Monthly Archives: August 2011

August 7, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Afternoon.

Aug. 7, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Now, don’t you feel good when you do get a letter? And especially so if you get two letters and your mother and Dad get one too? That was my experience yesterday afternoon and I was so happy over it. I knew you had some perfectly good reason for not writing before.

I enjoyed the description of your new house, new landlady etc. I am mighty glad you have found such a pleasant place to stay. It all “made my mouth water” and I am sure I would like and enjoy it. Take a dip in the surf for me, will you? Yes, we are going to be so happy in Florida. I know I shall like it, and, best of all, I can be with you. Sweetheart, I surely do love you.

August 7, 1925 (Ina)

August 7, 1925 (Ina)

I am so glad for you that Dr. White finally consented to part with the manuscript. I suppose he has to bestow his affections upon something, so he seems to have showered them generously upon it. Yes, I judge that his wife would certainly need the sympathy of her many friends if he continued in his old maidish ways.

No, Sweetheart, I know you are not ego-tistical, and I am so glad you tell me the situation as you do. I understand and appreciate your motive in telling me, and you may rest assured that I will not misunderstand and feel that you are flattering yourself. I am proud of you and love to hear of the progress you are making. In fact, I would feel badly if you didn’t tell me about your work etc. I am looking forward to the time when we can be together all the time and can discuss it more freely.

Mama and Papa appreciated the letter you wrote them. I am so glad that everything is coming out so nicely. They like you so much. (I don’t see how they could help it), and we are going to be so happy, aren’t we?

I must dress to go down town now.

Lots of love from

Your
Ina.

August 6, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla
Thursday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Another day and I have not had a letter, but I feel sure that they were not forwarded from Dr KS office until late and I’ll probably get two when they come tomorrow. If you didn’t write, I’ll love you just the same.

This afternoon there was quite a crowd in the water as the stores closed as usual and allowed the clerks a half holiday. It is quite a different crowd from those coming Saturday afternoons. We went in the surf just before noon as Dr. White thought it would not be so chilly when we came out. It was quite warm (the air) and my back feels as though I have a pretty good sun-burn. I hope he feels about the same way, as he needs something to take a little conceit out of him. I have a mighty hard time to keep him steered right in this work, and I think I put it over pretty good this afternoon. He wants to work with some crabs which burrow along the beach, believing that they might be the host of our parasite causing creeping eruption. It is about the most foolish thing a person could do, as lots and lots of our cases originated on the interior where there are no possible chances that they could be concerned. I told him that what I needed of him was some technique in preparing the slides for identification and that if he would do this I would feel grateful. I have worked up the epidemiology of the cases so that I have a very good idea as to what animals we should test, and I have told him in plain English that he didn’t know anything about it. If my work is not to be regarded, he can have the problem when I am through. He was asked to come down but not to take charge, and in a polite way I told him that I had “my problem” pretty well in hand. I always welcome suggestions, but he will have to “snap out” of the idea that he knows so much about this particular problem. If he doesn’t make a move to return to Wash before long, I will probably make my trip down the state while he is here and then work this when I come back. It is a certain thing that he will not get anywhere if he takes his way in doing it. No wonder he said it would take 20 years. I don’t mean to burden you with this, Dear, but I feel that I should tell you everything that concerns me. Here’s hoping that I will not be so set in my ways that I will bore you.

August 6, 1925

August 6, 1925

K.S. was quicker to give an opinion than I was and I believe he was about right. He says don’t let him be so dogmatic, for it is not his problem. I can’t ask him to leave, but if he does not change his tactics I may tell him that about the best thing he can do is to return to Wash. He feels that I want to keep on the good side of him on account of possibilities in future work, but I don’t believe I want to work with such a slow man again.

I love you, Dear, and if you only knew how much, I’d be happy. I wish with all my power that I could have you with me now.

With a big hug and real sweet kiss

Always your
Walter.

August 5, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach Fla
Wednesday Nite 8/5.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I did not get a letter today and I presume that it was not forwarded from Dr. KS office. The girl probably held the mail until this afternoon to see if one of us came into the city. We have been busy today but it doesn’t seem like we have accomplished anything. Dr. White is so slow that I am about all in before he gets alive. I never worked with anyone who is so slow and lots of times he wants to follow up a lead which I worked my head over last summer. I tell him that I had that idea a year ago, but it led to a blind alley. Between us I’ll be glad when his time is out. He could be of a great deal of help, but he is so slow that I could look up the information about as easy. In other ways he is too much like an old maid, and can’t see any thing except his own way. I try to meet him more than half way and usually give in on most things for in a way I feel that he is a guest of mine. He is mighty finicky and like most of the men in Washington, he will let the other fellow do it. I told him that I thought he was right when he said it would take a long time to find the host of the parasite causing creeping eruption and that I didn’t believe that we would find it while he was here, but that I was going to work it out this summer. I meant it and I also told him that it would not be necessary to get a Harvard or Hopkins man on it. I did this so that he will not make any other suggestions to his Hopkins friend Sandground. I didn’t like this in Dr. White and I am mighty glad that K.S. told him that I could work it out without any assistance. Thus far, I can’t say that I have profited by Dr. White’s presence. Instead, he has hindered the work. I am mighty careful that I don’t get tied up with winter work with him, for when he leaves me this summer he and I are going to be through working together. I might send material to him but I don’t intend to work with him again. I should not tell you my troubles, Dear, for you are always so sweet about everything but I wanted you to know. I won’t cross the old man in an argument but I will let him know how I feel.

August 5, 1925 (Walter)

August 5, 1925 (Walter)

This is when I need you most, Dear, not that I want to burden you with my troubles but if I could only be with you I could forget the others and just love you. You are the dearest little girl in the world and I wish for you real often. It would not be very home like for you to be here now, but if you were here I’d arrange for a better place for you.

I love you with all my heart, Dear, and I am looking forward to that time, the happiest moment of my life, when you say “sure,” or “you bet” or “I do.”

Yours always,
Walter

August 5, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Night.
Aug. 5, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Again I say, “don’t you feel funny when you don’t get a letter!” I had that sensation again this afternoon when I opened the box and there was none. I suppose you are too busy to write. I am sure you still love me, but I will be mighty glad to get a letter. The last one I received was written a week ago tomorrow night. I like letters.

August 5, 1925 (Ina)

August 5, 1925 (Ina)

Well, I went to Jewel Tate’s wedding this afternoon at five. It took place at her home and there was quite a crowd there. Yes, the groom was there and I really like his looks. He looks human and hasn’t that hands-clasped-eyes-cast-heavenward look that I was afraid Jewel’s husband would have. It was a very simple wedding – no attendants – and, honestly, it is hard for me to believe that it is legal – the minister omitted so many of the “I do’s” and “I will’s.” Why, they hardly had time to get in the room before he pronounced them man and wife. It surely doesn’t take long to do it up for a life time. However, the brevity of the ceremony suits me. There was a short reception afterwards, and then they left in their car for their home in Plainview, Texas. Sweetheart, all during the ceremony I was thinking of how happy I will be when you and I stand at the altar and take those solemn vows. But there was something about it that I didn’t exactly like, and I don’t know exactly what it was. After the ceremony was over, there was an awkward pause, and throughout the reception that spirit seemed to prevail. The majority of the guests didn’t seem to be enjoying it much and finally I think they all left before the bride and groom did. There were only a few left when it dawned upon me that perhaps I had better leave too. Rice, old shoes etc. were not even hinted by anyone. Of course brides and grooms don’t like to be the victims of too much of this, but I think half the fun is in trying to escape it. It doesn’t seem like a real wedding if there are not some young people around who are trying to plan and carry out some mischief. I didn’t feel like doing it all by myself so I didn’t mention it.

No, I don’t know how to prepare shrimp. I am glad you are taking notes so that you can tell me how. I am sure you all enjoyed the fishing. It was good recreation after a day’s work.

Thursday Afternoon.

Dearest Walter:

Just to tell you that I still love you and I am sending this letter to the post office with the prayer that I may get a letter this afternoon. If I don’t –! I guess I’ll write you again tonight.

Love,
Ina.

August 4, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Tuesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

You don’t know how much I have wished for you this evening. Dr. White and I went in the surf for about an hour and the water was just right. Last night we went in after dinner but tonight we went in before eating. I think both of us enjoyed about every minute of it. He seems to be thriving on the Florida weather and gains steadily. I am holding my own with about 200. The work is getting started, and this month will probably be a very interesting one. If you were here with me, it would be ideal.

August 4, 1925

August 4, 1925

I have watched the same moon during the past few evenings and thought of you, and wondered if you were looking at it too.

The cottage we have looks a great deal like the one Mr. Brundrette had at Regan Wells and is a little bit larger. Has two front rooms, and one rear room as a kitchen & dining room. We use the porch and garage as a laboratory and sleep in the front rooms. The lady has a bed in the dining room. As she works at a cafeteria, there is no cooking here. We are now using the ice box for drinking water, as the beach water tastes of sulphur.

I don’t know how this cottage would strike you as it isn’t much for looks, but it is convenient to the surf and has running water and electric lights. It is much better than Reagan Wells. It would be a dandy place for a honeymoon, but maybe you like a little more excitement. I didn’t have in mind spending our honeymoon here, but I always think of our whole married life as a honey-moon and can’t help but wonder how different things will appeal to you.

Your letter was received when I was in Jax this morning. I took the 7 o’clock train and returned at 3. It is 17 miles from here.

I have your photos on the dresser in front of me. I am beginning to like the standing one, enlarged from a Kodak one, real well. It looks like you when you met me on the porch last month. I have some mighty good mental pictures of you at that time and I use them often. You are a wonderful little girl and I love you with all my heart. When I can be with you always I’ll be the happiest man in the world. More and more I do realize that you do love me, and Dear, you can bet that I am true to you. Not a single date of any kind except the evening I called on Mrs. Gallagher & then I talked of you most of the time.

With a real big hug and a goodnight kiss, I am,

Always,
Your devoted,
Walter.

P.S. I love you lots and lots and lots and then some.