Jaci Dawn

One of the frustrations of detailing my great uncle’s life has to do with the chronology of the letters. Once again, I have discovered two letters inside one envelope! The first dates back to February 17th of 1917; the second  matches the postmark on the envelope: May 16, ’17. I’ll post both of them here as they show quite a difference in worries: in February, Dale was more concerned with finances and food; by May, he’s getting very worried about the draft and impending service.

Eugene, Ore. Feb. 17 ’17

Dear Mother and Dad,

      Your letter came just this afternoon. I will start this one back tonight so that you may get it before the end of next week.

     I took out a life insurance policy with the Metropolitan. Maybe I have told you. The policy is a 20 pay life with a disability provision that pays the amount of benefit on total disability. The premium is $21.85 a year. Takes $419 or so to mature the policy which is $1000. The doctor who examined me said that I would probably live to be 90 or 100 years old judging from my present condition. That will be fine for the company. I left the beneficiary at “Estate” for the present; I have the right to change at any time.

     I got me a pair of corduroy pants the other day. Being a Junior I can cut down the price of clothes somewhat by wearing them on the campus. A pair of shoes costs money now-a-days. Last year I paid $3.50 for shoes all the time but this year they are $5.00. Spuds have gone up again; the buyers are paying 3 cents per pound now.

     We have two lights in the three rooms. they cost us $.75 per month or $.37 1/2 each. I paid $11.50 for registration which is a little more than half of what I would have had to pay if I had begun at the first.

    I got a job from Reddie. He hired me to take care of the stage, keep it in order, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dale’s letter of May 16, refers to taking a “military drill” on campus. IThis was an early form of what we now know as “ROTC” (Reserve Officer Training Corps).  Ironically, my brother found a photo of Dale that someone had scanned from an earlier Oregana Annual: Dale is in uniform!

Eugene, Ore. May 16, ’17

Dear Mother and Dad,

     I am pretty busy now a days, exams are due in a few weeks and I must give exams and take exams. I must do a lot of work in my honor work and quit everything unnecessary.

    I don’t think I should look tired and worn. I get plenty to eat here and have to struggle with laziness this spring weather.

    I don’t see why Dan Brill wants to be a slacker. He can’t get away from the army now, and if he would take military drill he would have a chance to get ahead of the rank of private.

    I was promoted tonight. I am the so-called “high” private. I am next to the corporal, serving in his place when he is absent and promoted before anyone else is. I am getting a fairly good stand in with the officers because I have paid attention to orders and carried them out. Too many of the guys don’t care a snap what happens. If I am still here next year, I think I will get a commission.

     The professor is not returning the poems turned in, because he is getting a bunch ready to send to a publisher. If I ever get any returned I’ll send you some.

    I got the books all right. The paper was torn away by postal authorities to see that there was no infernal machine in the package. It is a wonder that they didn’t confiscate the books because they were German.

    I hate being away from home so much too. I was thinking of trying it back there again after next year. I can get a teaching fellowship at Wisconsin if i take post graduate work in German. They pay about $500 per year. That is a good income for a grad. student. I could be home summers if i do that. The war will knock all that out, I guess. If the war keeps up, (as I am sure it will) I will not be in school much longer. Instead of taking a Master’s degree I will be chasing fleas and Germans somewhere in France. Dont worry about me flying off the handle and enlisting. I will not do that until I have some good reason for doing it. I’ll tell you all about it before I spring anything.

    This is Wednesday morning. I must close this up and get it away.

Your son

Dale D.