Monthly Archives: April 2011

September 30, 1924

Jacksonville Fla
Sept 30 1924

My Dear Ina,

Was glad to get your letter and to know that you were feeling fine.

I have just received a letter from Mr. Bishopp to the effect that Dr. White is having so much to do that he will not be able to section the material I have sent him. The plan is to have me go to Washington about the 5th of Oct for a period of about two weeks so that I can do the work myself. I am glad to have the opportunity of working with Dr. White and also of doing my own work, as I have felt a need for a little more training and experience on this particular thing. I am very glad to go and I am very sorry that I can’t be in Uvalde, but as you suggested I guess all things work out to the best advantage.

September 30, 1924

September 30, 1924

I understand that Dr. Roark is in Dallas now and no doubt there will be a couple to come to Uvalde with him. I can hardly understand how Mr. Parman can take a vacation if they come down there, but I presume they have arranged something.

I have quite a few cases under my own experimental treatments and also have an opportunity of seeing quite a number whom Dr. Kirby-Smith is treating at his office. If work continues like this, I may not get away for quite a while. They keep me going just now. I locked my door so as to write you, for I know that otherwise I would only get started on the letter and would have to leave it, and probably would not get to it again for a day or so.

Have just had a call from one of the schools here that a number of the kids are infested. Will try and look them over tomorrow, and I am in hope that some new chemicals will get here by that time so that I can try them out there.

The ones I am treating are the ones who feel that they can’t afford to go to Dr. K.S. office, and I am utilizing this opportunity to test some new treatments. We have an effective treatment for cases when they are newly infected, but after the cases become old and resistant it is not so effective. Am trying others for these cases, as so many who go to the Doctors are old cases and quite difficult to treat.

Excuse the brief letter, Dear, but I must go. Have a man who can’t get down here or even get out of bed, and we are going out to see him. Has several hundred on his limbs and arms. Plumber by trade and hasn’t slept for a week.

With love,
Walter.

September 22, 1924

Monday P.M.
Sept. 22, 1924

Dear Walter:

Thelma, Bob and the children have just left, so I want to have a few minutes conversation with you. I wish it could be several hours real conversation instead of one with pen and ink.

Your account of the fishing trip was interesting, and I know you had a good time. Yes, I would have enjoyed it the best in the world, and I appreciate your thinking of me. That makes me feel good even though I couldn’t be there. I know I’d just love to be down in Florida, and would be a mighty happy girl if I loved you. Guess I’ll know some day whether I do or don’t. There isn’t a doubt in my mind about your being good and kind and considerate because I feel sure that such is your disposition. If I find that I do love you, I feel perfectly sure that you can make me happy, and I will try my very best to make you just as happy. I appreciate your love more than I can tell you, and I hope I shall never be guilty of doing anything that would show lack of appreciation.

September 22, 1924

September 22, 1924

We had an inch of rain last night. Can you imagine such a thing? It has been terribly hot for the past few days, but has been so cool and pleasant today. Everyone seems to feel so much better. I hope you have had enough rain to make your work better.

No, up until a few days ago when Mr. Parman was here, he hadn’t heard a word from Mr. Bishopp, and had no idea about who was to take his place while he was on his vacation. He doesn’t know why Mr. Bishopp doesn’t write. However, he says now that he can’t get as long a vacation as he had hoped to get, so he and Mrs. Parman are going to leave here the last of this month, going by rail instead of in their car since he can be gone only two weeks. I am very much disappointed that it looks like you can’t come this time, but maybe it’s all for the best. I try to look at things that way, and I usually find sooner or later, that it all …

The remainder of the letter is missing. I just found the final leaf misfiled with the letters from July 1925. Here it is:

works out right after all. If we do our best and have faith I feel sure it will.

I am glad you liked the pictures, and I appreciate the nice things you, the nurse, and your landlady said about them. I don’t feel a bit badly that the landlady insisted that I was Irish. I am afraid though that I can’t boast of any Irish blood. As far as the temper is concerned, I must have “lost” most of mine when I was a baby, because I only have fragments of it left. I sometimes wish I had more. Some people seem to get so much satisfaction out of “flying off the handle,” that I believe it woiuld help my feelings a little sometimes if I could do it.

I am sorry your work didn’t come out just like you expected. I know you were disappointed, but you shouldn’t be discouraged, because you have spent a comparatively short time on that particular thing, while others have spent years without satisfactory results, so you really couldn’t expect to solve it all in two or three months. I feel that you will solve it sometime if they will let you continue working on it.

We are getting a little busier every day at the office. We have about six thousand tax receipts to write which are supposed to be finished by the first of October, so you can see that we will not have much idle time. You see, after the 1924 tax rolls are made, we have to write up each person’s receipt, now describing his property, and then, when he comes in to pay his taxes, all we will have to do will be to date and sign the receipt, and take the money. If we waited until tax-paying season, which begins October first, to write the receipts, it would be practically an impossibility to handle the crowd. It takes a long time, you know, to describe every tract of land in Uvalde County.

It is getting late and so I had better get some sleep.

Remember that I enjoy your letters lots & lots.

Sincerely,

Ina

September 21, 1924

Sunday P.M.

My Dear Ina,

It is a lovely afternoon and I was just wondering where you were and what you were doing. Wanted you to know that I am wishing for you and thinking of you, so found myself writing it. I’d be mighty happy if I could be with you now.

September 21, 1924

September 21, 1924

Had one letter from Mr. Bish since he returned to Dallas but he did not mention Uvalde in it. I presume he avoids writing about anything except my work here, for fear there will be a tendency to distract my mind from this project.

It rains a little every day now and we should have some new creeping eruption cases to show up pretty soon. Most of them try everything suggested by the neighbors and druggists and when the skin is irritated and infected they come for medical attention. We have an excellent treatment during the early stages but when they neglect themselves for a few weeks, it is very hard to effect a cure. The average person tries iodine and then a wash of bichloride of mercury. The combination forms mercuric iodide which is very irritating. Either would give some relief, but this combination only adds to their agony.

The photos are wonderful, Dear, and I have them on the dresser in my room. They are so natural that I turn them so that they don’t face me when I am dressing. Seems pretty modest for a man, doesn’t it? Everybody thinks you are beautiful and I consider myself mighty fortunate to have such a wonderful little lady friend.

It was sweet of you, Dear, to say what you did about money and I appreciate it more than I can tell you. You deserve such a good man that I wonder if I could be kind enough and as thoughtful as I should be. If I knew that you loved me I’d be mighty happy and heaven only knows what I would do for you. But I want you to be sure, for I love you too much to cause you to regret anything. I hope you will never have an occasion to regret your decision, regardless of what it might be.

Monday PM

Did not finish this yesterday as I saw the two little kids where I am rooming and I played with them until it was their bed time. The little girl is 7 and the boy 9 and both of them are real good. Have been taking the boy with me sometimes, as he likes the rabbits and guinea pigs. His school started today and I don’t imagine he will go with me quite as much now.

Dr. K.S. went fishing Sat. PM and returned this morning about 2 o’clock. Am invited to dinner this evening to sample the fish. First time I have been invited since the wife returned, though I met her when I went fishing with him. She seems mighty nice but I guess she controls him pretty well, and it is probably a good thing that she does. She is very good looking and so is the little girl (11 yrs old). She (the daughter) is so young that you won’t mind if I do say she is good looking. Hair and eyes just like yours.

Expected to have lots of new cases today. Had one old one which reported for the first time today, and we froze it with CO2 snow. Makes an awful sore but it was too near the jugular vein to cut any sections. Hope to have a letter from you soon as it seems an awful long time since I heard from you. It really hasn’t been so long, but I want to hear often.

Lots of love,
Always,
Walter.

September 18, 1924

Thursday A.M.

My Dear Ina,

The photos are wonderful and I don’t know which I like the better. It was mighty sweet of you to have them made and you can’t imagine how I appreciate them. When they came to Dr. K.S. office the nurse was anxious to see them and she thinks that you are a very beautiful girl. My landlady thinks so too and told me how lucky I was to have such a “beautiful sweetie.” She arranged them on the dresser for me so that when I get up in the morning I’ll start the day out right. When I described or tried to describe you, she was certain that you are Irish for she says I described the Irish type of a beautiful girl. I told her that you had too sweet a disposition to be Irish, for I didn’t think that you had that much temper. She thinks you are Irish just the same. You certainly had some good ones made, but even then I don’t think they are as beautiful as yourself. I am glad that you smiled a little for one of them, for I like to think of you as wearing a little smile. It seems to say that you are happy and I want you to always be that way, though I know it is difficult to always feel that way. When you are happy, I feel the same way.

September 18, 1924

September 18, 1924

You don’t know how very much I would like to see you, Dear, and I wish that you were here – real often. It was nice to be given your position until April, and I am thinking that he won’t want you to quit at that time. I’d like to see you quit then, and I’d be the happiest man in the world if I could come for you in June. Gee, it would be wonderful. Seems almost too good to be possible. It would be wonderful to come for you at any time and if you only love me half as much as I do you, I am sure we will be happy. I would try to be good to you, Dear, and would do everything in my power to make you happy. I know that I would always be proud to have such a sweet little wife.

I have not heard from Mr. Bishopp since he left here. Mr. Parman’s letter was probably answered by Mr. Laake as he was in Dallas during Mr. Bishopp’s absence. If Laake comes down to help Mr. Parman it is possible that he will stay there during Mr. Parman’s vacation. I imagine he would rather not stay so long as his wife is in Dallas, though he may take her with him. You would like her I am sure.

Dear, I have sent almost a hundred sections of skin to Washington to two of the best men up there and so far they have not been able to isolate the parasite or organism causing creeping eruption. Mr. Bishopp said that they had not located minute burrows to indicate that they were near the parasite. I have just sent one section to Mr. Bishopp in which I was able to show the burrow by staining, and it is far smaller than anything we suspected. For a while I felt that I had the right thing but on finding such minute burrows, barely visible by staining and under a high power microscope, I have concluded that I had been working with the wrong thing. It is more difficult to isolate a thing like this when there is undoubtedly only one in a burrow. So many times organisms are present by the hundreds and by proper technique, some of them can be recognized, but when there is only one the chances of locating it are not so good. It is possible that Dr. White may get it yet as he has not finished the sections. It seems that he has been away on a vacation. Mr. Bishopp says that all of them are very much interested but none of them can suggest anything as to what it might be. Had it been as large as a “chigger” or “red bug” we would have had no difficulty, though when I came here we were of the opinion that it was quite a good sized thing, about the thickness of a dress pin and 1/4 inch long.

In treatments we had good results in more than a hundred treatments, but a few of them have been just as difficult to treat as they have been to isolate the organism. It is quite different to be able to see what one is working with and be able to check results without waiting for time to tell. Persons get them in the fingers in transplanting flowers and places that one would hardly suspect. The only precaution that is sure is to avoid coming in contact with moist soil of any kind, though lots of people do not have tender skin and are not affected. It is seldom that a negro will get them.

I don’t know why I am writing you all of this unless it is because I have it in my mind so much. Should a person play in the moist sand they can use a rub of alcohol, ethyl acetate, or even ether and prevent infestations, but of course they don’t suspect anything until they get them. Usually they don’t come to a doctor until the things have become painful and irritated from scratching.

Should you come down here with me, Dear, I’ll see that you don’t get any so don’t let that worry you. I’ll take care of you all right.

Hope to have a nice long letter from you soon, Dear, for I love you lots.

Your
Walter.

September 15, 1924

Monday PM

Dear Ina,

I have thought of you real often, even though I have neglected to write during the past few days. I have felt that I wanted to see you and would welcome the opportunity to spend a while in Uvalde. Mr. Bishopp has not written to me regarding it and I presume that he feels that it is hardly wise to pull me off the job here. It has been very dry and cases have been scarce, but today it is raining and no doubt we will have lots of material soon.

September 15, 1924

September 15, 1924

Dr. K.S. and I went fishing last Friday. Drove to the St. John’s River about 100 miles south, where it is about the width of the Nueces at the point we visited. Had a negro row the boat and we covered about twelve miles, then at 5PM a motor boat pulled us back to where we had left the auto. It was my first attempt with casting and I only caught one which weighed about 1 3/4 lbs. Dr. K.S. had about 23 ranging from 1 to 5 lbs. He didn’t consider that his luck was good as he often gets twice that many in one day and occasionally a 12 pounder. That was the first day I didn’t work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Had a late drive in returning which put us at home 3:30 Sat. A.M. This partly accounts for my not writing. I wonder if you would have enjoyed such a trip, just you and I with a negro to row.

I didn’t care for the late drive but the fishing was quite cool and the sun didn’t bother. We stopped twice to make coffee and have a lunch. I believe you would have had as much fun as climbing the mountain at Regan’s Wells, and I doubt if you would have been as tired the following day. Had you been along probably I would not have caught the one fish, as some one couldn’t kill any squirrels when you went hunting with them. But I can assure you that the pleasure in having you on the trip would have been greater than any fish catching and that I would have tried to have you enjoy it.

It was mighty fine of you, Dear, to tell me just how you felt toward me and I appreciate the frankness and encouragement. I only wish that I could be with you lots and we could know one another better. I feel that I have known you always and there is no doubt in my mind, but I certainly want you to be sure of yourself and continue to have confidence in me. To know that you believe in me is mighty encouraging, and I am very happy to know that you haven’t had occasion to doubt me. I hope it will always be that way. I am sure that I’ll always love you, and there is no doubt in my mind. There isn’t another like you.

A man can tell if he loves a girl if he is sure of it before breakfast, and it was interesting to me that I met you at that time. Your last letter was written before breakfast and it was a real sweet one, which shows your disposition real well. As a rule folks don’t feel good until they have eaten and they are apt to show their ill feelings at an early hour. Should I have the opportunity I would try to be as good at that time as any other, and would want to be just as much of a sweetheart when I am old. I would always be proud of you and would try to always be good and kind.

It is raining quite hard now and I certainly hope that I’ll have lots of cases during the next two to three weeks so that my work will be in good shape and such that I can be in Uvalde. You don’t know how much I want to be with you, and I am hoping that Mr. Bishopp will ask me to come down there.

I love you,
Walter.

September 10, 1924

Wednesday A.M.
Before Breakfast

Dear Walter:

How are you feeling this lovely autumn morning? It is just the kind of morning that makes a person feel like getting up and going somewhere. I think I would like to hike out to the river.

Your letter and the frame came, and I appreciated them both lots and lots. The frame is just as pretty as can be, and you don’t know how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending it. Thank you.

September 10, 1924

September 10, 1924

We went on a swimming party yesterday evening, and had a good time. I suppose we can’t have many more before the weather gets too cool.

I know you appreciate Dr. Kirby-Smith’s hospitality as well as his deep interest in your success in your work. His influence will be a great help I am sure, and it is awfully nice of him to do it. However, you deserve every bit of it I know. Guess you don’t find any trouble in agreeing with him that your salary should be raised several times, do you? It is too bad about his drinking. I suppose his wife thinks that if the officers don’t enforce the prohibition laws, she will do her part.

No, I suppose you were not too hasty about asking me what you did if you are perfectly sure about your own feelings, but you don’t want to make the mistake I made one time of saying something you may want to take back later. I appreciate everything you said more than I can tell you, and you may rest assured I will think about it lots. Then, after I am with you more I can tell you how I feel. All I can say for sure right now is that I like and admire you very much, and am nearer loving you than anyone else.

This is a short letter, but I can’t write anymore right now. Will write a longer one later.

Sincerely
Ina

September 12, 1924

Friday Evening
Sept. 12, 1924

Dear Walter:

Your nice long letter came yesterday afternoon, and it sounded so nice that I’ve been happy ever since. It was the kind that made me feel like I had been talking with you, and that’s the kind I like.

You said you didn’t care much for posed pictures, but I am sending you two anyhow since I promised you quite a while ago that I would. I didn’t know which one you would like better, so I thought I would give you one of each pose. Guess you think I’m very fond of having pictures made of myself, but, when you get too many, just let me know, and I’ll quit sending them. Ordinarily I dislike very much having my picture made, but you seemed to want some, so I did it.

September 12, 1924

September 12, 1924

Last Friday morning about six o’clock Mama, Papa, Claudelle and I started to San Antonio in my car and returned that evening. We had a very pleasant trip even though they were working on the roads a great deal, and we had to detour several times.

We unworthy Uvalde people received a wonderful blessing today in the form of a good rain. Can you imagine such a thing in Uvalde? It had been such a long time since we saw anything of the kind that I imagined I saw a shocked look on the faces of some people in town when the drops began to fall. We are having a slow rain tonight, it is so cool and pleasant, and it’s just an ideal night to sit and talk. You don’t know how glad I’d be if you were here right now.

Mr. Bishopp must not have received Mr. Parman’s letter until he returned to Dallas because he would have, of course, mentioned it while he was with you. I hope he has it by now, and will feel that it is absolutely necessary for you to come to Uvalde. It seems most too good to be true, but I can’t help but half way believe that he will.

Walter, you said you are sorry you haven’t more to offer me in a material way. The fact that you are offering me your true love is what makes me happy. If you had worlds of money and offered it to me without love it wouldn’t appeal to me. I have never had wealth, but still, I am happy most of the time, so what more could a person ask than happiness? I am glad you haven’t lots of money because so many young men who have been reared in wealth lack the ambition to get out and try to amount to something. You have accomplished lots already, and are so ambitious that I admire you a great deal more than I would one who had worlds of money and no ambition. I am glad you are just like you are. In other words, I’m glad you’re you.

Did you celebrate Defense Day today? We made a brave attempt, but it was not a wonderful success on account of the frequent showers. We closed the office from ten A.M. until two P.M., but we worked most of that time since they were unable to have the parade etc.

By the way, I talked to Mr. Shirley the other day and he said he would like very much for me to be his deputy at least until my term is up with the Independent School District on the First of April. I was delighted, of course, and consented.

I appreciate your telling me to ask you anything I would like to know. If there is anything, I will ask you and I want you to feel perfectly free to do the same by me. I have confidence in you and feel that you are not trying to keep anything from me. If I should ask you questions, I have confidence enough in you to feel that you will tell me the truth.

It is getting late now, so goodnight and pleasant dreams.

Sincerely,
Ina

September 8, 1924

Monday Night
Sept 8, 1924.

Dearest Ina,

It was a blue Monday when I came down town this morning, but your letter and the fact that you have confidence in me, set everything all right. I think I have read it at least ten times and have looked at your pictures about the same number of times. You don’t know how encouraging you were in simply letting me know that you believed in me. You would have to know that I really care for you to appreciate just what it meant.

September 8, 1924

September 8, 1924

It is true, Dear, that we haven’t been together very much but that is no fault of our own, and I am thankful that I was with you even for the short while. I really mean it from the bottom of my heart, I have had just such a girl as yourself in a mental picture for a long time, though I didn’t think she could have those qualities and be so beautiful as yourself. As a rule I am shy of the girls for I usually find that they dance, that they are Catholics, or that they have some quality that I could never like. With yourself it seemed that we agreed on everything, and best of all you were not wearing a solitaire. Who wouldn’t miss a train?

I consder that the most pleasant time I’ve ever spent and I’ll always remember it, even if you should decide that you don’t care for me. I only wish that I could offer you more in a material way, but I doubt if that would mean real happiness to you. To my mind the happiest people are not the ones who have the most money or live in the greatest amount of style, but the ones who really enjoy the pleasures of one another.

I am really pleased to have you tell me that you don’t know whether or not that you love me, for with yourself it is different. I would want you to be sure of yourself and I realize that you haven’t been with me enough to know. I hadn’t heard of Mr. Parmans request but nothing in the world would please me more than to come to Uvalde and relieve him for a while. If I could be down there for a month and see you often, I am sure that we would know one another pretty well and it would be doing the fair thing by you. You might not like me near so well, but it would be better to find it out early in the game. I don’t know what Mr. Bishopp will do, for my stay is uncertain here, depending upon cases. He planned that I should make a survey in the state after Oct 1st and this would probably take about 10 days. No doubt he would want me to come to Dallas when I have finished the year’s work here.

He is inclined to favor me and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he would ask me to come down there before reporting to Dallas. He saw your pictures when he was here and is aware of my personal interest at Uvalde. He knows that a trip down there would be welcomed by myself. I was so proud of your pictures that I had to show them and it only took a glance for him to recognize them. He thinks you are mighty fine, and I know you are wonderful.

When there is anything that you would like to have me tell you, please ask me. I want you to know everything and I’ll tell you anything even if it hurts. But I don’t believe it would hurt to tell you.

You mean everything to me and I love you dearly. Here’s hoping I can see you next month.

Always,
Walter.

September 7, 1924

Sunday P.M.
Sept. 7, 1924

Dear Walter:

We have just returned from church and I want to answer your much appreciated letter which came yesterday.

I was so glad you felt so much encouraged with your work. In your letter before the last one you seemed a bit discouraged, and I am glad Mr. Bishopp came along and made you feel better. I have an idea how you feel about it sometimes after you have worked hard on it, especially on something like you have now that has been worked on for so many years without much success. You feel like it’s a hopeless case at times, don’t you? I have tackled things in my work that looked awfully hopeless, and I know how discouraged a person can get. But isn’t it a “grand a glorious feelin'” when you do finally succeed?

September 7, 1924

September 7, 1924

I know you are going to succeed even though you were to have to leave this particular branch for a time. The part that you have already done has been done thoroughly, so I consider that you have been successful so far, and if you have the privilege of continuing, you will, I think, have the satisfaction and honor of solving the problem entirely. I think it will be nice for you to have a laboratory down there since you are so deeply interested in the work of that state, and like the country there so well. However, it would please me very much if they would think it necessary for you to be away from there for a month or more in order to take charge of Mr. Parman’s work in Uvalde while he is on his vacation. He expects to leave about the middle of October I think. Don’t you think a few weeks of good Texas fresh air and sunshine would help your feelings? Not that I think your health is failing, but really, Uvalde is a wonderful place to come for rest.

I am feeling fine now since my vacation. I feel so refreshed from the rest that I took that I really don’t mind work a bit. It has been nice and cool for the past few days, and that gives a person a little “pep” you know. I am going to need a surplus of it soon, too, because the rush season is coming on.

It was too bad that you couldn’t be present at your sister’s wedding, but I suppose she will write you all about it. I know your mother needed your letter the next day, because she would naturally be awfully lonely. However, the fact that her daughter is so happy and has married a fine young man will be a comfort to her. I sincerely hope they will be happy, and, since they are congenial and love each other, why shouldn’t they be?

I hope I will have a letter from you before long saying that you will work in Uvalde next month.

Sincerely,
Ina

September 5, 1924

Jacksonville Fla
Friday PM

My Dear Ina,

At last the picture is framed and I am posting it with this letter. The man had been ill ever since I left the order and they sent the job out for me. Sorry to have kept you waiting but couldn’t help it.

September 5, 1924

September 5, 1924

From what Mr. Bishopp said I’ll probably be here more than a month yet. Dr. K.S. says he is going to keep me here and talks of going to Washington about it. I don’t think he will do that, for there is no creeping eruption after frost and during dry seasons. It would hardly justify me to spend the whole time here yet. He has a big heart and would do most anything for me. Says he thinks Florida ought to have a whole Bureau of Entomology to work on various things and I ought to be the head of it. I can’t seem to make him understand that work on citrus fruits, etc. is not my line, and that I am purely interested in medical entomology. He says I can do all of it with assistance, and he is in favor of raising my salary a couple of times. His hearing is not good and it is difficult to talk with him. Has lots of energy, enthusiasm and pep. His family are returning tomorrow A.M. and he would rather they would wait a while before returning. I guess the wife is pretty strict.

He likes to take a drink and she doesn’t approve of it. Her folks do but she is different. I have been a guest of his but will get a room in a private family this evening. Have one located but haven’t been there yet.

There are very few cases of creeping eruption now due to the dry weather, though we had three yesterday. I haven’t been able to prove my findings as yet but have found nothing to indicate that I was wrong. Have some experiments under way and I hope to clean up the cause so that it is without question. Am sending material to Dr. White and Dr. Ransom in Washington so that they can verify what I am doing. Dr. Ransom should be here with me but there is hardly enough to keep us busy with new cases now. I am mighty glad that Mr. Bishopp came down for now he realizes that it is a difficult problem.

I am anxious to hear from you. It seems like an awfully long time, though you have been very good to write often and long letters too. I wouldn’t take anything for those enlargements. Have them handy where I can admire you. You are so sweet that one couldn’t help but love you.

8 P.M.

Have just returned from Mrs. Gallager’s where I engaged a room. Dr. K.S. nurse at the office phoned her and I believe it will be a very nice place, clean, cool and comfortable. Mrs. Robinson must have told her Dr. Dove for that is what she calls me. I hope none of them have a fit or stroke. If they do I’ll have to quote Dr. Hunter “I’m not that kind of a Doctor.” That’s what he told a farmer who wanted him to operate on his horse. Dr. Kirby-Smith gave me the degree when I arrived though he is aware of the fact that I do not have a Doctors degree. It simplifies matters in the minds of patients who might be too inquisitive were I called Mr. Dove. I hope to have the degree but have made no arrangements for work to that end.

Have heard nothing from Sister since before she was married and I presume she will not write until her honeymoon is over. Could hardly expect her to write. I only hope that she will be always happy with him, and I believe she will.

I trust you won’t think I was too hasty in asking you Dear, for I feel that I have known you a long time and that both of us are old enough to know ourselves. I am anxious to hear from you, for I love you with the most tender affections.

With a sweet goodnight,

Always,
Walter