November 17th.
[DEAR SWEETHEART:]
My last letter was such a complaining one that I am
ashamed. But, not leaving me to decide what was best for the
papers, made me mad. Since I wrote, I ought to be madder, for
I have been to the trenches outside of Rheims in Champagne;
and, had they not deviled the spirit out of me with cables, I
believe I could have written such a lot of stories of France
that no one else has had the opportunity to write. Believe me
no one has yet told the story of the trench war. Anyway, in
spite of all the photographs and articles, to me it was all
new. I was allowed to go alone, and given carte blanche
to see whatever I wished. I saw everything, but it would not be
possible to write of it yet. It was wonderful. I was in the
three lines, reaching the first line by moonlight. No one
spoke above a whisper. The Germans were only 300 to 400 yards
distant. But worst of all were the rats. They ran over my
feet and I was a darned sight more afraid of them than the
Germans. I saw the Cathedral, and the only hotel open (from
which I sent you and Hope a postal) was the same one in which
we stopped a year ago. I had sent the hotel my book in which
I said complimentary things, and I got a great welcome. They
even gave me a room with a fire in it, and so I was warm for
the first time since I left the Crossroads. And this morning
it snowed. On my way back to Paris, I stopped to tell the
General what I had seen and to thank him. He said, "Oh, that
is nothing. When you return, I will take you out myself, and
I will show you something worth while." I am going to carry a
rat-trap, and two terriers on a leash. Tonight, when I got
back, there was a letter from you, but no writing,
but there was a photo of Her, and me holding her. How is it
possible that any living thing is so beautiful as my child?
How fat, and wonderful, and dear, and lovable, and how
terribly I want to hold her as I am holding her in the
picture, and how much better as I really don't need my left
arm to hold such a mite), if I had you close to me in it. I
miss you so, and love you so! I told Wheeler before I left as
I was not going to waste time traveling I would not go to
Servia. So, as soon as I arrived, I was fretted with cables
to go. I cabled to stop giving me advice, that I had a much
better chance in France than anyone could have anywhere else.
Maybe, before I arrive, the Greeks will have joined the
Germans, in which case,
I won't leave the ship.
I'll come straight back on her to the Allies.
RICHARD.
November 20th.
This is the way Hope's cat looks, "My whiskers!" she
says, "I never knew I was to be let in for anything like
this!" When I told her about the big rats in the trenches she
wanted to go with me next time, but, today when I told her
that the Crown Prince of Servia made his servants eat live
mice (he is no longer Crown Prince), she looked just as she
does in the picture. "Then, what do I eat in Servia?" she
said, and I told her both of us would live on goat's milk.
You will be glad when I tell you I have been, warm. We
came pretty far south in two days, and, the damp chill of
Paris is gone. On the train a funny thing happened. An
English officer and I got talking and he was press censor at
Salonica where I am going after Athens. I asked him to look
over the many letters I had and tell me if any of them would
be likely to
get me in bad, being addressed to pro-Germans, for example.
He said, "Well,
this chap is all right anyway. I'll
vouch for him, because this letter is addressed
to me." We leave, the Basses, the English officer and
I, in a small tub of a boat for Patras, and train to Athens.
I will try to go at once to Servia. Harjes, who are the Paris
house of J. P. Morgan, gave me a "mission" to try and organize
for the Servians the same form of relief as has been arranged
for the Belgians. He gave me permission if I saw the need for
help was imminent (and it will be) to cable him for whatever I
thought the Serbs most needed. So, it is a chance to do much.
To get out news will be impossible. However, here I am and
tomorrow I'll be good and seasick.
I have your charm around my neck, and all the pictures,
and the luck-bringing cat, and the scapular,
and the love you give me to keep me well and bring us soon
together. That is the one thing I want. God bless you both,
Hope's dad and your husband.
[Description: Hand drawing of cat and alarm clock, with the following
handwritten text: