Tag Archives: travel

October 14, 1925 (Walter)

Hotel Vereen, Miami, Fla.
Wednesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Excuse this stationery but the hotel is so new that they have not yet obtained their stationery. It is a pretty nice place and incidentally has some pretty fancy prices. Everything is about three prices (sic) here  and I only hope that the Fulford lot is in accordance with everything else. I drove by the addition tonight but it was getting dark and I could not tell much about it from the Dixie Highway. I did note that the entrance had a pretty attractive front and that there were a couple of business places at the entrance. The ground work seems to be in progress for the 500 room hotel. Since I was down here last fall new additions have opened all along the Dixie between W. Palm Beach and Miami, a distance of 72 miles. I stopped at one filling station where there was no development and asked what he was holding his acreage for. Said he had sold 15 acres lying between the railroad & Dixie for $60,000 and that he believed he could have gotten more had he sold it to a speculator. This 15 is to be developed and he figures that he could afford to sell for less, due to the fact that the development would increase the value of the other acreage across the Dixie. He bought it 11 years ago and at a point about half way between W.P. Beach and Miami. It is located about 4 miles of Fort Lauderdale which was the only developed town. It is difficult to conceive of the enormous developments taking place and of the amounts of money changing hands. I am not buying anything this time except a room for the night, meals, gas & oil. I’ll be here one night only and will drive back and do some work near W.P. Beach for a few days. Prices are about the same up there. Within another year I believe Jax will be the same way and here’s hoping that our high and dry acreage up there will net us something. I’ll write you about Fulford tomorrow night.

October 14, 1925 (Walter)

October 14, 1925 (Walter)

Mrs. McDonald came to W.P. Beach with me and is with her husband there. I am driving her car.

With worlds of love, Dear, I am,

Your
Walter.

October 12, 1925 (Walter)

Monday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I was quite busy yesterday and last night, and before I realized it the time had slipped by. I expect to get everything in shape today so that I can leave tomorrow A.M.

October 12, 1925 (Walter)

October 12, 1925 (Walter)

Will go to St. Augustine for a little stop but it will not take long there, probably an hour or two.

This is only a note, Dear, but I wanted you to know that I was thinking of you.

I’ll write as often as I can while on this trip and I hope I’ll have some letters waiting for me at Caxambas.

I love you in the same way and more than I can tell you.

Your
Walter

October 11, 1925

Sunday A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was late before I realized it last night, and the result is that I waited until this morning to write to my little girl. I have just had breakfast and I feel better.

For the past 24 hours or more it has been pretty cold here. The coast storm from the New England states struck here early yesterday morning, but it was more of a cold wave than a storm.

October 11, 1925

October 11, 1925

At 4 o’clock in the morning I woke up cold and while pulling down the windows, closing the doors, and getting some blankets, I noticed that most of the houses in the neighborhood were also lighted. It was cold all day yesterday, too cold to work on the porch and use a microscope. I moved inside and most of the day I was busy getting material together for the trip and also some ready for shipment to Washington. You see I had a lot of extra stuff here on account of Dr. White, so I am returning a shipment of books, one microscope and some other things. He is still working on the nematode material and is spending most of his time at Johns Hopkins with them. The fact that it is a new one and occurs where CE does, makes it very interesting to him. But it isn’t the one we are looking for, and my interest wanes when I convince myself of that much.

It is possible that I am not working on the right one either, but I know that I am much closer than we were this summer.

I realize, Dear, that it will be necessary to give you some time for arrangements of the wedding. We will not present a report at the Southern Med Meeting at Dallas, and as I should be in Jax during the state fair, it would be well to figure that we should have it after the fair. It runs one week and during the middle of November. The latter part of November or anytime in December would be OK so far as I can tell. Where would you like to spend Christmas? Would you like to be at your home, with my folks or in Dallas?

Must get busy now, Sweetheart, for I have lots to do. I plan on leaving here Tuesday morning for my trip down the state.

With all my love, Dear, I am

Your own
Walter.

October 7, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach, Wed Nite,

My Dear Sweetheart,

I went to town this morning for a little while. My landlady, Mrs. McDonald, started to work up there today and as she is going to rent me her car to make the trip down the state, I drove to Jax and brought the car back. She is very accomodating, considering the fact that she never lets anyone have her auto.

October 7, 1925 (Walter)

October 7, 1925 (Walter)

It will give me a better chance to do some work down the state and will probably be about as reasonable as if I took the train. I would have to rent a car if I did go by train, and the short trips count up. I have not yet made up my routing, nor have I started to get together what I will need. My work always gives me plenty to do and it is going to be mighty difficult to break away from it long enough to make the trip.

I have no news for you, Dear, except that I love you the same whole hearted way and that I wish for you real often.

With a hug and a sweet goodnight,

Your,
Walter.

In a separate envelope posted the same day, Walter sent this full-page newspaper ad.

Jacksonville Heights Ad, 1925

Jacksonville Heights Ad, 1925

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

Tuesday A.M. Oct 6th.

My Dear Sweetheart,

This morning I received two letters from you and also last night another one came. It made me feel that I had been mean for I did not write to you yesterday. Went to Jax early in the morning and was up there all day. It was getting late when I came back. This A.M. I had a note from Dr. KS that the County Med Society met tonight and that he was on the program. I am going up this afternoon and attend the meeting with him. Will then spend the night at his home with them and will return tomorrow A.M. Dear, I have a lot of work to do and when the letters are short or when I miss a day I hope you will know that I love you just the same. Since I started this I phoned Dr. K.S. that I have no new dope to give out at this time and that I’d like to skip this meeting. He will show the slides used at New Orleans last fall and also at Atlantic City this Spring. His talk will be what was given at those meetings. I am sure that he will mention my work in a creditable manner, as he always gives me a lot of credit and some that I do not deserve.

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

October 6, 1925 (Walter)

I am trying to get away for the southern part of the state this week. It takes a lot to get my work in shape as I cannot leave it with anyone. My landlady here is going to work in Jax and I may be able to rent her auto for the trip. It would be fine if I could, and I am in hopes that I can get it. Can accomplish more if I drive, and I want to study conditions outside as much as possible. Your letters addressed here will be forwarded to me. When you write Sunday, it might be well to address them to Caxambas, Fla, General Delivery, and to mark the envelope Hold. I’ll be at Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Fulford, Miami too, but I won’t spend so much time at those places and will not have any mail sent to them.

It was sweet of Thelma Lee to write to me. I’ll write to her before long. I am pretty busy and I wish you would tell her.

You are just as sweet as you can be Dear and I love you with all my heart.

Your
Walter.

September 1, 1925

Tuesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I left Dr. White at the pier and as he has not yet come home I imagine that he is dancing. He likes to dance and I hope he is having a good time. I have to go to Jax again tomorrow morning, and I’ll take the early train. This will make it possible for me to get back at 3 o’clock and I’ll have time to check over some work before night.

We have been fairly busy today and it looks as though I am going to have plenty to keep me busy until the middle of the month. I told my landlady today that I would be here that long and that after I returned from down the state I would be here some more. She says that she may be here all winter herself, in which event I guess I’ll continue to have a housekeeper until I come for you. I had rather expected that I’d have to be here alone for awhile.

September 1, 1925

September 1, 1925

I have no news, Dear, and I am writing as usual just to tell you that I love you as much as ever and that means as much as it is possible for one person to love another. I don’t know what I’d ever do if something happened between our love, Dear, as I certainly do love you.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

August 22, 1925

Saturday Night,

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was a little late when I came home last night and Dr. White was asleep. I gave the letter from Atlantic Beach to a trainman (flagman) and he promised to post it in Jax, so if that one seems to come thru a little quicker that probably accounts for it.

This afternoon the little boy across the street, Betha Hill, 14, and I went hunting. He has been helping me trap since I have been down here, but works every week day with his father (a plumber), so we had to plan the hunting on Sat PM when he was not working. His father went with us in their Ford, and we drove about twelve miles south, to what is known as Palm Valley. There were palms in the valley and palmettos too, but there was no town. The roads were very narrow and crooked. We did not find anything to shoot, but killed the afternoon and had a good time. It was the first time I had been south of the beach here and I was interested in the country. We had quite a little experience in coming back, as we found a high tide and with about five miles driving on it. We were either driving in soft sand or in the water. It wasn’t funny, as there was a northeastern wind beginning which carried the water pretty high. At one time it got into the carburetor and killed the engine. It was getting rougher all the time and we felt fortunate that we got off the beach when we did. It is blowing pretty hard now and I have been told that the “North Easternsers” usually continue for 3, 6 or 9 days at about the same speed. Since it is over I am glad that I have had the experience on the beach during a high tide as I will be cautious when you are with me. It is hardly possible that a person could drown as the water is not deep, but it would be disagreeable to experience. Besides, you might get your “Sunday dress” wet with salt water. (Remember what Thelma Lee said about my “good pants” when you and I were caught in the rain).

August 22, 1925

August 22, 1925

The day has passed rather quickly, but I miss your letter. The post office had closed when we got back tonight so I have it to look forward to for tomorrow. Wish I could see you instead. I’d hug you so hard. I certainly do love you, Sweetheart, and I hope we will always feel the same as we do now.

I had a mighty nice letter from a Mr. Roy Watson of Caxambas a few days ago. He had written to Dr. Howard and his letter had been given to Mr. Bishopp. I wrote to him to find out the nature of his trouble and he came back with a long letter. What is known as “sand flies” which are small biting gnats are of considerable annoyance on the southwest coast. I am planning to spend at least two weeks with him when I go down the state. I would prefer to work on these, before you are with me in Florida, as I do not care to be located where they are going to bite you and I. You can bet that I am thinking of you, and I want to be able to locate where we will not be troubled in that way.

I love you, Honey, and I want you. With a sweet goodnight, I am,

Always your,
Walter

August 21, 1925

Friday Night

My Dear Sweetheart,

This is only a few miles north of our place on the beach, but I let the train get by this afternoon and I am here until about 11 o’clock tonight. To amuse myself I went in the surf and then had a very good dinner. This is probably a more desirable place to live than Jax Beach, but there is nothing here except the hotel and residences along the beach. It is more exclusive. For our work, Jax Beach is better but I had one severe case to originate up here and I have been working here some. When you come down I’ll bring you here and tell you all about it.

August 21, 1925

August 21, 1925

I did not have a letter from you this noon, but I feel quite sure that there will be one for me tomorrow. Dr. White did not come up with me this afternoon. It seems rather good to be away from him for a little while. This is one of the few times I have been away from him since he has been down here. I am looking forward to his departure with more or less pleasure. May be I shouldn’t feel this way, but the idea with him is to take all the credit he can get. This comes out every now and then. If the thing we are working on does not prove to be the right thing I am going to suggest that he take the infected animals to Washington with him and work up the dope for an article on it. Further studies I’ll do by myself and I’ll then publish by myself on them, leaving his name out of the authorship. If it does not cause creeping eruption the thing we are searching for, I’d gladly let him have it to publish on by himself.

I love you, Dear, and I want you to know it.

With a sweet goodnight, Dear, I am,

Always your
Walter

August 20, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla,

Thursday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It came at noon today. A mighty good one too. It certainly seems longer than six weeks to me since I left Uvalde and I agree with you that it has seemed to be about six months. It was real sweet of you to say that the early portion of November would suit you, or either before or after the Dallas meeting. Don’t let me do the suggesting on the date, Dear, for you have a perfect right to set the time which suits you best. I mentioned it as a possibility only, and I want you to know that I feel that this is a matter for you to decide and you can have it when you want it. I’ll gladly tell you as far in advance as it is possible, what time would seem to fit in as convenient, and you can set the time you want. I consider that the question of the date should be the girl’s privilege. I certainly don’t want to be old maidish enough to want the say so on everything, for I have been experiencing some of this with my co-worker. I have made some pledges to myself that I am going to try and not be that way, especially with you.

August 20, 1925

August 20, 1925

One reason why I suggested about the trunk was on account of the possibility of coming direct to Florida and in which event there would be little use for one. I don’t intend to do an awful lot of traveling, but I do want you with me when I have some to do. Most of it will probably be in the state so that we really wouldn’t need one. It seems that I have an awful lot of luggage as it is, and I sometimes wonder where we will find attic and closet room for a lot of it. I agree with you in that trunks are not ornamental.

I am posting a letter to Texas for Dr. White tonight in which he tells them that he expects to leave about the latter part of the month. I can’t say that he has helped very much, but the fact that he was here and is an MD adds some prestige. I don’t expect to have him down here with me again, nor any other person showing symptoms of laziness and eagerness to get in on the credit end of the problem. We haven’t pushed the problem ahead any, and what we have done has been more of a confirmation of some of my results down here last spring and at Dallas just after that. The laboratory technique from Johns Hopkins was about the same as what I picked up in literature while in Washington. When he leaves, I’ll have the thing to work out. I expect to go down the state about the same time that he leaves, and after about a month down there I’ll probably pick up the problem here and push it. I think I can get Mr. Bishopp to consent to my staying with it all winter and spring. I believe this is the thing to do. We have some animals infected, or at least we hope they are infected but we have not been able to produce creeping eruption with the infection. Possibly, we haven’t tried the right stages and maybe we have not made the conditions just right. It looks as though we have the right thing, but it remains to be seen. It looks like the same thing I worked with during the spring.

It is getting late, Dear, and I am going down town so that this will get off on the early train tomorrow A.M.

I love you Sweetheart and I’d give most anything if I could hug you real hard right now.

Good night, Dear, and sweet dreams.

Always your,
Walter.

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