as tho I wouldn’t get “bounced” for that long anyway.  Of course the tent work means $5.00 per month extra direct from the Major so that will help some to atone for the dirty work.  But you see if I take a furlough that is all broken up.  If I had been on three or four months and had the work regular, I would feel justified in asking for the furlough and put on a substitute, but it would be too much to ask him to break in another man when he just got me working harmoniously.
            Of course, it really isn’t much of a job in a way, but it beats corral and kitchen detail a good deal and is pleasanter even tho one is “only a buck private.”  So I guess I better stick and hope that eventually it will lead to something better still.  Did you get my letter about the allotment?  You never said anything specifically about it, so I wonder if you go the letter telling you I had made it and what I wanted done with the money.  It should come inside of the next 15 days and I would like to have Susan and Herman bring down the $10 or $15 when they come if you get it by then.  Just whatever you can spare.  As I said before, always use what you need and send me the rest while in the U.S.  After that bank the surplus over what U use if there happens to be any.  If it don’t come by the time they leave for here, let me know as soon as it does come, so I can be sure you get it all O.K.  I wonder if your secret has leaked sister, for Jo said in this evenings letter she had head some good news, but wouldn’t tell what it was till she was sure it was true.  She said if it was true I probably knew it by now anyway.
            To think, only ten more days and I’ll have to address my letters to “Mrs. Herman Weber.”  Guess Smith’s aren’t sure where they will move yet but my, won’t the valley be dead without them there.
            Well, I’m getting sleepy so guess I’ll draw this to a close and send a program of Thurs Eve’s entertainment.

                                                            Love to you all

                                                                        George