Grandview, Mo.
October 7, 1911
Dear Bessie:
I just now arose at eight a.m. and found your good letter before breakfast. It sure was a good one. I do hope you won't make Miss Nell think I was very exceedingly fresh when I said she had the dignity of an owl. I surely said owl because I could think of nothing more sedate and dignified just then. Probably I should have said a Supreme Judge.
I went to Lodge last night and conferred a Second Degree. It was in the New Temple and Temple Lodge, the largest Masonic Lodge in Missouri. There were only about twenty-five present though. I immediately bought a Star when I found I could not come over-to see if there was a lodge meeting, because I felt not like a show after the chuckled-headed way I talked to you about not getting to come down. You can surely bet on Harry to say the wrong thing in the right place. Of course I was disappointed in not getting to come. After, I thought it sounded as if I didn't care or not from what I said. But I merely had in mind that any entertainment you might go to would be more enjoyable to you than trying to get a conversation out of me, see?
Corn, wine and oil came down from King Solomon. He used them in his dedications and therefore so do we, and the Masonic fraternity does everything in form, and by ritual, that is why I said they'd unreel some pink tape.
Mamma and I went to the parade. She took a notion she'd go on Monday and we went to Dr. Lester's and sat on their front porch. They live at 10th and Forest, so we saw the parade at about eight-thirty and weren't crowded a bit. It looked just like the first one I ever saw on streetcars. I wouldn't give a copper cent to see it anymore. There were people who paid fifty cents just to see a ten-minute electric show pass. Dr. Lester rented his yard to a man for ten dollars and he charged people twenty-five cents to stand and look. I told Mamma we had our nerve to go to Dr. Lester's for supper and then help fill up his front porch, and she said he also had his nerve to come out here at 8:00 P.M. and tell her he'd had no supper, as he had done several times. So she let one cancel the other. They treated us fine and had a good spread too.
I have to go to a sale today and I'd as soon take a beating. All a person does is stand around and bemoan the rotten crop year and figure on how much corn he'll have and whether it will be best to feed the hogs as run them over until spring. Then when he takes a notion he'll buy a bargain, his good neighbors will take the same notion-and the auctioneer will sell him the bargain five dollars higher than it will ever be worth. Anyway I am going. There is a fellow who wants to go to South Dakota and register for a claim. He had me get all necessary information for him yesterday. He is trying to get me to go with him, but I think it would just be fifteen good dollars thrown away. I am also going to try and buy a hog but I bet I don't.
Noel is quite a distinguished place now. Did you ever notice that if you suddenly get acquainted with a place you never heard of, it will always be bobbing up and you will be continually seeing it in print? Be sure and make me some of those pictures, for I sure want them. Myra Colgan gave Mary a Kodak album last year, and I am sure those pictures will materially add to its look and distinction.
I am dead sure I can make those cousins cook if you'll only come. I am going to tell you a deep, dark secret. Please don't let it out until you hear it from Ethel because dear brother might manhandle me. He is going to get hooked up on the twenty-eighth. Has already rented him a farm and is going to start in business right. He sure is getting a fine girl. She has red hair. It is very dark though. We can't get a thing out of Vivian without just pumping and prying, and then what we get isn't worth the trouble. But I know it's going to be the twenty-eighth. I suppose they'll tell everyone soon anyway.
Don't you forget H.M.S. Pinafore? I have never seen it either. So I am sure we can enjoy it immensely. I think we'd better have dinner downtown, don't you? It will take so long to go to Independence and back so many times.
You sure are prompt with the reply and I thank you. Keep it up. I am going to try and come in one day next week and will let you know at least two days ahead, and then maybe I can have some luck.
Sincerely, Harry