Thomas J. Mahan letter to Estella Wilferth - November 11, 1917
Transcript
Lucena Tayabas [Philippines] [November] 17, 1917. Dear Estella: Today is Saturday and as I'm doing some writing, thougt I'd drop you a few lines also. School is over half out and we have been giving the midyear examinations, but haven't got the papers graded yet. Time flys so fast I can hardly realize what has gone with it. I suppose about all you hear in the U.S. is war talk and if I had not come to the Philippines, I suppose I would have been training to go to France, also. I tried to do my "bit" by buying a Liberty Bond and so did most of the other teachers in the Lucena High School. Over five million dollars worth of bonds have been subscribed for in the Philippines, alone, and the Filipinos have certainly shown their loyalty. Many of them who work for fourty or fifty cents a day, have bought bonds and are paying for them out of their meagre salaries. One old fellow who lives in the mountains, had kept his money buried in the ground, not willing to risk any bank with it, dug it up he other day (a total of $750.00) and bought a Liberty Bond. Many of the Filipino boys are joining different departments of the army, including the High School students, and one of my second year High School boys left last week to join. It has certainly been raining here the past few days, and we needed it, too, as the gardens were getting awful dry. Many of the gardens are maturing for the second or third time this year and they are planting new crops now also. You see things grow all the year round here and that makes it pretty nice as we can have fresh vegetables all the year. The Philippine climate is certainly one to be admired by anyone as it is similar to spring or autumn most of the year and the hot season is never as warm as it is at home and the nights are always cool. I was at the beach last Saturday and had a fine swim and am going again this (Sat.) afternoon. Can go swimming every day in the year, here. Maby I'll take a notion to swim across to San Francisco some of these days and spend Saturday and Sunday in the U.S. Ha! ha! I was in Manila last Sat. and Sun. a week ago, and had quite a nice time. Manila is certainly a fine city and so much Americanized that you woud never take it to be an Oriental city. Has a population of three hundred thousand and there are thousands of Americans there. A large no. of the business houses are fun by Americans and it is up to date in every respect. Think I shall spend the greater part of my vacation there next summer, though I will want to go to the teachers summer camp for a short time at least. We Lucena Americans are going to have a big turkey dinner Thanksgiving. Better take dinner with us, ha! ha! It certainly won't seem like Thanksgiving to me this time as it is too much like summer time. The High School gave a Columbus Day entertainment at one of the theaters Oct. 12, and took in about $100.00. The Filipinos are very enthusiastic over all such things as that and it's easy to get a crowd. Weare now preparing for an athletic meet Thanksgiving.
Transcript
How is Mc. and everything at school getting along? He is rather stingy with his letters, so I don't hear from him very often. Well Estella, I guess I will have to close, tan yo tango muchos otro cartas para escribir. Am enclosing a Xmas remembrance, a sample of Oriental handiwork. Wishing you every Happiness for Xmas and the New Year and hoping to hear from you soon, as I have only heard from you once since I've been here, I am, as ever, Thos. J. Mahan. P.S. Mr. Schug, the fellow I told you about before, sends his best wishes and said to tell you that he is looking for you. No joking about it, Estella, he certainly is in earnest, and thinks you are "some senorita." T.J.M.
Details
| Title | Thomas J. Mahan letter to Estella Wilferth - November 11, 1917 |
| Creator | Mahan, Thomas J. |
| Source | Mahan, Thomas J. Letter to Estella Wilferth. 11 November 1917. Wilferth, Estella (1896-1978) Papers, 1912-1962. C3035. The State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO. |
| Description | In this November 11, 1917, letter to his friend Estella Wilferth, Thomas J. Mahan, who taught school in the Philippine Islands, wrote about his perceptions of the island and how his students and the islanders dealt with the ongoing war. |
| Subject LCSH | World War, 1914-1918--War work |
| Subject Local | WWI; World War I; Liberty Bonds |
| Site Accession Number | C3035 |
| Contributing Institution | The State Historical Society of Missouri |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the State Historical Society of Missouri: 1020 Lowry Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65201-7298. (573) 882-7083. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Date Original | November 17, 1917 |
| Language | English |