Mrs. J. C. Bitterman 1717 Chadbourne Ave. Madison, Wisconsin Jan. 30, 1932 Dear Circle: Winter is here at last. It came last night and has been zero and below all day today. Cal and I went to the Auto Show this PM and saw some VERY NIFTY new cars, but that is as far as we will get with them. The prices seemed reasonable for the class of cars we would be interested in. Cal was laid off for a month, at least, today. The weather has been so comfortable all the time he has been driving for the lumber yard, that I am glad is to be at home while this cold weather is on. They are cutting down expenses on all sides for they claim to have operated at a loss during the past year. Next week is Farmers Week at the Univ. and I think I shall go to some of the programs. We have had an unusual circumstance in Madison this year. Monona and Mendota lakes were open & men were out fishing there, and on Lake Wingra, they were skating and ice boating, but the big lakes will be frozen again by tomorrow if this zero weather keeps up. We were glad to read in Charles' letter that he and Alice had driven to Des Moines and to know that Alice can ride again. I am feeling entirely free of the arthritis that laid me up last winter, for which I am thankful. I remember that wet fall Arthur speaks of. We had to lay the stalks of one hill down after husking it to walk on to the next one. We had quite a company at our wagon, some three or four of us youngsters. to get any kind of a load by noon. Arthur, Cal asked me to cut out one of those pictures of the old McCormick Harvester in those old 1876 Republicans you sent, for a keepsake. He says there's something not quite right about it. He never saw the men who bound wearing WHITE SHIRTS and VESTS! Ruth writes that Alice and Ralph have been having the Flu but are better again & that Dick was away on a 12 day speaking trip over on the coast. Little Ellen Thompson has been having a sore arm from being vaccinated a couple of weeks ago. Otherwise we are well here. Best wishes for those who have birthdays this month. And love to you all, from Annie - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. March 6. 1932 Dear Circle: Who had kept that letter of Father's all these past 61 years? I was so glad to read it. In another such span of years, I suppose one will just fly to the new location. I see Father mentions that Rufus was not so very well, and sixty-one years after in the "Robin" Rufus confesses he is not so very well, but I hope he is back to normal again by this time. This "Flu" is surely over the length and breadth of the land. Grace's family have all been having it one after the other and Dale's have had it, & I am just getting about again after a siege. Cal is still immune. He had a severe attack last year just at this time & I did not take it then. We are having another (the 2nd) cold snap of the winter yesterday and today. Almost to zero. Cal goes with the Mozart Club to Evansville tonight to give a concert. Hope the man he rides with has a heater in his car. They have two more out of town dates yet this spring. Charles, Wendell can tell you all about the Goude boys, as he visited them while out west last year. How are you liking your new work, Arthur? Your typing is good for a beginner! Isn't it too bad about the Lindberg's baby? I don't see why they don't claim the money and bring him back when they have agreed to all they asked for. My student short course boys will be leaving the end of this week, but the youg lady is still staying on, tho' business is not very brisk in cosmetics, either. Cal is thinking of driving to the farm when the bridge at Prairie du Chein is open, but there are so many different stories about it that he thinks he'll have to call up to find out. He has been putting in some patent garage doors on our garage that rise up & go inside the garage over head of the cars, during his spare time the past month. He has remodelled them about every five days but he says they are FINISHED now. However, I have not been outside for the past week so have to tried to see how smoothly they disappear. He put some on for Mr. Ulve, also. He can do a variety of things, but on the q.t. I think he'll NEVER be a GREAT COOK! I had liquids mostly. I hope you are all in your usual health. Much love Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. April 14, 1932 Dear Circle: So far today (It is now 5 PM) I have set the lace on one pillow slip and got the meals. That's what I amount to these days. Yesterday I had the Wingra Park Aid Society, with an assistant hostess, and it was all I wanted to do, so I've rested up today. I can't get back to my normal strength yet. I took a weeks free treatments from Theronoid (2 each day) and I felt much better of the back ache I've had since the Flu in Feb. but my knees and arm are still stiff. Maybe they'll be better when warm weather comes. Cal cleaned the house for me and now he is painting Noel's house two coats. He expects to be at the lumber yard as soon as building starts again. If you have not know of Theronoid I will say it is an electrical treatment. One sits at ease with an appliance (like a small auto tire) about one's waist which is plugged into an electric light socket. The currant is controlled so that there is no shock, and the treatment continues for ten minutes. If one has the appliance in one's home, there should be three ten min. treatments a day. It is not a cure-all but some remarkable cures have been made by its use. The man who demonstrates it in Mad. was cured of arthritis of 3 1/2 years standing after being on crutches that length of time. This man spent $5,000 being treated at hospitals and the Mayo's told him to go home and stop spending money as there was no cure for him, but he heard of Theronoid & used it & it made him well. I am trying out a "Superior Health belt" very much like Theronoid. Have rented it for a months trial to see if it will limber up my joints. The grass is beginning to look green and the tulips are up several inches. I'm not quite so keen about getting out into the garden as I used to be but must try to get some seeds in soon. That is a good article that Father wrote on Home Reading and I think I enjoy Uncle Joseph's poems more than most other poetry. They are fine enough to be printed in book form, I think. I was glad to read Mother's letter too. It seems to be the MOTHER that has to do most all of the writing to the children at this house. Nothing but death or finances will get a letter out of a real Bitterman. Must stop and get supper. Much love from Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. May 15, 1932 Dear Circle: I can write letters better than I can do many other things for the past 6 weeks. My rheumatic knees will not permit graceful walking or comfortable moving about yet, but am still hoping for improvement before long. My Superior Health Belt (similar to the Theronoid) did not benefit them at all so I sent it back after a month. Now, I'm using a strong elec. light with massage and liniment, but shall add a restricted diet this week to see what that will do. I am surely tired of limping about. Last week, Sat. morn at six o'clock we started to Iowa and, via the new bridge, arrived at the farm at 1:30 PM and left for home at 12:15 Sun noon and reached here at 7 PM. Stopping a few minutes at Fennimore and at Graces on the way back. The bridge costs 80 cts for the car and 10 cts for each person. We did not have time to see any one but the children at the farm for Cal had to be back for work Mon. Will enclose some shap shots of Ruth's children she sent me for Mothers day. Was glad to see the pictures of Arlyn's and Gerald & wife. The weather man promises showers for tonight. The garden is quite dry and Cal watered some of it tonight. Yesterday was so warm it broke the record here for May 14. At least it was sufficiently warm to cause the Bitterman family to take off their "heavies" which had been comfortable until then. We are really old timers here in many ways. (1) Wear heavies in cold weather, (2) think all women might wear a few more clothes than is common these days, (3) believe Prohibition is good for people, (4) like the old idea of marrying for life, (5) would choose to have a little less FAMILIARITY amoung young people, (6) pay cash or value received for what we buy, (7) use the good old Golden Rule daily. Soon we will soon be as much out of place in America as we would be if we were in Russia. Did you hear Pres. Frank's talk over the Radio last week when he scored the critics of what goes on at the Univ.? Every thing will be all right when the efficient younger generation gets charge of affairs, it seems. It is bedtime now here. So goodnight, and love from Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. June 22, 1932 Dear Circle: I see the Robin is a little late this month. I wrote May 15 last month. I am glad to say I am feeling better that when I wrote before tho' I am still not back to normal yet. I have taken nine Chiropractic adjustments so far, because Ruth insisted I try them as they had done her much good for sinus trouble and I shall go on for a couple of weeks longer, at least. This man carges $1.00 per treatment (30 min.) and gives me three a week. I can now go up and down stairs one step after another instead of both feet on one step, but cannot walk more than a block before my knees begin to weaken. He says he's cured dozens of cases like mine and can cure mine. I hope he's right. Thank you, Arthur, for your offer of the carbon light. I'll go on with these treatments for a while yet. Arthur, I weigh more than you do now. 125 lbs. last week. I wish you could sleep more and eat more. Cal surely eats like the proverbial thresher these days. He works hard as he did on the farm but eats a lot more than he ever did years ago. The Lumber Co. are arranging the yard to handle coal this fall and they have been very busy making bins, putting in scales, etc. besides the regular work. There are three firms selling coal side by side there now, and many people are putting in oil burners, too. I listened in on the Rep. convention when Hanford McNiders name was presented for Vice P. but he did not seem to have a great following. I wonder why any one wants office of Pres. or Vice P. at a time like this. I bought a fowl for Sun. dinner at 16 cts. It was a mature cock and I thought it reasonable at 16 cts but if the farmer only got 2 cts a lb. I think it should have been much cheaper. Cal & I remember that year of 1896. We had just bought 160 A. of land and had corn to sell at .09 and oats at 11 cts to pay interest with, but taxes were not what they are now. I think taxes must be equalized between real estate and money loaned before times improve much and the prospect is not bright for an early adjustment. Love to all. Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. July 14, 1932 Dear Circle: Well, my arm is so damp the paper sticks to it as I move it for it is hot, 93o today. I went to a picnic this PM and perspired just sitting still in the shade. While Cal was up on the roof of one of the buildings at the lumber yard painting the roof with black tar roofing paint, he said he had to get down several times & put his feet in a pail of water to cool them off. He used up all the paint so will rest a few days till some more comes, and I think he needs the rest. I am feeling better than when I wrote last. I am not having treatments this week, as i had berries to pick & can, so I took some vapor baths while picking them that I thought might help get the rheumatism out of my sustem for less that $1.00 per. but I am much more comfortable than I have been but I have not a great deal of endurnce for some reason. Myrta surely is one busy, capable one. Arthur, you may send your violet ray by Henry & Ella if you like when they go to Iowa on their vacation. Don't hear anything about the Bittermans having a vacation this year. They are more concerned about having work. Last year we were at Ruth's at this time and we are glad we took the trip then. Dale and family spent a few days with us around July 4 and we were very glad to see them. Ruth writes that the head of the Dept. Dick is in at Pullman drove from Pullman to Chicago in 5 1/2 days averaging 423 miles a day, which is going some over those dizzy mountains. We think Rudolph & Edith will have a commodious home when their remodelling is finished and there are surely plenty of workment wanting work every where. 9:30 is our bedtime this summer, so I will say Good night for this time. Love from Annie. Ella says this morning that they've given up taking their vacation now it's so hot, and will take it later in Oct. perhaps. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Aug. 12, 1932 Dear Circle: The past week has been perfect as to weather. So bright and even in temperature. Amelia is here and today I had six friends in to lunch to meet her and tomorrow Ella has a dozen of us for lunch. I am feeling much more like myself than for several months past and think perhaps I shall be able to throw off this rheumatism. I cut a piece off the end of my finger (a piece of the flesh) & it is a nuisance in everything I do, and so sore. Used the last of the sweet corn today. Tomatoes ripen rather slowly this cool weather. Cal and I will take Amelia home on Sunday. Cal is through at the lumber yard for the present and is busy at odd jobs for the neighbors. Is doing some plumbing and cement work for a neighbor just now. Ruth writes that they have been on a vacation to the Pacific Coast in the Olympics and she tells this fish story. Dick caught 20 rainbow trout one day. EIGHT of them as fast as he could pull them in, and ON THE SAME WORM. The Dane Co. Fair is history now. We did not attend but the Journal claimed it paid expenses this year and a little more. A Gyroplane came over our house last Sundy and turned upside down several times. He was stunting at the airport with a number of other crack fliers. One of my roomers left last week at the end of Summer school, but the other two are still here & may stay until about time for the Univ. to open. I have liked these men and think I shall list my rooms for men after this. It is my bed time. So Goodnight. Love from Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Sept. 11, 1932 Dear Circle: I got the letter tonight from Henry. I see it is just a month since I wrote before. Tomorrow is Cal's 66th birthday and he announces that he expects to work over at Henry's doing some repair work on their front porch steps. He keeps busy almost every day. Fri. he was sent by the Gateway Co. to nail down a metal ridge strip on a house they own & when he was all set to do the nailing, out came a bevy of wasps and three of them stung him before he could climb down. He says he'll take some smoke with him next time he tries it or wait till they stiffen up with cold weather. He has been offered a position as salesman by the Lumber Co. but has not decided to take it as yet. That salesmanship does not seem to come natural to him. But any other sort of work, O.K. We called to see Ella this PM. She is getting better some what slowly. Can walk about the house some but has to move very carefully not to hurt her side. She still suffers from the shock and that makes her recovery less rapid. It seems better to see her at home again, though. This PM we went to the Dahlia display in the Crystal Room at the Hotel Lorraine. One of the exhibitors said this season had been a very poor one for Dahlias and Glads, but the room was BEAUTIFUL with HUNDREDS of lovely blooms some as large as 12 inches across! and of all colors and types. I like Dahlias so much and would love to have some of those beauties but when I heard the price of a single tuber ($12 to $16.00) I decided my old ones would have to do awhile yet. I have rented my single room for the coming year to a Mr. Borck (a grad student) from Kelowna, British Columbia, and hope to get two more in the double room by the time Univ. opens Sept. 20th. The room rent comes in so handy for spending money for me. Have been cleaning house some what the past week but it is no whirlwind campaign I put on these days. Have no endurance as I once had, but can do it a little at a time. Wonder who will win in the elections this fall. I'm for Hoomer for Pres. and Hohler for Gov. Love to all from Annie Elizabeth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Oct 14, 1932 Dear Circle: This is a far as I got last eve when Cal said"Don't try to write the letter tonight. Do it tomorrow," and it doesn't take any more persuasion than that to make me let a thing go these days. For I am just around again after another fierce bout with lumbago, my old enemy. Cal is painting our house outside the past two weeks, and doing all the screen and storm windows was taking so much time that I offered to paint screens last Fri. so he could paint on the ladder. I had a nice sunny place in the back yard and a stool to sit on to do the work & was all thro' but one screen when I leaned over to get at a certain surface and lo! I couldn't straighten up, and had to be in bed five days and my back is still very weak but I am around the house some now. Grace let me have her student girl a week to help Cal with the meals & work. It makes me provoked to be laid up so often. I hope Alice is feeling better by this time. It surely is discouraging to feel so poorly. Ella called yesterday. She gets out now on the street car and goes up town but has but little endurance. We'll all have to admit we're getting old, I guess. I really marvel at Cal. He has done work that would be heavy work for a man of 40 the past three years. He expects to go out to the farm to help Dale husk the corn as soon as I can safely take charge of things here at home. He will build a cupola on the corn crib to enable Dale to use a conveyor to unload the corn mechanically. (Anything to save these precious backs!) Husking corn is quite a different occupation than it was 50 years ago. I have two very nice graduate students this year. Two friends, grad students in geology, from British Columbia. We still get a few things from the garden. Do any of you grow Swiss Chard? It is used like spinach but is so much easier to prepare for cooking and grows all summer long. Ours has been so good this whole season. Our grape vine produced much fruit this year but it did not ripen naturally for some reason. Hoping you will all be well as the Robin makes its flight this month. I am with love, Your sister, Annie. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Nov. 23, 1932 Dear Circle: The letter will just make one more flight in 1932. How the years do slip by! We are having Grace & family and her student girl and our two men roomers to dinner tomorrow, nine in all. I found fresh parsley in the garden for garnishing the turkey today. Almost every day the weather report says snow probable but so far nothing has come of it. I am feeling much better at present. My lumbago is gone and my knees are not so lame. I hope Alice is feeling better also. Cal has been busy most of the time since he came home from Iowa, but he finished painting the house he was painting for the Gateway Co. tonight and has nothing in sight just at present. I found Nellie Armstrong's letter interesting. I've never read one of her letters when she didn't say she had been ill. Congratulations to our new legislator! I hope Earl finds out what is the matter with things and helps Roosevelt set things right. I predict that four years hence Mr. F. D. Roosevelt will not be quite so sure that these international debts are "not his baby" as he is quoted as remarking tonight. The state of Wis. is going far into the "red" by tonights paper, after two years of the management by one of the all-wise LaFollette family. It puzzles my how people can say that the more beer that is drunk the better every thing will be, as if the money that is spent for beer and liquor won't make just that much less money to spend for actual necessities of life. I think we COULD be much worse off, Arthur. We could go off the gold standard and what money we had would have no dependable value, but we all live in hopes that the new administration will be as capable as they claim to be. Roosevelt says all we need is "a man in the White House who can get things done." We are thankful things are no worse than they are, and that we are all quite well. Love from Annie. Henry & Ella leave tonight by R.R. for a few days with Roswell's family. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Madison, Wis. Dec. 15, 1932 Dear Circle: Just got the letter from Henry tonight and will send it on tomorrow, so it may get around still in 1932. Went up town for two hours this PM to shop a little and came home tired out. Just can't walk much since I've had so much trouble in my knees. Haven't done much Christmas shopping this year and the stores were not very busy today and they are all keeping open evenings till Christmas to oblige all shoppers. Had my birthday dinner over at Grace's and we will go over there for Christmas dinner and tree Christmas day. Got a good snap shot of Ruth and DIck recently which I will enclose. Noel James (aged 7 years) played in his first public recital yesterday and did very well. He has been taking music lessons for four months. Has a very good ear for pitch. His teacher gave him a test by striking different notes on the piano, which he could not see, & he told her accurately which one she struck each time. He does not have to be coached to practice but seems to enjoy it. He knows a lot more about scales & keys now than his Grandmother B. does, or ever did. Cal has had no work for the past month away from home, but he just keeps busy fixing up every thing about the house. He asked up town today how much low overshoes were. They were $1.75 or a big load of corn needed to pay for them. He made a humidifier for the furnace last week that evaporates 2 1/2 gal of water a day, and some Christmas presents and base plugs for lamps, etc. etc. One of my students goes home to Vancouver B.C. for the holidays but the other one will stay over here. Best wishes for Christmas and the year to be to you all from Annie E.