Wednesday.
[DEAREST ONE:]
The Vitagraph people came today. They have a great film
to stir people to preparedness called "The Battle Cry of
Peace." It shows New York destroyed by Germans. They took
pictures of several of the better-known men showing "them"
preparing. I was taken cleaning my rifle, and, as the captain
was passing, I asked him to get in the picture with me and be
shown
instructing me. He was delighted, but right in the middle of
the picture he "inspected" my barrel. I had not cleaned it,
and he forgot the camera, and gave me the devil. You can
imagine how the crowd roared, and the camera director man was
delighted. I wanted it retaken showing the captain patting me
on the back.
Roosevelt turned up today, and was very nice. Martin
Egan came with him and the British Naval Attache, and they
have asked me to dine at a real table at Hotel Champlain with
two other men. It will be fine to eat off china. The "hike"
begins Friday, and we sleep each night on the ground, but the
country we march through is beautiful. All that counts is
getting the days behind me and getting you in my arms. Doing
one's "bit" for one's country is right, but as the man said,
"God knows I love my country and want to fight for her, but I
hope to God I never love another country." Good-night, dear,
dear one! How wonderful it will be to see and hear you again.
Kiss Hope for her Dad.
RICHARD.
