Three Letters from Corregidor in the Philippine Islands, 1940

CONZELMAN, Mrs. C.M.

Verlag:

Three Autograph Letters from Mrs. C. M. Conzelman, the wife of an American Army officer stationed in the Philippine Islands, totaling 27 pages. The letters, written on her printed letterhead from Fort Mills on Corregidor are dated March 23rd (12 pages); April 9th - 11th (8 pages); and November 21nd-22rd (7 pages), to family back home in the U.S. In the letter of 23rd March to her "Auntie B.", Mrs. Conzelman relates domestic and family news: the commanding general asks her husband "Conz," an artillery officer, if he would like to take over the mess at the recreation facility at Bagnio. Despite being flattered, and apparently: ".whenever they choose a man for the job they consider his wife equally much in the selection since she has to be a kind of hostess, and she is librarian (and gets 75 pesos a month for the library job)." they decline because they are so happy in Corregidor, and her husband is proud of his battery and expects he might receive a promotion. She details life there, mentions her son's desire to be a Boy Scout, mentions their plans to go on their own R&R at Bagnio, golfing, and planned visits to gold and copper mines. In the letter beginning on 9th April, to her Mother, she writes from their aforementioned vacation at Bagnio: "I'm trying to ignore the expenses involved, and just get fat!" She details their plans to go into the mountains to see the rice terraces just north of Bantoc: ".the headhunting tribes are still very wild, and only a few weeks ago two villages started a private war and took a few heads before the Army officials could get up there to stop them." She mentions that an officer friend involved in quelling the disturbance ".brought back native spears, shields, head-axes and hats as souvenirs." She also mentions: "I've taken some pictures of native women weaving the belts & luncheon sets & g-strings etc. in the bario near here." She further described the weavers and the weaving process in detail, but after a brief account of her golfing, segues to war news: "Last night just at dinner we learned that Germany has invaded Norway & Denmark. This looks more serious than any news for months. How I wish England was strong enough to beat Germany quickly and save the horrible slaughter that is coming. How lucky we are to be American! In the final letter of 21 November to "Dearest Family: "This is Thanksgiving Day (according to FDR)." Aside from how busy she is teaching school, she mentions: "Tomorrow is the big 'despidida' (Farewell party) for Gen. & Mrs. Wilson. He has just been made a Major General and we are all very fond of them both." Afterwards they will attend a dinner with the General and Mrs. Wilson and "When they sail on the big liner 'Washington' they will have been 'partied' to death." She mentions that "Wish one could have television to help us join the Christmas tree over [there]. but we'll be there in spirit so please think of us as you gather round." In the second part of the letter she reports that joyous news that they have been transferred to New York City to await another posting. Interesting and chatty letters with good details on the Philippines, in the nervous days leading up to the beginning of WWII. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 403579

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Three Letters from Corregidor in the ...
Einband: Unbound
Zustand: Fine