Epistles make my hair stand on end

Sallie dearest:

            We are on the train from Batangas to Manila – left at two and hope to be there at eight.  This is the most awful train.  Tonight I must take a bath and dress to go out to a big dinner at the Club.  Not a very big one, but that captain in the Navy that I knew out here nine years ago and saw this time in Olongapo is giving it for me.  Then wash my hair, get some clean clothes out of one trunk, and stow some away, pack up and arise tomorrow morning at 4:30 to catch the six o’clock train for Baguio.  You remember the army officer who was so nice to me when we were up before and who came down to Manila to meet me on the transport?  Barton Garey by name.  Well we are going to visit him.  Of course everyone eats at the officer’s mess.  For the past month, Angel dear, I’ve been getting daily epistles that fairly make my hair stand on end, and in a rash moment I promised to give him the final yes or no this trip, but don’t believe I feel very serious about it, because in Batangas I nearly fell hopelessly in love with a Mr. Watson.  Mr. Garey and he roomed together at West Point, and he told me a lot about this very attractive man I would meet there.  He is six feet three, wonderfully built, and is said to be the best looking man that ever graduated from the Point.  Now do you blame me?  One minor point was that he never seriously asked me to marry him, but we certainly had glorious times together.  He took me to all the dances, dinners, launch to sailing parties and everything, so that there was very little time wasted.  The moonlight.  Well I’ve never seen anything like it and oh!  dear the life is fascinating.  There’s no doubt about it, and Mrs. Wiegenstein was lovely – always in for everything and I never had such a strenuous time.  There was a bachelor there, and awfully nice one, whom I knew at Fort Sheridan.  He took me motoring several times.  One night there was a lovely German and we had such fun making some of the favors, and among Mrs. W.’s numerous entertainments she gave for us was an April Fool dinner.  While she and I were trying the wine beforehand we drank to Shang’s health in honor of her birthday.  We had lots of fun getting things ready for that.  In the center was a doll clown standing on a basket of red hibiscus and holding in his hands red ribbons leading to supposed gold bricks in front of each plate.  We made them of small tin boxes covered with gold paper and filled with candy.  Running from the center all over the table were little narrow red ribbons with little bells tied on the ends.  The candle shades were tall fools caps with big red spots and at each place.  There were fourteen.  There were the fruit cocktails, but covered up by a big fools cap which each one put on and wore the entire evening.  Hidden among the flowers were foolish little presents for each one with a red ribbon attached and running to their place, which we drew out at the last.  It was really a lovely dinner, as well as being funny.           

            I was so surprised yesterday to get a most interesting looking box and more than pleased when I found inside a bag from you and Shang.  It was mailed the 18^th of Nov. and where it has been sojourning, I can’t imagine, but it was more welcome than if it had come on time.  I wonder if you saw one like it.  It is such lovely soft leather, lined in blue and is fitted with everything one could want.  I shall certainly use it everywhere I go because it looks just like a pocket book, but I can take my crocheting or anything I want right with me.  You and Shang were dears.  A few weeks ago I sent home two more packages of things to stow away for me.  One a floor mat.  Isn’t it lovely for $.75 and a basket containing some shells (they were given to me) some silver things that are made entirely from old Spanish coins.  They have Igarote figures on the handles, some little hemp baskets and some hand woven things that the [Neoros] drape around their lips.  I thought they would make such pretty table runners, don’t you?  I can’t remember if there was anything else, but do tell me as soon as it comes for I made a mistake and didn’t value it at enough and hope it doesn’t get lost.  There is nothing dutiable as it is all native products.

            I can’t imagine anything nicer than for you and Shang to meet us in Italy – oh! that would be ideal.  Do be sure and plan for it, and then here’s hoping that your plans will all be carried out.  About a year from now, that still seems unbearably long, but is much better than a year from June, isn’t it?  I am just going to eat you alive, and if by any hook or crook I should marry in the army you and Shang have to come and stay with me even tho’ we’re stationed at the south pole.  How would you like to have an army officer for a son-in-law?  You sweet angel, how I long to see you!  I’m afraid you can’t read this, but it’s all the train’s fault.  It’s so jiggly.

April 3, 1913                        Alice

One other girl and ten ships of the fleet

Dearest Angel:

            We have been leading a strenuous life lately.  All of a sudden we went to Olangapo, the naval station where Mrs. Webb, whose husband is a doctor in the Navy, had invited us to visit her, so we spent five days there.  That is where Mr. Spore is.  There was only one other girl and ten ships of the fleet in the harbor, so you may imagine how exciting it was.  The swimming there is fine.  Every afternoon we would get into our suits, walk down to the tug that goes every afternoon at 4:30.  Everyone goes.  All the people in the Yard and all the officers from the ships.  It would take us about twenty minutes to get to the float, which was in very deep clear water.  (Went to lots of luncheons and dinners on board the different ships too.  My, but it is good to be with Americans.)  The tug would anchor out a ways, and then in about an hour come in for us, and we’d get back a little before seven.  The float was about a quarter of a mile from shore, but a rather deserted spot, and sometimes when we would swim in close by we could see monkeys swinging on the cocoanut trees.  Each evening had to be divided into several parts, and at a dance they gave for me it was really funny – each encore had to be given to a different man, and we danced till after three.  Then I got up at five thirty to catch the boat to Manila, got in at two and had just time to catch the train at two thirty for Batanga.  It was the slowest, dirtiest train I’ve ever seen, and when we arrived finally at nine, imagine being greeted by Mrs. Wiegenstein with the news that I must hustle into some clothes as they were having a dance at the Club and waiting for us.  I felt ready to drop, but by the time I was dressed and meeting all the new people and hearing good music, I forgot my weakness and danced till after midnight. 

Capt. And Mrs. W. are just as lovely as ever.  Lucile talks a lot about the Naval Station – asked me the other day about the lady that was lying down and who talked to her one day upstairs in bed.  After a question or two I discovered that she meant Shang, and she remembered the day I took her upstairs to see her when she was in bed.  Don is enormous, nearly as big as Lucile, runs everywhere and can talk a little.  He is certainly a fine youngster.  Mrs. W. sends her love to you both and was so interested and glad to hear that Shang is so much better.  They have such a nice big house here, and the whole Post is fine. 

There are only two other girls and twelve awfully nice bachelors.  There’s no doubt about it.  Army life is fascinating and to my way of thinking has the Navy skinned a mile.  Things have been terribly gay.  We have been here nearly a week and there is something always on hand.  Mrs. W. is so full of fun everyone thinks they can’t give a party without her or it will fall flat, for she keeps everything going.  When there isn’t a dinner to get to she always has a crowd in the evening, or we go to some ones else house and have loads of fun.  Always supper about midnight, with lots of singing and laughing, etc.  for these moonlight nights are so wonderful that no one can go to bed, but instead we take a nap after lunch and get dressed then just in time for a tea or tennis or some such thing.  Yesterday we went out in a big tug to an island where we landed, ate our supper on the beach, and came home by moonlight.  You see it is dark here the minute the sun sets.  Easter Sunday [1913].

            Alice

Just saw in the A. and N. Journal about Miss Suzanne Carter.  Isn’t that lovely, and also about Glenn’s resigning.  Think he was very wise, don’t you?

***** A Chorus Girl and Very Fascinating

ARMY AND NAVY CLUB

MANILA, P. I.

Dear Angel:

            Your letters have at last been rounded up, and I can never tell you how glad I was to get them, for imagine hearing about what you did Thanksgiving on the eight of March.  Don’t know what happened, but the mail got way laid some where. I should love to see all your new clothes and the touch of turquoise blue sounds lovely, for it was always so becoming to your sweet self.

            Yesterday I sent you two packages to stow away for me – some Maori pictures that I tho’t I might as well be rid of, and a few baskets and a Moro flag.  Isn’t it a weird looking thing?  Be sure and tell me if you don’t get any of these.  Be sure and tell me if you don’t get any of these.  Have a couple of new dresses just for morning – an embroidered white crepe, and a white dotted Swiss with long tight sleeves and ruffles around the wrists. 

            When I got off the transport I certainly had an embarrassment of riches, for there was Mr. Spore the Annapolis man with six days leave from Olongapo to spend in Manila with me, and Lieut. Gary the Army man from Baguio with four days leave.  Fortunately I saw the later first, so had every minute of the four days engaged by the time the Navy got his foot in, so I settled him and started off on a most heavenly time with Mr. G.  He brought me an enormous wooden box of the most beautiful roses from Baguio.  It is the only place in the islands that they grow, for it is too hot here in Manila, so here they mean as much as orchids do at home.  We were together every minute, except a few when I was dressing or trying to get a little beauty sleep.  Just motoring, driving, walking (a little) or sitting here listening to the orchestra.  You have heard of the [Lunetta] haven’t you?  It is the driveway along the waterfront, and there the band plays every night from six to seven.  We used to always drive there, then dress and have dinner, and go out again.  It really was lovely, and thrilled my poor hungry soul so that I all but said I’d leave my happy home right then and there, but don’t you worry, lover dear.  Even he couldn’t keep me from coming back to you just as fast as I possibly could. 

            He went back to Baguio on Thursday, and now I have just finished up the two strenuous remaining days of Mr. Spore’s leave.  He certainly did give me a good time and struggled hard, but I had rather lost my enthusiasm for him by that time.

            Father and I have been to three lovely dinners since we got back and I really enjoyed them for they were all given by people who had been on the transport with us, and you know you get to know people pretty well after nearly three weeks at sea together.

            Just heard that the steamer we wanted to sail on for Japan on the 5^th April doesn’t go till the 15^th.  In that case father says he would like to go to Baguio again instead of staying here when we get back from Batangas.  Of course nothing would suit me better, and I do hope we will go. 

            The fleet has been out on a weeks target practice, but came in this morning and certainly looks lovely.  There is heaps of scandal about the admiral who is desperately in love with the wife of his aide, who was a chorus girl and very fascinating.  Mrs. Admiral is here, but says husband is urging her to take the southern island trip, so they will probably have a still finer time while she is away.  The aide doesn’t seem to care at all.

            My but it is hot.  You know the story, don’t you, about the Irish man who didn’t like lettuce and said he hoped he never would learn to, for if he did then he’d eat it and he hated the ‘darn stuff’.  Well I feel exactly the same about the tropics – am afraid I’ll get to like it and don’t want to, but it really is fascinating to see everyone always in white, blue blue skies, bright flowers, wonderful moonlight, and the lazy luxurious life everyone manages to lead.  I don’t hate it nearly as much as I used to.

            Oceans of love,

March 9, 1913            Alice

The Worst Looking People *****

Angel dearest:

            Here we are on the army transport “Warren”.  I have always wanted to travel on one to see what it really was like, and am most agreeably surprised, for this one is fine, and such nice people on board.  Everyone Army except two other Navy families who are just taking the southern island trip as we are and going right back to Manila.  The men are rather scarce for it is just time for maneuvers so they are all out in the field, but there is such a dandy girl, Marjorie Edson from Washington, whose sister is married into the Army, and they too are making the round trip, so she and I have had heaps of fun together.  We sleep out on deck on cots everynight because it is pretty hot inside.  This trip is certainly interesting.  We have made about ten stops in the two weeks.  You see this transport carries all the passengers, troops and supplies to all the camps and posts in the islands,  so everywhere we stopped they would give us a dance or invite us out to dinner or there would be some interesting native village to drive to.  We were in Jolo two days and a night, and it was terribly exciting because there they are having such awful insurrections.  The Moors are are a dreadful people, have no fear of being killed themselves, and take the oath to kill all the Christians they can.  We all drove around the town in the army ambulance that morning, went through the market where they had the most awful looking stuff to eat I’ve ever seen, and the worst looking people. The women pierce their ears just as they would for earrings only make bigger holes, and then in this hole they carry a couple of cigarettes and matches.  They will sell you their very souls – anything to get money, and I had such fun dickering with some of the men for rings they had on, or a mat they were sitting on, or some such thing.  Every where we went we had to have armed soldiers right with us, for the Moors are apt to break out any minute and cut you up with these awful knives they all carry.  Our ship, by the way, was loaded with coffins for the American soldiers and officers that have been killed the last few weeks.  That night we were going to a dance, and just before starting we heard firing, and in a few minutes some of the women came back to the ship with soldiers to guard them, and said that the colonel had been forced to dismiss the dance and order out the men.  Orders had also been issued saying that no one was to leave the ship.  We couldn’t sleep out on deck, and all the women had to stay on the side away from the wharf.  The ship’s guard was doubled, and sentinels guarded the decks, and each passage way along the staterooms all night.  The fireing sounded almost on us, and once they set the town ablaze, but that didn’t last long.  It was thrilling, I tell you and looked pretty serious for a while.   The shooting kept up till about midnight, then everything was quiet, and we heard and saw nothing more.  I think it must be awful for the officers wives and families there, but they say they can’t bare to go away and not know what has happened, for it takes so long to get any news to Manila.  We got a few baskets and some floor mats that I thought would be so nice for my “bungalow” porch.  Will send these home when we get to Manila.  Hope the other three packages have reached you by now.  Everything that I send is native products, so has no duty.  I always forget to tell you about visiting in Manila Mr. Schillinger who has just come out from being German consul in Chicago, but lived in Lake Forest; do you remember meeting him with Jack L. at a dance one night at the Station?  He certainly has been nice to me – has taken me driving several times; to the carnival, etc.  Also a Russian man whom I knew in L.F. (but you never met him) is there and took us motoring, etc.  and out to dinner twice.  It seemed so funny to see them there.  You remember Mrs. Weigenstein, don’t you.  She, or rather they, are stationed at Batanga’s now – about five hours by train from Manila, and wants us to visit her, and I think we’ll go about the middle of the month.  They have been over only a month.  Am so anxious to see them, especially Lucile and the young son.  Really I feel as though I belonged more to the Army than I do to the Navy lately, but it is a nice feeling to have, for I must say I do like Army life.

c/o Consul General, Yokahama, Japan

Loads of love for you and Shang.

Alice

March 1^st, 1913  We hope to reach Manila tomorrow.

First Love Letter from E.B. Garey

Telegraph

Camp John Hay Feb 16, 1913

Miss Alice Ross, Transport Merritt, Manila.

Miss you terribly.  Come back quickly.  Pretty voyage adios.