Tag Archives: love

July 30, 1925

Thursday Night
11 50 PM
7/30

My Dear Sweetheart,

If this letter smells like shrimp I won’t be surprised.* We went out to Dr. KS home and all of us spent about an hour on the river fishing for shrimp with a net. Then we helped prepare them & fix some shrimp cocktails. Have just returned from there, and thoroughly enjoyed the lunch. To prepare them was a tedious task, but I wanted to know how to do it so I could tell you. May be you already know, but I have an idea that I can tell you all about it provided you don’t know.

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

July 29, 1925 (Walter)

Your letter of this noon gave me a real kick to have you call me Sweetheart. It was the first time I had ever been called that, and Dear I have never called anyone that except yourself. I only wish I knew some name I could call you which would be a little stronger than this. I certainly do love you Sweetheart and I guess I’ll always want to be with you as much as possible.

I note that you address me as Dr sometimes. It is OK to say Mr, as KS understands and my mail at his office usually comes as Mr. I rather feel that I get a title to which I am not entitled, but I am called that most of the time. Even Dr. White gives me the title down here. It doesn’t make any difference, so suit yourself. (Sweetheart sounds nicer).

I am glad that you enjoyed Hondo. Somehow I feel better when I know that you are wearing the ring, as I feel that someone will not be so apt to think that he has a chance for you.

Must go to sleep as I am about that point now. I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I’ll try to always be a sweetheart of yours.

Your,
Walter.

500 Prof. Bldg.

*It does not smell like shrimp. Having been stored with some old “Kodak Safety Film” 16mm movies (now archived at Johns Hopkins University), it and all of the other letters smell like vinegar.

July 29, 1925 (Ina)

Wednesday Nite
July 29, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

It is now rather late as it seems almost everything has been conspiring against my getting an early start on my letter to you.

Mrs. Ball is spending a week with her son in San Antonio so I came to Thelma’s this morning and am going to stay until tomorrow afternoon. We have been having such a good time today. It seemed like old times before she was married for us to be together as long as we are. She and Bob are happily married and perfectly devoted and I am so glad. I know you and I are going to be equally so. It seems like Thelma and I are so much more companionable now since I am in love than we have been since she married. There has been sort of a barrier between us that I couldn’t exactly define and now, since it has apparently been removed, I think I know what it was – she was in love and I wasn’t.

July 29, 1925 (Ina)

July 29, 1925 (Ina)

Thelma Lee and I went down and visited with Miss Zoe Bunting (Ray’s Aunt) for about an hour this evening. I had been intending for a long time to go, but just hadn’t done it. She found out I was at Thelma’s and ‘phoned me to come. On our way back Mrs. Parman saw us and came home with us and stayed for quite a while. Mr. Parman is about well and is able to work. Mrs. Parman said that if you will send us some cool weather she will answer your letter. The thermometer has been between 106º and 107º today.

This evening when Bob came home from work he kissed Thelma and then told me that if I wanted a letter I’d have to kiss him too. I don’t do it often, but I didn’t hesitate a moment this time and I got my letter too. I think it surprised him that I did it so readily. The letter was the nice, long interesting one you wrote last Sunday. I am glad you had a pleasant fishing trip and am glad you returned in time to write. All you said about Florida, “our” prospects etc. was very interesting to me. I love for you to write that way so I will know what to expect. It almost makes me feel like I have already made a trip to Florida. Yes, I feel sure that I will like it. The real estate interests me very much and I am trusting you not to be “too reckless.” I am mighty glad that you or, as you want to say, “we,” have the lot in Fulford. I am interested to know further developments and details as you find out on your trips around thru the state.

Sweetheart, I still love you and I love you and love you some more. It seems so good for you to be writing about the places you think we would like to live etc. It makes it all seem so real. You see I haven’t entirely recovered from that “too good to be true” feeling.

Thelma and the children send regards.

Yours forever,
Ina

July 27, 1925 (Walter)

Monday Night 7/27.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I was mighty glad to get yours this noon. I did not expect it until tonight. You always write such a sweet letter and I always get a kick out of it. You certainly know what to say to this old bachelor and it always hits the spot.

Had a letter from Mr. Pettit (Dallas) today. He is keeping busy and seems to be making some money. He expects his brother from Legion the latter part of this month.

July 27, 1925 (Walter)

July 27, 1925 (Walter)

I note with interest what you had to say about Mr. Owens’ letter. I feel for him, Dear, for I don’t see how anyone could help but love you. I consider myself the luckiest person in the world and I am mighty proud of you, Dear. I didn’t think I could love anyone like I do you. I am always wishing for you and I hope the time will not be distant when I can have you with me for “keeps.” I sometimes feel that I should come for you while you have the notion, for fear that you may change your mind, but I can’t believe that you are that kind as you have been too careful in what you said. I guess that is one reason why I love you so much.

It must be difficult for you, Honey, to settle on one and have a number of your dates eliminated. Undoubtedly you miss some good times. Personally my dates with girls have never been many and I am just as happy as I can be with the idea that I have won such a jewel as yourself. I hope you will always be happy and I am going to do everything I can to make you happy.

I love you with all my heart, Sweetheart. Sweet dreams.

Your,
Walter.

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Afternoon
July 27, 1925

My dearest Walter:

Yesterday was the first day since you left that I had missed writing you and it was unintentional that I did miss it. I thought we would get back from Hondo in time to write you, but, as we had charge of the Sunday evening church hour which lasted until about 9:30, then had quite a time getting our crowd together to come home, we did not arrive in Uvalde until 12:10. So it was no longer Sunday and I waited until later on in the day Monday to write. I love to write you every day when I can, because that is next to receiving a letter from you or being with you. You have been so good to write me even though you were awfully busy, and I surely do appreciate it too. Your Wednesday night letter came Saturday afternoon just as we were leaving town and, Sweetheart, (that’s the first time I ever called anyone that) it was such a nice, long interesting one. It made me feel so good to have it along with me.

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

July 27, 1925 (Ina)

We had such a good time in Hondo. The people in whose home we were guests were perfectly lovely to us. Claudelle and I were entertained in the house of the president of the Hondo Chapter. We had met her while in Kerrville. Everyone seemed to be doing something to show us all a good time, and they succeeded well. Claudelle and I agreed without any hesitancy that we had a much better time during the night and day that we spent in Hondo than we did the whole week in Kerrville. I didn’t have to make but three talks, one in the afternoon and two in the evening, but the otherwise pleasant time we had more than overbalanced that.

It was only three weeks ago yesterday afternoon that you left and it seems like just about that many months to me. I thought about you and wished for you lots and lots during the day even though we were busy.

Mama and Papa stopped by Mrs. Parman’s for a short visit yesterday afternoon. Mr. Parman had been very sick that morning but was feeling much better in the afternoon. They thought it might be acute indigestion. Mrs. Parman was terribly frightened and excited. They think he will soon be alright though.

Walter, the part of your letter that referred to Mama and Papa, our future happiness etc. was mighty sweet. I am sure they are not worried for fear you and I will not get along well together, that we will not be happy etc. because they know by now that we care for each other so much that everything will be fine. We are going to be wonderfully happy and contented, aren’t we? “You bet!” I am glad you will enjoy having them visit us and I am sure they will enjoy it too. However, you know how “often” they visit anyone. Maybe, though, we can get them to come occasionally.

I am sure you enjoyed being with Mr. and Mrs. Garrison. Yes, I remember that you mentioned in one of your letters to me last winter that you ate Christmas dinner with them. I am anxious to meet them. I appreciate what you said about her sister.

I want to assure you again that I am most hopelessly in love and never expect to get out.

I love you now, always and forevermore – lots and lots – then some more.

Yours always,
Ina.

July 26, 1925

Sunday Night 7/26

My Dear Sweetheart,

We had a real good time and returned at 6PM so I have time to write my “daily dozen” lines to you. It was a mighty good feeling to find a letter here from you, and it was an especially good one. When I read it, I had a bath and shaved. I felt like a different person. The fishing was enjoyable, and the drive a good one, but there was a tired feeling when we returned. I did not expect to get back until 2 AM (Monday) and was mighty glad that Dr. K.S. came in early.

July 26, 1925

July 26, 1925

Dr. Sandusky, an eye ear & nose specialist, went with us. He and I fished from one boat, while Dr. KS and Dr. White went in the other. We were on the lakes near Dr. Pridgeon’s and stopped at his home for a while this morning. He had an extensive case of creeping eruption last summer and I was anxious to have Dr. White see the location of its origin. We did not catch any real fish as they were not biting, but had fun catching brim (which are a perch). The outing was the principal thing and we enjoyed it. Had breakfast at 5 o’clock this morning. Dinner at 9 o’clock last night. Meals came close together and were big ones too, but they were thoroughly enjoyed. Dr. KS is a prince of a host for a fishing party.

Had my first letter from Mr. Bishopp yesterday which was an answer to one I had written to him. He told of a request from Florida which had been made to Dr. Howard that we locate a man in his locality for some work. According to Bishopp his tract is five hundred thousand acres. It seems too large to believe, but it sounds encouraging and especially since the study comes in our line. He is located in the South-Western part of the state, where the problem is probably that which I have had in mind, and which I intended looking up this summer. If his holdings are this extensive he should be interested sufficiently to offer an inducement for me to do the work in that section, which incidentally is probably less than 100 miles from Miami but nearer the West Coast. If it looks as good as the east coast for living conditions it might be better to locate our station there. I am not going to take you to an out of the way place, Dear, but will locate where I believe you will like it. I’ll tell you all about it before deciding, as I will have quite a bit to say as to where the station will be. I am assuming that there will be one, for that’s what I am going after.

You are going to like Florida, not simply because I am here, but I really believe that it will strike you about right. The amount of work to be done in our line has no limit as far as I can see, and I have no doubt but that we can count on Florida as our permanent home. The southern portion of the state, especially the East coast, is the coming portion and I don’t believe there is a place anywhere which offers the possibilities that this section does. I mean in growth and development. A business lot in Miami sold for twenty-two thousand dollars per front foot a few weeks ago. The highest price ever paid for business property at any place was on 5th Ave. N.Y. and it sold for 25,000 per front foot. Real estate values are higher than in the eastern cities.

The farm land and every other piece of property has increased since last year. The proportions are hardly believable as much of it is selling for several times what it could have been bought for last year. The farmer I told you about who asked $5000 last fall, refuses $10000 now and if he holds it he will get more. His location is off the highways, or it would be worth much more.

I wonder if the boom is one which will have a reaction, but I hardly think so, for the Northern tourists will always come during the winters. This summer the travel on railroads is just as heavy as last winter, and autos can be counted several per hour – all on their way to South Florida before the winter season. Don’t think I am crazy, Dear, as I don’t want it to be too much of a shock when you come down with me. You would then wonder why I hadn’t told you. Our lot at Fulford was bought at the right time and at the right price. I don’t know what it would sell for now, but I sincerely believe that it will be worth at least three times what we bought it at, within two years from now. I intend to familiarize myself with the values when I am down there this summer and may see where I can handle an option or two to good advantage. Your caution would be “don’t be reckless” and Dear, I won’t.

This is getting to be a lengthy letter, so I’ll bring it to a close.

I love you, Dear, with all my heart and I wish for you real often. No one else interests me, and Sweetheart, I feel that I couldn’t get along very well without you. I have never had such a feeling before. I am real glad that we are young enough to feel some of the romance of it, for if we were older we would probably miss much of it.

With a sweet goodnight and all my love,

Your
Walter.

July 24, 1925 (Walter)

Friday Night 7/24.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I am mighty glad that you told me about attending church so much as I wondered about it, but felt that I knew your attitude. You told me just what I expected of you, as I know quite well the circumstances. I had already known your attitude, and also that of Mother Lewis. Please do not misunderstand me, Dear, for I believe the Church to be a necessary institution and I believe in going, though I do not attend regularly. I can easily understand how one assumes responsibilities which practically force them to attend. I believe we understand each other pretty well in this respect as well as in others.

July 24, 1925 (Walter)

July 24, 1925 (Walter)

Dr. White and I are yet working on the manuscript and we expect to have the final copy made Sat. PM. We are leaving for a fishing trip Sat. noon, however, but have arranged to have it typed. He is very conservative and while we are not making many changes, the fact that the arrangement is changed makes it necessary to copy. In a few instances he believes that I should qualify my statements to some extent. The Declaration of Independence was not written with any more care than that paper on creeping eruption. It gets on my nerves sometimes, but I know it is well to be conservative so as to avoid pitfalls.

I’d give anything in the world to see you tonight, Dear, and to try to tell you how much I love you. You are the Dearest in all the world to me and I can’t help but wish for you every hour or so. I pick out girls on the street who are about your size or who have hair similar to yours, and then I tell Dr. White how they compare to you. I haven’t seen any, Dear, who are as beautiful as yourself. If I make my language too sweet, pardon me, but I feel that I can tell my fiancee anything that I have on my mind.

I weighed last evening – 201 lbs. which is about the same as at Uvalde. Mrs. Garrison weighed 130, but she is quite short, and would not seem to be that heavy. If I remember correctly you weighed 124. You are just right, Dear, but I’ll love you regardless of your weight.

I may not have the opportunity to write Sat. & Sun. nights but will do so if I can. We expect to have a real good time.

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

Your,
Walter.

Seneca Hotel

July 23, 1925 (Ina)

Thursday Nite
July 23, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Claudelle, Mama and I have just returned from an Epworth League party given on the roof of the Educational Building and I feel like I have been thru a cyclone. The wind was blowing a regular gale, and, for one time, I would almost have been grateful for bobbed tresses. It was mighty nice and cool up there, and you would hardly have recognized the girl who was running around playing games with the sixteen and seventeen year old boys and girls as the same dignified staid old maid you expect to take “for better or for worse” (as the case may be). Evenings spent like this help pass away the time until you return. It is in the evenings that I miss you most since I am always busy at something during the day, and, although I think of you almost constantly, no matter what I am doing, the time passes more quickly when I am busy.

July 23, 1925 (Ina)

July 23, 1925 (Ina)

Your letter of the 20th came today. Your letter seemed to have a tone of relief about it which I am sure you felt after the clinic was over.

I am sorry your finger is giving you trouble. I hope it is well by now. Don’t try to take everything your patients have. You are not going to take creeping eruption, are you? I hope not. I love you so much and hope that you will always be in perfect health and will not have to suffer in any way. I want you to always enjoy health and happiness.

A few days ago I received a long letter from Mr. Owens (the Sabrial [sp?] ranchman). He sent best wishes for happiness but seems to think that, since things have gone as they have, he never expects to marry. However, I am sure he will after awhile because he will get over this and find a girl whom he thinks is the grandest in the world. I sincerely hope so and hope that he will be as happy as I am already. I couldn’t possibly have loved him as he isn’t the kind I could ever love. I value his friendship highly because it is so honest and true, but I told him a long long time before we quit going together that I could never love him. I didn’t suspect then that it would ever be possible for me to care as much for anyone as I do for you.

No, Honey, your bachelor ways, if you have any, will not worry me. I’ll love you just the same.

Your devoted
Ina.

July 21, 1925

Tuesday Nite
July 21, 1925.

Dearest Walter:

Claudelle and I have just returned from a hike to the top of the first hill toward town to see the sun set. However, it had already “sat” by the time we arrived. We viewed the landscape o’er and pronounced it very beautiful in spite of the absence of the solar illumination. Since it is Tuesday evening we could also see the fiery cross. We ran a race down the hill, but, thanks to the tight skirts, we were sufficiently hobbled to avoid being arrested for speeding.

July 21, 1925

July 21, 1925

We are having such a fine breeze tonight. No matter how warm the days, we usually do have a cool breeze at night. I am so glad it is so pleasant in Jacksonville. It makes work a lot easier, doesn’t it? You are really fortunate to be escaping some of the days we are having here.

My fountain pen is out of order, and this one I am using is just about the “scratchiest” ever.

I will write you again tomorrow.

I love you so very very much.

Lots of love,
Ina.

Wednesday Nite
July 22, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

It is now ten o’clock and I am thinking of the pleasant reunion we were having a month ago tonight. It was our first date after the return of the prodigal from Kerrville. I shall never forget how terribly I missed you that week. If it had been two months I don’t believe I could have missed you more. I wish we could have another reunion tonight. We are before so many many months, aren’t we? And you are liable to have to be bothered with me for a long long time then. As for me, I am going to be a mighty happy girl then too.

Your letters of the 18th and 19th came today and they made me feel mighty good. They sounded almost like I was talking with you, and you know how well pleased I would be over that.

The case of Dr. Arms was very interesting. I am glad to know about it because we wouldn’t want our case to be so different from all others, would we? I feel sure that ours is going to be like theirs in the respect that he mentioned, because we are both determined never to fuss, aren’t we? We will not have to wait and make it one of our marriage resolutions because we have already made it.

Walter, I appreciate your telling me about your salary although it had never worried me in the least. You are certainly to be congratulated on the salary you are making and I want to tell you again that I am proud of you. I am sure we can be as happy as it is possible for any couple to be – much more so than very wealthy people who only have to express the slightest desire and the luxuries are theirs. They are deprived of the joy of dreaming of and planning for a cozy little home, then working toward it and finally having their dream come true. They can’t possibly get nearly as much genuine pleasure out of it as we can. The more dreams, thoughts, plans and work you have to put into anything, the more you get out of it. Oh, I can hardly wait for the time to come when I can be with you always and we can plan things together. Honey, we are going to be so happy!

I received an invitation today from a girl friend of mine who is going to be married on the fifth of August to a young man with whom she has been going during her two years in a Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth. He has been specializing in some kind of Sunday School work, organization or something.

She is in her thirties and is positively the most consecrated and religious girl I ever met (it is genuine too). I always feel so mean when I’m around her. They say she hesitated a year about consenting to marry him because she felt so unworthy of him. She said he is so good. When I heard it I wondered what sort of an angel he was that Jewel Tate was not worthy of him. She was the young lady I succeeded in the Tax Collector’s office (which certainly doesn’t add anything to her worthiness, however). Nevertheless, she is truly a fine girl and I am glad she is not going to be (or shall I say, remain?) an old maid.

I will write you again tomorrow.

I love you so very very very much.

Always your
Ina.

July 20, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville July 20th

My Dear Sweetheart,

You will note that I call you “sweetheart” whenever I write, for at one time I asked if I might do this and you said “no.” I only wish there were a more expressive way, but I am sure that you know that I love you so much that I simply can’t tell you.

The clinic closed today and the majority of them were out there this morning. I feel somewhat relieved that it is over and now comes the follow up work, which consists on checking up the effectiveness of treatments and making further studies on the cause of the disease. Dr. White says that he has never been connected with a problem as interesting to him as this one and I guess he “enjoys every minute of it.” Strange to say we did not have as many cases from the beach this year, as last season, and before last year Dr. KS thought that the majority of them originated down there. Dr. White has some mighty fine dope on related things which he picked up at Johns Hopkins last spring; and having in mind the problem here he has fortified himself with a lot of facts that I am mighty glad to have.

July 20, 1925 (Walter)

July 20, 1925 (Walter)

If my writing is more scratchy than usual it is due to a bandage on the forefinger. Nothing serious. We have been using a treatment on patients to remove the epidermis or horny layer of the skin and the use during the period of the clinic has affected my index finger in a similar manner. Dr. White has the same trouble. It works and both of us are aware of it.

I guess we will be here during the rest of this week and part of next as we have lots of field work ahead before doing the laboratory tests at the beach. I believe that any letter written after next Sunday should be addressed to Dr. KS’s office, as by that time we will probably locate our laboratory at the beach. Maybe I can give an address down there which will give better service on your letters.

I was much interested in what you said about my letter to your mother and Daddy. Mother Lewis seems to be quite a tease, and not so much of a “matter of fact” girl as yourself. However, I love you just that way for I always know just what you mean. You don’t know how glad I am that your folks feel all right toward me, and Dear, as I promised them I am going to try to do my part and make you happy. If you were only here now, I would be the happiest man in the world. I mean every word of it. You are so sweet.

I note what you say about your chum. Incidentally I like the idea of using her maiden name as a middle name after marriage. If you like it too, I think it would be fine to have yours Ina Lewis Dove. Just as you want to, Dear, as the main idea is to have you as a wife and companion.

I am not surprised that the partnership with another family did not terminate well. This is often the case and does not reflect on either family. A house is not large enough for two families.

You have been mighty sweet to write me so often Sweetheart, and I appreciate your efforts. I know that it is rather inconvenient to get them posted so often and I had no idea I would be favored so nicely in this manner. They are always just right and I, too, read them over and over. I always get a kick out of reading them. Only wish I could hear you say such things and that I could hug real hard when you did say them.

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

Yours,
Walter.

July 18, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Florida.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Gee! but I would like to be with you now. The recollections of the two months at Uvalde are so vivid and of such importance and pleasure, that I feel I would give most anything to spend this evening with you. I always wish for you, Dear, but there is a special reason tonight. The week’s work is over and I naturally want to talk with you, but I wonder if there is anything that we have not discussed that should be talked over.

We met Dr. Arius at the park a few minutes ago and congratulated him on being elected State Health Officer by the Board of Health. He was not permanently given the place, but will no doubt get it as the Board are placing him in charge. When he had talked about this, he told of the family and his nine years of married life. Said they had never had a fuss and that both of them were determined that they were not going to have one.

July 18, 1925 (Walter)

July 18, 1925 (Walter)

This interested me and I asked how he accounted for it, just as though it was very unusual, and I do believe that it seldom happens that way. He said that it was due to a complete understanding before they married and of keeping such an understanding of one another. He says that if there is anything that a couple will not discuss nor understand of one another, that sooner or later things happen to cause friction. He was not married until he was in the thirties and when he found the girl to be his wife he couldn’t understand why she had not married before then. The feeling and general trend seemed to be so much like that of my own case, Dear, that I couldn’t help but tell you about it. From what he told me I can’t help but feel that my circumstances are very similar to what his had been. I can’t see any reason why we should not be equally as happy and congenial, and you don’t know how much I wish for the time to come so that I can have you with me always. I don’t know of anything on which we have not had an understanding and if you are happy I know that I’ll be happier.

There is only one thing that I know of which we have not discussed fully, but I believe that each of us understand. I wish that my income was sufficient so that I could support you in more style, but I believe that I can give you comforts and conveniences which will make favorable conditions for happiness, and I believe that you know about them and about what to expect of me. I haven’t heard anything lately regarding a promotion, but I am in hopes that my salary was increased on July 1st. Bishopp intimated it, but did not tell me for sure. I had not asked for it, and with him I don’t believe that asking was necessary at the present time. I rather expect that it will be effective for $2600 or possibly $2700*. It is a most peculiar thing that I mentioned my salary to you when I had known you only a short time, and that we exchanged experiences we had had with others. I have often thought of it and why we did this. It seemed as though we understood each other very early in our acquaintance and, Dear, I have loved you ever since then. There was a slight tremble in your voice when you told me, and I wanted to hug you so much and tell you that I loved you. That was the time you would not even let me hold your hand for a second when I told you goodnight. It was sweet of you, but it didn’t seem just right to me then. But you were right, and you don’t know how glad I am that everything came out all right. We are going to be happy and I am not going to have a fuss with you. I’ll call you “Mama” when we seem to be approaching such a point. We will be frank and open about everything and if there is anything you want to know which I have not told you I want you to feel free to ask me. If it hurts I’ll tell you just the same. I believe I have told you most everything, or at least everything I could think of and I had no mental reservation of any kind.

Our clinic closes Monday night, and we expect to be here until the latter part of the week. Then we will no doubt go down to the beach for the rest of the time while Dr. White is here. I want to make good use of him, for it is like having a University along to have him with me. I hope that it will be possible to get him down here in the future for a short while each year. He has been an old bachelor so long that he has set ways of doing things, but these ways are good ones at that. I hope that I will not be so much that way that it will annoy you, for I want to make you happy and if I can do this I’ll be a mighty happy human.

Remember that I love you, Honey, and that you mean everything to me. I want you and I am going to try and make you happy.

With all my love,
Your,
Walter.

* Equal to $33,000-$34,000 in 2011.