World War I Collection

[Printed stationery, centered]: BATES 727 Paru Street ALAMEDA, CAL.

March 17 1919

My own darling Edward How do you like these letter heads - Father found his enveloped system so successful that he tried AM letters - I don't like it so well in these because there is no need of it & it is printed I think not engraved & I only like engraving on my letterheads it was very good on the envelopes because it was so clear there was no excuse for the letter getting lost absolutely in case of not finding the person addressed & with you & Dick & Nor &

work behind the lines of some kind - but what? Your grandmother writes that she is delighted at receiving a little photo of you with the Croix de Guerre. Jocelyn got one too which is a little better than ours - clearer & darker - less faded out. Father brought over ours & the best Kodac [Kodak] one & the big one i.e. taken in Sept and to the office today as Mr. Shearer was coming in to get one or two he wants one to frame for the school & one for the prospectus & was delighted [underlined] to find there was one with the decoration on it! i.e. showing. He phoned from San Rafael last week about it - He has asked before your father says for one of each of you boys to frame for the school - one of Nor & Dick also. Well. they will

make a good ad for his school - but we have not any of Nor or Dick for him right now. We asked him to return the others - the little ones after they are copied. Today is lovely weather warm [underlined] & sunny we have had a lovely flowering peach in blossom but it is fading at last. I wanted you to see it - Its a pity they fade so quickly - We like these photos of you taken in Italy! They will always [underlined] be greatest & so will all the other too. Who are the Sege girls are they French the names sound so - ? Or are they the girls who went to the Roamanian [Romanian] Relief Ship whom you saw go - the one from Chicago? I suppose not because we think the girls Sebe look French - We are all pretty [underlined] well dear and longing for you to come back. Did I tell you that Nor Bates was trying forty five cases cellar to

MAGDEBURG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, [centered] OF MAGDEBURG, GERMANY. [centered] GUTTE & FRANK, Managers, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. [centered]

LESLEY BATES, Special Agent.

Los Angeles Cal 23 March 1901

My dear little boy Edward:

I got your nice long letter, and you wrote it very nicely. I wanted to answer it before but I did not have the time. Today I am going to Santa Monica, and will see the Ocean with the big waves rolling on the sand. The water is warm and lots of people go in bathing, but I dont go. I think our house is the nicest in the world, because Mother and you and Jocelyn and Richard and Lesley and Norman are there, and I think that part of Alameda with the bay and the trees is most beautiful. I am sure you boys all like our home. Tell Mother I am too rushed for time to write and the mail goes in a few minutes. I am well but very tired as there were a lot of rough boys making a noise in the street up to three o'clock and they Kept me awake. Mr. Fores goes to Santa Barbara tomorrow, and expects to get to Alameda next Thursday so you will see him. Tell Mother I did not hear from her yesterday, and did not write either. Goodbye Edward. Be a good boy.

always your affect Father

HLABates

be so few of us in the house.

Norman was at home for a few hours on Saturday & he was suffering from Hay fever but otherwise was well –

I was at the dentists this a.m. & feel tired in consequence.

Remember me kindly to Mrs. Siever & Austin, and try to be quiet in your voice and helpful & keep your elbows down [underlined] at the table. They are always up too high you know (inclined to be at least)

Jocelyn is quite lonely without you – Mrs. Waterman has asked him & me to spend some days at the Ranch again but I do not think we can just now. Be very careful not to get into deep water swimming. Remember the