Mid February 1919
Dear Don,
You no doubt think I've passed "on", for myu long silence but work ahs been pressing aned it seems like I dn't get a minute when I'm not working. You see I am taking type-writing at night school three nights of th week adn there on the Wednesday night there isn't night school, we hae a Liberty Chorus and since the only requition to join that is to be able to carry a tune they asked me and I joined.
Thaks muchly for sending my Xmas presents.
I feel fine now since haivng the flu - am slighlty deaf - but that all goes with a trait of an old maid. I'll probably end up in a mute asylum yet.
I have a class of H.S. girls in making lemon pie. LE. has been out of town to a convention for a week and will be away a week longer, hence the letter writing.
Oh I must tell you about the Teacher's Club Racket. I am no longer the worth stewardess and I am feeling 100% better. Last Nov. or rather the last part of Oct. when we wimply didn't have a place to board, the School Board took up the matter and said we could use the school dining room for our dining and they could take the hot lunches at schoo. I was appointed stewardess and gosh such a mess. I had to hire a cook and scond girl & all the suplies etc. etc. and keep them all separate from teh noon luch and school owrk. Then Nov 4 we meoved into the Hotel. Had to get a new cook and second girl. The Flu Hospital opened for three weeks and I had charge of that also. So many gils were gone during the mont of Nov that their board bills ranged from 9.00 to twenty dollars. I had to figure up a Board bill for nearly every girl and none were higher than $22.00.
In Dec. their board was $16.50 and for the four weeks in Jan $21.80. a lot of them had rebates for absences, too. I was sick with the flu and I did all teh planning and made out the orders when I was in bed. I told them I wished they'd get some one else because this extra responsibility and work has been the ruination of my health this winter.
In Feb. I heard some catty remarks and I had a meeting called and say the way I layed it out to those girls was nothing slow. Mish Fisher spoke up and said "No I gould quot a few things that have been said and I think now is the time for some of you peole to speak up and make your compalins in an open matter.: Say, they all sat like they were paralyzed. I read the riot act to the right. This was on teh 14th of Feb. and I said they goutl get a new steardess to start work the following morning and I gave tehm a report of my work. Their boark bill (which inclues help, alundry, etc. etc.) was seven dollars and forty cents for half the month and they had fifty dollars in the treasury. Besides this I had bought $17.00 worth of dishes, etc. Butter, up untiul jsut this month has been 75 cts a pound, eggs 70 cts a dollar [sic, dozen?] cream $1.00 a quart. Some of these people make me laught. I sure have been patting myself on the back for giving them such a good start. The Sewing teacher Anna Getschmann and I (do you wonder at it) spar at each other all the time. I simply work separate fromher for I cant bear to look at her much less talk with her. Shes' the kind who wears dirty underwar and apologiiesze for it if you happen to see it.
Well she tho't she was going to get it and had asked soemone if they thot that she could do it, etc. etc. and here she never got it at all. I can't help but smile up my sleeve. Sunday they ordered chicken 19 3/4 lbs and it cost them $7.98. Isn't taht rare? Not so rare tho when I think of pyaing the Board bill at the end of the month. Theother day at noon we had macaronit and chesse, scalloped potatoes, backed beans and borwn bread, prune sauce (we'd surely need it) and gingerbread. Talk about carbohtydate foods. Tell that menu to Ruth. The only experience the stewarde has had is cooking for Thrashers, but I certrainly wouldn't critize for its a leon job, not to anyone out scie the family circle.
Well on Feb. 14 (1/2 the month the boar was $6.43 per serons and they had fifty dollars in the Treasure. Don't you think I did pretty good? but they are welcome to run it to suit themselves.
I am going to start putting applications in at other palces for I've had enof of thsi school. Wish I had the money to go into cafeteria or tea room work. You and I could run a grill or something toegher. I like to teach H.Ec. and I'm crazy about my equipement, but Life is too short ot spend all your time here and I hate to teach all my life too.
Gee the weather is sure could out this mornign. The pipe in our bathroom froze.
Next Tuesday night there is to be a big banquet given for the retuned soldiers. Between a hundred and two hundred sholdiers and fiends will attend. Taht means a little piece of work for me.
Wed night of this week the girls of my H.Ec. classes are going to give a St. Patrick's sinner to six teachers for practice in serving.
Last Friday mronig they gave a George Washington Tea and had two teachers from uptairs as guests.
Sat - March 8 - I am going to Aurora to a H.Ec. teachers convention. Ain't it fun?
Al the teachers hav ahd the flu. thrity one have been out since Christmas and there are only 36 of us.
Write the goings and comings.
Much love to all, Leone
Tell Ruth I'll send a check for those things she bot me - next Friday - pay day - if she will write and tell me what they were.
