Grandview, Mo. March 12, 1912
Dear Bess,
Your letter came this morning and as usual I was awful glad to get it. It seems like two weeks since I've seen you. I got in the buggy and drove to Aunt Emma's to dinner Sunday, and it was only because I couldn't find a Home phone that I didn't call you up and see if I could come over. You know the reason I didn't call up Friday morning? I was afraid you wouldn't be up! And since I'd rather sleep than eat myself, I didn't want to cause you to get up just to talk to me over the phone.
Uncle Harrison went straight to a phone and called up Mamma Thursday and told her that he had met me on the street-and that I was with a Miss Wallace from Independence. Mary almost had hysterics. I guess Uncle thought he was doing me a favor, which he was. The people at home considered that they had one on me and I got off without a raking for not letting them know I'd arrived.
I waited exactly ten minutes at Brighton Thursday night. The car from Mt. Washington went through and I was down town at 1:40. I'm awfully glad I have that Easter date for I do like pretty music and Bishop Partridge can sure preach.
I have gone and made another date for you if you can fill it. You know Marlon Sothern come the last week in March. Could you go on Saturday night to see Twelfth Night? You know they are more educational than pleasure anyway. The reason I am particularly anxious for you to go is because Myra and Roy are going to have seats next ours and I'd like for you to meet them. Of course if you really don't think it would be right for you to go why I won't be offended. But I hope you'll decide to go.
They are trying to persuade me to join a band out here. I think I'll draw the line though. I can stand Lodges, militia, and most anything but I guess a band is going too far. I sure would be Har-rar-ry then, broad a to match sor-ror-ry. I like Irish Ha-ry better than any other way. I am called Herry Haary Hary and most everything else. Miss Mamie Dunne first gave me the Irish way. She was my second-grade teacher at the Westside.
I haven't begun the 5:00 a.m. business yet, but I have gone to work. We are commencing at six now. But that is because we don't have to do anything but feed a dozen cows and twenty horses and about seventy hogs. I dug a load of fodder out of the snowdrifts three feet deep yesterday. Will do the same stunt in the morning and every one thereafter until the snow melts.
Mary went down to Vivian's Sunday and couldn't return until today on account of the snow and the rain. I had to go after her in the big wagon. In places the snow is drifted six feet deep. Where hedge fences are along east and west roads they are level full of snow. The only way to get through is to drive up against the south fence. Mr. Dyer started to K.C. in a Ford car and it took four mules to extract him from a big drift this side of Blue Hill. That road is open now though.
Grandview is still a dry town in spite of Judge Gilbert. The council refused the license. I am glad because it would have been a tough place. All Kansas and Cass County would have congregated here for their weekly sprees. Then K.C. auto toughs would have had a relay station too. So everything considered, it's best for Grandview to be dry. If they had K.C. police protection, then I'd say give'em booze all they want, because they bootleg anyway. When they buy on the quiet though they have to drink that way, and that helps some.
I sincerely hope you can go on March 30 to see a Shakespeare play, because it may be the last show this season I'll get to attend. Did you get the Kodak pictures and what did they cost you? Let me know when you write right soon.
Sincerely, Harry