Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930 - 3

rejoicing.

Norman is still out in the Philippines but does not appear to be over satisfied with his lot --- the heat is intense out there and besides he has been in the hospital for the last few weeks taking preventative treatment for dysentery. I wish him luck.

Now, as for yourself Mogo, if you ever get time to write I hope that you will tell me what you can of how you are getting on and whether you are in England, France or Italy. Also I hope that you will call on our reatives & give them our best. By the way, don't fail to give my best regards to King George who is carrying out his job like a man should.

If you see any of my friends over there give them all my best. And, as for yourself, old dear --watch your step and and there will be a hot time in the old town. As ever Your loving brother, Dick.

[written vertically on right side:] Address me U.S.S. Cincinnati c/o P.M. New York City.

727 Paru Street Alameda California, U.S.A. Sept 3rd 1918

My own dearest.

We are trying to possess our souls in patience awaiting a letter from you --- and I supppose it is altogether too soon to even hope for one but still we do. I wrote you of our joy at getting the cable from France! It was certainly a comfort to hear but we of course still hanker for more & more. There is no news from any of the other boys since last I wrote --- None from

[written vertically on left side:] Do if you get a chance have another photo dear - in your U.S.A. cap & blouse - or with the trench cap too if you like but you look so unfamiliar in the other that I want one in the regular

[written vertically on right side:] U.S.A. Cap that you wore out here at Camp Kearny.

Dick whom we suppose to be "at sea" again --- probably [underlined] I imagine serching [searching] for submarines in the Atlantic Coast. Les is still at March Field or was at last reports more than a week ago --Jocelyn still at that ranch --- did I tell you that he was put in Class III which means agricultural exemption.

You will be glad to know that today we have ripped out that old floor planking in the basement which was so rotten & had such a bad oder [odor] -- & are putting carpet down instead -only in the front part & down to the old cement which Mr. Neubold

put in ages ago --- It will be more sanitary with Kink I am sure. & it will be a relief if it will rid the whole house of the oder [odor] of moldy wood which has permeated it so much up to now --- I feel sure [underlined] it will improve [underlined] matters at any rate - It only costs a little - much less than we had supposed --- Then Kink has to sleep out of doors tonight -- He was in trouble again on Sunday morning - I went down to look after him & heard a despairing crying from him --- After a search I found him in the unfinished part [underlined] of the basement. Caught

in a tangle of wires -- the house bells (upstairs buzzers etc). He was so tightly turned in them especially one that was twisted around him that he would not long have survivied I think -- we had to cut all the wires to get him down first & then father & I worked for fully half an hour extricating him from a knot [underlined] of wires which he had entangled himself in -- The tightest one was so tight that we could hardly get hold of it to cut it away from him!!! It would have strangled him before long. it was around his little abdomen poor fellow --- What troubles [underlined] he has.