June 6, 1944

Tues. Morn.

 

Darling,

            At long last I received a letter from you telling me of your receiving my last letter. It was well worth waiting for and came at a time when I most needed it. Gosh you sounded happy! Hope my letters will keep you that way. Also am hoping to keep my letters cheerful but am rapidly finding out from day to day my first impressions here not in the least well-founded. I think you get my meaning, indistinct as it may be. First I could pour out all my troubles to you as I always have in the past, but as you know that is impossible. Perhaps answering some of your questions with a meaning clear only to ourselves will do the trick. Please figure that one out, Hon!

            Has pleased to get all your signs but on being in India a little longer than when I first wrote I find I won’t need them as much as I had first thought. Don’t mean to disappoint you Hon but in scouring the shops for something suitable for you I find all casts the quality of the goods to be strictly inferior and prices terribly exorbitant. Still I hope to pick up enough to make a box a month which is all I am allowed.

            Concerning the dress material, upon receiving your letter I went into the market last nite and found even the poorest grade of Indian silk to be over 7 ruplies (approx. $2.50) a yard. Also they would not guarantee any of their prints to be color-fast which clinched the deal for me. After allowing the shop-keeper to pull down bolt after bolt of material I walked out and left him with it. Can you imagine me doing that in the States? Your old man is finally getting wise to himself it seems. (you know when I say “old man” I really mean it as that describes to a T how I feel).

            Also, received a letter from Mom written on the 23rd and was very sorry to find out she hadn’t as yet heard from me. She sounded disappointed and a trifle angry. Both letters were written out at the same time and I feel if anyone had to get one first it would have been better for it to have been her as you are much more understanding and patient. However, I have no control over the U.S. Mail and absorb no blame for the mix-up. I only write the letters and the rest is up to them.

            Liked the 2 photos of you and the girls and of Ethel. However had no trouble in picking out the cutest and the sweetest; You Darling, my adored wife! In fact neither did anyone else too when I showed the pictures and some of them did not know you to be my wife.

            Went to a movie last nite and saw “Mission to Moscow” and found it dry but interesting. One good feature here is that in the better movie theaters they have a bar where you can go and have a drink during intermission or interval as they call it. More and more as the days drag by I am coming to appreciate those stimulants even though they are punk. On returning to the states maybe I could introduce that feature to the better movie houses although I don’t expect to need to do much drinking then. Anyway it seems like a good idea now.

            On wandering there, the market I was very much surprised to observe my first lawn-mower for sale. I say surprised because no one except possibly a Rajah has any lawn to mow and I don’t think you find a man of his rank shopping in the market. Oh well, if you need a lawn mower let know and I’ll send you one.

            That is all for now, Hon.

                                                With all my love,                                                                                                                                   Warren