Monthly Archives: June 2011

July 15, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Night.
July 15, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

Your letters of the 10th and 12th came this afternoon and they made me feel oh so good. You see, I don’t always get them on schedule time as we don’t always go in town just after train time. Walter, bless your heart, your letters make me so happy and I read them over and over and then read them some more. These two letters were so nice and long and newsy. You seem to know just what I am interested in and just what to write. I especially appreciate the long ones now since I know that you are so busy, but still you take time to write me. I am just as proud of you as I can be and I love you so very very much.

July 15, 1925 (Ina)

July 15, 1925 (Ina)

Your letter to Mama and Papa came also. Mama tried to tease me for quite a while by telling me that she wouldn’t let me read it. Finally, after about two hours’ time she handed it over to me saying that she was trying to see just how anxious I would get to read it. I think it is a mighty nice letter and they do too. They will answer it before long. Don’t be afraid of a refusal or anything of that kind. It didn’t come as a surprise to them since I had told them that you were going to write and ask. Everything is lovely.

Yes, indeed I think it will be mighty nice to have Dr. White down in Florida with you every summer. I feel that you are very fortunate to have him every moment that it is possible to do so. I am so anxious to meet him. I know I shall like him from the things you have said about him. I shall enjoy meeting and being with your friends so much.

I am sure Dr. and Mrs. K.S. are anxious to get into that beautiful new home. I am looking forward to seeing it some time.

I can hardly wait for the time to come for you to return and for me to be with you always. It still seems too good to be true, but still I can’t help but believe that the “too good to be true” is going to happen in this case.

Walter, I don’t want you to hesitate to tell me about your work, the credit that you will receive for it etc. because I certainly will not think you are egotistical. I know you too well to think that. I am very much interested in you and your work, and you can safely write me anything you want to about it without fear of being misunderstood. By the way, I am very proud of your work too.

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Always your
Ina.

July 13, 1925

Monday Nite
July 13, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

It is now 11:30 and I’m so sleepy. Mama, Claudelle and I have just returned from a church social sponsored by the Epworth League and given in our Educational Building. It was a very lively affair and I think everyone had a good time. It wasn’t at all dignified.

If you will excuse me for a few hours, I will go take a little nap. I just wanted you to know that I am still thinking of you and do most of the time. I will finish this letter to-morrow.

July 13, 1925

July 13, 1925

I love you most greatly.

Love
Ina.

Tuesday Evening.
July 14, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

Claudelle and I have just returned from a two mile hike so we feel a little more energetic than we did when we started out. We didn’t start until rather late so dark overtook us on the way back. Somehow I don’t like the sensation of being out in a pasture after dark where I can imagine all sorts of creeping things are about. Every time I stepped on a root it startled me because it felt just like a snake. The idea of snakes reminds me of a few days ago when Thelma and Bob carried the children out on the river. Thelma Lee went to the spring alone, but rushed back all excited and said that she had seen a snake down there. Thelma told her that she was sure it was just a root. Thelma Lee insisted that she knew it was a snake because she saw it “unscrew.” They investigated it and found that it really was a moccasin. So I could almost see those roots unscrewing this evening.

No doubt you have been extremely busy to-day. I have been thinking of you lots and lots too. I hope it hasn’t been as warm there as it has been here.

I have not heard from you since your arrival in Jacksonville, but I am sure I will have a letter to-morrow. I am very much interested in knowing what you are doing and everything. Don’t hesitate about writing me concerning your work because I believe you know by now that I am very much interested in it. In fact, you may rest assured that I am interested in everything that concerns you or that interests you because I love you. You mean worlds to me and I am going to do my best to do my part in making our married life happy, and I know you can make me happy. In fact, I can’t think of a couple that I think is happier than you and I are and especially will be. Isn’t it nice? I feel so thankful for the wonderful way that it has all come about and we know that the Divine Hand has shaped our destinies far better than we could have done it ourselves. And I believe, if someone were to write a book of our affair, they could safely say “and they married and lived happily ever after.”

How I do wish I could be with you right now!

Yours always,
Ina.

July 12, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville, Fla.,
July 12, 1925

My Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lewis,

I hope that this letter will not be a shock to you, and that my request will be received favorably. I did not have the opportunity of asking for the hand of Miss. Ina, but I want to do so at this time.

July 12, 1925 (Walter)

July 12, 1925 (Walter)

There is no doubt in our minds but that we understand each other and I believe that our love is mutual. We believe that we realize the step we are taking, and I hope that I can give her the comforts of a home and make her happy. I’ll certainly try and do a man’s part in giving her happiness, and I sincerely hope that it meets with your approval.

With kindest regards, I am,

Sincerely,

Walter E. Dove
c/o Seneca Hotel
Jacksonville
Florida

July 12, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Night
July 12, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

I have just returned from my fourth religious service today, so I think my disposition should be sufficiently sweetened to be agreeable, at least by letter, don’t you think? We had our church service on the roof of our new educational building this evening, and, due to the fact that we had a nice shower this afternoon it was so cool that a light wrap was very comfortable. Mr. Schofield, rector of the Episcopal church here, preached a very interesting sermon, and that, together with the cool breezes etc., made everyone enjoy the service very much. It would have been much more pleasant for me tho if you had been there right by the side of me. Just a week ago you left Uvalde but really it seems like months to me. I sincerely hope that every week will not be as long as this one has seemed.

July 12, 1925

July 12, 1925

Your New Orleans letter was in the box this A.M. and I enjoyed every word of it thoroughly. I appreciated the fact that you wrote before you reached your destination because it would have seemed like such a long time to me. The magazines came also, and I appreciated them. Claudelle and I have been enjoying reading them this afternoon.

I have read the little booklet “Can America Remain American?” that you sent and I think it is splendid. Such a lecture makes a person want to be more patriotic, loyal and true. I like literature of that kind. I think the Teacher’s Training Book you sent is fine. It seems to be such a thorough course that I expect to study it just that way. I have already studied the first lesson. You see, I try to spend at least fifteen minutes every day in Bible study, so I can use this course and do it systematically. The other little book you sent is full of good information. I expect to use it now when I need it and also will put it in my “hope chest” for future reference.

Today I received a letter from Hugh Cavitt (the bee inspector, you know) written at Hempstead, Long Island and he wrote as though it was my last chance to offer an explanation since this was his third letter to me since he left Uvalde, and he had received a reply to none. For some unknown reason this is the first that I have received. He must have trusted them to someone else to mail and they failed to do so. I had wondered at his silence since he had insisted so that he was going to write me as soon as he arrived in Holland, Texas, his home.

I also had a letter from Jane Latham, the young school teacher who stayed at Mrs. Hollifield’s and whose home is in Poutota, Miss. She is now in the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Ark. She is having a good time I think. She seems to be afraid that she cannot be with me long after she returns to Uvalde to teach this fall. Somehow she has gotten the impression that I might be in Florida this winter. It is purely supposition on her part I am sure, as I haven’t written her anything to that effect. As far as I know, she doesn’t know that I have the ring. Of course someone else may have written her something about seeing it. You know how those things go.

Walter, I appreciate your not trying to get acquainted with the pretty girls on the train. It is mighty easy on a trip like that to make new acquaintances, but I am glad you didn’t. I am going to try to be just as true to you as you are to me. The other young men don’t interest me anymore. You are the One in whom I am interested and I love you ‘most to death.

I surely do like the idea of having a room in our own home while in Dallas. I am sure I would like it and the little boy wouldn’t bother me in the least. My, I get so thrilled and happy every time I think of our trip, our home, and especially you.

Oh, I do love you ever so much.

Lots of love,
Ina.

June 12, 1925

Jacksonville, Florida,
June 12, 1925.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I have re-read your two letters a number of times and I’ll probably read them lots more. You don’t know how much I appreciate them. They sound just like you, Dear, and they make me feel that the one whom I love so much is one who honestly loves me. At exactly this time last week we were in your car under the big tree south of town. I hated to leave you and could not help but think of coming away without you, and that was the reason why I couldn’t talk any. You remarked that it was like the first night this summer when I saw you, when there was very little conversation. The first night was one that was quite different, but I knew that I loved you and hadn’t figured out how I could get the idea across. I was not sure that you would let me tell you.

June 12, 1925

June 12, 1925

But that has been fixed up and I am mighty happy in the thought that another year you will be down here with me. You are going to like Florida, Honey Bunch, and I hope to know exactly where we are coming to live etc.

I took Dr. White to the beach last night and he thinks it is just right. However, we are going to live here at this hotel for a couple of weeks before we go down there. It is more convenient to the clinic and we will want a few days here before we go to the beach, in order to follow up the clinic cases. Last night we had been here just two days. Dr. White says that we seemed to get into the work enough to cause him to feel that we had been on the job for some time. We have been on the go most of the time, and until the wee hours we have discussed the problem. He and I have two beds in a large corner room and the problem is discussed pretty fully. I am very fortunate to have him here with me as there seems to be no limit to his knowledge, when I can get the information out of him.

Dr. White had a course at Johns Hopkins just before he came to Texas and he has posted himself pretty well on points having a bearing on our problem. He is a mighty fine man and, Dear, when we are permanently located down here I hope it will be possible to have him down here for some work with me. He won’t leave Washington for a period of time, but I hope he can be with us for a few weeks each year. He would not come as a guest, but to help in the work.

This morning the Catholic clock struck six as usual, which is five o’clock at your time, but we did not get up until about 10 o’clock. We talked creeping eruption until we dressed and shaved and this required an hour and one-half.

Dr. White was very complimentary to your photos and from my talking of you, he thinks that you are just right everyway.

This morning after breakfast Dr. K.S. and Elizabeth (11 yrs. old) came down and took us for a drive. We saw his new home under construction and then met Mrs. K.S. They certainly have a beautiful location for the new home and it is a most beautiful structure. He paid $18,500 for the lot, and a similar lot on which there is no building under construction had an offer of $30,000 a few days ago. There is a real estate boom on here too, but not as much as in the southern part of the state.

I haven’t seen Mrs. Gallagher or her children as yet as we have been too busy, but while Dr. White is reading the paper I am going over and calling on them. I am anxious to see them.

We are invited to dinner with Dr. & Mrs. K.S. tomorrow evening.

For this week and next you might address me at Seneca Hotel, as I would get it a little quicker and I want your letters as soon as I can get them. The quickest way is slow enough.

We had 38 cases of skin affections, 18 of which were C.E. during this first day and half. Before the clinic is over we will probably have two hundred cases.

Remember that I think of you many many times each day Dear, and that I love you with all my heart. I want to hear from you as often as you care to write and I am going to write as often as I can.

With a real sweet goodbye,

Your
Walter

July 10, 1925 (Walter)

Jax Fla. Friday night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was about this time last week when I mentioned that the clinic would be under way at this time. While it actually started at 9 this A.M. for the public, it started with me at 8:15 last night and at the time I arrived. Dr. K.S. met me and it was almost like one Frenchman meeting another (they fall on the necks of one another). He had everything all fixed and details arranged. We waited at the station until 8:30 when Dr. White arrived. Then we talked the thing over until about 11 o’clock, when K.S. went home, then Dr. White and I talked until we went asleep. We have double beds in the same room at the Seneca Hotel.

July 10, 1925 (Walter)

July 10, 1925 (Walter)

At eight o’clock this A.M. we had breakfast at the coffee shop with K.S. and I received your letter at the same time. We were at the State Health Building about 8:45 and there were two patients waiting when we got there. Two nurses and a girl were on the job right away. We had 22 patients during the day, but only 11 were “larva migrans” or “creeping eruption.” A few of them were also patients last summer and they remembered me by name. It was interesting that the cases developed at the homes under the same condition as they did last year, and it is the bunch of “repeat infection” cases that I want to study in detail with Dr. White when the clinic is over. We were busy all day and Dr. White “enjoyed every minute of it.” He saw his first cases today and he appreciates what the problem really is. It is now 10:30 and we have talked it when we were not working. He is in bed now.

Dr. White and I were guests at the Civitan Club for lunch with Dr. Arius. Dr. Arius is a laboratory man in charge for the state Health Board. The Civitan Club is very similar to the Rotary and the meeting was quite a “peppy one.” Tonight we had dinner at the place where Dr. K.S. and I usually ate last summer. He ordered the same thing and it tasted equally as well.

It started raining a few days ago and we had a pretty good shower today. Will have one most every day for a few weeks.

Jacksonville looks natural in every way and I feel very much at home here. There are lots of tourists here, even now, and the hotels are quite crowded. Dr. K.S. had made reservations for us.

Tomorrow noon we close until Monday and I hope to take Dr. White to some of the places where creeping eruption originated last summer and to verify some of the many things I have been telling him. He is certainly interested. Sunday we expect to locate a place on the beach where we can have living and laboratory quarters. Dr. White feels that what we accomplished in the work last year, stands out in a class by itself and above any research in our Bureau. It received very favorable comment from the Johns Hopkins people who are doing most of the work along this line. I don’t mean to “toot my own horn” but I wanted to tell you. I hope I can keep Dr. White for a month or six weeks, as there is no end to his knowledge.

Your letter, Dear, was the sweetest I have ever read and it is next best to a talk with you. You are so sweet, to have had one waiting for me when I arrived. It was so different from the ones I received a year ago. I appreciate what you said about saying “goodbye.” I, too, had a lump in my throat and I felt that you should be leaving with me. You don’t know how much it hurt to leave you. But there is a time coming, Dear, and then I can have you with me always. I should ask Mother Lewis and “Daddy” too, but it is about all that I can do to write you tonight.

It was real sweet of Thelma Lee and I am surprised that her feeling was so marked concerning an engagement. She is by no means an average child to have so seriously considered the meaning of the ring. It looks as though I have to walk on the hearts of quite a few in order to get you, and I only hope that all of them will be repaid with a joy which will counteract the good fortune I am to have. I have often heard that to get anyone you love, it is necessary to step on the heart of some one else and I guess my case is no exception.

But your love is something greater and grander than anything in the world to me, and there isn’t an hour but what I think of you, Dear. I wish for you every time I think of you. The thought of having you as “mine forever” is, indeed, the goal I desire more than anything else. I only hope that I can make you happy.

I love you more than I can “express” and here’s hoping nothing will ever “check” it.

With a sweet goodnight and pleasant dreams,

Your
Walter.

July 10, 1925 (Ina)

Anniversary Nite
July 10, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Just two months ago tonight! And I have been so happy ever since. I shall never forget what a queer feeling I had when I said “yes.” I didn’t realize then just why I said it except I just felt like I simply couldn’t help it. I felt like I couldn’t be happy without you, and sure enough I don’t believe I could. Life has been such wonderful happiness since then that I often wonder if I had been truly happy before. I always have enjoyed life but had never before enjoyed such true happiness and contentment. I do hope you feel that way some too. At any rate, the tenth of every month, especially May, is going to be a red letter day in my calendar of life.

July 10, 1925 (Ina)

July 10, 1925 (Ina)

I am sure this has been a busy day for you. I have thought of you so many many times and hoped that you were enjoying your work. I imagine Dr. K.S. has been unloading some of his surplus energy today. You mustn’t work off that flesh you gained while in Uvalde. I don’t want to look like your twin sister by the time you return this fall.

Have you had any refreshing showers since your arrival? Someone said that the thermometer registered 109ยบ yesterday here which sounds a little unreasonable to one who was not present, but if it was 109 yesterday, it must have been at least 112 today. About 6:30 this evening Mama, Papa, Claudelle and Lucile Johnson and I went to the Milow swimming hole about nine miles from town and enjoyed a most delightful swim. The water was deep and as clear as a crystal, so you can imagine how much refreshed we felt after a most melting day at home. To make it even more pleasant, a nice shower came up and cooled everything off so nicely that it seems perfectly reasonable that a blanket should be comfortable before morning. We got out of the river soon after the rain started for fear we would get wet. Lucile J. said to give you her regards.

Walter, I wish you could be here tonight. You have no idea how lonesome that poor porch swing looks out there in the cool breezes all by itself. I haven’t the courage to try entertaining it alone, but if you were here, I am sure you could make the evening much more pleasant for both the porch swing and myself. Or shall I go tell it to wait a few months? Perhaps that is the most reasonable thing to do.

The coyotes must realize the importance of the day because they are competing with the little screech owl in commemorating it. They first have a heated discussion as to what they shall sing, then they peal forth with a song well calculated to raise the dead.

It is getting late now, so I must lay my “weary”? head to rest.

I love you oh so much.

Always
Your devoted
Ina.

Saturday Nite
July 11, 1925

Dearest Walter:

This letter should have been mailed this afternoon but just as we began dressing to go down town it started to raining and it kept it up until dark – not much, but just enough to make us remember that way back in history on two or three occasions cars had been known to stick in the mud on the road between J.N. Lewis’s ranch and town. Perhaps you have a faint recollection of one or two such occasions. I am afraid tho that the romance would be lacking if just Claudelle and I happened to have such a misfortune. I enjoy thinking of yours and my Friday night experience with the rain, wind, hail and wrapping paper.

It gives me a lost feeling when I realize you can’t be with us tomorrow. Mama, Papa, Claudelle and all of us always enjoyed our Sundays with you so much. I am truly sorry you can’t be with us tomorrow and I am sure you will be too when I tell you that you wouldn’t have to eat pineapple cake this time. The truth of the business is that I am through with my pineapple cake stage in cooking and I have launched out on chocolate pie. I made two today and really would be glad if you could be here for the next few Sundays for the course in chocolate pies. However, your days are numbered and I am afraid you are going to have to endure my cakes, pies etc. for many many years to come, and, by the way, I surely do wish you could cultivate a taste for coffee because I really believe I can make a success of making it.

I wish you could be here to-morrow because the Willys-Knight is so nice and clean. I arose early this morning and gave it a bath (’tis Saturday you know) before breakfast. I think it would be nice to slip off after League and drive around during the church service. However, things being as they are, church time will find me piously seated up in the choir with my thoughts, in spite of the fact that I enjoy hearing Bro. Campbell preach, wandering across the country to a certain Bird in Jacksonville, Fla. in which I am especially interested.

I am very sorry that I couldn’t mail this letter today and am especially anxious to take a peep in Box 284 as I think I might have a letter there. It may be that it hasn’t had time to come, but I like to get it at the earliest possible moment after it arrives.

Goodnight and pleasant dreams.

I love you.
Ina.

July 9, 1925

Thursday
10:30 P.M.

My Dearest Walter:

Claudelle and I have just returned from a meeting of the Young Peoples’ Union. The Christian Endeavor furnished the program for the evening which was in the form of a missionary pageant. It was very good and interesting.

Your Tuesday letter came this morning and I could hardly wait until I opened it to see what you had to say. Honestly, I get so thrilled every time I see a letter addressed to me in your handwriting. I enjoy every word of it when I read the contents too. In fact, my dear Walter, I fear I am most hopelessly in love, and you are the victim. I realize it more and more each day, and I feel sure I shall never get back to normal. However, I’ll have to confess that I like the sensation wonderfully, and would be terribly disappointed if I thought there was a chance for my recovery. Furthermore, I will say that I hope you have a genuine case of it yourself. If there is anything I can do to prevent your recovery I shall be more than glad to do it.

July 9, 1925

July 9, 1925

We have had company all day today. Sterling Fly, his wife and little six month old boy have been with us. She is Bob’s sister, and we enjoyed having them all so much. I am afraid the baby is very much spoiled this evening as we all petted him so much. He is just as sweet and good as he can be and is just the kind you want to squeeze real hard. Soon after they left, Mrs. Hines and Eugene Monagin’s wife called. She is very attractive and sweet. I don’t blame Gene a bit. I haven’t seen Mervin since you left. He may be in deep mourning for you. I think I shall find him and share my widows’ weeds with him. I know he can’t miss you half as much as I do tho.

I am glad you had an opportunity to eat dinner in our little breakfast room, even tho I couldn’t be there. Won’t it be nice when we can eat breakfast together? I met you at the breakfast table and I have had more respect for breakfast ever since. There is a halo of sentiment about it now that used to be lacking. I get all thrilled every time I think of having you for three meals every day. I can hardly wait for the time to come. And to think that it will sometime be in a home of our own!

I thought of you at 8:45 this evening when you were supposed to have arrived in Jacksonville. I am sure you will be so busy tomorrow that you will hardly know where you are. However, it will be work in which you are deeply interestted, and that will make it pleasant. I am going to be thinking of you and wishing you well.

It is getting late and I am trying to get into the habit of retiring early, so goodnight and pleasant dreams.

I think the world and all of you.

Yours always,
Ina.

July 8, 1925

New Orleans L&N Station
Wednesday 7:30 PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Pardon the pencil but my pen is in my brief case and I can’t put my hands on it just now. It would not be a very nice display in the waiting room if I should search for it and unpack everything. I am fortunate that I have just enough time between trains to write.

The trip has been quite pleasant and not as hot as it was last year. It is lonesome though and I console myself in the fact that you will be with me the next time. I wish you were along now. I guess I have as much hand luggage as if you were with me, two suit cases and a brief case. I checked the small trunk and shipped the other trunk and a box by Express. I expect to leave most of it in Florida and we won’t have to carry it on the next trip.

July 8, 1925

July 8, 1925

Mr. Seaton was mighty fine to me in Dallas.When I arrived he gave me a key to his Ford roadster and I had use of it the whole time I was there. Last night he came to the train with me. He is one of Mr. Galele’s men and for some time was in San Antonio.

Last night and the night before I went to sleep about the usual time, but I didn’t get up until about light this A.M. If I had gotten up early I would have had more time to loaf and I got pretty tired of that with what time I had today. There were two or three pretty girls in the same car and they seemed lonesome too, but I didn’t get acquainted. Thought of you most all day, and I have no desire to meet any other girl. They don’t interest me any more.

Have read a couple of magazines which might interest you and I am posting them with this letter. In the Legion Weekly the “Barsts and Suds” page has a bit of humor.

Mrs. Goodman had promised to take her little boy to the movies last night and they were showing “The Ten Commandments.” He said he wanted to go down to see God play. He is a good little kid and in the event we want to live in our own home while in Dallas, I believe he would not bother you. Mrs. Goodman says that anytime I come to Dallas she will arrange to let me have a room out there. She has an idea I might find a wife.

The low lands of Louisiana looked good today. The lack of rain seemed to be about what they needed. The crops were real good.

I’ll write you again, Dear, as soon as I arrive at Jax which will be about 8:30 tomorrow nite. I hope Dr. K.S. will not come down town then, but it would be the natural thing for him to do. If he does meet me he will talk until quite late. Anyway I’ll write if only a few words. I presume Dr. White will be there when I arrive. I should have been there a day earlier, but I wouldn’t have taken anything for the time I spent with you Sunday. Seems that I love you more every time I see you and each time I wonder if it is possible to love you more. You are so sweet and I love you with all my heart.

Sweet dreams,

Your
Walter

July 7, 1925 (Walter)

July 8, Tues. Night.*

My Dear Sweetheart,

All set, and everything is packed. Leaving at 11 PM and connections are good. Should reach Jax Thursday night 8:45. Couldn’t possibly get away sooner, and had it not been for Mr. Gingell who helped me pack I probably would not have had a breathing spell. He helped as though it were his own stuff and I certainly appreciate it. He was the one who got the bunch together to help me at our house last spring. He is a drug inspector and makes headquarters here. Is a mighty nice chap.

July 7, 1925

July 7, 1925

I have packed just about everything that I claim at the lab, for I have learned that everything here becomes common property. Everyone feels pretty free to use anything here. I’ll store most of the stuff in Florida and we won’t have to move it from here when we go down there. I could do a better job moving it now, than I could when I go with you. Besides, it might be that we would not care to come back via Dallas before going to Fla.

Have a surprise. Had dinner in our house tonight. I went by to leave a plumbing fitting and was invited to eat with them. Met Mr. Goodman. Both are lovely people and the kind I believe you would like. The dinner was not a special one, but it was served in our breakfast room. You don’t know how I enjoyed it, though I had hoped that my first meal there would be with you. You can bet that I thought of you, Dear. Mrs. Goodman says that it is very cool there, despite the fact that it has been hot here. She says that they can open the windows only about two inches at night as the breeze is so strong.

I’ll write from Jax as soon as I arrive. You are apt to hear from me real often. You mean everything to me and I can’t help but love you lots and lots and lots.

Always

Your
Walter.

* The 8th was a Wednesday, so I’m assuming this letter was actually written on the 7th.