*still "intending" to write to them sometime. After you receive this letter you will not have a chance of sending me a reply till I come home. There will not be any time for it to reach me.
I will cable when I start for home so you will hear from me the last thing before I leave the country.

Good bye. Kiss to each yourself and the girls.
Yours
Lawrence Bruner

Dear Marcia:-
I will at last begin a letter home tonight although it is quite time that I was taking my bath and going to bed. Have been quite fully occupied lately hence am a little tired and Sunday night is a good time to catch up with sleep when one is behind. As usual when at home, as well as when away from home I have managed to get considerably behind in sleep. During the last week there has been considerable locust fighting going about here, and I wanted to superintend as well as test for myself the various methods so as to be able to tell just how valuable each is. Then too I began writing my final report, topic by topic, taking one each day and completing it. By taking this method I hope to have it nearly or quite finished by the first of next month. Then the proof reading will follow and if the printers rush matters I hope to get away for home on time maybe to go via Europe.

I have not had a letter from home for some time, and news are getting scarcer and scarcer each succeeding Sunday so my letters begin to shorten. This is chiefly due to the fact that I have not taken any trips lately. Hope to do a little more traveling while still in the country. Would like to visit a few of the points of interest if possible; and there are still several districts of the Republic that I am very anxious to visit on the Court's account. One of these is Mendoza and across the Andes to northern Chile passing quite close to old Mt. Aconcagua, which, I believe is about as high as any mountain in all South America. Have had a letter from a Mr. Edwin C. Reed who lives in Chile inviting me to pay him a visit. He is an entomologist and has done some work on Chilian orthoptera as well as on other orders of insects. At present he is engaged in studying the likes of that country for the government. He is at the head of the Fish Commission, I believe. At any rate he is working for the Govt. and judging from what  he wrote me I imagine that such is the case.

I have only one new pass so far this year so cannot do any travelling for a

short time until there are more passes in my pocket; but as I said before, I am improving the time by working on my final report whenever I can possibly do so.

On New Years I was invited out to dinner at the house of a Mrs. Thomas a widow lady from the United States. She had all the Americans in this neighborhood invited, and we had a very pleasant time indeed. She is very rich — her husband having been a railroad contractor before he died a few years ago. In about two months and a half she will take her two sons to Europe to give them an education — possibly to England. Oh yes! I also had a cake sent to me on New Years day by a family of English who live near me. The old lady and her three daughters had tried to paint a large locust on a card for me, but failed to make it look right, so they sent the cake. This is what the major told me when he brought me the cake. The name of the family is St. John, pronounced here and in England "Singen." I believe. 

The past week has been very hot and I have felt it exceedingly because the well water here in Carcaraña is not fit to drink, and we have to carry all our water about 2 miles. Mrs. Thomas has a large cistern with a filter in it so I have arranged to get all my drinking water there: but a jug of water don't last very long and we soon run out. Lemons are not easily to be obtained, and the sodawater of the country is not the best, being simply soda without any flower of any kind. The beer is not good, and wine I do not like, so you can imagine how much I miss the good water that we have at home.

By the way, there will be a payment of $26.84 due the New York Life Ins. Co. on Febr. 12th, but of course you will find that out for yourself by notice from the company. I do not expect to send you any more money, but will wait until I come home. If you need any I guess you can get it from Seba or some one else. All going well I will be home by 3 months from now. It pleases me just to think of it. How good it will seem to be with you and the babies once again, although the time spent here in South America has not been thrown away by any means. I have learned a great deal, and the experience gained will go with me through life.

I hope that this letter will find all of you well, and that by that time the "black bone" of winter will have been broken. Just to think of it! I writing where it is so hot that I must wipe off the sweat, and maybe all of you shivering with cold. Please remember me to all at the Uni, and if you write to West Point tell them I am*

Dear Marcia:-
Your letter of Nov. 28th has reached me during the week, so you see I know what has been going on at home up to that time at least. Then too, I have had State Journals of as late a date as November the 26th. The mails service are sufficiently good so that at least three out of five papers reach their destination some time if not right away. Letters are a little better cared for because, so far as I know, none of them have gone astray; but of course I have no means of letting just what letters have been written to me. My Xmas package has not yet made an appearance here at Carcaraña at least. Whether or not it has arrived in Buenos Aires and is at the U.S. Legation I cannot say. Since robbing the mail or express is no crime in this country, save when committed by a foreigner or against a Spaniard there is but little chance of recovery when things "go astray." When addressed by some high official they are somewhat protected, but otherwise not.

While reading your letter in which you complain about the cold I was sweating so it was almost impossible to keep from blotting it where my fingers touched the writing. Today, however, is more endurable since early this morning the wind shifted to the south, and since the sky has been cloudy. It has rained a little all fore noon and still looks as though there might be more during the evening and to-night. Hope that we will have a good rain so as to lay the dust and brighten up the vegetation that was beginning to wilt considerably. Although the thermometer does not soar quite as high here as it sometimes does in Nebraska the heat seems to be more steady and debilitating. There are so many sultry nights — a feature not very prevalent in Nebraska. But the time is passing so very rapidly that almost before I know of it the six or seven weeks will have passed and I will be on my way home.
Have been hard at work during the week on my final report, and with good luck will have it finished and ready for the printer in three more weeks. Well then

only have the proof to read before my mission is finished in this country. Will be glad too, when it is finished. The year's work will have been one of the hardest that I have ever done, though very much less satisfactory to me than I would have liked. The everlasting slow methods of the country, as well as the proneness of putting off till tomorrow what should and could just as well as not be done today, has hampered me very much indeed. There will still remain some of the most important things to be solved. These could have been, at least some of them, settled just as well as not had not the above mentioned features been in the way. Then too, I am more or less disappointed in the collections of insects that I have been able to get together for bringing along home. Much country that should have been visited was not because of the failure of the railway officials to send the passes in time to be of any use. Even as I write, I should have at least a half dozen new passes, whereas I have but one. Before I can intelligently report on the possible failure of the locust problem in this country I must visit the region bordering the Andes. Since I have been told not to spend any money for railway passes. I am practically tied up in my work. If I do not recieve these desired passes by tomorrow's mail I will go to Buenos Aires on Tuesday to hurry up matters a little. Why, up to this time they have not given me any artist to illustrate my report. But I shall not stop in the country a day longer on this account. If there are no drawings ready I will hand the report in without them. If the report is not a good one it will be on account of the lack of the proper cooperation on the part of the Commission.

My man is sitting outside of the door as I write playing an accordian [sic]. He has been playing the same time for the past half hour without stopping for breath. The tune seems to be a sort of gallop judging by the time. He plays at dances quite frequently and seems to be the favorite dance music manufacturer in the town. I feel sorry for the people who are obliged to dance and listen to the others.

Hope that you are well and not freezing during this hot January weather. Also trust that you will be quite well when this letter finds its way to Lincoln.

Will continue to write every Sunday up to a week before I start for home. Will then telegraph
Good bye. Lawrence Bruner.

Carcaraña Jan. 16th 1898
Dear Marcia:-
I have only just returned from Buenos Aires where I have been for the past few days arranging for the illustrations and printing of my final report to the "Comisión Investigatora de la Langosta." In this I was quite successful, at least I believe that I was; but there is no telling just what may happen in this country to undue all that seems apparently finished. My drawings will be made by Mr. Fedrias Barmeister, the son of the most renowned of entomologists to written a very short time ago. Will have quite a large number of other illustrations that will be chiefly photograph. May also have a colored plate to show the color variations if the comission does not think it too expensive.

Your letter of November 21st has just reached me after almost two entire months on the way. Just where it has been lingering all this time I cannot say, but that it did not come right along I am sure. While in B. Aires I tried to leave something in reference to my Xmas package which you sent to long ago, but could learn nothing whatsoever about it. You shouldn't have sent it, then I wouldn't have been looking for something. I know too well the peculiarities of the people here to risk anything by trying to send a box home. Had you sent me the receipt from the express office in Lincoln I might be able to look it up, but without knowing even by which company you sent it there is no use to try to find it. By hunting around a half day while in Buenos Aires I found two letters from Mr. Huntrt, also a package of locusts. They were at the United States consul's office. One of the letters was written early in July, the other on Nov. 30. I expect that a whole stack of home mail will reach me in a day or two now, since a boat came in from Rio yesterday morning that had a great deal of mail both from North America and Europe. Of course this suspense about mail will not last so very much longer, for by the time this letter reaches you I may be on my way home or at least about ready to start. I have given up all idea of going via of South Africa or even via Europe. The Commission would like to have me remain 3 to 6 months longer, but I couldn't think of doing so since my leave of absence expires on April 1st, and I don't care to lose my U. of N. job by extending the leave without a proper consent from the Regents.

I did not see McCrosky's this last time while in Buenos Aires. Had so very much to look after and so many people to see that I only had time to call at the office and leave the Caldwell baby's picture that had gotten mislaid among some letters when I first came to the country. As Mr. McCrosky was out. I left it with a draftsman to be handed to him later.

My preliminary report, of which I sent you a copy before, seems to be well taken by the Argentines themselves, who say that it is "very practical and quite sensible." How glad I am (?). Hope the full report will be equally well thought of, and the suggestions which I shall make be carried out. If they are, I feel very confident that the Argentine locust plague will then become a matter of control.

Had a letter to-day from the Govt. entomologist of Chile in which he asks me a few questions about handling "native locusts." Wish that I could have time to pay him a visit in his own country; but the time is so short now that I will not be able to do so.

There is to be a Frenchman here in a very short time to steady the plague for the province of Cordoba. Maybe we can arrange so that he can take up the studies at the point where I will have off. Though I have learned enough of the insects' life = history and habits so I will be able to suggest the most feasible methods of warfare that can be brought to bear against the insect. He may be able to learn a little more about the laws which govern the insect's flights from one part of the country to another so as to have a basis for predicting invasions etc. Also native breeding places, extent of country visited, a little more definite about some features of egg-laying & similar features that I couldn't get at in the time I have had with all other things to consider.

Your letter was full of news such as interests one. Wish that I could send you equally newsy letters, but this I cannot do for the reason that I don't know so very much about myself, and others you do not know or care to hear about. In about a week Minister Buchannon's will leave for the United States, perhaps to remain there. In their early visits they may go to Omaha, Nebraska City, etc. If they do I have asked them to call on you for I am dure that you would be pleased to meet and talk with someone direct from here — someone who has seen one quite lately.

Hope that this letter will reach you all well, and that you will remain so through the winter till I return and later. Goodbye to all — kisses.
Lawrence Bruner

P.S. Helen is getting to write excellent letters. I don't wonder at her getting 100 in spelling.

*May write about my trip in the Andes in my next letter either to Psyche or Helen. Was more than a little pleased to get Helen's letter. Just to think of my little Helen writing such letters. Why, I can hardly believe my eyes.

Hope that baby Alice will really remember me when I return. Of course she will not be the baby I left, but a great big girl.

Kisses to all — Seba included if she cares to be so counted.

May try to write her a letter soon.
Yours TC.
L. Bruner

Dear Marcia:
Well I am back again in Carcaraña, after 10 days in the provinces of Cordoba, San Louis and Mendoza, where I have been looking up matters relating to locusts preliminary to the writing of my final report. In fact, this has been my "wind-up" trip here in Argentina. In about one month now I hope to be starting for home, or say by the time this letter reaches you. The coming week will perhaps be my busiest in the country since I must complete the writing of my report by Saturday so as to take it to Buenos Aries for the painter on the 8th of February. Will then have the proof to read and the making of engravings to look after during the remaining 3 weeks of February.

Taking everything into consideration I suppose that I had ought to be quite satisfied with my success here, but I am not. I had made my estimate of final results for the year's work on North American conditions, but this is not that country and hence the non-fullfilment [sic] of my hopes etc. But I will not say any more about these matters till I come home.

I was simply too lazy to write to you last Sunday, so skipped a week, for which I am very sorry, for I know you will miss the letter very much, although it would have contained nothing especially interesting. Each succeeding letter seems to be more difficult to write since there is nothing of importance to write about. Then too you have frequently said that you do not care about descriptive letters, so I am limited to one subject — myself — to write about. Your letters of December 5th, 15th and 24th have just been received, so you see I have been another whole month without having news from home. There are evidently still two more letters back, one from November and the other between the 5th and 17th of December. I have papers also to Dec. 7th but not later.

I hope that Mr. Hunter has not been too persistant [sic] in visiting to Prof. Lugger about the money for Orthoptera, since he may misunderstand matters. I thought that I had sent him everything however for which bills were rendered. Will look the whole matter upon my return, so neither you or Mr. Hunter need trouble further.

your accounts of handling the money affairs are quite satisfactory. You will see now from actual experience that I was not very extravigant [sic] in my expenditures. It simply took all we could earn to live on and make ends meet. The supposed extravigances [sic] did not exist in reality. Of course if we could have lived entirely to ourselves and not shared our earnings with others we could have done with less and saved one. But would we have been as well satisfied?

My last draft was mailed on December 3, so you must have it before this time. As it was for $450, you will possibly be able to pull through till I return by leaving such bills as can be postponed to that time. Hope to pay Ella off and at least $500 of Mr. Ward's father's account, and still have enough to worry through on till I can again draw on the U. of N. for wages. Will also try to arrange to continue my work here for at least 6 months after my return at $100, per month so as to finish it in directions that are still rather dark. This can be done just as well from notes gathered by means of circulars and submitted to me for study after they have all been tabulated. Shall have all of my salary for Dec. Jan. Febr. & Mch. to bring home and possibly $100 or thereabouts besides, so you see that I have not been overly extravigant [sic] in my personal expenditures here when I was obliged to pay out $500 for the University of Nebraska. Aside from necessary clothing and presents I have spent practically nothing, and these are quite small.
I am so glad to know that the children are so well, and hope that they will continue to be so all through the winter. Only wish that I could see them once in awhile. Two months, however, are not long. Just to think of it ten months after your already gone or four-fifths of the time and it seems scarcely three months since I left home only when I stop to think it all over.
Your last letters have been ever so full of news of all kinds, which together with the clippings and papers give me a pretty fair idea of the happenings at home. How I stood it at first I hardly know. Just to think of Eugene Moore in the penitentiary makes me feel sick. If he has confessions to make why does he not do so and save himself. He is foolish to shield such friends (?) as have brought him into his present position. If they have permitted him to be convicted when not alone guilty they are not worthy of protection. They should be exposed and suffer the full penalty whatever it might be.

By this time you will undoubtedly cease to write to me for I wouldn't receive your letters anyhow. Will cable when I start and write two or three more letters.*

Caracaña, Argentina, S.A.
Jan. 30th 1898.
My Dear Helen:
Your letter that you wrote just before Xmas is such a good one that I must thank you for it right away. I am sure that you had a nice time on Christmas even if it was cold and there was much snow on the ground. Here in South America it was summer and so hot that I felt more like the 4th of July instead. Then too, Santy Claus didn't come to me. Tell Mamma that her present to me must have gotten lost on the way because I have not received it yet. But I wrote her about it in my letter two weeks ago.

Last week I was out at Mendoza and spent parts of two days and one night in the Andes mountains. You must get Aunt Seba to show you the place on the map of South America. At night I slept in a little hotel at the place called "Puerta del Inca" in Spanish, and means the bridge of the Lord in English. It is a natural bridge of rocks over a pretty good sized

river and is quite a curiosity. Maybe there is a picture of it in some geography at home. It not, when I come home I will show you a good photograph of it that I bought.

In the morning I hired a horse and rode about 3 miles to a place where I could see the highest mountain in South America. Mt. Aconcagua. It is more than a mile higher than Pikes Peak in Colorado. When I rode out on horseback I was only about 12 miles from Chile but hadn't time to go any further because the stage started back to the railroad at a little past 9 o'clock and I had to get back in time to go with it so as to catch the train for Mendoza.

The Andes mountains are much higher than the Rocky mountains, but they are almost bare of grass and trees and are not so nice to look at. But they are much higher and are full of snow high up near their tops. I will tell you more about them when I come home. Maybe some time you can see them yourself. Who knows. A kiss to Psyche & one to baby Alice too.
Good bye till I see you
Your Papa.
Lawrence Bruner.