Monthly Archives: July 2011

August 3, 1925 (to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis)

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Aug. 3, 1925.

My Dear Mr. and Mrs. Lewis,

It is impossible to tell you how much I appreciate your attitude and consent to the marriage. I realize how difficult it is for you to be separated from Ina, and I want you to know that we are happy in knowing that you have given your blessing. We want you to feel that you are going to have another home with us and we want you to help us enjoy it.

August 3, 1925 (to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis)

August 3, 1925 (to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis)

We have not yet decided upon the date, but it will probably be after my work is completed for the summer. Ina will talk it over with you.

With kindest personal regards and looking forward to seeing you again this fall, I am,

With love,
Walter.

August 3, 1925 (to Ina)

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Monday Noon.

My Dear Sweetheart,

The manuscript was carried into Jax by Dr. White when he went up this morning. No doubt the arrangement is better, but KS does not believe that it was improved. I really believe, that when Dr. White found out that there was no chance to hold it up until this season’s work had been completed, he next sought to reduce the size. It was reduced about one-fifth. He probably wanted to feel sure of everything in the text, before it was published under all three of our names. If he could have held the whole thing up, he might have worked himself in as second on the list. As it stands, my name is second and the text shows that most of the work is mine. I like the work but I want to be sure that I get credit for it, especially since this is so important and most of it is mine. This may seem peculiar to you, but it means much to me.

August 3, 1925 (to Ina)

August 3, 1925 (to Ina)

When we planned to move down here Saturday, I checked the manuscript and illustrations with Dr. White until about 3:30. He had not yet satisfied himself in every detail, so I arranged for a truck and had the supplies at the P.O. loaded, then came by the hotel. We had to load up from there, and he was not yet through with the Msc., so we brought it along and yesterday we checked it again. I am certainly relieved that it went out this morning, and I wonder how in the world he even managed to get his other papers to press. He has been criticized in the Bureau for not publishing more, and I thought it was because he was so careful. He is very careful but I never worked with anyone who was so slow. About the time I had gone over everything carefully and in detail and had figured we were through with certain sections, he agreed, but later brought it up for a post mortem, suggested changes etc., and then later a second post mortem usually resulted in putting it in as it was originally written. When he left this morning I told him that I was willing to bet that when he returned tonight that he would bring the manuscript back with him so as to make some change. He says he feels satisfied about it now and that we really have finished it. I want to be sure of it before I celebrate. I kid him about being so old maidish etc, and he takes it good naturedly. He knows that I mean it even though it is in a joking manner.

This morning I went up the beach and returned on the next train. Obtained a few samples of sand from where a severe case of C.E. originated in a 4 yr old boy. When Dr. White comes back we will have something to keep him busy. He plans on being here until Aug. 15th, but with my recent experience with him, I would say that it would be Sept 1st. At least I am planning to go down the state at that time and we will have to do the work here during this month.

Don’t misunderstand me, Dear, I like Dr. White and he is lots of help to me but it gets on my nerves to work with such a slow man. He will not take any responsibility or use any initiative in the work. During the clinic Dr. White told Dr. KS that it would take twenty years to work up the subject of creeping eruption. About five minutes later, K.S. told him that this summer was the end of his research. Later, KS told me that it would take 20 yrs. if a man expected to spend that much time, but that he was certain that I could do it in much less time. If I do say it, Dear, K.S. thinks I am OK and he always agrees with me when a subject comes up. He is pretty strong for me and can help me in pushing myself along in the Bureau. When this season’s work is over, he will pull for me through the Secretary. He says that our Bureau ought to have a good force in Florida and that I ought to be the head of it. I feel that with his pushing and the interest shown in the Southern part of the state, that we will have a station in Florida which will grow into an important and good sized place.

This letter is not the kind that I like to write to you, Sweetheart, but I want you to know about things. Don’t blame me if it sounds egotistical, as I don’t mean it that way. I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I’d be the happinest man in the world if you were down here with me now. I know that you would enjoy it.

With a hug and a real sweet kiss,

Your
Walter.

General Delivery
Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

August 2, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Sunday Aug. 2, 1925

My Dear Sweetheart,

It seems like a long time since I have written to you, Dear, for it was impossible to write last night or the night before. Friday PM we came to the beach and spent all the afternoon in locating a place. We, finally, decided on one and late last night we arrived here with a pretty good truck load of stuff. It wouldn’t seem possible that two men would accumulate so much to be moved. It was so late when we arrived and we were so tired that we did not do anything but eat, unpack what we needed and then went to bed. I didn’t hear anything until 8 this morning. We have been getting up early but I didn’t wake up this morning.

August 21, 1925 (Walter)

August 21, 1925 (Walter)

We have a cottage with a long screened in front porch and two bed rooms adjoining. The lady lives in the rear and will do the housekeeping. Will use her garage for the experimental animals and our cultures, and lab. work. We can do very nicely on the screened porch. The arrangement is good, and even better than I had thought it possible to obtain. She is a lady about 40 or more (with bobbed hair which looks like a mop) but she is a good housekeeper and everything is just as neat as can be. I could go away for a few days and feel that everything was safe, and this is worth a lot. Her name is MacDonald, and the cottage has a name plate Mac’s Place over the door. The neighbor says that Mr. McDonald is working at Miami. They live in the cottage the year round but rent it during the beach season. She works at a cafeteria on the board walk and the only time we see her is when we go down there for meals. She is pleasant and we are very comfortable here. We have running water, bath plumbing, water shower after we come from the surf, electric lights, and a mighty good breeze (not too strong) day and night.

We have been rushed so much that Dr. White did not have time to purchase a bathing suit at Jax, and we haven’t been in the surf yet. We will probably go in this evening.

As usual I wonder how this place would strike you. I can’t help but believe that you would like it if you were here, but I hope we will have our own home and not camp to the extent that I am camping now. I believe that we would enjoy coming to the beach for a couple of weeks at a time, after we have our own home, unless we are living close by. The lot at Fulford is near enough to drive down in five minutes.

There is no news of interest. I haven’t been able to get the manuscript away from Dr. White yet. He still nurses it and looks for something to change. It should have been mailed yesterday, but he had some reason for holding it over. It is true that it reads OK and everything has been checked and re-checked, but I did this on the original. I hope that we will work up the next one separately as it is most aggravating. Guess he is naturally that way and maybe it is well that he does not have a wife. I would feel sorry for her.

I love you, Sweetheart, with all my heart, and you can bet that I am true to you. Will be mighty happy when I can have you with me.

Always your,
Walter.

Jacksonville Beach, Fla,
General Delivery.

August 2, 1925 (Ina)

Sunday Night.

Aug. 2, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

In poetry and in song the patter, patter of the raindrops on the window sill usually forms the proper setting for peace, quiet, happiness and contentment inside the house. Well, the patter, patter has been on the window sill all afternoon and all evening and peace, quiet, etc. have reigned within with the one exception: one member of this household is suffering with a genuine case of lonesomeness – for you. We are really having a lovely rain, and we are all “tickled to death” over it, but it reminds me so very much of the evening you and I were stranded on the hill in the storm, and makes me wish for you. I often think of that incident, and am really glad it happened. We had lots of fun over it, didn’t we? I would be so happy if you were here tonight and we could enjoy a long confidential chat. I think we have kept up very well with “chats” by letter, don’t you think?

August 2, 1925 (Ina)

August 2, 1925 (Ina)

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Lots of love,
Ina.

Monday Afternoon.
Aug. 3, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I think the roads are dry enough now for Papa to go down town and I surely am glad because I haven’t had a letter yesterday nor today as none of us could get over the roads. You know pretty well how the water can flow over them out here like a river. I can hardly wait for him to return with a letter from you.

Thelma, Bob and the children took dinner with us yesterday but Thelma and Bob left early in the afternoon on account of the rain, leaving Thelma Lee and Reitha with us. I have made doll dresses, doll pillows, have played Mama, Papa, Mother, Daddy, party ‘n everything with them today to keep them amused while it was too wet for them to play outdoors. They are certainly full of pep.

Only four weeks ago yesterday you left Uvalde. I thought of it lots during the day and recalled the many happy hours you and I spent together during your two months’ stay here. Those two months did worlds toward shaping our future happiness, did they not? I love to think of them and to think of the many happy years we have ahead of us.

No doubt you are down on the beach by now. I hope you are enjoying your work down there and that Dr. White has changed his ways as he changed his location. Maybe he will not be so “old maidish” about everything as he was the paper. Let’s hope for the best. You have my sympathy.

Sweetheart, you mean the world to me and I love you oh, so very very much.

Yours always,
Ina.

July 31, 1925

Friday Night.
July 31, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

You will notice that this is Friday. Furthermore, the wind blew a large mirror we had hanging on the back porch down, breaking it. Now are you ready for the “hard luck” story? Well, while we were down town this afternoon getting the gasoline tank filled the starter refused to work and, after careful examination, the man announced very calmly, that I would have to buy a new battery. Oh, it was only around $35.00 for a Willys-Knight. I didn’t quite faint because I realized that I had had the car for over a year and a half and this was the first expense. However, paying $35.00 for a battery without any warning whatsoever didn’t appeal to my sense of humor, nor was it my idea of a good time. He put in another one and said he would try to charge mine but didn’t think it was strong enough to stand it. I left him with prayers that it would. So that’s that.

July 31, 1925

July 31, 1925

We were at Thelma’s for a short while this evening and Mrs. Parman and Miss Zoe came over. Mrs. Parman told me of the letter they had just received from you and of what she had written you in reply to what you had said of Mervin’s roping etc. She told me to tell you that she thought she had saved Merwin the trouble of helping you rope the “dear” as she had already helped accomplish it. She is almost like a child in her enthusiasm over something she has helped to accomplish. I love to see her enjoy it so much, and am mighty glad that she can get so much genuine pleasure out of our happiness, aren’t you? I like Mrs. Parman so much and I am sure that she would be a great deal happier if she would think of pleasant, happy things instead of the unhappy and unfortunate things on which her mind dwells so much of the time. Her many years of ill health of course have caused this state of mind.

Sweetheart, I am awfully sorry you are having such a time with Dr. White. I am glad you told me of it because, as I have often told you, I am interested in everything you are interested in, and I want you to feel as free to tell me your difficulties as you do to tell me your pleasures. That will draw us closer to one another because, as we know the likes and dislikes of one another we can have a clearer understanding. Dear, I love you so much that I want to live your life with you with all its ups and downs. I don’t want you to feel like you should keep any of them as a secret from me, because you mean the world and all to me. You just don’t know how very, very much I do love you. How I do wish you were here right now! But, back to the subject of Dr. White. I don’t blame you for resenting some of the things he does, especially if he is trying to get more of the credit for himself. You have worked hard on it and certainly deserve all the credit you have gotten – and then some, and it is certainly not true to human nature to sit quietly back while someone else steps in and tries to walk (I suppose the word “walk really expresses too swift action for Dr. White, but I can’t think of a more approproiate word unless it is “creep” and I imagine you have heard C.E. so much that you are tired of it) away with the laurels. I’m for you strong. I sincerely hope it will come out all right and I believe it will.

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Lots of love,
Ina.

Saturday night.
Aug. 1, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

A broken mirror on Friday does not mean bad luck. Papa ‘phoned the garage this afternoon and inquired after the health of the battery and they said there was nothing wrong with it – only a wire broken, a loose connection or something. Anyhow, everything’s lovely.

It is so nice and cool tonight. We have been on the verge of scorching for several days but last night we were blessed with a tub full of rain water (I washed my head in it and can’t do a thing with it) and it has been lots cooler ever since. It is so nice and cool tonight that I believe a blanket will be comfortable. It reminds me of autumn and gives me a thrill of joy when I realize that today is the beginning of a new month that brings me a month nearer you.

In one of your letters a short time ago you were afraid I was missing dates with others. It reminded me of a few evenings ago when I was sitting very quietly and thoughtfully in the moonlight. I was thinking of you, but I believe Mama had an idea I was wanting a date because she said “Ina, don’t you wish you had a date?!” I told her that I did want one with you and you only. Although I value the friendship of my other gentlemen friends, I don’t care a thing in the world about having dates with them any more. I want you. Don’t worry. I am not going to change my mind. I love you and am going to love you always and no one else matters. I am going to be true to you.

With all my love forever, I am,

Your loving
Ina.

July 30, 1925

Thursday Night
11 50 PM
7/30

My Dear Sweetheart,

If this letter smells like shrimp I won’t be surprised.* We went out to Dr. KS home and all of us spent about an hour on the river fishing for shrimp with a net. Then we helped prepare them & fix some shrimp cocktails. Have just returned from there, and thoroughly enjoyed the lunch. To prepare them was a tedious task, but I wanted to know how to do it so I could tell you. May be you already know, but I have an idea that I can tell you all about it provided you don’t know.

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

Your letter of this noon gave me a real kick to have you call me Sweetheart. It was the first time I had ever been called that, and Dear I have never called anyone that except yourself. I only wish I knew some name I could call you which would be a little stronger than this. I certainly do love you Sweetheart and I guess I’ll always want to be with you as much as possible.

I note that you address me as Dr sometimes. It is OK to say Mr, as KS understands and my mail at his office usually comes as Mr. I rather feel that I get a title to which I am not entitled, but I am called that most of the time. Even Dr. White gives me the title down here. It doesn’t make any difference, so suit yourself. (Sweetheart sounds nicer).

I am glad that you enjoyed Hondo. Somehow I feel better when I know that you are wearing the ring, as I feel that someone will not be so apt to think that he has a chance for you.

Must go to sleep as I am about that point now. I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I’ll try to always be a sweetheart of yours.

Your,
Walter.

500 Prof. Bldg.

*It does not smell like shrimp. Having been stored with some old “Kodak Safety Film” 16mm movies (now archived at Johns Hopkins University), it and all of the other letters smell like vinegar.

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville, Fla., 7/29.
Wednesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I didn’t get a letter today, but I have been so fortunate in getting them so often, that I realize it when I miss one. But I know that you thought of me and that you still love me, so I feel mighty good just the same. You have certainly written often and the sweetest letters in the world too. Gee, but I love you.

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

It is now about 11 o’clock. We have been adding another plate of illustrations in the article and have been arranging and trimming them tonight. I hope we will get everything in the mail tomorrow, but it is a slow job and Dr. White simply won’t be hurried. After we insisted on publishing in full, he consented, but he is most critical. I hope I won’t be that way when you are living with me. He wants everything just as he has always arranged them when he published his early papers, and while I don’t believe they are any better than the way we had them, we want to be agreeable. The funny thing is that K.S. and I feel the same way and tell him so, and he and I have not previously discussed it. He is a real good man, but he is careful and slow in the superlative degree. I have told him that persons who never make mistakes are ones who never do anything, and that even the Bible and the Declaration of Independence have some things which would sound better changed. I don’t make him angry but tell what I think in a kidding way. I can tell him just what I believe without hurting his feelings. I like him but I would like him much better if he were not so much of an old maid.

I should go down the state as soon as possible, but I intend to stay with Dr. White as long as he is here. He will probably be here until the middle of August. After that time I believe that I can go down there and get things shaped up. If it is so that I can go before then I’ll do so, for I want to direct the efforts of those folks who want the Bureau to work down there. You are going to like it in Fla., Dear, and I am going to like it more when you are here with me.

With a sweet goodnight and with all my love,

Always,
Your
Walter.

July 29, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Nite
July 29, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

It is now rather late as it seems almost everything has been conspiring against my getting an early start on my letter to you.

Mrs. Ball is spending a week with her son in San Antonio so I came to Thelma’s this morning and am going to stay until tomorrow afternoon. We have been having such a good time today. It seemed like old times before she was married for us to be together as long as we are. She and Bob are happily married and perfectly devoted and I am so glad. I know you and I are going to be equally so. It seems like Thelma and I are so much more companionable now since I am in love than we have been since she married. There has been sort of a barrier between us that I couldn’t exactly define and now, since it has apparently been removed, I think I know what it was – she was in love and I wasn’t.

July 29, 1925 (Ina)

July 29, 1925 (Ina)

Thelma Lee and I went down and visited with Miss Zoe Bunting (Ray’s Aunt) for about an hour this evening. I had been intending for a long time to go, but just hadn’t done it. She found out I was at Thelma’s and ‘phoned me to come. On our way back Mrs. Parman saw us and came home with us and stayed for quite a while. Mr. Parman is about well and is able to work. Mrs. Parman said that if you will send us some cool weather she will answer your letter. The thermometer has been between 106º and 107º today.

This evening when Bob came home from work he kissed Thelma and then told me that if I wanted a letter I’d have to kiss him too. I don’t do it often, but I didn’t hesitate a moment this time and I got my letter too. I think it surprised him that I did it so readily. The letter was the nice, long interesting one you wrote last Sunday. I am glad you had a pleasant fishing trip and am glad you returned in time to write. All you said about Florida, “our” prospects etc. was very interesting to me. I love for you to write that way so I will know what to expect. It almost makes me feel like I have already made a trip to Florida. Yes, I feel sure that I will like it. The real estate interests me very much and I am trusting you not to be “too reckless.” I am mighty glad that you or, as you want to say, “we,” have the lot in Fulford. I am interested to know further developments and details as you find out on your trips around thru the state.

Sweetheart, I still love you and I love you and love you some more. It seems so good for you to be writing about the places you think we would like to live etc. It makes it all seem so real. You see I haven’t entirely recovered from that “too good to be true” feeling.

Thelma and the children send regards.

Yours forever,
Ina

July 28, 1925

Tuesday Night 7/27*

My Dear Sweetheart,

It is a mighty good feeling to find a letter from you in the box every noon and I have been reading them just as I finish eating dinner. Dr. White eats slower than I, and I find that they are just right at that time. They say a man feels better after a meal, so I should say that they are read when I am in a mood to enjoy them most.

Was interested to know of your visit with Mrs. Parman. I shall always feel very grateful to her for her part. I think lots of both Mr. and Mrs. Parman. I had a letter from Mr. Parman a few days ago telling of the work and Mervin’s continued activity with the rope.

July 28, 1925

July 28, 1925

It rained most all the afternoon, so we did not have our usual evening visit at the plaza when we had finished dinner. The seats were too wet to sit down, so we went to a stock company show. It was only fair, but was a variety and for that reason both of us enjoyed it. I could not help but think of you and to wish for you, Dear, and I guess I didn’t pay much attention to the show.

We are yet in the city but I hope we will get to the beach in two more days. The manuscript as worked over has required more time than Dr. K.S. & I anticipated, and at times we get out of patience with Dr. White. We cannot see that he has improved it any, or at least not enough to justify the time spent on it. It has always been his custom to spend so much time on a manuscript, and we cannot fully appreciate him. From this standpoint he is careful enough, but I want to get him started on this year’s work. I am afraid he will not materially assist, but will offer good suggestions on what to do. The difficulty with our men and other research men in Washington is that they have no regard for time. Please don’t think that I am mean about it or that I mean to be critical, but I feel that I can talk to you pretty freely on my work or anything else. I am glad that I am having this experience if it has to come, and maybe if I live long enough I will think that he is OK. I was told last winter that he was very slow, and I realize his speed now. But all of this may be OK and I will accomplish the work by myself after he returns. I would rather do this, but if such is the case I won’t propose a joint authorship on the next paper. We will work up our own portions and publish separately. This can be done as we are interested in different phases of the problem. I get along with him OK but I do not disagree unless I have good reasons and then we argue it out. Kirby-Smith says that the paper is mine and that I shouldn’t let him have a d_m thing to do with it. This wouldn’t be a very good policy, but sometimes I feel that it would be OK. I have managed to take the reviewed sections to a steno, and when we have finished tomorrow the copying will be complete. Then it will be rushed in. Sometimes I think that Dr. White had an idea of holding up the long paper until after the end of this summer, and was in hopes that his name would then appear second, but I have insisted on the complete report and when this is finished I am going to suggest that each of us work up individual reports next time. This will solve the question and will cause an understanding.

Pardon all this, Sweetheart, but I felt I should tell you. I have kept quiet intentionally, but thought I should tell you. If I could talk with you I could tell you more. But everything will be OK and I am living in hopes of having you with me before an awful long time.

With all my love, Honey Bunch.

Your
Walter.

500 Prof. Bldg.
c/o Dr. K.S.

*The 27th was a Monday, so this must be the letter from the 28th.

July 27, 1925 (Walter)

Monday Night 7/27.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I was mighty glad to get yours this noon. I did not expect it until tonight. You always write such a sweet letter and I always get a kick out of it. You certainly know what to say to this old bachelor and it always hits the spot.

Had a letter from Mr. Pettit (Dallas) today. He is keeping busy and seems to be making some money. He expects his brother from Legion the latter part of this month.

July 27, 1925 (Walter)

July 27, 1925 (Walter)

I note with interest what you had to say about Mr. Owens’ letter. I feel for him, Dear, for I don’t see how anyone could help but love you. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world and I am mighty proud of you, Dear. I didn’t think I could love anyone like I do you. I am always wishing for you and I hope the time will not be distant when I can have you with me for “keeps.” I sometimes feel that I should come for you while you have the notion, for fear that you may change your mind, but I can’t believe that you are that kind as you have been too careful in what you said. I guess that is one reason why I love you so much.

It must be difficult for you, Honey, to settle on one and have a number of your dates eliminated. Undoubtedly you miss some good times. Personally my dates with girls have never been many and I am just as happy as I can be with the idea that I have won such a jewel as yourself. I hope you will always be happy and I am going to do everything I can to make you happy.

I love you with all my heart, Sweetheart. Sweet dreams.

Your,
Walter.