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

taken by Dawsonville printed off - 3 different views - they are fair but could be better, you know I never was satisfied with them but like them better than I did [underlined] because I have not the original to look at !!

Strange as it may seem your two Kodac [Kodak] pictures arrived the moment I wrote that sentence. Came from Liverpool & were evidently taken on your ship -- They are not good [underlined]. i.e. the one alone is not but the one against the railing with two English looking sailors -- or Navy men

and two other American looking soldiers is better -You all look happy & goodnatured and the U.S. Men overtop the British by a good deal -- It is good to see you dear -- though you look rather dim & vague but well & happy -- Thank god for that -- Lesley sent me by same mail some views of himself not very good either they were taken for Government -- He tried at Cekells when up here -- but they were very [underlined] poor even worse than these I think -Tell me dear do you want these Kodacs [Kodaks] of yourself of have other copies -- & do you want me to send any of the other views, these

from Camp Mills or Dawsonvilles -- or Lesleys I don't know whether you want to be burdened with them or not? If you want them I will be very glad to send them. So let us know ---

Les writes that he saw a zoo near in Los Angeles who would buy Kink - he has a lot of interesting animals and uses them in moving picture work --- I have felt lately that I may soon have to part with Kink for he has behaved very badly -- twice lately screaming & snarling at Ramona & me When she had to go into the basement for things -- I rushed to her rescue & he did the same at me! -- Would not stop &

threatened to fly in our faces -- No matter how I talked & tried to soothe him! It frightened me very [underlined] much so that I feel afraid to go into the basement to look after him lest he do so again, there is no excuse for it for he has never had anything but the most gentle care from me! -- This Los A. man tells Lesley they are vicious when full grown, & this certainly looks like it. It is hard to believe when he seems so gentle in between times!! But I am really nervous now about going in the basement - which I never [underlined] was before you know -- & I am still so fond of Kink that I hate to give him up -- I would like to find a place nearby where I could see him sometimes. I told you of our taking him on the trip & how funny he was -- We took him because we feared to ask any

one to look after him for he had flown at Ramona a few days before! -- She pretends not [underlined] be afraid but I [underlined] am very much afraid of him when he behaves that way - He snarls. & almost genaws [gnaws] & holds himself poised as if to spring & I believe he would [underlined] spring. He might [underlined] not do serious damage but he might [underlined] because his teeth are getting sharper & his claws rather large -- I believe if he actually were to spring he could [underlined] do serious damage to ones face at least --by tearing or biting --- It seems hard to believe --- I would not have believed myself that he could [underlined] be this way had I not seen & heard him myself --I dont think I mentioned it to Les.