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Comments:
The rest of the letter - 2005-02-21 01:47:56
"From the saloon they go to the church and from the church to the saloon. They come into church quarrelling, fighting, and making noises. All the remonstrances and admonitions of the minister are in vain. They claim license on the ground that this is a free country and church discipline is out of character here. I have labored hard here and made sacrifices; expended considerable of my own means, but the hellish demon liquor thwarts all my plans and efforts.
"I have only received about $60.00 per annum, and had hard work to get along.
"It seems that some funds have been given to several of our members for the church. We trust no more will be given; it is like throwing it into the deep. It goes for beer &c. I am willing to remain.
"I should be sorry to see the interest go down. Allow me to suggest that if any of the friends wish to aid us they had better hand their gifts to me."
--EDWARD WERNER
Pastor of the German Church.
--Ypsilanti True Democrat, April 29, 1864.* * * * * * * * * * * *
Laura - 2005-02-21 01:53:24
What a whiner. It's a poor teacher who can't start where the student is at. Or at least dominate them through sheer force of character or charisma. I suspect Mr. Werner had a hard time of it here in Ypsi, and lacked the brains to find a way to make it easier.* * * * * * * * * * * *
Anna - 2005-02-21 13:44:23
I agree, but from the few things you've posted about Ypsi's early days, it sounds like it was AWFUL, between the roughnecks and the going outside to get warm in the dead of winter...* * * * * * * * * * * *
Laura - 2005-02-21 13:56:01
Dunno. I bet some of those roughnecks were mighty cute. Rugged, I mean. Ruggedly cute. I think the women's work would have been endless. But I've also read accounts of how contented a woman was with her neat little cabin, or her husband. I think for many it was a good life. * * * * * * * * * * * *
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