Berlin July 22, 1945
The letter came last night while I was at Joe's dinner. Was I glad to get it! No your taste in hats is not screwy. If you ever cultivate the same sort of yen for crazy hats that the two you gave those Paris ones to have, I'll refuse to go to church with you. I'd say that is a dire threat. Your hats suit me and theirs do not.
I can't get Chanel No.5. Padre says there is none to be had--not even on the black market. His home station is in Paris. But I managed to get some other kind for six dollars an ounce at the American P.X. They said it is equal to No.5 and sells for thirty-five dollars an ounce at home. So if you don't like it, a profit can be made on it. I bought you a Belgian lace luncheon set--the prettiest thing you ever saw. I'm not going to tell you what it cost--you'd probably have a receiver appointed for me and officially take over the strong box. But I came out a few dollars to the good in the game of chance on the boat, so it's invested in a luxury for you.
The Padre has had a good time. He and Charlie Ross hit it off perfectly, and of course Vaughan Vardaman and Canfil were his old buddies of Ft. Riley and Leavenworth. I'm going to mass at 11:30, presided over by him. I've already been to a Protestant service so I guess I should stand in good with the Almighty for the coming week--and my how I'll need it.
But I seem to have Joe and Winnie talking to themselves and both are being exceedingly careful with me. Uncle Joe gave his dinner last night. There were at least twenty-five toasts--so much getting up and down that there was practically no time to eat or drink either--a very good thing. Being the super-duper guest I pulled out at eleven o'clock after a lovely piano and violin concert by a dirty-faced quartet. The two men play the piano, the two women the violin. I never heard any better ones. Chopin, Tschaikowsky, Liszt; Hungarian Rhapsody, Russian, Ukranian, and Polish folk dances--it was real music. Since I'd had America's No. 1 pianist to play for Uncle Joe at my dinner he had to go me one better. I had one and one violinist--and he had two of each.
He talked to me confidentially at the dinner and I believe things will be all right in most instances. Some things we won't and can't agree on--but I have already what I came for. Hope I can break it off in a few days.
The weather is perfect and I feel fine. The boys say there's never been a conference as well presided over. The Senate gave me some good experience.
Lots and lots of love, kiss the baby, Harry.