Author Archives: Alan

September 25, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach
Friday Night 9/26*.

My Dear Sweetheart,

The dream was interesting. If you should find a church social when we go to see my folks, it is almost certain that you will meet everybody and then some more. Since I have been away there are quite a few strangers to me who have moved there.

September 25, 1925 (Walter)

September 25, 1925 (Walter)

If Thelma and Reitha keep bringing cats to your home perhaps they will have to start a new series of names when they have used the hours of the day. Maybe it would be well to start on the days of the week. I think Friday would be such a lovely name for a cat. If he had this name, it would be well not to feed him meat, unless it was a K.K.K. Kat**.

My landlady is curious to know when I am going down the state. She is planning to leave soon and will be gone all winter. I’ll store everything except what I take with me, and will continue the work here after I have returned. It is so interesting that I do not like to leave it.

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

Always your
Walter

* I’m assuming he means Friday, 25 September 1925.
** I don’t get it either. If any readers understand this joke please post a comment.

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

Friday Night
Sept. 25, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I did get it – the “sleepy” letter, you know. I was mighty glad to have it too, because I hadn’t “heard your voice” in two days. ‘Twas music to my ears again.

I know you were thoroughly tired out and sleepy when you wrote Monday, and I can imagine the sweet sleep you enjoyed that night. Your account of the trip was interesting, and I would consider myself quite a fisherman if I could catch as many fish as you did. One is all that I have caught in my whole life, and it was such a small perch that it would really be cruel to even use it for bait. There is quite an art in fishing and I hope I can learn it sometime, but I will have to start with my A B C’s. Dr. K.S. certainly seems to have it down to perfection. It just seems natural with some people. You promised to teach me, didn’t you?

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

September 25, 1925 (Ina)

It was too bad about Dr. Ransom’s death. Yes, you told me of him when you were here. Dr. White is a very faithful correspondent. You seem to have made a mighty good friend of him, and I think it’s nice, especially as he tried your patience so much during his stay with you. It speaks well for your disposition and tact to be able to retain his friendship during such trying circumstances. Besides the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing that you still have him as a friend, you may derive a material benefit from it. No doubt he will use his influence in helping you when he has an opportunity to speak a good word. We hope he does, don’t we? Every little bit counts, you know.

I love you an awful lot tonight, Dear. I never love you less, and it seems like I love you more all the time. Here’s looking forward to the time when I can be with you always. My! but that will be fine.

Lovingly, your
Ina.

September 24, 1925 (Walter)

Friday Night, 9/25*.

My Dear Sweetheart,

No letter tonight but I have been favored so well with them that I have no complaint at all. You have been real sweet to write so often. I am a bit lonesome now, and while I do not notice it so much during the day, when I am real busy, I wish for you at meal time and in the evenings. Usually, the pier is my hanging out place just after supper for about a half hour. It is cool out there and to watch the cars pass and the bathers enjoy the surf makes a restful pass time. They don’t dance every night now, but only about twice a week. There are fewer people in the surf than during the season.

September 24, 1925 (Walter)

September 24, 1925 (Walter)

It seems ages since I saw you and I”ll be a happy human when I can see you again. I love you, Dear, and sometime you will know how very much for I cannot express it in words.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

* This seems to be the letter from the 24th.

September 24, 1925 (Ina)

Thursday Nite
Sept. 24, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Third time is a charm. Maybe if I write this one tonight, I can mail the three tomorrow. We intended going down town this morning, but, just at daybreak, it started raining and kept it up until late this afternoon. It was then too muddy to drive down town. I am sorry you will have to miss a few days getting your letter, but you understand how it is.

September 24, 1925 (Ina)

September 24, 1925 (Ina)

I can hardly wait until tomorrow for a letter from you, but I am going to thoroughly enjoy it when it does come. Had it not been for wanting to post the letters to you, I would not have wanted to go down town until tomorrow because I would not have to experience that “sinking” feeling that I always have when I look in the box and there is no letter from you. Of course you understand, Dear, that I know why you didn’t write, and I surely didn’t expect you to – I wouldn’t either under the circumstances – but it just shows that I value your letter so highly that I can’t keep down that feeling of disappointment when I look into an empty box.

I love you, Sweetheart, with the tenderest, truest and most eternal love.

Always, your
Ina.

September 23, 1925 (Walter)

Same Place
Wednesday Night 9/23-’25

My Dear Little Girl,

Two letters tonight, Dear, Sat nite and Sun nite. Good ones, too. You certainly are sweet in writing me so regularly and you can bet that I enjoy them. Makes me feel that I have been mean toward you in not having written on Sat or Sunday, and that you went to church four times Sun while I went fishing.

September 23, 1925 (Walter)

September 23, 1925 (Walter)

I am glad to have an expression from you on our investments and had you been here I would have talked it over with you. I want to do this, Dear, when we are maried for you have some mighty good ideas and we can use them. The tracts are just open cut over pine land with a few palmettos growing, but they are high and dry and I believe that by spring they will sell for $300 per acre. If so, that would be a good time to turn them.

The surf was fine tonight but I was alone and I did not stay in very long. Had you been with me we probably would have played in the water much longer. Then, when we came out we would have enjoyed dinner. There are not very many people down at the beach now except the residents, but the water is warm and just right.

I was interested to know that Claudelle was taking shorthand. That is fine and good judgement on her part, for she will have plenty of time to find her other half.

I have no news for you except that I have been busy with a microscope all day. Am finishing some of the tests we started when Dr. White was here. I am in no hurry to go down the state as I have more than I can do right here and I want to know whether we are going to be in Florida this winter before I start down there.

Dear, if I could only be with you tonight may be I could give you somewhat of an idea of how much I really love you. I’ll be so happy with you that I won’t know enough to try and make you comfortable.

With a sweet goodnight and a real big hug,

Your,
Walter.

September 23, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Night.
Sept. 23, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

Since in your yesterday’s letter you said I would not get a letter today, none of us went down town today. We will go down in the morning rather early so I think you will receive this one on the same day that you would have had it been mailed late this evening. I missed your letter, Dear, but don’t blame you in the least for not writing. I have thought of you lots and lots during the day just the same.

September 23, 1925 (Ina)

September 23, 1925 (Ina)

We have all been busy today. Papa is repapering two of the bedrooms and the bathroom, Mama is as busy as a bee all day as usual, and I have cooked some, washed dishes, cleaned house, almost made a dress and capped it all by mowing the lawn. Now, I would have put that “mowing the lawn” in Capital letters, but you know almost as well as I do how “enormous” our lawn is. It is some larger than it was when you were here, but it doesn’t cover all the yard yet. I don’t know what it needs – real honest-to-goodness rain though I suppose.

It is getting late now – almost eight thirty, so I must “catch up”?? with some sleep (that I lost last June).

Goodnight and sweet dreams.

I still love you and love you and then – I love you some more.

Yours, always,
Ina.

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach 9/22
Tuesday Nite.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Two real good letters from you today and an enclosure of Claudelle’s. I enjoyed hers too. I wonder how she happened to say “Mother” during the past few weeks. Is it because I say Mother Lewis and she wants to tease? I am sure that Mother Lewis does not care or she would have objected before now.

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

September 22, 1925 (Walter)

I went to Jax for a little while today. There is so much to be worked that it will keep me pretty busy. However, I am going to stay with it until I hear from Mr. B as to how long I am to be in Fla. I’d like to know before I go down the state. Had a letter from him yesterday and he did not mention the Dallas work. Evidently he had not heard from Dr. Hunter. He seemed to be pleased with Dr. Riley’s (University of Minnesota) letter of congratulations on the findings of last season, for he said “It is pleasing to note that he agrees with me and many others in considering the work you have done in Florida of a very distinct value.” Bish does not pin on any bouquets. Dr. Hunter’s comment was that it was “a good constructive piece of work.” Dr. Cort of Johns Hopkins said that it was the greatest contribution in human helminthology that had been made for a long time. He told Dr. White this. But all of this has not yet increased my check any, though Dr. White told me that he knew that Bish had made the recommendation. Sometimes they are slow in going through and are apt to be dated back when they are received. You and I can use the increase very nicely and here’s hoping that it is effective pretty soon. I have not asked for a raise, but if I don’t hear something I may remind Bish of it. He has always been very fine to me and I am sure that he will do what he can. Anyway, we are not going to starve or go hungry.

There are some good prospects of our acreage increasing in value. The remaining tracts, which are only a few, are selling at $100 per acre now. The same company are buying beyond our tracts and they are going to ask $200 for them when the “snow birds” come down. At that rate, ours should see $300 by Spring. This would make a nice little profit, considering the small amount invested. We can use the money, and when any dollars are rolling our way I hope we can stop them.

I love you, Dear, more than I can tell you. With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

September 22, 1925 (Ina)

Tuesday Night.
Sept. 22, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Your “just before fishing” letter came today and I enjoyed it lots even though it did happen to be a short one. I am sure you and Dr. K.S. enjoyed your fishing trip. I think it is good for you to go off and leave your owrk for an outing like that once in a while. It doesn’t pay to stick too closely to work all the time, even though we sometimes feel we shouldn’t leave it, because we often save a great deal of time by forgetting it for a while in a trip out in the country and then returning with renewed energy and refreshed mind to take it up again with greater ability than we would have had if we had plodded along almost to the extent of nervous prostration. In the office I have often worked and puzzled and figured for hours and hours on one particular phase of the work, finally striking a “stump” that seemed so difficult while I was in that exhausted state of mind that I felt it would be impossible to solve it. However, if I would take a walk to the post office or even take up a new line of work that was not so difficult, I could soon return to the original problem and solve it almost immediately. It is the same way with sewing or anything. There is no doubt but that recreation is a time saver when not indulged in to excess, and I certainly know you don’t do that, Dear.

September 22, 1925 (Ina)

September 22, 1925 (Ina)

I was interested in what you said about Dr. White’s letter and our engagement. Since you mentioned it I believe Mr. Webb was the one who was here with Dr. Hunter. Mrs. Parman told me his name in a conversation we had over the ‘phone after they left, and, as well as I remember, that was the name. She told me that she had told Dr. Hunter of our engagement, and that he had said you were a “fine fellow.” No doubt Mr. Webb was present when she told him.

Sweetheart, would it shock you so terribly much if I were to tell you right here and now that I loved you? Prepare for it, ’cause I do love you. You have first place in the heart of

Your own loving
Ina.

September 21, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach. Monday 9/21

My Dear Sweetheart,

I came back this afternoon and of course I went to the Post Office the very first thing. There were two real good letters from you. Was getting hungry for them too, despite the fact that I am pretty sleepy now.

September 21, 1925 (Walter)

September 21, 1925 (Walter)

It was about 11 o’clock Sat. Night when we arrived at Orange Springs, about 100 miles from Jax. Then we found a Negro to row the boat, and early the next morning we started. Did not go upstream as we had planned as there was nothing to pull us up there. So we drifted down about 12 miles by water and then had a man to drive down for us. It was about a four mile drive & it had to be made with a one-horse wagon. It was slow enough in getting back. I really caught 3 this time, about 3 to 5 lbs. bass. Dr. K.S. caught about 12 bass, 1 cat fish weighing about 8 or 9 lbs., 1 pickerell & several brim (a variety of perch). We had a good time but we were about worn out when we returned to his home about 1:30 this AM. Mrs. KS had gone to the beach with some folks and on account of car trouble had not returned. There were a number of the neighbor children at his home asleep on the floor of the living room. They had been left with Elizabeth and all had gone asleep. The parents returned about 2 or 2:15 A.M.

This morning (a few hours later) after having had breakfast with Dr. KS at home, I used his car for a little work near Jax. Incidentally, I drove by the recent purchases and looked at the 10 acre tracts again. They look mighty good. A new grade has been made on a road leading from the paved road to a point below these tracts, leaving about 1 1/4 miles of unimproved road leading to them. They can be driven over with a car – some pine bushes and palmetto, but no real big trees.

Had two letters from Dr. White today. One enclosed clippings giving an account of Dr. Ransom’s death. You probably remember that I mentioned Dr. Ransom when I was in Uvalde. We had planned to invite him down here when the time was ripe, but had not reached the point of asking him. He was one of the very best research men in the Dept.

I am going to mail this tonight so that it will go on the early train to Jax. It has been two days since I have written to you and I am anxious to get this one going. If it had been possible I would have written you while on the trip, but Dear, it was practically impossible.

I love you and I only wish that you knew how much. With a sweet goodnight.

Your
Walter.

September 21, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Night.
Sept. 21, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

I spent today with Thelma and the children and we had a good time. Thelma and I were busy about half the day making a dress for Thelma Lee. I brought both the children home with me, so they are making things lively for us this evening. They donate a few cats to our flock occasionally, then come out here to play with them.

September 21, 1925 (Ina)

September 21, 1925 (Ina)

I saw Dr. Bowman down town yesterday morning and he told me of the Medical Association article he received from you and said he read it all very carefully, enjoying and appreciating it. I sincerely hope you will be successful in the work you have taken up since Dr. White left. I certainly can’t see any harm in your keeping quiet about it to him, because it is yours and not his.

I’ll bet you can’t guess what I saw as I was going down town this morning about 9:30. As I was driving leisurely along just beyond “Claudelle’s and my hill” I saw something, I mean two somethings, jump the fence at my left about 30 ft. ahead, and I was honestly stunned to see two big deer (they didn’t have any horns either) run across the road in front of the car and jump the right hand fence, finally disappearing across the guajilla ridge beyond. I was so surprised that I could hardly believe my eyes. I wish you could have been with me, Sweetheart, to have seen them too. If they had had horns and it had been in season, it would have been fine, wouldn’t it? I believe even I could have killed them both easily if I hadn’t been so excited and, too, if I had the nerve, but honestly, they are such beautiful, graceful and (quoting Mrs. Roark’s description of the calf she saw) innocent looking creatures, I don’t believe I could do it.*

The coffee is coming fine. I really do like it now, almost as well as I do cocoa, and I know that I shall soon like it as well if not better. No, Dear, I wouldn’t want you to think of giving it up because you like it better than I did cocoa. I have been wanting to like coffee for a long time but just hadn’t had the nerve to start. I am so glad now that I did start because it is almost perfectly good already.

By the way, I had the nicest dream last night. I dreamed that you and I were married and were visiting in Mississippi. Before going to your mother’s home, we went to a church social (I’m sure that’s the first place you would want to go!?) and there I met your Mother. I dreamed that she was so sweet and that I fell in love with her at once. I know that she is sweet and that I am going to love her lots.

I also love you lots, Sweetheart, and then lots and lots more. I love to think of you in the daytime and dream of you at night.

Yours, forever,
Ina.

*Ina is being modest about her hunting skills. She was an excellent shot, and would have had no trouble taking down a deer at 30 feet.