Monthly Archives: July 2011

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Afternoon
July 27, 1925

My dearest Walter:

Yesterday was the first day since you left that I had missed writing you and it was unintentional that I did miss it. I thought we would get back from Hondo in time to write you, but, as we had charge of the Sunday evening church hour which lasted until about 9:30, then had quite a time getting our crowd together to come home, we did not arrive in Uvalde until 12:10. So it was no longer Sunday and I waited until later on in the day Monday to write. I love to write you every day when I can, because that is next to receiving a letter from you or being with you. You have been so good to write me even though you were awfully busy, and I surely do appreciate it too. Your Wednesday night letter came Saturday afternoon just as we were leaving town and, Sweetheart, (that’s the first time I ever called anyone that) it was such a nice, long interesting one. It made me feel so good to have it along with me.

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

We had such a good time in Hondo. The people in whose home we were guests were perfectly lovely to us. Claudelle and I were entertained in the house of the president of the Hondo Chapter. We had met her while in Kerrville. Everyone seemed to be doing something to show us all a good time, and they succeeded well. Claudelle and I agreed without any hesitancy that we had a much better time during the night and day that we spent in Hondo than we did the whole week in Kerrville. I didn’t have to make but three talks, one in the afternoon and two in the evening, but the otherwise pleasant time we had more than overbalanced that.

It was only three weeks ago yesterday afternoon that you left and it seems like just about that many months to me. I thought about you and wished for you lots and lots during the day even though we were busy.

Mama and Papa stopped by Mrs. Parman’s for a short visit yesterday afternoon. Mr. Parman had been very sick that morning but was feeling much better in the afternoon. They thought it might be acute indigestion. Mrs. Parman was terribly frightened and excited. They think he will soon be alright though.

Walter, the part of your letter that referred to Mama and Papa, our future happiness etc. was mighty sweet. I am sure they are not worried for fear you and I will not get along well together, that we will not be happy etc. because they know by now that we care for each other so much that everything will be fine. We are going to be wonderfully happy and contented, aren’t we? “You bet!” I am glad you will enjoy having them visit us and I am sure they will enjoy it too. However, you know how “often” they visit anyone. Maybe, though, we can get them to come occasionally.

I am sure you enjoyed being with Mr. and Mrs. Garrison. Yes, I remember that you mentioned in one of your letters to me last winter that you ate Christmas dinner with them. I am anxious to meet them. I appreciate what you said about her sister.

I want to assure you again that I am most hopelessly in love and never expect to get out.

I love you now, always and forevermore – lots and lots – then some more.

Yours always,
Ina.

July 26, 1925

Sunday Night 7/26

My Dear Sweetheart,

We had a real good time and returned at 6PM so I have time to write my “daily dozen” lines to you. It was a mighty good feeling to find a letter here from you, and it was an especially good one. When I read it, I had a bath and shaved. I felt like a different person. The fishing was enjoyable, and the drive a good one, but there was a tired feeling when we returned. I did not expect to get back until 2 AM (Monday) and was mighty glad that Dr. K.S. came in early.

July 26, 1925

July 26, 1925

Dr. Sandusky, an eye ear & nose specialist, went with us. He and I fished from one boat, while Dr. KS and Dr. White went in the other. We were on the lakes near Dr. Pridgeon’s and stopped at his home for a while this morning. He had an extensive case of creeping eruption last summer and I was anxious to have Dr. White see the location of its origin. We did not catch any real fish as they were not biting, but had fun catching brim (which are a perch). The outing was the principal thing and we enjoyed it. Had breakfast at 5 o’clock this morning. Dinner at 9 o’clock last night. Meals came close together and were big ones too, but they were thoroughly enjoyed. Dr. KS is a prince of a host for a fishing party.

Had my first letter from Mr. Bishopp yesterday which was an answer to one I had written to him. He told of a request from Florida which had been made to Dr. Howard that we locate a man in his locality for some work. According to Bishopp his tract is five hundred thousand acres. It seems too large to believe, but it sounds encouraging and especially since the study comes in our line. He is located in the South-Western part of the state, where the problem is probably that which I have had in mind, and which I intended looking up this summer. If his holdings are this extensive he should be interested sufficiently to offer an inducement for me to do the work in that section, which incidentally is probably less than 100 miles from Miami but nearer the West Coast. If it looks as good as the east coast for living conditions it might be better to locate our station there. I am not going to take you to an out of the way place, Dear, but will locate where I believe you will like it. I’ll tell you all about it before deciding, as I will have quite a bit to say as to where the station will be. I am assuming that there will be one, for that’s what I am going after.

You are going to like Florida, not simply because I am here, but I really believe that it will strike you about right. The amount of work to be done in our line has no limit as far as I can see, and I have no doubt but that we can count on Florida as our permanent home. The southern portion of the state, especially the East coast, is the coming portion and I don’t believe there is a place anywhere which offers the possibilities that this section does. I mean in growth and development. A business lot in Miami sold for twenty-two thousand dollars per front foot a few weeks ago. The highest price ever paid for business property at any place was on 5th Ave. N.Y. and it sold for 25,000 per front foot. Real estate values are higher than in the eastern cities.

The farm land and every other piece of property has increased since last year. The proportions are hardly believable as much of it is selling for several times what it could have been bought for last year. The farmer I told you about who asked $5000 last fall, refuses $10000 now and if he holds it he will get more. His location is off the highways, or it would be worth much more.

I wonder if the boom is one which will have a reaction, but I hardly think so, for the Northern tourists will always come during the winters. This summer the travel on railroads is just as heavy as last winter, and autos can be counted several per hour – all on their way to South Florida before the winter season. Don’t think I am crazy, Dear, as I don’t want it to be too much of a shock when you come down with me. You would then wonder why I hadn’t told you. Our lot at Fulford was bought at the right time and at the right price. I don’t know what it would sell for now, but I sincerely believe that it will be worth at least three times what we bought it at, within two years from now. I intend to familiarize myself with the values when I am down there this summer and may see where I can handle an option or two to good advantage. Your caution would be “don’t be reckless” and Dear, I won’t.

This is getting to be a lengthy letter, so I’ll bring it to a close.

I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I wish for you real often. No one else interests me, and Sweetheart, I feel that I couldn’t get along very well without you. I have never had such a feeling before. I am real glad that we are young enough to feel some of the romance of it, for if we were older we would probably miss much of it.

With a sweet goodnight and all my love,

Your
Walter.

July 24, 1925 (Walter)

Friday Night 7/24.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I am mighty glad that you told me about attending church so much as I wondered about it, but felt that I knew your attitude. You told me just what I expected of you, as I know quite well the circumstances. I had already known your attitude, and also that of Mother Lewis. Please do not misunderstand me, Dear, for I believe the Church to be a necessary institution and I believe in going, though I do not attend regularly. I can easily understand how one assumes responsibilities which practically force them to attend. I believe we understand each other pretty well in this respect as well as in others.

July 24, 1925 (Walter)

July 24, 1925 (Walter)

Dr. White and I are yet working on the manuscript and we expect to have the final copy made Sat. PM. We are leaving for a fishing trip Sat. noon, however, but have arranged to have it typed. He is very conservative and while we are not making many changes, the fact that the arrangement is changed makes it necessary to copy. In a few instances he believes that I should qualify my statements to some extent. The Declaration of Independence was not written with any more care than that paper on creeping eruption. It gets on my nerves sometimes, but I know it is well to be conservative so as to avoid pitfalls.

I’d give anything in the world to see you tonight, Dear, and to try to tell you how much I love you. You are the Dearest in all the world to me and I can’t help but wish for you every hour or so. I pick out girls on the street who are about your size or who have hair similar to yours, and then I tell Dr. White how they compare to you. I haven’t seen any, Dear, who are as beautiful as yourself. If I make my language too sweet, pardon me, but I feel that I can tell my fiancee anything that I have on my mind.

I weighed last evening – 201 lbs. which is about the same as at Uvalde. Mrs. Garrison weighed 130, but she is quite short, and would not seem to be that heavy. If I remember correctly you weighed 124. You are just right, Dear, but I’ll love you regardless of your weight.

I may not have the opportunity to write Sat. & Sun. nights but will do so if I can. We expect to have a real good time.

With all my love, Sweetheart, and with a sweet goodnight, I am,

Your,
Walter.

Seneca Hotel

July 24, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Night.

July 24, 1925

My dearest Walter:

Just a few words before saying goodnight. Mama, Claudelle and I have been enjoying a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Parman, or rather, Mrs. Parman because Mr. Parman was already asleep when we arrived. We had quite a bit of running around to do before going there so it was rather late. It is now after eleven o’clock.

Mrs. Parman spoke of you a number of times during the evening. She told us of receiving a letter from you and she seemed to be very much pleased over it. In fact, she is very much pleased over our affair and especially in the fact that she was the means of bringing about the acquaintance. We are truly grateful to her, aren’t we? This was the first visit we had made them since you left. I couldn’t help but think of how badly I hated to see you leave that last afternoon you and I were there. Everything there to-night reminded me of the pleasant hours we had spent together.

July 24, 1925 (Ina)

July 24, 1925 (Ina)

Mrs. Parman read us part of a letter she had received from Mrs. Laacke (I don’t remember how to spell it). She wrote of your visit with her and how she had enjoyed it. She also seemed to be very much pleased over our engagement. She said she thought you had lived long enough without happiness. The same applied to me too, I suppose. They are not half as “tickled” as we, are they? I like Mrs. Laacke very much. She said she thought her husband had decided never to come home. Mrs. Parman thinks they will be in Reagan Wells until about the middle of August. They are finding lots of work there to do. She also says Mr. Parman is kept very busy. I wish you could have been here that long, in a way, but still I am glad for you to be in Florida so that you can finish there sooner and then come back.

I love you ever so much.

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

Yours always,
Ina.

Saturday Afternoon
July 25, 1925

My dearest Walter:

I am writing you early today as we are leaving at 4:30 for Hondo where we are to go as delegates to a meeting of the Southern Pacific Federation of Leagues. They are going to give us a reception tonight, we are to have several services tomorrow and the Uvalde League is to furnish the Sunday evening program. They appointed me the leader for the evening so I am having a rather hard time trying to find enough to serve on the program so that I will not have a talk to make. The first part of the hour is to be taken up with an Epworth League program as it should not be given, and the latter part with the same subject, same speakers etc. in a program as it should be given. Whether there will be much difference in the two, I don’t know. There are about fifteen Uvalde Leaguers going in cars. I am “chaperoning” several in the Willys-Knight. In fact, I am the only “grown up” going so I suppose I’ll have to behave in order to set a good example.

Honey, do you get tired having me talk League work? If you do, please tell me and I’ll hush. Honestly, I’m not crazy on the subject. When I tell you of where I go and what I do I have to bring it in often because about all the places I go are connected with it. When we are married it will be diferent. My principal interests will be different.

I wonder where you are and what you are doing this afternoon. I know you are busy as can be on something.

I miss you, long for you, think of you and love you all the time.

Love,
Ina.

July 23, 1925 (Walter)

Thursday Night 7/23d

My Dear Sweetheart,

Dr. White and I just returned from the station. We went down with Mr. and Mrs. Garrison to see them off, after having had dinner with them. They seemed to have enjoyed the day here and she wished that they could have spent a week. They took the sight-seeing bus to St. Augustine this morning. Her folks live at Waco Texas. During the war she went to Washington on a job in the War Dept, and there she met her hubby.

July 23, 1925 (Walter)

July 23, 1925 (Walter)

Sometimes I feel that I would like a better income in order to take care of you as I should, and I wonder how this couple get along on his salary as she is not working. He gets about $1400* and I hardly know how they can get along, but they seem to make it OK. When I see them I figure that we will probably get along all right.

We are going fishing Saturday and Dr. KS will drive down the state some on Sunday, so it is possible that I will not have an opportunity to write you Sat or Sunday nights. If I can I certainly will, for I enjoy your letters so much. I look forward to them and when they come I read them several times. While it seems like a long time since I came here, it has been only two weeks tonight. I have been very fortunate to have gotten so many sweet letters from you in that time. Best of all, I have had one from Mother and Daddy Lewis with their consent, and Dear you don’t know how glad I am and how proud I am to have them feel all right about it. It means a lot and I appreciate it. They were real sweet about it, and I guess it is because they know that you and I are congenial and that we really do love one another. I’ll be mighty proud to say “this is my wife,” and I feel that folks will think “how did he do it?”

We went to the city dispensary this afternoon as it was Dr. KS’s afternoon for a skin disease clinic. It was very interesting. There were about four well defined cases of pellagra, and I am glad that I had the opportunity of seeing some. When I see the disease side of medicine and what the practitioner has to do, I feel that I like my work more. At one time I thought I would like to practice medicine but the older I get, the more I like my work in preventive work and medical entomology. Dr. White says that he feels that way about it too.

We will not go to the beach until Tuesday and then we may not get located so as to move on that day. It may be Wednesday before we move. I’ll be glad to get Dr. White started on some laboratory work as I want to get his technique on some phases. He has been criticizing the paper, but it will be published in long form. Dr. KS thinks that it was not necessary, but White is so “dog gone” particular about every sentence that he is going over it very carefully. His arrangement is good but not very different from mine, and sometimes I wonder if his editing is worth the additional work it gives both of us. He is an old bachelor and has some set ideas on doing things. He always treats a disease manuscript in the same say. Even when we go to meals he always likes to go the same way. I hope I won’t be that way to such an extent, for it would annoy you. I’ll try not, Dear, and I’ll try to have you know that I love you with all my heart. You are everything to me and I’ll be mighty happy when I can have you with me always.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

P.S.
I love you.

* Equal to about $18,077 today.

July 23, 1925 (Ina)

Thursday Nite
July 23, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Claudelle, Mama and I have just returned from an Epworth League party given on the roof of the Educational Building and I feel like I have been thru a cyclone. The wind was blowing a regular gale, and, for one time, I would almost have been grateful for bobbed tresses. It was mighty nice and cool up there, and you would hardly have recognized the girl who was running around playing games with the sixteen and seventeen year old boys and girls as the same dignified staid old maid you expect to take “for better or for worse” (as the case may be). Evenings spent like this help pass away the time until you return. It is in the evenings that I miss you most since I am always busy at something during the day, and, although I think of you almost constantly, no matter what I am doing, the time passes more quickly when I am busy.

July 23, 1925 (Ina)

July 23, 1925 (Ina)

Your letter of the 20th came today. Your letter seemed to have a tone of relief about it which I am sure you felt after the clinic was over.

I am sorry your finger is giving you trouble. I hope it is well by now. Don’t try to take everything your patients have. You are not going to take creeping eruption, are you? I hope not. I love you so much and hope that you will always be in perfect health and will not have to suffer in any way. I want you to always enjoy health and happiness.

A few days ago I received a long letter from Mr. Owens (the Sabrial [sp?] ranchman). He sent best wishes for happiness but seems to think that, since things have gone as they have, he never expects to marry. However, I am sure he will after awhile because he will get over this and find a girl whom he thinks is the grandest in the world. I sincerely hope so and hope that he will be as happy as I am already. I couldn’t possibly have loved him as he isn’t the kind I could ever love. I value his friendship highly because it is so honest and true, but I told him a long long time before we quit going together that I could never love him. I didn’t suspect then that it would ever be possible for me to care as much for anyone as I do for you.

No, Honey, your bachelor ways, if you have any, will not worry me. I’ll love you just the same.

Your devoted
Ina.

July 22, 1925

Jacksonville
Wednesday Night 22nd

My Dear Sweetheart,

Didn’t write to you last night as it was quite late when we came in and we were damp from the rain. I usually write to you from downstairs and when I had removed the damp clothes, there was a temptation to go to sleep, rather than to dress and come down again.

It has not rained very much since we arrived and from the standpoint of the clinic I am mighty glad that we started the 10th rather than the 20th. However, I did hate to leave Uvalde and it seems like ages since I have seen you Dear. It would have been equally as difficult to have left there at any other time, and as you said, the sooner I left the sooner I would get back.

July 22, 1925

July 22, 1925

The letter from Mr. & Mrs. Lewis came today and, Sweetheart, you don’t know how much I appreciate it. They were mighty nice and I sincerely hope that I will never give them or yourself an occasion to regret your marriage. I am going to try mighty hard to make you happy and I hope we can have your folks with us enough so that they will know how we get along. I am sure that we are going to get along fine. There isn’t anything to prevent it. I’ll be the happiest man in the world when I have you and a home of our own. I often think of how you would like it down here and I wonder if you will be homesick etc., and while I know it will be trying to be away from your folks yet I can’t help but believe that you will like it here. No doubt the work I will have will be of such a nature that we can go to Uvalde about once a year and I hope that on such visits some of your folks can come back with us and spend a while with us. I am especially anxious that your mother will do this, for it is most difficult for her to be separated from you and I know that she will miss you so much. Of course I want the others to come too, but I believe your Mother will miss you more than either Claudelle or your Daddy.

Tonight, Dr. White and I met the train for Mr. and Mrs. Garrison of Washington. They are a young couple, and he is in our Bureau in Wash. He had been in Quincy on some work and she was down here with him. They are on their way to Washington now, but stopped over to do some sight seeing. He had noticed in the papers that Dr. White and I were here on C.E. so he dropped me a letter. They were especially nice to me last winter and I ate Christmas dinner at their apartment. Mrs. Garrison went to Wash. from Waco and during the winter her sister was with them. I was invited to see them while the sister was there, but I didn’t become interested. I couldn’t help but think of you and wish that I could see you instead.

11:30 PM. They came downstairs for a walk and I have just returned with them. They are going to St. Augustine tomorrow and will probably leave for Wash tomorrow night. You will probably meet them in Wash when we go there and I believe you will like them.

Sweetheart, I did not keep copies of the Kodak pictures as I have others of yourself which I like so much better. I haven’t finished the roll of films in my camera and so have not had the ones of the house developed. As soon as they are finished I’ll send some.

I note what you said about Mrs. H. and E. I haven’t heard anything more from them. When I left Dallas I mailed a Masonic sabre which had belonged to Mr. H and which I sometimes used in lodge. I did not write anything. My mother forwarded a letter which E had written to her, telling how coldly I had treated them and that I did not even see them. She quoted my telegram advising them not to come to Uvalde. There was no other way to do it, and I believe I did the right thing. I know them well enough to know that I couldn’t be courteous. I do not correspond with any one in Aberdeen but I’ll drop some of my friends a line before long, and without mentioning them I am sure that I’ll find out what the story was when they returned.

I love you, Dear, and I often wish for you. Many times everyday. I’ll write Mother Lewis and Daddy in a few days, though I can’t begin to tell them how grateful I am for their consent, good wishes and blessing.

With all my love, Sweetheart, and then some,

Your,
Walter.

A note on the envelope in what appears to be an older Ina’s handwriting says: “Soon after our engagement. Repetition of Mrs. Hulett & Evalyn story.”

July 21, 1925

Tuesday Nite
July 21, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

Claudelle and I have just returned from a hike to the top of the first hill toward town to see the sun set. However, it had already “sat” by the time we arrived. We viewed the landscape o’er and pronounced it very beautiful in spite of the absence of the solar illumination. Since it is Tuesday evening we could also see the fiery cross. We ran a race down the hill, but, thanks to the tight skirts, we were sufficiently hobbled to avoid being arrested for speeding.

July 21, 1925

July 21, 1925

We are having such a fine breeze tonight. No matter how warm the days, we usually do have a cool breeze at night. I am so glad it is so pleasant in Jacksonville. It makes work a lot easier, doesn’t it? You are really fortunate to be escaping some of the days we are having here.

My fountain pen is out of order, and this one I am using is just about the “scratchiest” ever.

I will write you again tomorrow.

I love you so very very much.

Lots of love,
Ina.

Wednesday Nite
July 22, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

It is now ten o’clock and I am thinking of the pleasant reunion we were having a month ago tonight. It was our first date after the return of the prodigal from Kerrville. I shall never forget how terribly I missed you that week. If it had been two months I don’t believe I could have missed you more. I wish we could have another reunion tonight. We are before so many many months, aren’t we? And you are liable to have to be bothered with me for a long long time then. As for me, I am going to be a mighty happy girl then too.

Your letters of the 18th and 19th came today and they made me feel mighty good. They sounded almost like I was talking with you, and you know how well pleased I would be over that.

The case of Dr. Arms was very interesting. I am glad to know about it because we wouldn’t want our case to be so different from all others, would we? I feel sure that ours is going to be like theirs in the respect that he mentioned, because we are both determined never to fuss, aren’t we? We will not have to wait and make it one of our marriage resolutions because we have already made it.

Walter, I appreciate your telling me about your salary although it had never worried me in the least. You are certainly to be congratulated on the salary you are making and I want to tell you again that I am proud of you. I am sure we can be as happy as it is possible for any couple to be – much more so than very wealthy people who only have to express the slightest desire and the luxuries are theirs. They are deprived of the joy of dreaming of and planning for a cozy little home, then working toward it and finally having their dream come true. They can’t possibly get nearly as much genuine pleasure out of it as we can. The more dreams, thoughts, plans and work you have to put into anything, the more you get out of it. Oh, I can hardly wait for the time to come when I can be with you always and we can plan things together. Honey, we are going to be so happy!

I received an invitation today from a girl friend of mine who is going to be married on the fifth of August to a young man with whom she has been going during her two years in a Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth. He has been specializing in some kind of Sunday School work, organization or something.

She is in her thirties and is positively the most consecrated and religious girl I ever met (it is genuine too). I always feel so mean when I’m around her. They say she hesitated a year about consenting to marry him because she felt so unworthy of him. She said he is so good. When I heard it I wondered what sort of an angel he was that Jewel Tate was not worthy of him. She was the young lady I succeeded in the Tax Collector’s office (which certainly doesn’t add anything to her worthiness, however). Nevertheless, she is truly a fine girl and I am glad she is not going to be (or shall I say, remain?) an old maid.

I will write you again tomorrow.

I love you so very very very much.

Always your
Ina.

July 20, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville July 20th

My Dear Sweetheart,

You will note that I call you “sweetheart” whenever I write, for at one time I asked if I might do this and you said “no.” I only wish there were a more expressive way, but I am sure that you know that I love you so much that I simply can’t tell you.

The clinic closed today and the majority of them were out there this morning. I feel somewhat relieved that it is over and now comes the follow up work, which consists on checking up the effectiveness of treatments and making further studies on the cause of the disease. Dr. White says that he has never been connected with a problem as interesting to him as this one and I guess he “enjoys every minute of it.” Strange to say we did not have as many cases from the beach this year, as last season, and before last year Dr. KS thought that the majority of them originated down there. Dr. White has some mighty fine dope on related things which he picked up at Johns Hopkins last spring; and having in mind the problem here he has fortified himself with a lot of facts that I am mighty glad to have.

July 20, 1925 (Walter)

July 20, 1925 (Walter)

If my writing is more scratchy than usual it is due to a bandage on the forefinger. Nothing serious. We have been using a treatment on patients to remove the epidermis or horny layer of the skin and the use during the period of the clinic has affected my index finger in a similar manner. Dr. White has the same trouble. It works and both of us are aware of it.

I guess we will be here during the rest of this week and part of next as we have lots of field work ahead before doing the laboratory tests at the beach. I believe that any letter written after next Sunday should be addressed to Dr. KS’s office, as by that time we will probably locate our laboratory at the beach. Maybe I can give an address down there which will give better service on your letters.

I was much interested in what you said about my letter to your mother and Daddy. Mother Lewis seems to be quite a tease, and not so much of a “matter of fact” girl as yourself. However, I love you just that way for I always know just what you mean. You don’t know how glad I am that your folks feel all right toward me, and Dear, as I promised them I am going to try to do my part and make you happy. If you were only here now, I would be the happiest man in the world. I mean every word of it. You are so sweet.

I note what you say about your chum. Incidentally I like the idea of using her maiden name as a middle name after marriage. If you like it too, I think it would be fine to have yours Ina Lewis Dove. Just as you want to, Dear, as the main idea is to have you as a wife and companion.

I am not surprised that the partnership with another family did not terminate well. This is often the case and does not reflect on either family. A house is not large enough for two families.

You have been mighty sweet to write me so often Sweetheart, and I appreciate your efforts. I know that it is rather inconvenient to get them posted so often and I had no idea I would be favored so nicely in this manner. They are always just right and I, too, read them over and over. I always get a kick out of reading them. Only wish I could hear you say such things and that I could hug real hard when you did say them.

With all my love, Honey Bunch, and with a sweet goodnight, I am,

Yours,
Walter.