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Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLIX

Soliloquy of the Vanquished.

I am
The Bubonic Plague;
There is just one thing on
Earth that I
Am afraid of, and that
Is Kentucky.
It’s the
Only thing that’s
Severer and less scrupulous
Or discreet
Than I.
It don’t five a (Well, you know
What the “cunnels” would say)
For anything or anybody;
It don’t even
Tell you to move when you’re
In front of the target’ it
Just shoots and shoots.
It don’t care for the decency of
The country, or its reputation.
It is just one continual
Round of broils, from
Year to year,
Regardless. It is a
Worse blot, and more in need of
Quarantining than either
Me, the cholera, or
Dr. Hurty’s smallpox.
It is a festering sore, a fe-
Ver blister, a cancer, an abscess,
A carbuncle, and it needs
Treatment.
I am vanquished; it outclasses
Me, and I will not be imported,
Either microbially
Or otherwise,
To the United States until Kentucky is
Rendered less obnoxious
I’m Jealous.

Dr. Hurty has a large assortment of bubonic microbes on the way to Indiana, and he expects to be able to sic them on us some time during the next two years. At present his smallpox microbes are beginning to look a little pale around the gills, but the doctor is nothing daunted and announces that his bubonic microbes will be the real thing. He has the microbe business down pat and is perhaps more familiar with their habits and characteristics than any living man. He knows their history from away back, and there has never been a microbe yet that was smart enough to fool him on its ancestry or family relations. – Decatur Journal.

“Soliloquy of the Vanquished,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 12 March 1900, p. 4, col. 4, 5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

New Meat Locker (Gladys)

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: September 5, 1943 envelope

: September 5, 1943, p. 1

: September 5, 1943, p. 2

: September 5, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.
Sept. 5 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Went to the hospital today. I stopped on the way in to see Dr. Cole at his house because I wanted to talk to him directly. He said they tried to give Mother an enema for X-ray & she couldn’t retain it long enough to get a picture. He said they had ordered the barium given by mouth and when I got there she had had it and thrown it right up. I noticed her abdomen looked distended – Dr. Cole had Baylee & McC. See her. Baylee says she has a bowel obstruction – I believe she has from the looks of things. I called Cole when I left the hospital to come home and told him about the throwing up. He said he would order no breakfast & see if she could keep it down without food. The other [order] was given shortly after her dinner today. I intend to go back again Tues. Marie Steinbaugh has to go for her X-ray treatment at the clinic & she may go along with me. If you missed my letter about her – she had one breast removed (cancer) and has to take treatment regularily now.

I saw Mary McGee Arnott in the hospital this afternoon – She has a baby girl – her husband was shipped out

[page 2] and she didn’t know where – when the baby was born and doesn’t know yet for sure but is guessing on England. She was permitted to send a cable however – more than we could do. – so maybe he will know he has a daughter and not the son he wanted, before you knew about our David. I believe you got the word about D. Oct. 20 & he was a month old Oct. 23.

I was going to take the family along this afternoon but Dorothy asked to keep David then Mark said he would stay too so John & I went to Laf. and D. & M. stayed at Krulls. When we got back Nick & D. had their dinner ready & invited us to eat with them so we had dinner at the restaurant – They are closed all day Sun. They had just had their breakfast when we left for Laf. this afternoon. They had a pork roast, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, baked squash, gravy, bread & butter. They told me Tom Spencer has bought the Shell Station. He was running the Crown Dairy – but evidently not too good. Cochrans are closing down now & Spencers are reopening Sept. 14. This restaurant business around Kentland isn’t what it used to be. You can’t drop in any place, any time, any more and get a meal. It is almost to the point of getting to eat by appointment. Maybe not that bad but not what it used to be.

[page 3] It doesn’t bother us any because we eat at home. Which is a problem I will have to work on next week with Glens, Juanita & possibly Jim coming. I am going to turn in my meat coupons for the beef I am getting so will have to collect meat tickets from the guests. It puts me in a spot – I have to turn in the meat stamps before I can use any of the meat but I think we will get along. There is a locker to be put either in Kentland or Brook. I have signed up & pd. $10⁰⁰. If it isn’t built here we get our money back & continue with Sheldon. The Government is allowing just so many to be guilt & I think there can’t be one here & at Brook so the town that hurries the fastest will get the locker. There has to be 300 signers.

I slipped up on your Mother’s birthday gift but am sending her a towel, wash cloth & hankie. She will get it a day or two late but she will know we thought about her. I was getting the package ready at the store and the P.O. closed before I got it finished. Then too Mon. being Labor Day there won’t e any mail delivery so guess it will get to her just as soon mailed tonight.

I sent you some pictures in yesterday’s letter. Your latest was Aug. 21. Rec’d Fri last. It is getting late and I want Mark to take this to the P.O. tonight so it will go out early in the morning. My hands are much better. Guess the H.C.L. still works. I am beginning to peal off – still some places yet to dry up but it doesn’t bother me.

Love – Mother

Gladys (January 1943)

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/23/new-meat-locker-gladys/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLVIII

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SIX IN ONE FAMILY

Smallpox in the Home of James Rice,
Colored

Drs. Ferguson and Ridpath yesterday visited the home of James Rice, living on Sherman drive, just south of Washington street. Rice is colored and has a family of seven, all but one of them being afflicted with smallpox. The disease has been in the family for some time. The worst case is that of the oldest daughter, who has been employed in a family on the North Side. She has been sleeping at home nights. Once of the children also attended public school No. 2 and was sent home by the teacher who noticed eruptions on her face. A strict quarantine has been established, the expense of which will be born by the county, it having no pesthouse and having refused a short time ago to co-operate with the city in maintaining its pesthouse. The father is the only member of the family not afflicted.

Six Cases in One Family.

Six new cases of smallpox were reported to the State Board of Health, yesterday, from Noble county. The cases are all in one family and two of them are of the confluent form. The disease is supposed to have been contracted in Allen county.

“Six In One Family,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 11 March 1900, p. 3, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLVII

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Three New Cases at Clay City.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLAY CITY, Ind., March 9. – Three new cases of smallpox have been reported this week. These are the first for several days, and as the quarantine seems to be pretty well in hand it is believed the city soon will be rid of the scourge. There are but four or five houses in town carded at present. It is announced that Sunday schools and the churches will open on the 11^th inst.

“Thre New Cases at Clay City,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 10 March 1900, p. 2, col. 6; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Moving the Furniture (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 4, 1943 envelope

: September 4, 1943, p. 1

: September 4, 1943, p. 2

: September 4, 1943, p. 3

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Sept. 4 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

This is a typical Sept. day. It is raining – not hard but has been raining most all day. The humidifier shows “high” (60). It isn’t cold, but just pleasant. I am feeling better than when I wrote yesterday. My hands are going down – due partly to H.C.L. and rest. I didn’t do much yesterday. This being Sat. J. & M. are home and we have been doing some furniture re-arranging – The grand piano caused that change – otherwise I wouldn’t be moving things. I think they look right one way and don’t care to keep shifting. The piano is in front of the French doors, davenport at other end of room. The two slip covered chairs where the davenport used to sit with the gateleg table between with magazines for reading. The blue barrel chair is on the north of the fireplace with footstool in front. The radio sits on other side of fireplace. John says he doesn’t like the new

[page 2] arrangement, but I felt crowded with davenport next to the piano. The desk is now in dining room where antique table was sitting – antique table now sits in n.w. corner of living room. John wanted to place the radio where it is so we had to move your smoking stand away – That bothered him so I placed it by the wing chair – which sits next to the piano now. A lot of “lady stuff,” John would say.

I am enclosing pictures taken for David’s 11^th month and John’s 13^th birthday. He had jarred the camera several times taking my picture so when we saw his this time he said, “Now who jarred the camera?” You can see Glenn’s baby along with David. As I told you David is taller. James L. will sit where he is put (8 mo. old Sept. 11) and can be put on the bath table and left – we couldn’t leave David on the bath table unguarded from the time he could turn over. Can’t leave him anyplace now except in bed or pen without watching him. He wants to reach or climb all the time. His hair curls up on rainy days – however the curls don’t show up in any pictures. I wish I could get a good picture of the back of his head so you could see how curley it is. It’s a gold brown color now. Doesn’t look like it will turn as

[page 3] bond as John & Mark’s did at this age. He just awakened from a nap and seems to be a little unhappy about something. He loves to get out of his pen and walk around things – note the picture of him by the lawn chair – does he love to be turned out in the yard to walk around the chairs.

I started writing cks. today – haven’t pd. The groc. bills yet but pd. my ins., auto ins. & a few other little items. Have a bal. of 213⁰⁰ but still have to pay your Laf. pol. (Oct. 7) and the groc. Bills so that bal. will be taken down some. I just opened the bill from Loebs and it’s 50⁰⁰ but I had to get the boys some school clothes and got myself two pr. of shoes at once because I found two pr. that would fit. I am not going to try & pay Ruth & Earl anything yet – but will keep buying bonds and maybe we will have enough bonds to pay them off some day – so far we have 21 – 18⁷⁵ and 6 – 37⁵⁰ – John has 2 – 18⁷⁵ David has 2 – 18⁷⁵ & Mark almost has two. He has one and enough stamps for another. It looks like the sun is coming out but afraid it’s too late in the day to dry clothes.

Had a letter from Ruthie and they think Floyd will be up for examination again. So many men around here are feeling the breath of the draft bd. on their necks. Well this is war so we can expect to see them go.

Love Mother

John on his 13th birthday, August 1943

©2015 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/01/21/moving-the-furniture-gladys/

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLVI

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DISEASE PREVALENCE.
A Table Prepared by the State Board
Of Health.

The disease prevalence in Indiana for February has just been completed by the State Board of Health. The prevalence is based upon reports from seventy-two counties. In the following table the diseases have been analyzed in order of prevalence and it shows the number of cases of each disease reported in February and January:

	Feb	Jan
Bronchitis	97	86
Pneumonia	86	75
Tonsilitis	86	83
Influenza	83	80
Rheumatism	80	76
Consumption	76	67
Intermittent fever	48	41
Pleuritis	47	42
Diarrhoera	37	36
Typhoid fever	37	42
Scarlet fever	37	48
Erysipelas	34	20
Whooping cough	34	23
Diphtheria and croup	33	36
Inflammation of bowels	23	22
Measles	23	23
Puerperal fever	12	11
Cholera morbus	8	–
Cerebro-spinal meningitis	6	4
Cholera infantum	5	–
Dysentery	5	13

Smallpox was reported from Jackson, Scott, Vigo, Jay, Knox, Owen, Greene, Parke and Washington counties.
Hog cholera was reported from Delaware, Wayne and Henry.

“Disease Prevalence,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 9 March 1900, p. 6, col. 1; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLV

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Health Board Wants $2,000.

The Board of Health held a meeting yesterday morning and after allowing monthly bills, decided to ask the City council to appropriate $2,000 for a contagious disease fund. The members of the board say that department is allowed but a few hundred dollars for contagious diseases, which is all used in the general run of business and in the event of a smallpox epidemic or even a case or two of smallpox the board is embarrassed financially. The members believe the board should have the money in case it is needed at any time.

“Health Board Wants $2,000,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 8 March 1900, p. 3, col. 4; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

A Real Old Fashion Dose (Gladys)

1 Reply

: September 3, 1943 envelope

: September 3, 1943, p. 1

: September 3, 1943, p. 2

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Sept. 3 – 1943

Dear Daddy –

Yours of Aug. 18 – 20 & 21 came today – The one of the 18^th was the best – you were complimenting me all thru it and of course I always feel better when I get such compliments, especially from you. In rereading – the one of Aug. 21 was pretty good too. Don’t worry about tiring me with such letters when you feel like writing that way.

I haven’t done much today due to my hands – Yes I have a real old fashion dose of it this time – I had been eating peaches and then made lemonade a few times and now I just have to sit and not so much – I am taking H.C.L. acid each meal. The food was partly to blame but usually this condition is the culmination of something else. I was more or less worried about Mother and taking care of her along with David’s care and having company – it’s all adds up. Well Mother is in the hospital now, the company is gone for a week, J. & M. are in school and

[page 2] David & I can take things easier. I have rested twice today – that is lying down. After lunch I took him out in the yard and we enjoyed the sunshine about an hour and a half. I think a few days like today will clear things up. Fortunately I didn’t have on the ring I have had cut off before. Dorothy came out a while to see David. They still close from 11 to 3 – so she doesn’t have to be there during that time. They haven’t any help so Nick cooks & she serves. Bob said yesterday the Shell is going to close – I suppose due to help shortage. The bakery put on a new front about are ready to open for business again. They closed during their remodeling.

Chet Hall is painting Link’s house and if I am any judge of paint jobs it’s not as good as some I have seen. Can’t be too critical I suppose with the man power shortage.

I’ll give you the financial figures in next letter – haven’t the bank statement yet.

David is out in the yard with Mark & Zell girls entertaining him. John went to play for the Newton Co. Home Ec. Club at Mrs. John Simons after school. He didn’t relish the idea but consented – Said he didn’t want to play for a bunch of women.

Love – Mother

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLIV

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NO NEW CASES

Smallpox Situation Quiescent at
Bloomington and the University.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., March 6. – No new cases of smallpox have developed in the city or university, and the excitement is subsiding. – Miss Clara Davis, whose illness became known yesterday, is much better to-day and there is no cause for alarm. She has been taken to the home of a well-known family who are immunes, and is being tenderly cared for. Every precaution is being taken, and if new cases develop in university circles the students who are exposed will be rigidly quarantined. Dr. Swain, president of Indiana University, is quite ill with a cold, but he has appointed a committee which has full power to act. The three cases thus far are in the lightest form, more like valioloid. The work of the university continues uninterrupted, and nothing further will be done unless there are new developments.

“No New Cases,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 7 March 1900, p. 2, col. 3; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).

Smallpox Epidemic, Part XLIII

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ANOTHER CASE OF SMALLPOX

Young Woman Stricken at Blooming-
Ton and Now in Quarantine.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., March 5. – A second case of smallpox has developed here. Miss Clara Davis, a student from Bluffton, was taken ill yesterday and on being told she probably had smallpox she took the first train for her home at Bluffton. On her arrival there her brother insisted on her return, and she at once took the train again for Bloomington, going at once to the office of Dr. Rogers, who is secretary of the city Board of Health. As soon as he realized the situation Miss Davis was given a room and is now being carefully nursed at the city’s expense.

It seems that she caught the disease from her room-mate, who had a light case of varioloid, which was contracted from a student named Blything, who had been quarantined several weeks ago, but stole out nights and promenaded with the young woman. All precautions possible are being taken to prevent the spread of the disease. But so many have been exposed that quarantine seems impossible. Miss Davis is a relative of Senator Ichorn, a well-known Democratic politician.

“Another Case of Smallpox,” The Indianapolis Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana), 6 March 1900, p. 3, col. 5; digital image, Chronicling America (http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ : accessed 6 December 2014).