Lorenzo Swensen (1887-1955) and Beatrice Eloise Wride (1893-1979)

Incoming Correspondence,1941

Paul to Folks, 1941 Dec 10

Bath, New York
December 10, 1941

 

Dear Folks,

Your very welcome letter just came and while I am waiting for my dinner to digest I will just dash of a line or two. After I mailed the last letter I thought of some more to say but I suppose that that is always the case.

It seems very good to hear the news from home. I have received one paper and will appreciate all you will send. Just seeing names you know seems good.

I was very interested in the account of the big doings back there to welcome Santa back to town. They think that they have beautiful decorations back here but even Paris does a better job than what they have here. The town has many more people but it is really only just a little joint. So far as we have observed there is no civic activity as yet and in general it is rather dead, of course I am used to such a good town that it seems strange. We have been down town to look around and they have some very fine things and they are also charging a very fine price. Everything is so high that we can hardly afford to eat. Idaho spuds are 35 for 10 lbs. milk is 12 a quart and all the rest of the stuff is just about the same. It is going to increase expenses but then we have to eat.

Geraldine must be down on me for not writing sooner then I did because I wrote quite some time ago but haven’t had an answer as yet but I suppose she is busy too so I’ll forgive her if she gets busy right quick.

I’m glad to hear that Barbara is enjoying herself by turning into a working girl (for a change) and I hope she likes the work and I also hope that they like her, as I’m sure they will. Incidently, if you aren’t too busy you might drop a line and let me know all the news around school etc. etc. When the Grizley comes out send me a copy.

We finally had a little snow yesterday and today. Elder Fish didn’t like it very much but I did. It smelled so good and so much like home that it made me feel very fine. They have a nice little lake here and if it gets cold we will get in some skating. That is one thing that we are allowed to do if we get the chance and don’t let it interfere with our work.

What do you think of the present international situation. We are wondering just what is going to happen to us. Many of the missionaries who have been coming out during the past few months have been told before they left Salt Lake city that they would not get to finish their missions so maybe you will se me home before long. I sincerely hope I don’t have to leave but with alarms over New York etc. I hardly think that the missionaries will be left down there. We are rather anxious to hear what has happened to the Island missionaries. I’m sure that they are safe but it would be interesting to know how they are getting along right in the middle of a war. The way they are fixing up the draft laws it wouldn’t surprise me if they had us in the army before very long.

This financial situation is getting me down. The way we have to travel around and the prices of food it seems that money doesn’t go anyplace. We have quite a supply of stuff we purchased on sale so we can eat for a little while. It is rather hard to say when to send money for the rest of the time but right now youcan send it just as soon as you can. As you mentioned it is just as well to have a balance on hand so there will never be a shortage. Has Rollie come across yet. He should understand that I didn’t agree to wait until I got back. I guess it doesn’t make very much defference but it had just as well be making some money for you, or help in paying of the balance on the car.

It would be very fine if we could make use of out evenings in visiting as you suggest but we haven’t enough of that kind of contacts yet, we have however shown one slide lecture andhave some coming up soon. As it is now we listen to the news and get in a little writing or studying in between the war reports.

I blew myself and had a picture taken. I think it is a good one and I got it done at a very good price. Lydia wanted me to have one taken when I was in Salt Lake but I didn’t have time so I am going to send out a few of them for Christmas. They only cost 25 so that isn’t so bad (that also includes the mount). The studio did up a big one and put it in a nice gold frame and right in the front and center of their window. We have had news articles about us in thw two local papers and also in the papers of the surrounding towns.

We spent last week-end down to Elmira for a missionary meeting. It was really wonderful. There were 19 or us and it was really inspirational to meet withall of them. We spend the night with one of the members. They seem so thrilled to speak to missionaries that it is a real thrill to stay with them. We went to Sunday School and spoke in church. It was my first chance to speak in a ‘mormon’ meeting since I arrived and it was a real thrill. The crowd wasn’t quite a crowd but they have the spirit and they all said that they enjoyed the talk very much so I feel good. One of the members down there (she is a beautiful little brunette) has invited us down to help her get rid of a big turkey on Christmas so I guess we will have fun. We had a previous invitation to attend the Catholic Mass but as is we will forego that pleasure to make a healthy attack on that turkey. (if we are here by then).

I am probably forgetting some important things to tell you but I can’t think so I’ll close for now. I have been looking for a list of gift suggestions from you but haven’t seen one as yet. It can’t be very much but it should be something. Give my best regards to everyone and all of my love to you.

Love and with it
Paul