Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930 - 4

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ALASKA ARIZONA CALIFORNIA IDAHO MONTANA NEVADA OREGON UTAH WASHINGTON

STANDARD FORMS BUREAU [centered] 277 PINE STREET [centered] TELEPHONE SUTTER 4560 [centered]

TRADE MARK STANDARD

H. L. A. BATES SECRETARY-MANAGER

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., ]

Tuesday 10 A.M. Dec. 3rd 1918

My dear old Siredward: Last night we got two letters from you, written I think on Oct 26th and 30th and Joe Durney got one from you enclosing, the salmon label. He seemed tickled to death over it, and this morning read extracts from it to his friends in the back of the ferry boat. I have been wondering whether you will think we did not get your cable, when you receive ours. We have no way of telling when you sent your cable, as they only give on cables the date of the receipt, which in your case was Nov. 25th at 7.53 pm. I sent our cable about 2:30 pm the same day. You cant imagine how differently your mother feels since your cable arrived. We had both been very anxious, but she more so, and it was getting on her nerves. She must be at least five to ten years younger now. Jos is not subject to draft and all the draft men have been discharged.

Dick is sort because he hasn't seen anything of the fracas. He says they promised to do something for him last April and now they say "there are others in the same boat." Nor thinks it outrageous that he and Dick whose business it is to fight, should not do so, and instead have their young brother do it for them. Of course they cant help it.

You certainly have had and are having great experiences that will be a joy to you in later life. We had hoped that you would be back here

by Xmas, but by the papers we see that the 32nd has crossed into Prussia as part of the Army of Occupation. I dont suppose therefor that we shall see you for some time, unless of course they release you to come back to college. You may of course elect to stay in the service permanently.

Helen's ship the Nanking was to have sailed last Saturday. She is to leave on the 5th and stops at Honolulu and Shanghai thence Manila arriving there about Jan 1st. She is very anxious to go, and I think she will stay with Nor until he comes home in 1920 at the latest. Lesley hopes to be home by Xmas, he is trying hard to be discharged.

Niebling has resigned. It seems he has had two apoplectic strokes and will probably shuffle if he gets a third. Medcraft has been appointed temporary or acting manager! The Kink likes the new cage. It is a very convenient one and the basement is not all dirty all the time.

Every one in our neighborhood is well. Evelyn Hall is always asking for you. He is an awfully good fellow and thinks the world of you.

Lots of love to you dear old Sned. I am looking for letters from you soon telling about your transfer to the 32nd Div. I don't know how to address you so I hope this letter will reach you. Hugs from your loving father HLA Bates

No money yet received from the Y.M.C.A. I wrote to the Treasurer in N. Y. and told him you had sent me $100 the early part of Sept and another $100 in Oct. He says it takes about three weeks at most. Three months have gone since you sent the first 100.00

1817 Clinton Ave. Alameda Dec 3rd 1918

My dear Edward

Your Mother tells me that she got two letters from you today written about October 31st. We are all happy to know that you have come through unscathed, though you must be very uncomfortable with no change of underwear and with wet feet so constantly. I have the pair of socks that I knit for you in the summer

and have never been able to get to you. I hoped that they would fit into the box your Mother sent for Christmas, but it was too small. If you need them will you get the neccessary permit for me to send them. It distresses me that I cannot send them to you. Your dear Mother has been wonderfully brave, but she and your father were of course dreadfully anxious until your cable came last Tuesday saying that you were well. Your last letter before that was written just before you were to go over the top at Verdun. We have been hoping to see in the papers that your regiment might be among the first to come home, but so far we cannot see anything to that effect. I ordered some candy and a few dates sent to you from Paris. I hope they will reach you by Christmas time, and that they will

be good. I ordered them through "The City of Paris" here — I hope that you will be in some pleasant spot for Christmas, and that it will be a Merry day for you Edward. Jocelyn was home for Thanksgiving, he was looking very well, but had a slight cold, not severe. He will be back again a week or so before Christmas to stay for awhile I think.

I took John to the Haight school today