Part 33 (1/2)
DEAREST ONE:
I have been away so could not write They took us to the French and English ”front” and away froaria and Servia
It was at a place where the three boundaries es and deep snow, and so shells into that bleak, white jumble of snow and rocks--there was fiftya baseball at the Rocky Mountains
Still, it was seeing so Now, I have a room, and a very wonderful one I had to bribe everyone in the hotel to get it; and I have so about I hope, for at least a week I am able to see the shi+ps at anchor for e for all the warshi+ps is just under myAs near as McCoy Rock fro picture all the tiht myself an oil stove and a can of Standard oil, and, instead of trying to ware do it But it is a very sood of it, I have to sit with it between s Still, it is such a relief to be alone, and not to pack all the time McCutcheon and Bass, Hare and Shepherd are fine, but I felt like the devil, i four in a rooht Except the Also, I have been collecting facts about Servian relief Harjes, Morgan's representative in Paris, gave me carte blanche to call on him for money or supplies; but I waited until today to cable, so as to be sure where help was most needed It is still cold, but that AWFUL cold spell was quite unprecedented and is not likely to coain I NEVER suffered so frolish officers who had hunted in cold places, said neither had they ever felt such cold Seven hundred Toers fell off I do not say anything about hoful it is not to hear But, if I had had your letters forwarded to this duot theet to Paris, but there I will surely get them Cables, of course, can reach ht Nor do I want to ”talk” about Christ the first one SHE has had But it will be the LAST one ill know apart Never again!
I want you in h and see your eyes I am in need of you to make a fuss over me McCutcheon and Co don't care whether I have cold hands or not You do Your oint off like the soldiers' did And your ”housewife” I use to put on buttons, and, your scapular and medal keep me well But your love is what really lifts me up and consoles me
When I think how you and I care for each other, then, I am scared, for it is very beautiful And we ain God keep you s I cannot bear it--when I think of all I auard you both My darling and dear wife and mother of Hope
Your husband,
RICHARD
SALONICA, December 18th
DEAREST WIFE AND SWEETHEART:
I aht, and NEVER was so homesick Yesterday just to feel I was in touch with you I sent a cable through the fog, it said, ”Well, homesick, all love to you both” I did not ask if you and Hope ell, because I KNOW the good Lord will not let any harht by the heels this time And it will be the last tio to France where no tiet back soon But the blockade held up the shi+p and on the other one the captain stayed at anchor, and, then when I got here, the Allies retreated, and I had to stay on to cover what is to co happens, you will know by the time this reaches you So, here I a we have never seen the sun In sixty years nothing like it has happened The Salonicans said the English transports brought the fog with theht on the harbor I never thought I would LOVE an oil stove I always thought they were ill-s But this one saved my life I wrote with it between my knees, I dry my laundry on it, and use the tin pan on top of it to take the dae Coal is thirty dollars a ton To get wood for firewood the boatet the boxes they throw overboard I go around asking EVERYBODY if this place is not now a dead duck for news
But they all give ement They say it is the news center of the world I hope it chokes I try to co you are happy, because you have Hope, and I have nobody, except John McCutcheon and Bass and Jiet any money I cabled today to Wheeler for some via the State Department I went to the Servian camp for the little orphans whose fathers have been killed, and they all knelt and kissed ed a few and carried them around in my arms and felt much better Today for the first time, I quit work and went to see an American film at the cinema to cheer me
But when I saw the streetcars, and ”ready to wear” clothes, and the policeot suicidal I went back and told the others and they all rushed off to see ”hos, and are there now This is a yell of a letter, but it's the only kind I can write My stories and cables are rotten, too I have seen nothing--just traveled and waited for soht, dearest one I love you so You will never knofor ether again Such good days
Goodnight again--all love
RICHARD
HARBOR SALONICA, Deceht! And that is the first time I have been able to say so since I left you The backbone of the trip is broken! and ave ot one half, as the police h we do not sail until five in the
So there was ti for the door
Was it to your husband? It was not It was to Hope Davis, teeks yet of being one year old, and being toasted by the war correspondents in Salonica They kneould please me And I went away very choken and happy SUCH a boat as this is! I have a sofa in the dining-roo and not an air port open What a relief it will be to onceclean people We must help the Servians, and God knows they need help But, if they would help each other, or themselves, I would like theht and, on the top floor of the Olyayer It is like the ht You see West
How terribly I have ed for your voice and LAUGH, and to have you open the door ofto call on you,” and then enter the dearest wife and dearest baby in the world!
God bless you, and all my love
RICHARD
ROME,
Christmas Eve, 1915
MY DEAREST, DEAREST, DEAREST: