World War I Collection

Jos & I went into an ice cream store leaving the car at the curb with Mr Kink tied up short and all the curtains drawn. When we came out, there was a big crowd around the car, and Mr Kink had his head and two paws sticking out from under the curtain! Mother gave lectures all day long to admiring crowds on the life & habits of Kinks etc etc. No more trips with Monsieur (or Madame?) Kink for me!!

We got a letter from Dick yesterday. You know he is Executive Officer of the Cincinnati. He has offered to lend me money to lend to his brothers if they need it. I think Dick was in Florida when he wrote as the letter took about the same time as it did when he wrote from there before. A letter from Lesley yesterday says that he is teaching flying and is to go up with the cadets. He sent us about two feet off the end of a propeller blade which he broke in landing. Helen hopes to go to Cavite in Oct if she can get transportation. We have not heard from Nor since he left the hospital. Bull Lion is home. He has just finished his exams for 3rd Officer and is assigned as such to the Equador which sails next Saturday for China. We have had the wooden floor in the basement taken up and cement put down. We are going to have the kitchen painted and linoleum put down, but the cost of everything is so great that we have to go slow.

The Watermans have gone today to Chico. Edith is on the Land Board and has to inspect ranches where women are to work. The Austrian peace proposal is out in the papers today, with Lansings reply that there is "nothing of that kind doing."

The Germans have got to be licked until they beg for peace and make an unconditional surrender.

Lots of love from us. Will write as often as I can.

Always your loving father HLA Bates

surprising that a city so greatly different from American cities could be so close to the United States but here we have one only 90 miles from Florida. There is horse racing, cock fighting, gambling of all kinds, golf, swimming, tennis and a general strike in everything so smooth things over. But you would probably enjoy the place as I do.

I suppose that by the time you receive this you will be back in your company and will no longer be enjoying yourself on sick leave in southern France and Italy. Still you have had a very interesting career so far, and a little more hardship should in no way be unfortunate.

Mother tells me and I believe that you told me also that you were uncertain as to whether you should remain in the Army or whether you should go back to the University. That is a question