Tag Archives: friends

March 11, 1936 (Ina)

Wednesday A.M.
March 11, 1936.

Is your overcoat heavy enough?

Dearest Sweetheart:

Congratulations and more congratulations! Quite a come-back you’ve made. I’m anxious to know the particulars. I telephoned John and he was elated; so much so, in fact, that he said he was going to wire the news to Frank immediately in a personal telegram. When I questioned the wisdom of it he said he was sure there would be no harm in a personal telegram. He knew R.A. and Frank would be very much interested he said. Of course I’m wondering where your headquarters will be etc. etc.

March 11, 1936 (Ina)

Yesterday afternoon Sara and two other ladies were here. She said Dr. Atchley failed his physical examination in the same way that he had done previously. I think the doctor took him through the book. However, he did have the kindness to write a nice letter in which he said he thought this handicap would not interfere with Dr. Atchley’s being able to do his work well. However, I think Dr. A. has given up hope. I’m sorry.

Monday afternoon I carried Walter White to Dr. Lang. He examined his ears and said the tubes were stopped up. As a result of his cold his adenoids are swollen, obstructing the tubes so that he is hard of hearing. He prescribed some nose drops and said they should correct the condition in a few days. He said a great many people were having the same trouble this winter. I see no improvement yet but I’m sure there will be soon. He is the first doctor who has said W.W.’s tonsils and adenoids should be removed. He says it should be done this summer as they are bad. I think you and I agree with each other on such operations though. W.W. is feeling fine, is in school and is so full of pep that a rainy day like yesterday is just too bad. I’m thankful for today’s sunshine so he can play outside.

I think Lewis Dunbar has a little fever today but is at least 50% better than he was yesterday. He wouldn’t sleep anywhere then except on my lap.

Laura came this A.M. but was almost too weak to walk so she went with me after Mazie [?]. Laura thinks she will be able to work again by Sunday.

Please give my love to the Cushings and the Halls.

Lots of love to you.

Always, your
Ina.

P.S. About half of this letter sounds like a recitation of grief. I don’t mean it that way. I just thought you would be interested. Love, Ina.

November 21, 1935

Atlanta, Ga.
Thurs. Nov. 21, 1935.

My dear Sweetheart,

I am at Mr. Townsend’s apartment and the paper was kindly furnished by him. Every evening has been spent with him and at the present time we are listening to Amos & Andy. Tonight we went to a movie, a Monte Carlo picture also Mrs. Laake’s niece, Dorothy Dare in a technicolor picture. A Western ranch with color scenes of the Grand Canyon, Bridal Veil Falls & others. She plays the leading feminine role. Has red hair with green dress.

November 21, 1935

Sunday night at Valdosta Laake and I visited until 11 PM and again the AM of Monday. Said he filled a date after he left me Sunday night. I forgot that he might have a date and did not think to inquire. Saw Mr. Yeomans yesterday AM. He ran a color movie on the potato weevil for me. He is in Valdosta now but will be back for Saturday morning. I am expecting Mr. Strong then and I have invited Roberts to come up for the conference. Dr. Bishopp is in Dallas today and should be back in Washington Saturday.

Following my report on Dr. Stiles, Cushing wired that if we could not find a place for him we should terminate his appointment. Mr. Brundrett agreed to take him, but today Cushing advised that I would have to describe the job as one Brundrett could not take care of by his present personnel and that such a transfer would have to be a demotion for Dr. Stiles. He suggested no arrangements until Bishopp returns to Washington. This sounds like Cushing talked it over with Rohner. Cushing is supporting me on my name “the true screw worm” since it is already in use & the name “primary screw worm fly” has not become established.

Plenty of letters had accumulated on my desk, but today I dictated answers for most of them. They should go out tomorrow.

Roberts and Prince are going to Mississippi for Thanksgiving and at the same time Mr. Hull plans to be in Mississippi. Roberts suggested that if I went to Savannah, Miss Fulcher could come home for Friday & Sat. and could write any letters for me during that time. This sounds OK, so with your consent I’ll plan to come home about Wednesday night. Put my name in the pot for Thanksgiving dinner. Ask Dorothy if she can make some of those good biscuits. I have the snake jumping racer [?] for Walter White and I hope he will be a good boy. Also, I have a keen little truck for him to show the neighbor kids. Excuse the ink, him quit. With love to the three of you.

Your
Walter.

October 18, 1935

Stationery from the Edwards Hotel, Jackson, Miss.

Oct. 18, 1935.

My dear Ina,

Dr. Cain and I arrived here as per schedule at 2 PM today and following the conference we have had discussions with Parman, Mr. Maloney, Brunson and Hollingsworth. This conference like that of last Friday was not productive but it looks as though some livestock meetings might get started in about another month. Things move slowly in Miss. Mr. Parman will return to Uvalde sometime next week and after this trip he will remain there most of the time. He will supervise for Miss. & La. but will not be away from Uvalde very much. It is not satisfactory to discuss the work with him. He thinks that all of us are wrong and that there is only one species, but also that he always knew that there were two species. His talk with the conference was a long drawn out one in rather vague terms but not critical of the force.

October 18, 1935

I spent Sunday (Sat. night to Mon. AM) with Mother Dove at the farm (Sat. night at Roxie). They appreciate the waffle iron. Both of the colts are just fine and Walter White’s is gentle. Lewis Dunbar’s is about the color of a mouse and she does not like for anyone to touch her. All of the folks and the horses are OK. Uncle Revah is not as strong as usual but looks OK. Mother looks better than she has in several years. We did not discuss the well though Revah and I looked at it.

Monday noon Dr. Cain & I reached Baton Rouge. While I had a conference he visited at L.S.U. We drove to Crosley La. and spent the night. Tuesday noon we saw the Brundretts and ate lunch with the Dowards. Mrs. Brundrett has a lot of gray hair, had some one washing clothes, no lunch prepared, and she didn’t seem to have thoughts quick enough to ask us to do something for her. We did not stay long. The baby, a little girl, is beautiful. Long blonde curls and brown eyes. The Dowards had a lunch which was very fine. I like them very much. Brundrett made up three more exhibits and they have four going. I like the work there first rate. Tuesday about 5PM Dr. Cain & I started for the College. We spent the night at Houston in a camp where you and I stopped. Wed. AM we met M.C. McGehee at his office. He has made a fortune in foreign oil contracts during the past five years. We arrived at the college about noon and spent the night there at a hotel on the campus. Had dinner with Prof. Bilsing while Dr. Cain visited with the vets. Thurs. AM we drove to Dallas and got there about noon. We left Dallas at 4 PM. Saw the Chamberlains & the house. Jackie is a beautiful little girl with an olive complexion and curly hair. The house looks mighty good but needs some paper work and a little work on the foundation. The two peach trees had about 15 bushels of peaches this year. Laake was not at the Lab but we saw Melvin, Mr. Somier & the new men & steno. The lab was cleaned up pretty well but with evidences of older days in evidence. We drove by SMU. Thursday night we drove by about 12 1/2 miles of hamburger stands in the oil well section about Longview & arrived at Minden La. at 12:30 this A.M. We met Mr. W.E. Dee who I knew at A&M. Dr. Cain wanted to see him & I think they visited all night. We left Minden at 8 this AM. Tonight Dr. Cain is visiting an uncle here at Jackson. I may drive by Ethel’s tomorrow on my way to Atlanta. I may take Dr. Cain & Mr. Maloney by the college. I should reach Atlanta Monday. Bruce has a meeting on the 24th and it looks like I should go there from Atlanta before coming to Savannah. I am to talk to the county agents meeting also to Bruce’s men on the 26th.

I love you lots and lots Honey and I hope to see you before long.

Your
Walter.

Thanks for your letter which Mr. Townsend forwarded here.

July 18, 1935

P.O. Box 178
Gainesville, Fla.
July 18, 1935

Dear Walter –

These two weeks have passed by so rapidly that when I think of my delay in this over-sight, narrow-mindedness or whatnot on my part, I am almost ashamed to write. If Hell is paved with good intentions I have a well paved road to that destination. Probably I can plead married life for neglect in writing to you.

July 18, 1935

I don’t know how I will ever show my full appreciation to you for all you have done for me, especially on that day of July 3rd of which I have a faint recollection. Mere thanks is insufficient but I will soon come to bat and score something. Violet mentions you frequently and she especially likes to recall the mad rush to the Court House when her feet were willing but failed to contact terra firma.

As you know, the picture, after the wedding, turned out perfectly. Did you save one for yourself? If not, I am holding one for you so please let me know.

I am enclosing a money order in the amount of $43.66 which appears to be the amount due you. I have not checked over the bills but I feel certain that you spent more than that. If so, I will send money order for the difference. At the moment I have mislaid these bills but I believe my memory is correct relative to the totals.

[Margin note in Walter’s hand: “Recd OK. He gave me $100, besides this PO order. I gave a complete list itemized – Walter.]

Walter I most sincerely thank you for all your help and many courtesies. The whole day of July 3 was so perfectly planned and carried out that I am still marveling at the events of the day.

Remember we have the welcome sign out at our house for you.

Sincerely yours,

W.G. Bruce

July 3, 1935

Walter helped out with a friend’s wedding. Here’s his accounting for the expenses. The grand total of $78.25 would be $1315.85 in today’s money. Note that the announcements cost more than twice as much as the ring – standards have apparently changed.

July 3, 1935

March 25, 1935

My dear Ina,

There is no way to get the central headquarters of the S.W. located at Savannah. I talked to Mr. Strong tonight and he thinks it best to locate in Atlanta. This means that I could come home often, and I am guessing some. Mr. Hull is to come to Savannah to look after sand fly work. Bish promises to transfer Mr. Hall. Mr. Laake will return by Savannah and will look for a location for screw worm research in southern Georgia. R.A. should be in Mississippi now on a survey.

March 25, 1935

I connected with Dr. White this evening after dinner and visited 2-1/2 hours. Will try to see him tomorrow for supper but I am not sure. I am going to return as soon as I can. Mr. Parman leaves tomorrow afternoon. Yeomans is here but I have not seen him as yet. His appropriation went to Tom Linders’ office.

With love,
Walter.

May 20, 1932 (from Mr. Laake)

Letterhead from the Bevans Hotel, Menard, Texas.

May 20, 1932

Dear Walter and Ina:

I haven’t had a chance to write you and thank you for all the wonderful things you did for Anna and for myself during the time of Anna’s illness and death. You must pardon me for not acknowledging your many favors, but you understand, of course, that I had many things to think about and to do during Anna’s illness and since her death, well, it is almost impossible to get a-going again.

May 20, 1932 (from Mr. Laake)

Walter, I especially want to thank you for your very kind letter which you wrote from New Orleans. It was mighty kind of you to want me to go back to Charleston with you for a while, and for you to offer to come by at Dallas for me. I wish I could have gone with you and Mr. Hall, but it was impossible for me at the time. Furthermore, it was not my innermost desire to want to go so far away when it would be impossible to go out and visit Anna every evening. After visiting her, so it seems at least, it is somewhat less lonely at home, or rather in the place that was a home of happy memory.

Coming over here I came by the way of San Antonio and Uvalde. I stopped at Austin and visited Claudelle and at Uvalde I had a very pleasant visit with Mother Lewis. Claudelle’s return from Texas is now only a matter of a few more days and I am sure that Mother Lewis is going to be right happy when she will have Claudelle home again. She is also anxiously looking forward for the time when you, Walter and Ina and Walter White, will come home for your summer visit. I presume you will drive through when you come down and that you will want to come by Dallas on your trip down or on your return trip. You must do that and remember that I will be awaiting your visit at our home. I know that it will never be the same to any of us, but it will be a pleasure, for me, at least, to have you stop with me whenever you are in Dallas.

Again I wish to thank you for all you have done to lighten my sorrow.

With kindest regards,

I am,

Sincerely,
Ernest

May 19, 1932

I have no idea what these photos are about or who they depict, but they were tucked in amongst the letters at this point. I’m reading the letters as I post them, so the explanation might be lurking in later correspondence.

May 19, 1932

May 10, 1932 (Letter)

Tuesday PM.

My dear Sweetheart,

I wired you that Mrs. Laake passed away at 4 AM today and that the funeral would take place tomorrow at 10 AM. The message came from the Cushings. I wired a floral spray from here – through the florist here. I am writing Mr. Laake asking him to return to Charleston with us. I imagine that Bishopp will write him about it too.

May 10, 1932 (Letter)

Mr. Hall is out with Dr. Hinman this evening. They went down below N.O. on a collecting trip.

The exhibits look fine and everything seems to be going OK. Dr. Shelmire came yesterday and I am to see him tonight. Tomorrow Dyer has a paper on typhus and both Kemp and Shelmire are to discuss it. Saw Dyer today, also Dr. Morsund (Dean of Baylor), Waters (artist of Baylor), Kemp, Dr. Hanson of Fla. State Board, Dr. Bassett, Health Officer of Savannah, and a lot of others whom I know. Mr. Hall seems to be enjoying it all.

The exhibits come down Friday noon. I told Mr. Laake we would come by Dallas if he cared to come but I think he would come to N.O.

I am enclosing a note rec’d from Revah.

I love you, Honey, & you too Buddy.

Your
Walter

November 5, 1931

Wednesday Night.
Nov. 5, 1931*

Dearest Sweetheart:

No letter today, but I’m sure you are busy with your manuscript.

Walter White is sleeping soundly. He has gotten so he takes only one nap a day and that is usually just before noon. He surely leads us a merry chase the rest of the day. Unless we latch the louvers (and the screen latches are useless unless they are too high for him to reach) he will hardly stay in the house. The fresh air and sunshine are fine for him and we are glad he likes the great outdoors. It would be more convenient, however, if he were satisfied with Mama’s & Papa’s yard as a playground. He insists on “goin’ wawkin” at all hours and it is impossible to exhaust him. I am doing more walking now than I have done in many a day. It is good for both of us though. He has to be watched every minute that he is in the yard here because there is no fence and he is so quick that he can be away in a minute. Don’t worry though. One of us is on the job all the time. That nice, high solid board fence and gate at Charleston will be fine. I think he would enjoy a sand pile in a good sunny place there now. The beach would would be lovely. There is some red sand in the yard here and he enjoys throwing handfuls of it above his head. Sometimes you have a red handed son. Before the weather turned cool he had something on one shoulder that we thought was heat. It itched when he was too warm and it gradually spread to the other shoulder, his neck and finally his face. The cool weather did not seem to help it. After he had had it for over two weeks I asked Dr. Knox to look at it. He said it was nettle rash or – how do you spell “Erticaria”? [urticaria, aka hives]. I suggested that we probably had been giving him too much acid food – lots of orange juice and apple sauce. He agreed that it was caused by that and advised us to eliminate the apple sauce. He also prescribed some medicine which we purchased and gave him – a liquid and some powders. It seemed like a joke to give W.W. medicine. He felt good (but he looked terrible), it seemed, except that the itching troubled him. We bathed the places with soda water and that helped greatly. His face was swollen some when Claudelle came but by the time she was ready to leave he looked well enough for her to take some pictures of him. The rash has disappeared now and he is feeling fine. It upsets me for even the least thing to get wrong with Walter White when you are away. He is so sweet and so valuable to us.

November 5, 1931

Marguerite is getting on well as could be expected they say. Her trouble was a ruptured ovary. They removed it. They said her abdomen was so full of blood that they dipped it out by the handful. The doctors seemed to know their business and there were two graduate nurses present. They expect to give Marguerite a blood transfusion tonight. If Bob’s blood types I imagine he will be the one to furnish it. He said he had killed lots of deer but he never saw one lose as much blood as Marguerite did.

It is good to think that we are really going to see you soon. You are going to find your son about the most interesting thing you have ever seen. I love to play with him and see how quickly he learns and develops. He is much less babyish and much more boyish than when you saw him. The family can hardly talk of his leaving. They are going to miss him dreadfully. The neighbors will miss him too. Mrs. Cain said she didn’t know what she was going to do after he left. Bertie said she was going to leave home the day he did because she couldn’t stand to tell him goodbye. She told her mother that if she could have a son like Walter White she wouldn’t mind having one before she married. She is to be married in a few months I think. She said she wanted a dozen children. She loves them so. After she has had one she will probably cut the number some as there isn’t a great deal of fun in bringing one into the world. They are more than worth it after they arrive though. I just wonder how we got along without ours as long as we did.

Lots & lots of love from all of us.

Always, your
Ina.

* November 5 was a Thursday; I’m guessing Ina got the date right and day wrong.