The Stevens Chicago, Ill. September 16, 1941
Dear Bess:
Don't let anyone tell you that 50 is better to drive than 40. There are more curves, higher mountains and more beautiful scenery, but I don't believe you'd like it any more than you do the Maryland Alleghenies.
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Clarksburg is a good one and they have, in the lobby some of the things he owned and carried in the war. They also have some glassware for sale you'd like. So some day when we have a lot of time if you care to do it we'll drive that way. So far as the distance is concerned there isn't enough difference to talk about. By 40 Columbus is about 400 miles even by 50 and U.S. 33 it is 415 miles. The fifteen is curves and scenery.
Ft. Wayne is a nice town, but the hotel and garage keepers are a bunch of thieves. They charged me $3.50 for a $2.50 Room and the garage cost $1.00 when it should have been fifty cents.
Arrived here at eleven o'clock Standard Time, or ten-thirty really, because I caught an eleven o'clock electric car to Milwaukee. They are on daylight saving, so by Chicago time it was twelve o'clock. Got to the beer town at one o'clock Standard Time. It is ninety-five miles and I walked over to the parade. They had all the streets blocked and wouldn't let me into it, so I walked the whole length of it to the hotel where the Missourians were staying. Saw Clem White from St. Joe and several other fellows. They told me about Fred Chambers falling over in Bennett's room. I went over to see Bennett, but he wasn't available. I don't think Fred had been indulging in spiritus fumenti, because he was not in the habit of doing it.
Clem White told me he had been kidding Bennett about being so long getting ready to go to the Missouri caucus that he sat down in a chair and crossed one foot over his knee and was dead before anyone realized that he was even out. Just shows that we are all past the age of 1917.
I am going back to Milwaukee tomorrow for lunch and then to St. Louis. Bill Mox, Ed McKim Jr., and a school friend of young Ed came down to see me after I got back from Milwaukee. Vic also came up to see me. He was here on a job for a factory out here in Ill., said they gave him a monthly retainer to help them on a defense contract. Vic says he is doing a land office business. I am glad he is. He went to St. Louis tonight. I'll probably see him there also.
Dr. Mather and I have to finish up my report on Thursday. Will be in K.C. on Friday.
Hope you are all happy and enjoying things. Fulton called up and said old Jesse wouldn't let Mr. Husbands testify. John said he wouldn't. And the papers hush hushed it up. It is a helluva note. No wonder we can't get things done. Say hello to your mother, kiss Margie. Love to you.
Harry