Lawton, Okla. October 3, 1917
Dear Bess:
This is the banner day of my stay here so far. I got two letters from you. One of them was postmarked the twenty-ninth, and the other the second.
I was on the point of wiring you but was afraid it would cause you more worry than gladness and so I didn't do it. I slipped up a day on writing you but couldn't help it. You no doubt got my spasm from the Lee-Huckins written on Sunday night. Monday was my most strenuous day. I began having callers at eight-thirty and from then on until twelve-thirty salesmen nearly ran me ragged. At two-thirty I got a car and began making the rounds, trying to buy some pop and get into connection with a laundry. Pop seems to be unobtainable. I could only get fifty cases and I wanted a carload. The laundries have formed a combination and advanced the prices 40 percent for our benefit. I told them that we would do our own washing. It would cost fifty-four cents to get a shirt, pants, and socks washed. Colonel told me to send the laundry to Kansas City. I am hiring a man here in the Battery to do mine. After I'd seen the laundries and wholesale house to the tune of seven dollars worth of auto hire, I had to run to catch my train back here and get into camp at 12:30 a.m. The canteen is a whiz. I did four hundred dollars worth of business today. It gets bigger all the time. Sold six hundred bottles of Puritan in two hours this evening. It takes six men to wait on the trade and keeps me phoning all the time to keep in supplies. I am writing this at 11:30 p.m. after my day is over. We had a grand time yesterday selecting our mounts from the issued horses. There were one thousand to pick from and we took turns on precedence. I am the seventh first lieutenant from the top and had a grand allotment to pick from. Picked a sorrel with a flax mane and tail. He proceeded to pile three men on the ground one after the other. I am going to get another horse to rest up on when he gets done with me. It was like a bunch of six-year-old kids turned loose in a candy shop when those officers were told to select their mounts. The chaplain was given first choice. He picked a beautiful black with one white hind foot. Everyone was offering him advice but I don't think he needed any. We all had lots of fun and I think everyone is happy with the choice he made.
I can't understand why you haven't had my letters. I have written one to you every day but yesterday. All our mail goes to Lawton then comes over here, and I suppose they haven't their system properly arranged as yet.
Don't you give any thought to what that rotten sheet at 17th and Grand says about us. We have an ideal camping place good water and plenty of it; will have electric lights in a few days; have to [six] much to eat good beds to sleep on and our hospitals are going to be palaces when completed which will be very shortly. They are not needed any way as no one has been seriously sick except a fellow who got too familiar with one of these plug's heels, and he's only got a cracked rib. They sent him to the Post about two miles away which has a hospital as fine as R.A. Long's or St. Joseph's. Our doctors have less to do than any of us except the horse doctors. I guess the horse doctors will be pretty busy very shortly though. It looks as if we meant business by getting our horses so soon. I understand that guns are on the way. I'm tickled pink to hear you are going to see Mrs. Klemm. She's sure nice.
My hat is too small really after what Mrs. Montague said. You know that's some compliment from a mother of boys. I appreciate and only wish I could live up to it. I am awful glad Frank is free to do as he likes. I was uneasy when I heard he'd been called. Wish I could have gone to the river with you. I'm awful glad you saw Mamma and Mary and that they were well. I have had a letter from Mary and two today from you and one from you Saturday.
Don't forget the picture for I'm sure lonesome to see you. Thank your mother for her love and give her mine if there is any left from you.
Your Harry