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Newspaper
Muscatine Journal
Location
Muscatine, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 11, 1908
Page
8
The editor explains not awarding a prize this week due to weak letters and stories from the Junior Department. He urges better participation, asks readers to involve playmates, and announces a prize for the best letter on Winter Sports and Pastimes next week.
Fred Kasper writes from a distant outpost describing blizzards that shut the local school and kept him apart from town. He explains five horses to feed and care for, expresses Christmas wishes, and vows to work harder despite remote life. The letter to Helen Raymond evokes hardship and resilience in a frontier posting.
A collection of letters from young readers in Ottumwa and Muscatine Iowa and Stanley County South Dakota dated January 1908. The notes discuss school life travel to school by foot or on horseback, teachers and studies, Christmas gifts, prize winnings, and a poetry or riddle challenge for Miss Raymond's Junior page.
Muscatine Iowa sends a heartfelt note to Dear Miss Raymond. A boy named George disobeyed his mother and broke his sled on a hill yet promises to mend his ways, sending a humble plea to stay on the honor roll.
Mayme Ruthenberg, age ten from Jefferson school in Lone Tree Ta writes to the Junior page about caring for a neighbor’s baby and hoping to appear in print. Albert Schuessler from the same community describes blustery weather, schoolwork, and recess games as he writes to the Juniors.
Walter Howe, a new junior from Muscatine Iowa, writes to Miss Raymond about his Christmas vacation and his first contribution to the Junior page from 514 Woodlawn.
A sixth room A student at McKinley School asks to have her name listed on the Junior page Roll of Honor after a nice Christmas. The note mentions writer’s friend Helen Ethal helping and describes her schooling and class details.
Irene Kindler of Muscatine Iowa writes to the editor on January 5 1908 expressing interest in joining a juniors group. She lists her Christmas gifts including a pink candy box ribbons a 3 foot doll five storybooks and a go cart and promises to send a puzzle of names of girls and boys with hopes for future answers.
A young writer signs as Miss Lizzie Schmelzer to the Junior page. She mentions writing from school, reading the Saturday honor roll, and expresses a preference for a doll if she wins.
A school letter from Helen Ethal notes leisure time for geography and intent to write next week. She recalls Christmas happiness, ranks fourth from the top, and signs as your new junior.
A brief handwritten note from Verna Aten in West Chester Iowa dated January 4 1908 expresses happiness at reader letters and stories, announces a story titled My Xmas Vacation for the Junior page, and requests letter submissions from juniors with a playful line about preferring a game if she wins.
A Muscatine Iowa note dated January 7 1908 from a writer to Miss Helen Raymond presents a playful puzzle about flowers along with a short personal anecdote about a story titled My Christmas Vacation. The letter mentions names such as Elbert Bowland and several scrambled flower terms.
Fern Wolford writes from Conesville Iowa dated January 7 1908 about the juniors and shares her first newspaper letter. She signs off with Miss Helen Raymond inviting further letters.
A 1908 Muscatine missive from Eva Maurath asks about Christmas gifts, school class, and birthday. Amy age 11 replies, noting her age and last month birthday, and signs as Sarah Fisher in the Miss Eva correspondence.
A letter from Effie Concannon of Montezuma Iowa describes winter activities for children. She highlights skating riding coasting snowballing and fox and geese as enjoyable pastimes and notes learning to skate was challenging. She recalls a school dare involving sliding into a ditch and mentions a few personal details about participation and fear.
A narrator recalls visiting cousin Mabel in Chicago during Christmas break. Jill and Jack names appear as roles in a playful misadventure. They fetch water from a terrace hill using a bottomless wooden bucket, which spills and freezes on the snow as they slip and play. They also ride horses from a stable around the block.
Grace Dietrich recalls a Christmas vacation ride where a stubborn horse needed Mabel's push to move. Laughing bystanders quipped as the horse finally went, then the trip continued home for a pleasant train journey. Dietrich signs with an address in Muscatine, Iowa.
A compact overview describes Japan as a Pacific nation off Asia with hundreds of islands led by Nippon the name of its largest island Formosa recently joining Japan. The text notes climate rugged mountains tea silk manufacturing progress and strong education and civilization in Japanese society.
Mildred, a bashful heiress, attends a party invited by a cousin. Teased by 23 guests, she returns home silent while her mother scolds her. On New Year’s Eve she vows to laugh at teasing and stay out late with Effie, promising to change.
Bertha Schuessler of Lone Tree La recounts a Christmas sequence. She attends church on Christmas Eve, visits a friend, helps family, cleans, and helps prepare for school. She travels with her father to Illinois to see a sick aunt and hopes for ribbons if she wins.
A fifth grade student at Jackson School writes about two weeks of a pleasant vacation. She mentions a Christmas wagon gift for her brother and their regular rides. She signs from Muscatine Iowa at 517 East Tenth Street.
Miss Helen Raymond writes about a nine year old boy named Harry who attends a town school. The girl notes two faults: he would not kiss his mother or sister and made them wait on him. His mother scolds him and offers guidance on changing behavior.
On New Year’s Day a boy named Harry plans to visit grandma for turkey but must kiss his mother and sister Vera to go. When water runs out, he fetches a bucket, obeys, and the family travels to grandma for a happy celebration with all three kissing loved ones.
A 12 year old named Harry faces a party invitation after losing both parents. He declines a rich lady's demand to babysit, attends the party but feels shunned by the other children. He returns home to a harsh reception and a hopeful future implied by his mother’s strict care.
A ten year old boy named Harry keeps a dog named Prince. When a wolf threatens a sleeping baby, Prince warns and wards off the danger prompting Harry to spare the dog. Later he traps the wolf, glad Prince saved the child at Fuller St. William Rowland.
Verna Auten, age 12, recounts two weeks of vacation spent preparing for Christmas. She attended a Methodist church program with a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, enjoyed Christmas day at home, and joined a Christmas party with a tree and gifts. She also notes returning to school Monday and attended an orchestra concert on January 3.
An eleven year old, Katie Tobias, recalls Holland as a place where water covers land and people of all ages skate. The elderly ride in wheeled chairs pulled by others, markets and towns are reached on ice, and families keep barns clean while moms scrub pavements and churches. A baby barn custom marks a girl with red and white balls and a boy with blue and white balls on doorways.
Hattie Wetzel recalls Xmas day spent visiting her aunt with a sister. Gifts include handkerchiefs and a new dress. they dine on turkey and sides, play piano, visit grandma, and attend church in the evening.
Gertrude Dietrich of 1216 New Hampshire St Muscatine Iowa writes about winter joys at home. She describes fireside games apples skating sled rides popcorn and candy then stories and bedtime. She ends with a personal note and a wish for a set of tablets if she wins.
The writer recalls skating on Eversmevers pond on Christmas day and visiting town to view holly decorated windows. They played basketball, note not having a Christmas tree, and received a watch among gifts. Walter Howe of 514 Woodlawn Ave signs the reminiscence.
Elbert Rowland recalls a Christmas vacation spent playing all day. He carried papers for Johnie Meerdink between noon and two, hunted in the early morning, and visited relatives and neighbors during Christmas week. He mentions a preferred gift if he wins.
The list names Eva Maurath Gertrude Hill Eva Fisher Sarah Fisher Verna Auten Elbert M Rowland Betty Anderson Helen Morehead Mary Goodman Collife Stence Mamie Garrett Arthur Wendinger Helen Ringle Ralph Orr Frances Heindet Gertrude Loyd Viola Auten Esther Klies t Mabel Jarvis Ethel Washburne Clara Ruthenberg Katie McCleary Gertrude Washburne Albert Schuessler Laura Schuessler Nellie Fvapeneile Harry Bradley Ruth Noble Gladys Guthrie Roscor Hankins Irene Kelley Hallie Conklin Grace the Haynes Dona Warman Mabel Sell Choctil Brown Hazel Nickols Hubert Hoskinson Verdif Hoskinson Cecil Hoskinson Hessele Hoskinson Lara Evans Katie Tobias Orville Hankins Hazel Noble Brfbie Concannon Glen Hamilton Vera Anderson Hazel Holliday Gladys Dickerson Mabel Buster Ruth Lilja William Rowland
A letter from Dollie Stence recounts a month and a week in Illinois filled with snow games and snowballing fun. The writer notes staying with friends, enjoying indoor and outdoor play, and ends with a closing farewell.
A personal missive from a new junior describes a Christmas Eve at the tabernacle watching moving pictures, a morning gift display with a doll book and shoes, a new dress, theatre outing with aunt and friend, late tree lighting, and candy filled celebration.
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