Bracher, Elmer Gladstone
edited by Gabriella Hudyka
Mss: 
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3JQ13QB
Biographical Note
Elmer G. Bracher (RC 1918) was born in 1894 in Rahway, New Jersey, to parents George S. Bracher (1839-1902) and Evelina Johnson (1853-1923). He was the youngest of six children. As locals of Rahway, Bracher and Silvers knew each other’s families well. Elmer goes by the nickname “Pi-an” or “Pian” in these letters, the origin of which remains mysterious (to us, at least). Elsewhere, classmates refer to him as “Toady” Bracher.
Bracher’s desire to communicate fairly bursts from the page. It’s clear that the College, his fellow football teammates (Bracher was a star halfback despite his small stature), and the Delta Phis (his and Silvers’s fraternity) constitute his chosen family. He is conspicuously silent about his biological family, despite the fact that Silvers would have known them from town, and Bracher shipped out of Hoboken with his older brother Robert. Bracher’s other major topics—who is getting married or engaged, and being at the rear versus the front of the war effort—reveal a preoccupation with contemporaneous attitudes towards masculinity. One senses that the war to him is a giant impediment to maturity. Not only did it cut short his athletic career, but being stationed at a base hospital in Savenay, France, hundreds of miles from the Front, meant that he couldn’t as easily demonstrate soldierly notions of nobility or strength. Nor could he become engaged. He is clearly stung by the news of Mildred Terrill’s engagement. Terrill, who Bracher calls “the Voice” (a singer?), was Earl Reed Silvers’s sister-in-law, and apparently Rahway’s own Helen of Troy. Bracher is not the only one to write of her; in a more humorous vein, Ainsworth claims to be “sore as hell at being thrown over” for Lyle B. Reeb (RC 1919).
Bracher’s letters show a certain remove, or even tone-deafness, on the subject of illness and death. He refers to “nut patients” and a “nut hospital” (Base Hospital No. 214, also at Savenay) when speaking of the war’s shell shock victims. Of Morris B. Jackson (RC 1919) dying of the flu, he says “[i]t certainly was too bad.” And of Chapin Barr (RC 1918) and Rudolph Elmer’s (RC 1917) deaths, he merely states that it was news to him that they “kick[ed] in.” Bracher himself would die four years after demobilization. He crashed his Stutz touring car into a stationary truck in the early hours of Sunday morning, September 30, 1923, after watching the Rutgers-Penn Military College football game the prior evening. He is thought to have died at the scene.
Sources
- Elmer Gladstone "Toady" Bracher, "Find a Grave," 17 May 2020, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210183871/elmer-gladstone-bracher.
- "Football Star Killed as Auto Hits Truck with Sleeping Driver," The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 1, 1923.
Subject tags
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, July 29, 1917
WAR WORK COUNCIL
ARMY AND NAVY
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
"WITH THE COLORS"
July 29 1917
Dear ,
Well, Sil, [we're] off at last. at one o'clock today and I guess we will drop out tonight. I don't imagine that this mail will go out for four or five days so by that time we will be almost there. I am enclosing my permanent address to you and you want to be sure and write as often as you can for you know it will be mighty fine to have word from folks in God's country. You want to address it as I give it to you. It is a ratherWAR WORK COUNCIL
ARMY AND NAVY
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
"WITH THE COLORS"
Yours in the Bonds
Name
American Expeditionary Forces
American Embassy
Paris
France
France
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, [August] 1917
Elmer G. Bracher and Joseph L. Costa (?) to Earl Reed Silvers, August 7, 1917
[An illustration of Belgian soldiers fighting in the war during the winter, by Alfred Bastien. Two of them are aiming down their sights over a barricade while a third one patrols. Another three soldiers are tending to a wounded soldier lying on the ground.]
NEW YORK, N.Y. 2
AUG 7
10 AM
1917
Pian
Mr. E.R. Silvers
Rahway
N.J.
Siège social provisoire : 79 Mark Lane (Londres)
Imprimé par GEO. W. JONES, à l'Enseigne du Dauphin. 12-14 Gough Sq., Londres.
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, September 4, 1917
AMERICAN Y.M.C.A.
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
Sept. 4, 1917
Dear Sil:
It will probably take me quite a time to compose this letter, with you being a critic and it having to pass the censor. So you know it's pretty hard to write without putting something in that shouldn't be in, so make some allowances. How are you and Eda and everyone else? Are you still running the college? What's doing now? For the Lord's sake write to a person once in a while and tell me some news. You ought to be with me if you want to save money. I'm working on the night shift and have spent about twelve francs in the last week. four of that going for laundry and two for some towels. My gosh! if that had been all the money I spent a week while at college, I'd have been a rich man. We work in twelve hour shifts and one certainly is glad when the twelve hours are up. I go on at six P.M. and am off at six A.M. We eat breakfast at seven and then generally sleep from eight until four. Who did you think is in town? Old . It certainly was a mighty pleasant surprise to see him. Had dinner with him the first night and that meal certainly did taste good after the food we had been having aboard ship. We certainly had a peach of a voyage over. Only had one rough night and that wasn't enough to make one seasick. Believe me, I certainly was glad that I wasn't seasick. I'm stationed in a new addition to the hospital and there are no electric lights in it. Have to see by candlelight, that accounts for my spilling some on this paper. It certainly is a mighty fine night here tonight. There's a most wonderful moon out and it almost makes one wish he were home again. Well, Pro, don't forget to write as often as you can and if you publish any books, send me one. Give my best regards to Eda and everyone else. Hoping I'll see you soon.I am
Yours in the Bonds,
Pian
Censored by J rais Noyes [?]
1st Lt. M.R.C. [?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, September 14, 1917
AMERICAN YMCA
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
Sept. 14, 1917
Dear Sil:
Received your letter on the 12th and certainly was most glad to hear from you. I had a gala day on the 12th Received six letters and a postcard. You can imagine that it made me feel pretty good. It certainly is too bad about , isn't it? I certainly do hope that he will be exempted for it certainly seems that he is needed at home. I'm mighty glad that Pete received his commissions. One of the fellows had a list of the Fort Meyer appointments and I saw that practically all the fellows from college received their commissions. I sure do hope that the football teams turns out to be a good. I certainly am going to miss playing this year. Send me accounts of the games anyway, will you, Sil for that will help a little. I think it was Joe that told me that was married, is that true? This night work is going fine now. I am about used to it now and like it quite well. There's nothing new that has happened that I can tell you about. A great many of the patients here are from a southern regiment and quite a few of them are college men and I had some mighty interesting talks with them. The great majority of the men are fine fellows and it is a pleasure to help them and they do all they can to help out. I just wrote a letter to and if she gets it, get her to tell you some of the interesting parts. Give my best regards to EdaYours in the Bonds,
Pi-an.
Censored JE Dunley [?]
1st Lieut. M.O.R.C. [?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, September 27, 1917
Sept. 27, 1917.
Dear Sil:
Received your letter of Sept. 8 yesterday and it sure was fine to hear from you. We hadn't received any mail since Sept. 11 until yesterday when a big batch came in for us. You can imagine how it made us feel. Whom do you think I run into the other day? Old . He is a first lieutenant in the Dental Corps. He is a casual here at the hospital awaiting orders. Gee it sure was fine to see him. Did you know he was engaged? He said he was mighty sorry he wasn't at your wedding, but, he got the dates mixed. He sends his best regards. I also saw Young the Queens Club man. He is on one of the gun crews on a transport. BelieveYours in the Bonds
Pi-an
P.S. to U.S. Army Hospital #6. EGB.Censored. JE Dunlap [?]
1st Lieut
MOMC [?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, December 6, 1917
Dec. 6, 1917
Dear Sil,
Congratulations! I'm mighty glad that the baby is a future Delt, I sure do hope that Eda is up and well. By the time you get this I guess the baby will be almost two months old. The length of time reminds me that I must apologize for not writing sooner. I sure am sorry but, to tell the truth I have neglected my correspondence entirely for the last three weeks or a month and haven't written a single letter. I have reformed however and I am working hard now to get caught up with it. You say you wanted the names of all the men to send them the weekly letter. All the men in our unit seem to be getting them so I won't bother to give you their names. You might send one to Lunker Janeway and to Johnny Morrison tho [sic]. Lunker's address is Base Section [?] 101, (A.P.O 101) A.E.F. while Johnny's is 1st Lt. J.D. Morrison D.O.R.E. [?], 26th Division A.E.F (A.P.O. 709), I know that they surely would like to hear the news from college. We had a pretty successful football team didn't we? I certainly was mighty glad to hear when we won. It was too bad that we lost to Syracuse. Offer my congratulations to and to Thug [?] for the fine team they turned out, when you see them. It must have been great to watch them play and practice and I sure do wish that I could have seen them. I hope I have better luck next year, [though], of course there's no telling. How is the House getting along. I suppose it has the same old trouble collecting dues and paying bills. How is Duke making as head? I understand that after the fellows had obtained four men that they stopped rushing and let the Chi Phis get some good men that we should have had. I guess it's the same ol story of self-satisfaction isn't it. The chapter sure will die of dry rot [?] if someone doesn't put some pep unto it. Why don't you try and stir them up? Say, Pro, what is the matter with "the Voice" has she become engaged and not allowed to write or did she cut her hand off. I have written four or five letters to her and only received one from her. That one was received shortly after I landed. I'm going to write one more and then give it up as a hopeless job. This great living on twenty eight dollars a month Sil. Live very nicely for the first two weeks but, after that oh my! Its worse than college used to be. Everybody is about broke at the same time so it is even hard to borrow money so you can see how eagerly we look forward to pay day. When the second came out, I decided to be extravagant, so I subscribed for a bond, so that takes five dollars a month away, otherwise I would be getting thirty three a month and probably wouldn't be broke so soon. What are you doing now Pro? Are you still assistant to or haveYours in the Bonds,
Pi-an
P.S. I sent home a ring which they will send to you, I hope. It is supposedly made from a German shell with a German button in it. I think it is true. EGB.OK.
Lt. L.S. Vacey [?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Edith I. Terrill, February 2, 1918
AMERICAN YMCA
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Feb 2 1918
Dear Eda:
Received your letter and surely was mighty glad to hear from you. It certainly did contain startling news, but, I sort of expected something along that line. , didn't I? Well, such is life. I don't dare write now to congratulate them, but, you express my heartiest congratulations and best wishes for me, won't you? Say, it must be awful to have a jealous husband. You know I won't say anything about the engagement, but, you'll let me know ahead of time when the wedding is coming off. It takes quite a time for anything to reach here and then get back again. If I received an announcement of the wedding I don't think I would have time to send anything in time for it. So don't forget to let me know ahead. How does like teaching? It's just like her to have spent her salary in advance. Remember how you used to do it? I sure am glad the baby is getting on so well. I certainly would like to see him. I think [you're] right in keeping Sil at home. Don't let him go off. He is doing his bit in providing for you and the baby. Speaking of finances [though], I think we get paid in a day or so. Have signed the pay-roll and will appreciate being paid. I'm pretty well fixed now [though]? Have a Liberty Bond and a rather flourishing (that is for me) bank account. Thanks very much, Eda for writing. Best to Sil & the Baby.As ever
Pi-an
OK
HR Crabbe [?]
1st Lt FA
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, February 21, 1918
AMERICAN YMCA
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Feb 21 1918
Dear Sil:
Received your letter the other day and I sure was glad to hear from you. I certainly had looked for it for a long time but, I suppose you are pretty busy and don't have much time to write. I have been receiving the letters from college but, they aren't near as good as personal ones. Received #10 yesterday and saw the notice about the ring. I sure wish you wouldn't make public the things I write you or send you. I just sent it to you as a memento. The thing is not of much value and I guess that there is millions of them in France, so you see it isn't any thing to make a fuss about. That sure is funny about Mil isn't it? I sent her one of those rings, too. Don't know what she thought or rather it started a scrap or not. Gee, it must be hell to be in love. I sure would like to see the Voice to see how she acts. I'll bet two bits she won't live the . Far be it from me to knock, but, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if my opinion of the affair,In the Bonds
Pi-an
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, April 15, 1918
AMERICAN YMCA
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Bracher
April 15 1918
Dear Sil:
Do you know I haven't heard from you in a deuce of a while? I thought I would drop you a line to see if you would answer it to let me know whether you're still alive or not. I've been receiving the College letters regularly as have all of the other fellows here. They are mighty good to read, but, I'd much rather hear from you personally. I certainly have heard some surprising news lately. Shrimp White's and 's engagements and the Louse's [?] marriage, they certainly are things I never did expect to hear at least not for some time to come. How are Eda and the baby? I sure hope they are well and that you have nothing to worry about. I've been put on a new job lately. Have charge of a new kitchen & mess hall which we have just started. It isn't finished yet but, when it is it's going to be the best in the hospital. I have to order the stores and draw them, make out the menu and see that the work around the kitchen and hall is done right. With the exception of one cook all the work is done by convalescent patients, and I generally have quite a job to find them and to do the work. Have three good men who are detailed permanently and that helps a lot. The worst part of it is that you generally get some good men broken in and then they are sent back to duty again. - Have to start all over again then. We still lead the staid respectable life as of yore. Go to bed at a quarter to ten or before and go to at six in the morning. "Oh it's nice to get up in the morning," Sil "but its nicer to stay in bed." I sure do hate to get up in the morning. Joe has been pretty sick lately so today he went off on a seven day forlough for a rest. I guess he'll be all right when he comes back at least I hope so for he has had quite a time of it. Well Sil, if you should think to write, I'd be mighty glad to hear from you.In the Bonds
Pi-an
P.S. Excuse the pencil. When I started to write with my pen, I found it was dry and I had no ink handy. EGB.Capt M.C. Peary [?]
U.S. Army
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, September 16, 1918
P.S. Sil, this letter isn't written for publication so for Pete's sake dont think that this is. EGB
9-16-18
Dear Sil;
Received your letter yesterday and it surely was as unexpected as it was welcome. I had indeAs ever
In the Bonds
Pi-an
O.K
[?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, September 29, 1918
Bracher
9-29-18
Dear Sil:
Just received your letter dated Aug 28. tonight and it certainly was very welcome. You know I answered your last letter with pencil and that sort of started me in to write altogether that way. Have written several others, and I find that it is so much easier that I think that I shall continue it. My Lord is everybody getting married now adays [sic]. The old world certainly will seem strange with everybody married and grown up. You know, Sil, I don't think that I have changed a bit since I left. Haven't any more sense than I did have and I guess I am as much of a kid as I ever was. My Lord I'm twenty five now, and I sure never am able to realize it. Such is life, without a wife. I suppose if I had a wife I damn [?] soon find out how old I was and also how to be serious. I guess that will be a long time to come. How does the Voice like her new job. From the way you wrote it must be a rather important position and highly remunerative. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if it would be able to keep her in hairpins [?]. Poor Voice we too surely have rather panned [?] her, haven't we. What does it matter to us anyway, if she is happy. That is about the most important thing for her at present. How are and ? I sure would like to see them for they are a couple of peaches. Give them my best regards the next time you see them. I'm glad that Mike likes his duck. But, then look who the duck is named after why shouldn't he like it? He sure must be quite a youngster by now. How are Eda and your mother. Certainly hope that they are well. By thIn The Bonds
Pi-an
O.K.
LC [?]
Capt. M.C. [?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, October 17, 1918
10-17-18
Dear Sil:
Have a care as to how you address me next time. I might become sore and report you for familiarity, mais je n'ai sais pas. But, joking aside, Sil, I meant to answer your letter before this but, haven't had the time or the [?]. Been busy as the deuce lately. Just received about six hundred additional patients and have had to do some tall hustling to get [accommodations] for them. To make matters worse it has been raining for about the last two weeks and the roads are something awful around the camp. Generally get stuck two or three times a day and either have to get another truck to pull mine out or else dig it out. Was mighty lucky today, only was stuck once. [They're] building a good rock road now and when that is finished it sure will help a lot. There's no telling when it will be finished [though], that is where the comes in. So is going to a training school. I sure am glad to hear it and the lucky beggar surely will make good. Wasn't he a nut about that Ford. It surely was like him to sell it that way. Should have [thought] that he would have given you first chance at it for the one hundred [though]. Next time you write to Shrimp White tell him that he owes me a letter. The poor boob wrote to me once and I answered him, but haven't heard a pup out of him since. Bawl him out for me. That is fine news about Pete. He always will make good at anything he tries. Had a letter from Bruce MacWhig [?] the other day. He thought I was with and passed right [through] our town and never knew we were there. That is what I call pretty stupid. He is up near the front and seeing something, the lucky . Gosh, Sil, many is the time that I have cussed myself for joining this outfit and being marooned way back here. Doesn't do any good [though] and I'm almost reconciled to my fate. Also heard from Van Ludlow today. He is still in Paris but, says it is becoming rather tiresome. He is pulling strings for a commission or at least to get to a training school. Says it looks pretty prosperous for him. The old college must be quite changed nowadays. Received the last college letter which explained about the army training school. Sure must seem strange to see everybody in uniform. You certainly must have had quite a job finding rooms for them all. How are the Delts making out? Have we any freshmen pledged yet. Don't the fraternities have a rather hard time to make both ends meet. Give my best regards to all the brothers. Also to Mike and Eda and the rest. No more news so I'll have to close.Always in the Bonds
Pian
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, November 3, 1918
11-3-18
Dear Sil;
Received your letter dated Oct 4th on the 31st and certainly was glad to hear from you. By the way have you received any of my letters since I started working again? You surely must have your hands full with college work now. Don Stork is back from the States now and he said that he visited [New Brunswick] but, didn't see a soul whom he knew. The old place certainly must seem strange. You say that there are 42 men in the Delt house? Where the deuce are they all sleeping? Is the Madam still helping house? If she is she certainly must have her hands full. Remember me to her the next time you see her. That is news about and being Delts. I didn't know that they were in college, even. What the deuce has become of all the fellows, Sil, that were there when we were? I know about Hank and Del and Bub and but, of the rest I don't know a thing. Where are and and . What is doing? Is he married to Mary or drafted or what? I imagine that is just like the old "Louse" isn't he? Things are looking mighty promising for the war to be over soon aren't they? With Turkey out of it and Austria is on her last legs it certainly looks as if the won't be able to hold out much longer. It looks to me as if the war will be over by Christmas. But, if the Huns decide to fight to the bitter end it will last at least a year longer. They would be mighty foolish [though] if they did that so altogether the prospects are rather prosperous. So Mike is a year old. Does he walk yet, or don't babies walk at that age? By the time I see him he [sic] I guess he will be a pretty big youngster. Have you all been free from the ? It certainly must be pretty bad in the States. There's quite a lot of it over here too. How has Eda been? By the way, Sil, Eda must be quite a cook now, isn't she? Remember how she used to fuss around when you were first married? I'll bet she is mighty business like about it now. Has anything happened to the football team? I heard that we trimmed Ursinus 67-0 or something like that. Is Sandy still on the job? Sil, do you know Shrimp White's address? I had a letter from him a couple of weeks ago and I lost it and his address with it. If you know it I sure wish you would let me have it. Meet [sic] a fellow at the hospital who knows him very well and he would like to have it also. Going to do a little work now so I'll have to quit.In the Bonds
Pi-an
Earl Reed Silvers to Elmer G. Bracher, November 15, 1918
November 15, 1918
Sergeant Elmer G. Bracher,
Base Hospital #8
Am. E.F.
Dear Pian:-
How in the world do you expect me to know that you are a sergeant unless you tell me? In one of your letters you gave notice of the promotion of everyone else except yourself, and although I imagined that your great ability would not go long unrewarded. I did not dare start addressing you as sergeant until the definite word did come. I am mighty glad to hear that you have been promoted. Practically every one else in your gang has come back to the U.S. except you and we are rooting very much for your return shortly. It sure will be good to see you again. This is only a short letter to fill in until I have time to write a longer one. Captain blew in from the South yesterday and spent the afternoon talking over old times. He is going to write to you just as soon as he goes back, so he says. His address is 48th Infantry, Camp Sevier, S.C. Take good care of yourself and try to be among the first of the soldiers to return to this country. Good luck to you and all good wishes.Cordially,
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, November 29, 1918
Convalescent Camp,
Hospital Center,Savenay.
November 29, 1918.
Dear Sil:
What the devil is the matter with you anyhow? You started off writing like a house a-fire and kerplunk you stopped. Is it because you [haven't] received any mail from me? You threatened to stop writing if you [didn't] hear [from me] but, if that is the reason it [isn't] my fault. I have answered every letter that I have received from you, so what more can a man do? Anyway I'm giving you this last chance. Don't think I'll write again until I hear from you. Steve White just came back from the States the other day and said that he had been down to the college and that he had seen you. He also said that we had trimmed Penn State and that we had a darn good team. You know I sure would like to see a good game of football again. Guess that I'd pretty nearly go crazy to see the old team play again. If this reaches you while Sandy is around give him my best regards. How is MIKE getting along? You all haven't been hit with the "FLU" have you? [I sure] hope that you [haven't] for I know that it is pretty bad. There has been a deuce of a lot of cases of it over here and quite a lot of it in Rahway. Do you know Elmer Hansen? He used to hang around with and the Bachelor bunch. Just found out the other day that he is in the hospital with a machine gun bullet in his leg. He is he first Rahway boy that has been at the hospital and it was rather nice to see him even if I [didn't] know him very well. Gosh I pretty nearly forgot to tell you that I had seen old Delamater. Harry Janeway called up and said that he was in port so I took a trip down to see him. First time I had seen him for pretty nearly a year and a half but, he was the same old Del. [Don't] think that he has changed a bit. He was on a freight ship and thought that his next trip would be to Belfast, Ireland and that he would return to St. Nazaire so I may see him again in a couple of weeks. I sure hope so for it certainly was fine to see him again. The peeper had another sick spell lately. Think that it was the diptheria that he had this time. He is over now and on a seven day leave in Paris. His dad is at Paris doing Red Cross work so that is how he obtained his pass. It sure is pretty nice for him [isn't] it? Wish that I was in his [boots] for the time being. He also was promoted awhile ago. Is a sergeant now. Guess that that is all the news that I know about the fellows. The rest of the Rutgers Bunch are all in good health and crabbing about the same as usual. Let me have Shrimp White's address, will you Sil? Had a letter from him awhile ago and then lost it. Lost his address along with the letter and as I would like to answer it I wish that you would sent it to me. What has ever become of Pete Ainsworth and Bub and Eddie and the rest of the gang. I know that they are over here but that is all that I do know about them. Heard from Ronald Acken a while ago. He was in a hospital with a slight dose of mustard gas. he was just about to be discharged then so I guess that he is all right. Must close now and try to write a couple of other letters. Give my best regards to Eda and the rest of the family.In the Bonds
Pi-an
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, December 3, 1918
Convalescent Camp,
Hospital Center, Savenay.
December 3, 1918.
Dear Sil;
Just received your letter dated November 2nd. the other day and as usual was very glad to hear from you. Had written to you on the twenty-ninth, giving you a bawling out for having stopped writing, but I guess that I'll have to take it all back. [Wasn't] that hard luck about Jill Jackson? He had all the chances in the world of connecting with a contagious disease during the months that he was over hereIn the Bonds
Pi-an
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, December 14, 1918
Bracher
Convalescent Camp,
Hospital Center, Savenay.
December 14, 1918.
Dear Sil;
Received your short note the other day and was [certainly] glad to hear from you. I suspect that this will be somewhat similar toIn the Bonds,
Pi-an
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, January 3, 1919
Jan. 3, 1919
Dear Sil:
How the deuce are you all and why don't you write once in a while? Of course I have received the college letter, but, I sure would like to hear from you personally. How is Eda and the baby? I sure would like to see the little fellow. I'll bet you are having a fine time with him keeping you awake at nights. Do you have to get up and walk the floor with him? Say, what the deuce has become of Mil? It certainly is some long time since I have heard a word about her. Sil, that weekly letter from the college sure is a good thing. We all sure are glad to keep in touch with the old place and I hope you keep on getting it out. Received the which you sent and that was highly appreciated. But, of all the nerves for Pete's sakes what the deuce did you ever publish that letter I wrote? I sure never would have written if I had ever thought you would publish it. I sure will wallop you for doing it when I get back. I don't believe that there is any chance of sending any souvenirs of the war back as you asked for in one of the letters. In the first place I'm not in a postion to get any at present, and again, I don't know whether it would be permitted or not. I have acquired a few things and hope to get more later. What is doing at home Sil? Where is Dud? What is Father Pete doing, and Bub? I could ask a thousand questions, but I guess it would be too boring for you to answer them. All the Rutgers bunch are well and working hard. A lot of them have been in the hospital mostly with severe colds. Joe and Doc Johnson have been in twice with very bad colds. I have been pretty lucky and have managed to keep out. Joe is still on night duty in the wards. [Believe] me every available man is working like the deuce, for we have an awful amount of work to do. You know Sil, I think that it would have taken an awful inducement to get me to enlist if I had known how much work I would have had to have done. But, now that I'm in I don't mind it so much for I'm used to it now. Believe me, I sure do sleep soundly after working all day and it sure is mighty hard to get up at quarter to six in the morning. We get very good food [though], and that helps a lot. We haven't had hardly any snow, but, the weather sure has been cold. The French people say it is the coldest winter they have had for years and I sure do believe them. Wish I had more news, but, as I haven't I'll have to close. Don't forget to write. Give my best regards to people I know.Yours in the Bonds,
Pi-an
O.K.
[?]
Elmer G. Bracher to Earl Reed Silvers, January 14, 1919
Convalescent Camp,
Hospital Center, Savenay.
January 14, 1919.
Dear Sil:
Received your letter of December 20 last night and it was the first in a devil of a while. [Don't] know what has happened to your mail but it sure has gone astray some where. I may receive the letter that I have missed in a month or so. The mail system over here is pretty much balled up and we appreciate any that we do receive. I'll forgive you seeing as you have written and that [isn't] your fault that I [didn't] get them. You sure told me a lot of news. I [didn't] know what had become of hardly any of the old gang. Yes the Scarr family certainly [was in] hard luck and I sure did feel sorry for them. You want to know why none of the fellows [don't] you? [I've] told themIn the Bonds
Pian