To Bertha from Melvin Gary Faris – June 24, 1916
[Note: Bertha is 25 years old. She is about to begin further art studies at the Corcoran in Washington, DC. Scraps of paper with excerpts from a writing project have been found – apparently a Far West historical novel – though they are barely legible.]
Nogales, Arizona
Dear Bertha,
I was delighted at receiving your letter this morning. I am ashamed of being so careless about answering your other letters. I was slow writing and then put it away and neglected to mail it. I enclose it. Something I am sure I would not do if I should read it over. Things I write don’t impress me very well after they get old.
It was very pleasant to receive your good wishes and to have you say that you hope we shall continue to be friends. On my part, the letter is certain. I have been through the mill and I have done a good many things that were wrong. But I have never wavered in my friendship and loyalty to you and I am sure that I never shall. I can’t promise to be either good or sensible but I’ll always like you. I only hope it won’t be too much for my own peace of mind.
Someday I’ll come to see you in New York or wherever you are, wheen I feel that I can do so safely. I want to keep on corresponding with you. Your letters will be such a comfort when I am in Mexico as I am sure I shall be soon. I not only like your father but I admire and respect him. When I am promoted, I’d rather go to his regiment there any other colonels in the Army. We have a good colonel here and he was kind enough to enter on my Efficiency Report that I would make good anywhere. Of course I like him for it and he has a good deal of ability but taking everything into consideration, I do not know an officer of the ability of your father.
There was a time when I did not like him but it was where we crossed and I am sure that was the reason. It is long since passed.
I am very glad you have changed your mind about being a nurse. I should dislike very much to think you were enduring the hardships it would involve.
I am very much interested in your novel and hope you will send me an advance copy. Lord knows there was enough material at _____ for one of the most modern.
I fear you will not have an opportunity to watch my detail at Leavenworth soon. I don’t expect the school to reopen for three or four years. I think we have some very unpleasant service ahead of us.
Except for wild rumors, this place is quiet. Most of the Mexican population on this side has gone north because they are afraid of their own people and almost everyone on the other side has gone south because they are afraid of the Americans. Some samples of rumors we get are that, “The Mexicans are going to board a train loaded with dynamite over to this side to blow up the town.” “They have 16-inch guns and Japanese gunners and are going to drop a shell in the Airdome Theatre next Thursday at 8:00 o’clock.” We have a few excitable officers in the 12th but not many of them are worried. I believe without exception, they think war is inevitable. I made expert with the pistol again this morning and had a very interesting set of tennis this afternoon. Did not shoot the rifle this year as I am holdover expert from last year. I have been studying for my promotion examination since I write you. Think I’ll stop it as the board let everyone else through with…
By the way, I can’t agree with you about the militia. I think the militia is at best a makeshift. That makeshifts never are any good especially in war. That we are encouraging the people in a delusion when we acknowledge the militia is a military force. That the right thing to do is to tell them they are no good and have nothing to do with them and _____ the people that compensatory service in the regular army is the only thing that will save the country. The regulars fall for enough short of what they should be but we can’t tell the people that.
From the military nature of this letter, it would not be inappropriate to enclose a recount paper I prepared on the European war. However, I’ll spare you would talk of another of my hobbies. I have been playing tennis regularly since I was saw you. Have developed into a rather good player. Note my modesty. It is good for fat people. I was very suspicious to hear of your trip and what you have been doing at Fort Riley. I remember Riley rather unpleasantly from the maneuvers in 1908.
Sincerely yours,
Melvin Gary Faris