Tag Archives: marriage

June 18, 1940

Stationery from the 830 South Michigan Hotel, Chicago, IL.

June 18, 1940.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter of Sun. night came this AM and I think you have had the answer from Mr. G. before now. I mentioned the visit of Mrs. G. when I finished talking to you and it seemed to disturb him a great deal. He had already told me of the divorce, and although I had not previously heard one word about it, and knew of no reason why they would separate, I was not surprised when he told me. There was nothing I could say when he told me, except that it would not be mentioned outside of Claudelle and yourself. If you are yet of the opinion that you would like to come to Chicago for the short time I’ll be here, let me know so that I can locate a place here and also so I can come for you & drive the car on Sunday. If the moving can wait until July 15, I think it would be better. Mr. G. said I might plan on coming to Wash. on the 4th. We expect the last week of June & the 1st week of July to be the heavy shipping period. We have shipped 106 cars so far, with 100 while Mr. G. was here.

June 18, 1940

June 18, 1940

I love you lots & lots & I am now looking forward to joining you before many more weeks. Have just written to Mr. Simmons about a house at Panama City. Orlando is a large place but I am trying to move the station from there.

Your
Walter

August 3, 1939 (Ina)

Thursday Night.
Aug. 3, 1939.

Dear Walter:

I judge from your letter this afternoon that you are considering taking over for another year not only the grasshopper program, but the cricket also – all under Mr. Gaddis. I’m greatly disappointed. It looks like Dr. Strong’s condition would make you realize more than ever before that overwork doesn’t pay. Before many years he and Mr. Gaddis are going out like a flash, and they will be replaced by newer machinery that soon will be doing their work as well as they did. Furthermore, Dr. Strong and Mr. Gaddis will be remembered by many by their failures rather than by their success before they tried to handle too much.

August 3, 1939 (Ina)

August 3, 1939 (Ina)

Your family is getting desperately tired of your devoting all your time to your work. It gets worse every year, but you were that way years before you started on grasshoppers. When all else is gone, you will need your family. Now, I appreciate the fact that you have given us a name that we are proud of; you have provided us with comforts and luxuries that the average family does not have, and you have never complained of any money that I have spent; you have arranged to have some member of my family with us most of the time so that I would not get lonesome – all this I appreciate deeply – but we want you. You have provided everything anyone could reasonably expect except a father for your two fine sons, and a man to make love to your wife. Had it occurred to you that a woman likes the companionship and attention of a man? That feeling is not killed in her, even though she is married; she naturally expects her husband to take the place of her former admirers. I often think of what Mazie told me years ago: “Miss Dove, it sho is lucky for yo husband that you is a good woman with him away from you so much.” I sometimes wonder if you would bother to notice now if I were to let down the bars a little.

You probably will account for this letter by saying that I wasn’t feeling well tonight, but you will just be fooling yourself. These are things I have been wanting to say for a long time, but every time I have started you have gotten impatient because you don’t like to be told, then I started crying and left it unsaid. But make no mistake about it, I feel it just the same.

I do know that you can do creditable work and still take time for other things – it has been done.

Ina.

September 15, 1925 (Ina)

Tuesday Night.
Sept. 15, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

With the crickets and coyotes furnishing a rather weird, lonesome accompaniment, I should be able to write you a very touching letter tonight. However, I am not going to try to bring forth the tears. I would give ‘most anything to be with you now though. I love you, Dear.

September 15, 1925 (Ina)

September 15, 1925 (Ina)

I believe I failed to tell you in my last letter of the pleasant visit we had yesterday afternoon from Mr. and Mrs. Parman and Mrs. Roark. We enjoyed it so much. Mrs. Roark has just returned from Kerrville where she went with the intention of spending two days with friends there, but she spent three weeks instead. You should hear her describe the “perfectly lovely“! things she saw and time she had. She is still full of enthusiasm over everything, but I have never seen her act as “grown-up” as she did yesterday. No doubt ’twas my “dignity”? that calmed her so. Really, though, I think it is when she is out among the flowers, rocks etc. that she lets her imagination run away. As for me, I like her very much. She is just as sincere and conscientious as she can be, and never says an unkind word about anyone. Of course she has her faults, and so have we all, but she is sweet. She has been with Mrs. Parman for several days but expected to go to Regan Wells today to get things ready to go to Dallas to meet Dr. Roark. I think he expects to work there for a while. By the way, Mrs. Roark added to my hope chest by giving me a pretty hand embroidered linen guest towel. It was mighty sweet of her to do it, and I surely did appreciate it. I’ll show it to you and let you dry your face on it after we are married. Now, don’t you think I’m good to you?

Mr. Parman has just returned from a business trip to Houston, and thinks that he may leave next week for Dallas to work for a while. He is awaiting further instructions.

I know you will be glad when Mr. Bishopp writes you definitely as to where “we” will be this winter. You would like very much to know before making your trip down the state I am sure. No doubt he will write you again as soon as he will have had time to have heard from Dr. Hunter.

Sweetheart, we were sorry when you wrote that you doubted if either your mother or sister could come for the wedding. Mama and I have often talked about it and hoped that your Mother, Father, brother, or sister and her husband could come. We would be glad to have any of them as guests in our home, and had intended writing them after the date was set and inviting them to our home. I think it would be so nice if your sister could be here to play the wedding march, don’t you? We didn’t know whether she played the pipe organ or not, but, for some reason, ours has not been installed yet, and probably will not be by that time. Remember, your people are just as welcome as they can be here and we would be very glad to have them. Yes, I know that I am going to love them all, and I am looking forward with lots of pleasure to knowing them. It’s sweet of them to want you to bring me to see them, and I would enjoy it so much too. I sincerely hope that I will not be a disappointment to them.

Thanks for the invitation of A. Harris & Co. to open a charge account. There must be something about your name or the look on your face that gives the impression of your being a married man. I hadn’t noticed that you had such a “married” look. You certainly don’t look “henpecked” and I sincerely hope you will never have reason to even feel that way, much less to look it.

My! how I do wish I could see you and Claudelle tonight.

Always, your
Ina.

September 14, 1925 (Walter)

The Beach. Monday Nite.
9/14, 1925

My Dear Sweetheart,

Three letters today and each of them was a message of joy. I had begun to worry, fearing that you were ill. Two of them came this morning before I went to Jax and the other came on the same train that I returned on tonight. Gee! but they were great and I wish I could hug you real hard for them. I am returning Mr. Womack’s letter as you will probably want it. No doubt you have quite a collection of letters of such a nature by this time, for I know that there were a number previous to the two you have sent me. I can’t blame them for wanting such a dear little girl as yourself, and I often wonder how it happened that you had not fallen off the limb before I told you something. I certainly consider myself lucky, Dear, and I am going to do my best so that you will never regret your choice.

September 14, 1925 (Walter)

September 14, 1925 (Walter)

My sister writes that she certainly did not make a mistake in her hubby. He seems to be mighty good to her, and now even my mother thinks that he is alright. Mother would have felt the same way regardless of the man. I guess it is natural. I certainly appreciate the attitude of Mother Lewis and Daddy Lewis. They have certainly shown a good spirit toward us, and I hope that as the years go by they will never have an occasion to wish that your choice had been different.

I certainly do love you, Dear, and I am in hopes that I’ll get word from Mr. B to the effect that I can work here all winter. That would make it mighty fine for the honeymoon here.

After I had written you that our engagement was four months old I remembered that it was on the 10th. I intended to mention it in my next letter. It was the 5th when I left Dallas.

With a sweet goodnight, I am,

Yours always,
Walter

August 19, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

Wednesday 8/19-’25

My Dear Sweetheart,

I didn’t get one today but I was so fortunate yesterday that I am yet rejoicing over it. We spent about an hour and a half in the surf tonight before we had supper, so we enjoyed the meal more and now feel that we can sleep good. Dr. White has already retired. I worked pretty hard today but didn’t seem to accomplish very much. I guess everyone has this experience, occasionally. Also at other times with little effort it seems that I get lots accomplished.

August 19, 1925

August 19, 1925

A few days ago a fisherman’s gasoline boat was washed ashore and crippled so that it was necessary for the insurance people to replace the craft. There was no storm nor even a high rough tide. Today it was blasted into pieces so that it could be burned. That constitutes all the excitement during the day and we happened to be at lunch so as to witness the dynamiting.

Last night a Ford roadster was raffled away. The paid admissions to the pier counted as chances. The contest has been running for about two weeks and the number of chances were about 37,000. Some young lady was the fortunate one and it was quite a kick to hear her answer when her number was called. She squealed as though a mouse was near her. The pier is used for dancing and for all sorts of chance games that one finds at an amusement park or street carnival. There are two dance places and two churches here at the beach, and all four work on Sundays. Every place except the post office is open on Sundays, and it observes Sunday hours. The dances never bother me, Dear, as you already know. May be that is my peculiarity, but I can’t have the same respect for a girl who dances, that I have for those who don’t dance. One of the most interesting things you ever told me was that you didn’t dance and that you were from Mississippi. I seemed to have your number at the start, and somehow I couldn’t help but love you from that instant. The next time that I felt a stronger love for you was when we were out on the Neuces and exchanged experiences about public service. We seemed to understand each other then and it has developed into a mighty pretty story which is to be continued … happily ever afterward.

Dr. White and I were visiting tonight and at the same time observing an engaged couple on the same bench, whow ere holding thands. He (White) wanted to know if that made me homesick. Told him that if he were a stranger and saw you and I when we were on our honeymoon that he would not suspect that we were newlyweds. Also, ten years later he would find us the same way. He said that he believed it, and, that that was the way it should be. Of course I meant public demonstrations of affection, and that was what White had in mind.

I love you just as much as I ever have and I don’t believe it is possible for me to love you any more than I do. I certainly do love you, Dear, and I want you. I love you, ove you, love you, love you.

Yours always
Walter.

August 12, 1925 (Walter)

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Wednesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Today was my lucky day. Everyday is lucky, but this one especially. This morning I had two letters and tonight I received the third one. They were just as sweet as they could be and, believe me, I was getting anxious for them to come. The other two came yesterday, but we were in Jax and didn’t get them until today.

We have been very busy today and the work is most interesting.

August 12, 1925 (Walter)

August 12, 1925 (Walter)

Had a letter from the Mr. Pettit whom you met at Kerrville. He was spending a while with his brother’s folks in Dallas and said that he was enjoying it very much.

You were mighty sweet about the honeymoon beginning here. I could hardly make up my mind to bring you to this cottage as it doesn’t seem good enough, but perhaps I could find a nicer one down here. I’d like to take you to the future home so that you would feel more settled and I am trying to get the station down here so that we won’t have to move any. The fellows in the colder climates sometimes move twice each year, so as to work in different locations, but the beauty about this work would be no moving. It should be very much like Mr. Parman’s work when it is started, but there are a few things I would have a little different from Mr. Parman. I am not criticizing, but have a little different idea. We will discuss them when we are together for you have some ideas on outward appearances of places that are better than mine.

You don’t know how much I appreciate what you said about where you lived. You are wonderful, Dear, and more and more I realize how very fortunate I am to have such a fiancee. We will try to make the whole married life a honeymoon and I’ll do everything I can to this end. I am sure that it is going to be just what we try to make it, for we can do what we try.

Dear, you said something about a wardrobe trunk when we were talking before I left Uvalde. If you have not purchased it, I would not be in a hurry about it. I am suggesting this because, the Florida creeping eruption studies may be completed this season and I’d rather not do sectioning of tissue in Washington with Dr. White this winter. If I do not work with him up there, perhaps we can come direct to our home down here. Then if I go to Johns Hopkins, we could get the trunk before we go up there. I don’t mean that all of the work will be finished on C.E. for no problem is ever completed, but work under the present arrangement will be completed and the future work will be a sort of a side line of my own and will be worked by myself only. There is more satisfaction in working alone on a problem, as far as individual credit is concerned, though Dr. White was very nice yesterday in suggesting that my name appear first on this summer’s work. I don’t know whether this was just a courtesy on his part or not. We are interested in different phases of the problem and after this summer, I believe we can work separately to better advantage. It looks as though we have the thing isolated, but we can’t tell for a few days yet. It will be kept quiet until we have had a chance to announce it at a meeting. If we are working with the right thing now, Dr. White will probably return about the end of this month and I hope we have it. It certainly looks favorable.

With all my love, Sweetheart, and assuring you that I am true to you, and with all confidence in you, I am,

Yours always,
Walter.

August 9, 1925 (Walter)*

Jax Beach, Fla.,
Sunday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Yesterday was a pretty busy day and by the time I had finished rubbing my sun burns, it was quite late. At the time I thought I would write to you this morning, but we had some experiments which needed attention, so the whole day got by us and now I find that I have missed a day.

There is quite a crowd down here today, and I left Dr. White on the Board Walk watching the pretty girls. He admires them anyway, and sometimes I believe he wishes that he had married when he was younger. Tonight he told me that he thought that I ought to get married. Told him that I intended to, but asked him what I would do with a wife at the present time. I guess I could take care of you if you were here now, but I certainly couldn’t make it home like and neither could you. Perhaps it would be all right as a honeymoon, but at the present time I wouldn’t know just where I was going to take you. But it won’t be so very long, Dear, before we will have it figured out and I’ll be the happiest human in the world.

August 9, 1925 (Walter)

August 9, 1925 (Walter)

I can hardly wait for the time to come when I can come for you and can then have you with me always. I look at your photos many times every day and have them handy where I can see them often. Then I think of the many happy evenings of my stay in Uvalde and the swing where you and I spent most of them. Tomorrow will be three months, since you said “yes” and it seems longer, especially since I left you.

Tuesday, Dr. White and I are invited up for dinner with the Kirby-Smiths again. They will drive back with us after dinner. I haven’t seen Mrs. Gallagher except the one time, and I feel a little mean about it for she left word at Dr. K.S. office for me to phone her and later wrote a note to the effect that she was leaving on a vacation. I’ll see her again, but am in no hurry about it. After Dr. White leaves, I may have her little boy to come down here and spend a few days with me. He is a nice kid and I think a lot of him. When I saw him he wanted to know when I was coming back to their house to live. The little girl is mighty sweet too, but not nearly as pretty as Thelma Lee or Rietha. I haven’t seen any as pretty as Thelma Lee anywhere.

I didn’t get a letter yesterday or today but tomorrow will probably bring one. I love you, Sweetheart, with every tender affection and I am continually wishing for you. You can bet that I am true to you every minute of the time, too.

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

Always your,
Walter.

* This one got out of sequence in the file, so I’m putting it on the blog in the right spot.

August 8, 1925

Saturday Night.
Aug. 8, 1925.

My dearest Walter:

Bless your heart, your Tuesday’s letter was mighty nice, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It almost made me feel like I had been talking with you. It made me want so very very much to be with you. The cottage, the surf and everything sounded so good. Yes, I think a honeymoon there would be fine. My disposition is not so “high strung” that I would want more excitement. I prefer the quiet spots where I can be with you most. No matter where we spend – shall I say the “beginning” of our honey moon? – I know it will be ideal because we love one another so much. I am looking forward to going to the different places with you that you have mentioned. You describe them so well to me that I think I shall have an “at home” feeling when we arrive. I like the idea of the life long honeymoon. It is true that it can be made that way if each of us will resolve to make it so. I hereby resolve to try to do my part in making our married life one great, long happy honeymoon. No matter where we spend it, in a home of our own, here, there or everywhere. I hope and believe that we can keep that spirit. Of course we will have our problems, but I think we can work them out together, and, with love guiding us, can come out safely on the happy side. With our understanding of each other I can’t see why we should ever have a fuss. I believe that when difficulties arise we will both have patience and come to an understanding without any cross words. Sweetheart, I love you more than anyone else on earth, and I trust you in everything. In sincerely hope you trust me, and, if you do, I am going to try never to betray that trust. I believe you absolutely when you say you are true to me, and I hope you will believe me when I say that I am true to you. I haven’t had a date since you left except the one I had with Mr. Savage of which I wrote you. I wear the ring all the time except when I wash dishes. I don’t care anything for dates with others, and am looking forward with the greatest of pleasure to the time where I can have one eternal date with you.

August 8, 1925

August 8, 1925

I believe I failed to tell you that I have received two letters from Mr. Cavitt and two from Mr. McCreless (the young ministers I met in Kerrville). I have answered one of each, but haven’t decided yet whether I shall answer their last ones. If you don’t want me to, I will not. It was merely as a matter of friendship that I answered the others.

Claudelle and I went to a kitchen shower on the church roof last night given by the League, honoring Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Lee. They have just recently returned from their honeymoon and are starting to keeping house. We had lots of fun. The gifts were presented in a unique manner. One of the boys, dressed like a Mexican girl, suddenly appeared at the top of the fire escape with a big laundry basket and interrupted our games by calling “Madama, Madama Lee, aqui estan las ropas de Ud.” – “Mrs. Lee, here are your clothes.” The basket, of course, was filled with kitchen utensils. The bride and groom seem very happy but are not silly about it. They act just like they did before they were married.

I am glad the Florida climate agrees with you. I have gotten down to 119. However, I always lose weight in the summer. It is plenty warm here during the day, but the evenings are usually cool. I suppose it will continue being warm thru August and September.

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

I love you now and will love you always.

Your
Ina.

August 7, 1925 (Walter)

Friday Nite 8/8 – 1925*

My Dear Sweetheart,

This was a wonderful day for me. I had two real good letters from the dearest little girl in the world and you can bet I enjoyed them. I have read them several times already and I’ll probably read them again before I go to sleep. Dr. White is already in bed. He goes to sleep early and usually wakes pretty early. We have just finished using vinegar for our sun burned backs. They are pretty tender tonight and I guess his is equally as sore as mine. I have never used vinegar before but he says it works fine and that it prevents the skin from peeling. I have an idea that he knows, as it is difficult to get a positive statement out of him.

August 7, 1925 (Walter)

August 7, 1925 (Walter)

I was amused at what you said about your battery. They usually last from 18 to 24 months, but as yours has been used so little it hardly seems possible that you would need a new one at this time. Am glad that they found it OK. I usually figure that the bad luck in breaking a mirror consists in the purchase of another. The number 13 is unlucky if some one happens to count that way for a dozen. But I believe in horse-shoes. We have had luck with them, haven’t we? The Fulford lot is Lot No. 13 (block 9) and I can’t help but believe that it is a lucky number. I am enclosing a circular which was enclosed with my receipt this month. It looks as though they may have a real university at Fulford. The tract is evidently in a new addition they are opening, but it is bound to affect the value of our lot. I only wish we had more lots down there and located as well as this one for we can use the money very nicely and we want a good one for our own home, whether we live there at first or not.

Fulford University Story

Fulford University Story

Honey Bunch, it was mighty sweet of you to say what you did about dates when Mother Lewis asked you, and I appreciate it. However, Sweetheart, I feel that I have unlimited confidence in you and if you want to go with others it will be perfectly all right. You are real sweet about it.

Dear, I never had an idea that you were of such a lovable nature and you don’t know how happy I am over it. I was a bit afraid that you were naturally cold and I have thought of this some, but not since I left Uvalde. I feel that I know you pretty well by now and the idea that we can live happily together is well fixed in both of our minds. We can’t help but be happy, or at least I can’t be otherwise. You were mighty sweet to want ot know my troubles, and that is what it takes for a good understanding and happiness.

I certainly do wish for you, Sweetheart, and the past month has been the longest I have ever spent. But as you say, the time is a month nearer and that is mighty encouraging. I hope that before a great while we can set a date, for I want you, Honey, and I love you with all my heart.

Yours always,
Walter.

The 8th was a Saturday – I’m assuming Walter got the day right and the date wrong.

August 4, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Tuesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

You don’t know how much I have wished for you this evening. Dr. White and I went in the surf for about an hour and the water was just right. Last night we went in after dinner but tonight we went in before eating. I think both of us enjoyed about every minute of it. He seems to be thriving on the Florida weather and gains steadily. I am holding my own with about 200. The work is getting started, and this month will probably be a very interesting one. If you were here with me, it would be ideal.

August 4, 1925

August 4, 1925

I have watched the same moon during the past few evenings and thought of you, and wondered if you were looking at it too.

The cottage we have looks a great deal like the one Mr. Brundrette had at Regan Wells and is a little bit larger. Has two front rooms, and one rear room as a kitchen & dining room. We use the porch and garage as a laboratory and sleep in the front rooms. The lady has a bed in the dining room. As she works at a cafeteria, there is no cooking here. We are now using the ice box for drinking water, as the beach water tastes of sulphur.

I don’t know how this cottage would strike you as it isn’t much for looks, but it is convenient to the surf and has running water and electric lights. It is much better than Reagan Wells. It would be a dandy place for a honeymoon, but maybe you like a little more excitement. I didn’t have in mind spending our honeymoon here, but I always think of our whole married life as a honey-moon and can’t help but wonder how different things will appeal to you.

Your letter was received when I was in Jax this morning. I took the 7 o’clock train and returned at 3. It is 17 miles from here.

I have your photos on the dresser in front of me. I am beginning to like the standing one, enlarged from a Kodak one, real well. It looks like you when you met me on the porch last month. I have some mighty good mental pictures of you at that time and I use them often. You are a wonderful little girl and I love you with all my heart. When I can be with you always I’ll be the happiest man in the world. More and more I do realize that you do love me, and Dear, you can bet that I am true to you. Not a single date of any kind except the evening I called on Mrs. Gallagher & then I talked of you most of the time.

With a real big hug and a goodnight kiss, I am,

Always,
Your devoted,
Walter.

P.S. I love you lots and lots and lots and then some.