Grandview, Mo.
January 3, 1912
Dear Bessie:
I am using a stub pen and it goes on a rampage some times. I suppose that 1912 gave it the jimjams anyway it made a beautiful address.
Where were you Tuesday about eleven-thirty? Someone was evidently talking the receiver off your phone. I had to go see our lawyer in the forenoon and I tried to call up to see if you'd go to the Orpheum, but for some reason never did connect up. I guess I'll not be able to come down Thursday, much as I'd like to. I fear you might carry out your threat about the speach [sic] and then I'll have to work today and tomorrow and Friday so I can say I got in half a week anyway. This new route around the sheet is entirely unintentional. I didn't discover until I went to turn it over that I was going backwards. I am too lazy to start again and besides this variety of paper is getting scarce.
I shall have to come to Independence Saturday to swear that I have lived in Jackson County for the last five years and if you will be at home that evening I'd be most awful glad. I went to Belton from K.C. yesterday and helped them install the officers of Belton Lodge. We will do the job at Grandview on Friday. If I hadn't already lost two days this week (and will lose another Saturday) and if it were not for that speach? [sic], I would see the same performance at Independence but I have to stay at home sometimes.
I was Grand Marshall last night at Belton. You can see how it should be done on Thursday. I didn't do it that way. When the show was over I sneaked off to the hotel and stayed all night so I would not have to arise at an unearthly hour. Some one of the good brothers always takes me home with him when I stay in Belton. They are nearly all in business that requires their attention at an early hour. I have not had more than four hours of sleep at one time since last Friday night. Therefore, the hotel.
Did you ever have a house party mostly girls? Well if you have you know whether they sleep or not. You never heard such a racket in your life. It sounded like the ten-cent store on bargain day from Saturday morning until Monday afternoon. Of course I contributed my share of the noise, but my share was mostly in daylight. Five of the girls stayed in one room at night and mine adjoined it on the east. It sounded at times as if a young earthquake had escaped and was endeavoring to enter my room through the solid wall. The girls said that one set wanted all the covers and the others wouldn't stand for it. We had a fine time, though, but as Macbeth would say, house parties murder sleep. I wish people wouldn't all try to have their parties on the same day. You know Miss Dicie and Miss Maggie hit the same date and on Monday evening Mrs. Frank Blair at Belton had a dinner party and Miss Whiteman at Grandview also favored me with an invitation for a party that day. I already had her invitation when you called up. She doesn't know it though I am happy to say. If people at Grandview find out I pass them up to go to Independence they'll think I'm stuck up. I'm not though because I'd pass up the whole state when I get a chance to come down there. Especially between now and February because after that I'll have to stay at home every day but Sunday. Maybe you'll be glad of that but I won't.
How would you enjoy Mizzi Hojos on Saturday P.M.? That is provided I am able to land some decent seats. Would you mind balcony no. 1 provided downstairs is all gone? I believe you said you were going to see Blanche Ring on Saturday afternoon. What is the reason I couldn't meet you somewhere after the show and go to dinner in K.C. and then to the show. Provided of course you could stand the Tea Cup Inn, for I'm too near busted for the Baltimore. Besides, they serve a tabled whatever it is dinner there and I wouldn't have to bother my hear about what to order. I shall call you up tomorrow and tell you I can't come down tomorrow evening and then we can discuss this arrangement. I hope you can go. Now you owe me a letter and a half. Be sure and answer the half.
Sincerely, Harry