August 16, 1925 (Ina)

This letter was out of sequence in the file. Today is 12 October 2011, but I’m backdating this post so it will be in the right place in the chronology.

Sunday Nite.
After Church.

My dear Sweetheart:

Just six weeks ago this afternoon you left us and it seems just about that many months to me. I can’t realize that it has been such a short time.

August 16, 1925 (Ina)

August 16, 1925 (Ina)

I note with a great deal of interest what you say about the meeting to be held in Dallas Nov. 7th to 10th. If you should find that you should be there at that time, I am sure, for my part, that the wedding could be arranged some time near, before or after that time. It would really please me very much because it would mean that I would get to see you earlier than I expected. Of course I understand that you are unable as yet to know at what stage your work will be at that time, but I am sure that we can make arrangements accordingly. Sweetheart, I love you, and the nearer the time comes for us to be married the happier I feel. It is so vastly different from the way I felt about two years ago when Ray and I were engaged. At that time I couldn’t help but have a feeling of dread, as each day slipped by.

I am glad you said what you did about the wardrobe trunk. As it happened, I had already decided not to purchase a trunk of that kind. In housekeeping they are very much in the way since you usually want a trunk that will occupy the least space and can be tucked away in a corner or closet somewhere as they are not very ornamental as a piece of furniture. I am glad you expressed an opinion on it, and I will be so glad if you will always feel free to give your opinion on things. I was interested in what you said about the possibility of our going directly to Florida instead of Washington. Either way suits me, Dear, and I am always mighty glad to know of any developments that might determine when and where we shall go.

Worlds of love from
your devoted,
Ina.

August 17, 1925

Monday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I guess I have the same feeling that you had as the mail man didn’t give me anything yesterday nor today. They will probably come together tomorrow. Will take the early train to Jax and I guess I’ll post this up there as it would probably go quicker than if it waited here. Dr. White is “turning in” now. We have just infected an experimental rat. I am going to Jax to get some guinea pigs and white mice for other experiments. He says that he will probably go to Houston or Port Lavaca Texas about the first of next month. This will be about the same time that I expected to go down the state. I guess it is about long enough for his purpose here, and I am in hopes that I’ll work it out if we do not get it before he leaves. Would just about as soon do it this way anyhow, but we are probably on the right road now. I believe that I can get more accomplished by myself than if both of us are working together. It is a peculiar fact that in this work, the more men on the problem the less efficient they are. I like to have my own problem and after this I expect to keep others off the ground as much as possible. Of course I’ll have to send the material in to have the identification verified, but it is much nicer to co-operate by mail than to have some one here. I naturally try to be nice to Dr. White and we are getting along exceptionally well since we had an understanding about the procedure on the problem. He usually wants to eat at the wrong time, and picks the wrong time to go in the surf, but I let him have his way on it. However, I do not care for the crowds in the surf and this is when he wants to be down there. He probably likes the looks of the girls better than I do, for they don’t interest me. My interest and whole heart are on you, Sweetheart, and I wouldn’t have anything to come between us for anything in the world. I certainly do love you.

August 17, 1925

August 17, 1925

Had a letter from Mervin today. It was nice of him to write. He wondered if my express came before I left Uvalde. I had told him that if it did not come before I left, that I would ask him to deliver it for me. He would have gladly delivered it to you, but I am glad that it came before I left (the suit case & hat box). I am enclosing his letter as you will probably get a laugh out of it too. He doesn’t know how to spend his vacation. Guess I’ll have to tell him about the girls down here, though I don’t know anything from experience. You will find this to be true when you come down here.

When I get to this part of the letter I always remind you that I still love you, and I certainly want you to know it. I think of you often, Dear, and would give worlds just to see you for one evening. But that would only mean that I would wish for you every evening to come.

Believe me, I love you. “Sure,” “you bet,” etc.

Your,
Walter.

August 18, 1925

Jax Beach, Fla
Tuesday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It is “a great and glorious feelin'” to get three letters in one day, and all from the dearest little girl in the world. Just for luck I inquired at the Gen Delivery in Jax and they handed me a letter from you, one from Wash, and one from a customer down the state. I was surprised to get mail up there, and the peculiar thing, they were addressed Jax Beach. This place went by the name of Pablo for years and only during the past few months have they called it Jax Beach. The postal people don’t seem to get it straight. I left forwarding cards for Dr. White and I so we will get our mail here, if it should happen to go up there.

August 18, 1925

August 18, 1925

Tonight two letters came here from you, posted on the 14th & 15th. Today is the 19th. Gee, but they were good ones. All three were just as sweet as they could be and I’d like to hug you real hard for them. The Jax one posted the 12th, contained a mighty fine set of Kodak pictures. Even the borders indicated that they were of Queens, Kings, or Jokers. They go to show that I was correct in my belief, when I said that you would look good regardless of how you dressed. Claudelle makes a mighty good “George” too, and if I did not know that it was Claudelle I would be a bit jealous. She is getting prettier all the time. By the way, did “George” roll his hose? I’ll be that George didn’t love Martha one bit more than I love Ina. Further, I’ll bet that Martha didn’t love George any more than Ina loves me. I said this for you, for I do know that you love me, Dear. The photos are just as sweet as they can be and I’ve looked at them a number of times already.

You were quite right in suggesting that Dr. White did not admit that he was right in going in the surf at noon. He has begun to talk of going to Texas and I presume that he will go by the end of the month. I can’t say that I’ll be awfully sorry, though it will be a bit lonesome. However, I can anticipate when you are going to be with me, for that is as bright a hope as one could have. Dear, I certainly do love you.

Please don’t expect anything other than friendship between Mrs. Gallagher and I, for there has never been anything between us. I was afraid that you might think that, and that is one reason why I have not seen her but the one time since I returned. She knows that I love you and rather expected that I would bring you with me when I came over this summer. You don’t have to think of anyone coming between us, Dear. I don’t have anything to do with the girls at all, and one would expect that I am a woman hater. You are the only one and goodness only knows how much I want you.

I note with interest what you said about the new contest for an auto. I am glad that you don’t have it to think about just now, and I am mighty proud of your success in the last one. It is an expression of a lot of friendship and admiration, and its value can never be expressed in terms of money.

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

Yours forever,
Walter.

P.S. I took the liberty of sending you an umbrella today. I am not so sure that you will like the color, but I was told that it would go with any color.

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 20, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla,

Thursday Night.

My Dear Sweetheart,

It came at noon today. A mighty good one too. It certainly seems longer than six weeks to me since I left Uvalde and I agree with you that it has seemed to be about six months. It was real sweet of you to say that the early portion of November would suit you, or either before or after the Dallas meeting. Don’t let me do the suggesting on the date, Dear, for you have a perfect right to set the time which suits you best. I mentioned it as a possibility only, and I want you to know that I feel that this is a matter for you to decide and you can have it when you want it. I’ll gladly tell you as far in advance as it is possible, what time would seem to fit in as convenient, and you can set the time you want. I consider that the question of the date should be the girl’s privilege. I certainly don’t want to be old maidish enough to want the say so on everything, for I have been experiencing some of this with my co-worker. I have made some pledges to myself that I am going to try and not be that way, especially with you.

August 20, 1925

August 20, 1925

One reason why I suggested about the trunk was on account of the possibility of coming direct to Florida and in which event there would be little use for one. I don’t intend to do an awful lot of traveling, but I do want you with me when I have some to do. Most of it will probably be in the state so that we really wouldn’t need one. It seems that I have an awful lot of luggage as it is, and I sometimes wonder where we will find attic and closet room for a lot of it. I agree with you in that trunks are not ornamental.

I am posting a letter to Texas for Dr. White tonight in which he tells them that he expects to leave about the latter part of the month. I can’t say that he has helped very much, but the fact that he was here and is an MD adds some prestige. I don’t expect to have him down here with me again, nor any other person showing symptoms of laziness and eagerness to get in on the credit end of the problem. We haven’t pushed the problem ahead any, and what we have done has been more of a confirmation of some of my results down here last spring and at Dallas just after that. The laboratory technique from Johns Hopkins was about the same as what I picked up in literature while in Washington. When he leaves, I’ll have the thing to work out. I expect to go down the state about the same time that he leaves, and after about a month down there I’ll probably pick up the problem here and push it. I think I can get Mr. Bishopp to consent to my staying with it all winter and spring. I believe this is the thing to do. We have some animals infected, or at least we hope they are infected but we have not been able to produce creeping eruption with the infection. Possibly, we haven’t tried the right stages and maybe we have not made the conditions just right. It looks as though we have the right thing, but it remains to be seen. It looks like the same thing I worked with during the spring.

It is getting late, Dear, and I am going down town so that this will get off on the early train tomorrow A.M.

I love you Sweetheart and I’d give most anything if I could hug you real hard right now.

Good night, Dear, and sweet dreams.

Always your,
Walter.

August 21, 1925

Friday Night

My Dear Sweetheart,

This is only a few miles north of our place on the beach, but I let the train get by this afternoon and I am here until about 11 o’clock tonight. To amuse myself I went in the surf and then had a very good dinner. This is probably a more desirable place to live than Jax Beach, but there is nothing here except the hotel and residences along the beach. It is more exclusive. For our work, Jax Beach is better but I had one severe case to originate up here and I have been working here some. When you come down I’ll bring you here and tell you all about it.

August 21, 1925

August 21, 1925

I did not have a letter from you this noon, but I feel quite sure that there will be one for me tomorrow. Dr. White did not come up with me this afternoon. It seems rather good to be away from him for a little while. This is one of the few times I have been away from him since he has been down here. I am looking forward to his departure with more or less pleasure. May be I shouldn’t feel this way, but the idea with him is to take all the credit he can get. This comes out every now and then. If the thing we are working on does not prove to be the right thing I am going to suggest that he take the infected animals to Washington with him and work up the dope for an article on it. Further studies I’ll do by myself and I’ll then publish by myself on them, leaving his name out of the authorship. If it does not cause creeping eruption the thing we are searching for, I’d gladly let him have it to publish on by himself.

I love you, Dear, and I want you to know it.

With a sweet goodnight, Dear, I am,

Always your
Walter

August 22, 1925

Saturday Night,

My Dear Sweetheart,

It was a little late when I came home last night and Dr. White was asleep. I gave the letter from Atlantic Beach to a trainman (flagman) and he promised to post it in Jax, so if that one seems to come thru a little quicker that probably accounts for it.

This afternoon the little boy across the street, Betha Hill, 14, and I went hunting. He has been helping me trap since I have been down here, but works every week day with his father (a plumber), so we had to plan the hunting on Sat PM when he was not working. His father went with us in their Ford, and we drove about twelve miles south, to what is known as Palm Valley. There were palms in the valley and palmettos too, but there was no town. The roads were very narrow and crooked. We did not find anything to shoot, but killed the afternoon and had a good time. It was the first time I had been south of the beach here and I was interested in the country. We had quite a little experience in coming back, as we found a high tide and with about five miles driving on it. We were either driving in soft sand or in the water. It wasn’t funny, as there was a northeastern wind beginning which carried the water pretty high. At one time it got into the carburetor and killed the engine. It was getting rougher all the time and we felt fortunate that we got off the beach when we did. It is blowing pretty hard now and I have been told that the “North Easternsers” usually continue for 3, 6 or 9 days at about the same speed. Since it is over I am glad that I have had the experience on the beach during a high tide as I will be cautious when you are with me. It is hardly possible that a person could drown as the water is not deep, but it would be disagreeable to experience. Besides, you might get your “Sunday dress” wet with salt water. (Remember what Thelma Lee said about my “good pants” when you and I were caught in the rain).

August 22, 1925

August 22, 1925

The day has passed rather quickly, but I miss your letter. The post office had closed when we got back tonight so I have it to look forward to for tomorrow. Wish I could see you instead. I’d hug you so hard. I certainly do love you, Sweetheart, and I hope we will always feel the same as we do now.

I had a mighty nice letter from a Mr. Roy Watson of Caxambas a few days ago. He had written to Dr. Howard and his letter had been given to Mr. Bishopp. I wrote to him to find out the nature of his trouble and he came back with a long letter. What is known as “sand flies” which are small biting gnats are of considerable annoyance on the southwest coast. I am planning to spend at least two weeks with him when I go down the state. I would prefer to work on these, before you are with me in Florida, as I do not care to be located where they are going to bite you and I. You can bet that I am thinking of you, and I want to be able to locate where we will not be troubled in that way.

I love you, Honey, and I want you. With a sweet goodnight, I am,

Always your,
Walter

August 23, 1925

Jacksonville Beach, Fla.,
Sunday PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

When it rains it pours. I had two letters this morning and I am mighty happy over them too. It seems mighty good to plan our wedding, though Dear, you are too considerate of me. To be sure, it is perfectly all right to have it at the church. All the time I have expected you to suggest that it be there, for I realize that there will be more room and too your friends whom you would not care to invite to your home would not have any reason to feel offended if it were at the church. If it were at your home it would probably mean a reception afterwards. Will this be necessary if we have it at the church? I hope not, but just as you say. It would seem that four or five o’clock in the afternoon would be a good time, and I believe that it would be well to leave shortly afterwards. Do you plan to be married in a traveling suit or would you change clothes before leaving? This is all for you to decide, and whatever you say, suits me.

August 23, 1925 (Walter)

August 23, 1925

I wish that I knew at this time whether we would come direct to Florida or whether we would live in Dallas before coming. I’d rather come down here and perhaps we could spend a little while in Dallas before coming. If we stay in Dallas for a while perhaps it would be well to have the honeymoon before going there, as we would meet quite a few people while there and I’d rather see them after we have been together more.

After I have been down the state I expect to write Mr. Bishopp and suggest what I would like to do, and I believe he will agree with me. He has promised that I could be in Johns Hopkins for about three months this winter or spring, but if we cannot get an appropriation to work on creeping eruption I don’t feel that I want to put special effort on nematodes. I would rather work on C.E. as much as possible this fiscal year and then start the new fiscal year on a problem for which we can get an appropriation. The work at Hopkins would be good regardless of what I am working on, but it would be more helpful if I went there while I had a problem for which we were getting appropriations. I’d get more out of the course. If I spend the winter and spring on C.E. I’ll get more credit on this work, and believe me I want all I am entitled to.

Mr. Bishopp is taking his work for a PhD now and I am inclined to believe that it will push him along more at this time than if he had taken it several years ago. It seems to be a good idea to get as high as possible then get the doctor’s degree for an additional push. There are a few young men in the Bureau who came to us with a doctors degree and they are getting about the same that I am. I don’t believe they will climb any faster than I will, for they are on problems of less importance and will have to show some results in order to climb.

I am not writing Mr. Bishopp at this time about spending the whole time down here, for after I have been down the state I may find a more desirable place to live where I can work on C.E. and another problem. He is inclined to stay away from the other problems until we have money for them and in that event I think it would be mighty fine for us to live here at Jax Beach until the latter part of the next June and then go down there. By that time, perhaps, I’ll have the C.E. worked up in pretty good shape.

I don’t know whether I am making all of this clear to you, Dear, but I hope you understand. Regardless of whether I come here or go to Dallas, it need not interfere with our plans of the wedding. We are going to have a little home of our own here in Florida, that is a sure thing, and I am anxious for you to be down here with me. I can probably make a pretty definite plan after I have been down the state, and have seen what they will do toward getting an appropriation. Once it is started we can ask for our requirements every year, but we can’t ask for the original appropriation, or at least we are not supposed to do it.

I am getting to where I want to see you awfully bad, Sweetheart, and I want you to know that I love you more than I can tell you.

Always your,
Walter.

Box 61

August 24, 1925 (Ina)

Monday Nite.
Aug. 24, 1925.

My dear Sweetheart:

Bless your heart, I did get two such good letters from you this afternoon. Everything does take on the rosiest hue when I receive a letter, but it does tone down most miserably when I don’t. I didn’t realize before I met you what a wonderful lot of difference one letter, no matter if it is only one page, can make in the happiness of the day. You have made my life so happy, Dear, and I know both of us are going to be a great deal happier when we can be together always.

August 24, 1925 (Ina)

August 24, 1925 (Ina)

This is the last week in August, so I suppose you are getting your songs of praise and thanksgiving ready to sing when Dr. White makes his departure. I am so sorry his stay in Jacksonville has been so unpleasant and unprofitable for you because it could have been otherwise if he had only half tried. I suppose you can put his summer’s work down in your notebook as “a rather trying experience.” I am very thankful that you didn’t have to endure it any longer because it isn’t fair that you should. I have thought of it a lot and wished that I could do something to help you out.

I love you ever so much.

Your own,
Ina.

August 24, 1925 (Walter)

Monday Night 8/24

My Dear Swetheart,

The wind has subsided some and today it has been raining regular spring showers. According to the old timers these “Northeasterners” last for 3, 6, or 9 days and usually close with some rain. We have had two days of the wind so we expect that tomorrow will be the last day. The beaches are certainly nice and clean with all the rough places smoothed out. I believe it is a good thing to have one of these occasionally, but it is a little unfortunate if one happens to be driving up the beach.

August 24, 1925 (Walter)

August 24, 1925 (Walter)

Dear, you don’t know how much I wish you were down here with me. It will be dull here during the winter but the people who live here say that it is delightful and that there is hardly a day but what one can go in the surf. As a place to begin our “long time” honeymoon, it strikes me as being a very desirable place. If we are living here before going down the state, we could do our shopping for furniture and household goods at Jax and have plenty of time to decide on just what we want. We would not need them here at the beach, but could have them shipped to our home. (That “our home” sounds mighty good).

We could buy more reasonably in Jax than in Miami or Palm Beach, and too, would have more variety from which to select. It may not strike you just right to live here at the Beach, but I am inclined to believe that you would like it. I have had an eye out for the most desirable cottage in the event you think you would like it down here, and some of them are very nice. I’ll look around at Atlantic Beach some too, for you would probably like it up there. There are no stores up there, only cottages or rather homes. The cottage we have now is better than the average and for my work it serves the purpose very nicely but of course is not adapted for the work. The lady who owns it and who lives in the rear says that she is not going to be here this winter. I guess she will join her husband.

There seem to be quite a few Negroes who live further back and I imagine it would not be difficult to get help.

Most of the cottages are equipped with oil stoves, and I believe that most of the people eat dinner down town. One of the cafeterias, and the best one, will run all winter and spring. I have an electric grill which I have never used and it may be better for breakfast or lunch than the oil stove. I do not know anything about oil stoves but the land-lady seems to think they are OK.

I would like to know just what you think of taking a cottage until we go down the state, for if the idea does not strike you favorably I would not want to do it. I wouldn’t want you to live at any place where you did not want to live, and we will make arrangements accordingly. Please tell me exactly what you think. I am going to make you as comfortable as I can, and I hope to show you that you have a devoted husband. We have electricity & running water in all cottages and most of them are furnished.

I love you, Dear, and I’ll certainly be a happy human when I have you with me always. I hope to be as good and as considerate of you as one can, and if I can make you happy I’ll be happy too.

With all my love, I am,

Your
Walter.

Box 61

P.S. I guess Dr. White will be with me about one week longer.

PS #2 Whatever you and Mother Lewis plan for the wedding will be perfectly all right.