Guatemala City November 22, 1939
Dear Bess:
I am a little late getting today's letter written. I wrote Margie on the plane today and it got so rough I could not write any more. Sent her the place card of the President of Nicaragua and a specially stamped envelope he gave me for her and when it was smooth enough to write again we were landing here. I have had no sickness of any kind and I've gained five pounds on the trip. I look like the German Ambassador. It was as rough as it ever gets this morning and I was still all right. We had to wait for the people who went to Honduras to join us at the airport at Managua and therefore didn't leave until after 10 o'clock. It was one when we landed here and we were supposed to arrive at 10:30.
The President of Nicaragua is a regular fellow. He met us when we landed, gave us a reception at his house - palace would be a better word - had an informal dinner for us at the finest club I've been to, and then saw us off this morning. When I told him that Margie went to school with his daughter he gave me his place card, endorsed to her, and brought the stamp cancellation to the airport this morning.
We went to the races this afternoon where we met the President of Guatemala. He is said to be the best of the Central American Presidents. His name is Ubico and is given credit for eliminating graft in this country - the only one south of the Rio Grande where it has been done. Even Mr. Somoza hasn't tried to eliminate it.
I went to dinner with Lt. Col. Harold Thompson in Panama the night before I left. He was stationed at Kansas City with the Cavalry Reserve for a long time. The Post Exchange Officer was there with his wife and they took me over to the exchange and I bought some very fine French perfume and they gave me some beautiful Chinese jewelry that sells for just nothing. Don't buy anyone any Christmas presents until you've seen my pack when I get home. I think I have something for every body in the family and a lot of extras you can do as you please with--I told you about a watch for Margie. Well I got a Scotch cashmere sweater for her dad. Some Guatemalan Indian woven things that are perfectly beautiful--luncheon clothes for bridge tables etc. Maybe you'll want to send them back but I hope you won't--and I still have Mexico City to shop in. We went to the fair this afternoon after the [illegible] and it was the most colorful one I've ever seen. The manager told us that there were 100000 people attended. 37000 of them rode the roller coaster. Every Indian Tribe in Central America had an exhibit. Wish you could have seen it. Hope to get tomorrow's letter off on time.
Kiss Margie. Love to you. Harry