(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
After dinner, old Mrs. Rueping went up to nap. I'll try to make you see her. There were no flies on her. She owned the house, and the three Sallees lived with her. She looked just a mite like the duchess in Alice in Wonderland. ... Often times on a summer afternoon Mrs. Frederick Rueping (the old lady) would walk over, with cane & cane, cross the road, up our front steps, and sit on the porch and visit in German with my mother. My father used to say if he could talk German, he could ask much more for his services.
October 23, 2012
October 22, 2012
Lunch with the Old Lady
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
Mrs. Frederick (Old Lady) Rueping lived on Division Street (I think) in Fond du Lac, not far from the high school, and when she heard I was taking German, she insisted I take dinner with her every noon, where nichts but Deutch would be spoken every noon. So I went, but I am afraid I did not learn much. Around the table was Mrs. F. R. and Irene and her half-witted brother Art, all speaking Deutch. I too had to say, Bitte gibst mir die Buetter or Kartoffel or whatever. The maid came out at the stroke of the bell and cleared off and brot in the pie. I think we did say a short German prayer first. Then, after dinner, Irene and I and my German grammar went into the parlor where she skimmed thru my grammar lesson and I read and did some too.
Mrs. Frederick (Old Lady) Rueping lived on Division Street (I think) in Fond du Lac, not far from the high school, and when she heard I was taking German, she insisted I take dinner with her every noon, where nichts but Deutch would be spoken every noon. So I went, but I am afraid I did not learn much. Around the table was Mrs. F. R. and Irene and her half-witted brother Art, all speaking Deutch. I too had to say, Bitte gibst mir die Buetter or Kartoffel or whatever. The maid came out at the stroke of the bell and cleared off and brot in the pie. I think we did say a short German prayer first. Then, after dinner, Irene and I and my German grammar went into the parlor where she skimmed thru my grammar lesson and I read and did some too.
October 21, 2012
Irene
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
Irene Sallee needs a special paragraph. She had a barn fixed with a stall for her horse behind our house, and she was an excellent horseback rider; in fact, she was the instructor at Grafton Hall, an Episcopal girls' school. Her hair was combed back tightly with a big roll, and I never saw her adjust a pin, all tight and stayed put. ... She was very masculine but not rough. ... She came out every day and curried her horse and cared for hooves, etc., etc. My mother let me go out and watch and talk to her as I had so few people in the summer to be with. But I was never asked to ride etc. We just talked about the horse as she brushed or whatever.
Irene Sallee needs a special paragraph. She had a barn fixed with a stall for her horse behind our house, and she was an excellent horseback rider; in fact, she was the instructor at Grafton Hall, an Episcopal girls' school. Her hair was combed back tightly with a big roll, and I never saw her adjust a pin, all tight and stayed put. ... She was very masculine but not rough. ... She came out every day and curried her horse and cared for hooves, etc., etc. My mother let me go out and watch and talk to her as I had so few people in the summer to be with. But I was never asked to ride etc. We just talked about the horse as she brushed or whatever.
October 20, 2012
William
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
In a cottage beside [Fred's], fifty feet apart or so, was his brother William, a pleasant, well spoken person who had a son and adopted another, Stephen Lynch, so he would have a playmate. These boys were fine felows, and I used to play hide and seek with them. All spoke German.
In a cottage beside [Fred's], fifty feet apart or so, was his brother William, a pleasant, well spoken person who had a son and adopted another, Stephen Lynch, so he would have a playmate. These boys were fine felows, and I used to play hide and seek with them. All spoke German.
October 19, 2012
Florence
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
[Fred Rueping's] daughter Florence was sent to an expensive girls' school in the East. Once when they had picked me up walking home from school (2 miles?), she asked me about one of my friends and then said, "So she's your side-kick, huh?" and was reproved by her mother, and she laughed. I think my father had the Dance Hall built for her parties, but I can recall only one she had in that hall, with a small orchestra.
[Fred Rueping's] daughter Florence was sent to an expensive girls' school in the East. Once when they had picked me up walking home from school (2 miles?), she asked me about one of my friends and then said, "So she's your side-kick, huh?" and was reproved by her mother, and she laughed. I think my father had the Dance Hall built for her parties, but I can recall only one she had in that hall, with a small orchestra.
October 18, 2012
Fred
(1993 July, Rueping memoir
F. J. Rueping - Fred/erick, that is - was always stern, usually in grey town suit with bow tie and short grey mustache. He drove a little Ford with the metal polished brightly. Was it a Ford? I think so. His wife was rather large.
F. J. Rueping - Fred/erick, that is - was always stern, usually in grey town suit with bow tie and short grey mustache. He drove a little Ford with the metal polished brightly. Was it a Ford? I think so. His wife was rather large.
October 17, 2012
Maid service
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
The Rueping "cottages" were built like houses, and both families had maids who did washing and ironing. William Rueping had two maids and once told me how expensive it was to replace a glass goblet she broke. About $9 or more. I suppose better at the town house.
The Rueping "cottages" were built like houses, and both families had maids who did washing and ironing. William Rueping had two maids and once told me how expensive it was to replace a glass goblet she broke. About $9 or more. I suppose better at the town house.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)