Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol 31, December 3, 1917

Dec 3 – 1917
(The first meeting with Bertha Kenreich – who was working at the “Oriental’ (Variety store) for the Christmas rush, room and boarding at Stamps. – Mother, Louise and Frances had met the Kenreich’s through our next door neighbor’s, Coy’s, who prior to their move to Salem had lived on the farm just south of K’s – Bertha had been invited to our house for supper and evening.
It was a rather painful affair – Both Jim + I were bashful, so whatever conversation there was had to be supplied by Mother and “the girls” – Once they had to go to the kitchen, leaving us men alone with her – The silence that prevailed then can only be described as stony –
At the time I was still wearing “half-moon” glasses, (really crescent-shaped) and Bertha confessed to me much later that I looked positively weird to her – Her impression of me was not improved when after dinner “picture-shows” were suggested – I was invited to go along but I declined saying I was going to help Mother with the
dishes!  But my own memory of my reason for not going along was that the three of them would have a better time if a younger brother did not tag along.

Charles E. Burchfield,  December 3, 1917