CC Ballou – Page 3 – BERTHA BALLOU LETTERS

“A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country”

To Bertha from C.C. Ballou – October 1, 1919

Chicago

My dear Specks,

Yours of the 29th received. Your address Miss Clark send one as her “permanent address” is “308 N. Neville St., Pittsburgh.” I wrote her there and have received no reply. She wrote from “the Mount Pleasant House, Mount Pocono, PA,” when she sent me the address, and I know she repeated to go there in a few days. Better put a return address on your envelope.

I have heard of “Salome,” but can’t yet recall the painting or perhaps didn’t see it.

I think Hudson explains all of _____ _____’s work, except her apparent “clairvoyance” in regard to the future, and in a very logical manner. I bought his “Laws of Psychic Phenomena,” so you may know I was interested.

[Note: Wikipedia says “Thomson Jay Hudson began observing hypnotism shows and noticed similarities between hypnosis subjects and the trances of mediums. His idea was that any contact with “spirits” was contact with the medium’s or the subject’s own subconscious. Anything else could be explained by telepathy, which he defined as contact between two or more subconsciouses.”]

I have moved into new quarters. Tell Mamma not to fret about my “comfort.” I have a large, well ventilated room; a big, clean and most comfortable bed; running water; a bathroom more convenient to my room than hers is to her room, and I eat where I please. I pass the Chicago Athletic Club every day en route to my office, and get my breakfast there. The service is fine, and the food excellent, cost moderate. They give me a choice of half a dozen club breakfasts at prices from 25 cents up. Yesterday, I took “no. 2,” two eggs, lots of rolls, and a pot of splendid coffee. Today, I took the “no. 3,” fruit oatmeal and cream, rolls and coffee. In each case, the cost was forty cents, no tipping allowed. I get a nice dinner for one dollar, nearer my room. As a rule, I don’t eat any luncheon. This is in the interest or reducing flesh and smoking. It also saves the cost of luncheon and of at least two cigars a day, a total of some three dollars per week, or thereabouts.

No news yet as to leaving here. Have got a very small staff made on my _____. It is going to be a long, tedious and expensive job. Yes, your improved health is a matter for general satisfaction, and with reasonable care, the good work should continue. The resulting state of mind, in knowing you are as much better, is not the best benefit.

I was glad to note in Mamma’s letter that she has gained weight during the summer. Tell her the doctors here don’t think climate has much effect on arthritis. I guess sweating and hot baths might help some, and in that way a hot climate might help, indirectly. Madame Grandeau sent a lot of postcards to me. I think she said, “for your daughter,” but whether for you or for Sally, I don’t know. The dear good soul will stand on her head when she hears that I have been given the Legion of Honor decoration. She likes to think that her country does things gracefully, and it does. I believe there are various grades, and have heard that the ribbon for Privates is red, but what mine should be, I don’t know. It is that for “an officer” of the Legion of Honor, and is not known in Chicago. I have not received the decoration, but have the Chancellor’s certificate that it was awarded me on May fifth by the President of France.

I wonder if you can realize all that this means to me. I would not have stayed at home and missed my experiences in battle. My “Croix de Guerre, with Palm,” and “The Legion of Honor” for a Major generally in the regular army. Nothing in a professional way has ever done me so much good, not even my first _____ at West Point. “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country.” I can afford to forget what personal anniversary caused me to miss from our own war _______.

The Croix de guerre is a French military decoration created to recognize French and allied soldiers who were cited for their service during World War I

It is not only a flea bite. But I did feel it when it seemed that sending me away from my division had robbed me of all recognition. I didn’t care so much on my own account, for I know what I had done, but I wanted something that would speak for me to all of you at home.

I hope your new instructor will prove a success. I feel that you are ___ “finding yourself,” finding out what you lack, and that you are sure to progress.

Love to Mamma and Sally.

Your loving old dad.

We should not stamp our work as “failure”

EDITOR’S PICK

To Bertha from C.C. Ballou – June 1, 1920

War Department

HEADQUARTERS RECRUIT DEPOT
Fort Logan, Colorado
June 1, 1920

My dear Specks,

Your letter received. Excuse me for taking issue with your conclusions drawn from my letter. While I expressed the opinion that you would find copying the Sargent portrait very difficult, I don’t think I expressed the opinion that it would be “unsatisfactory.” Also, I fear that you are becoming a bit too dissatisfied, or difficult to satisfy, with regard to your own work. Of course, the mere words, “satisfactory,” or “unsatisfactory,” do not express deeply defined lives; but you should, I think, avoid running toward pessimism, and as is expressed in your statement that you are “foredoomed to failure” in copying this portrait, as your apparently think you were with the Benson. “It wasn’t Benson.” Surely not. It couldn’t be; yet it is not necessarily “unsatisfactory” because the impossible was not achieved. It was your first “copy,” and it seems to me that the commendation it elicited should stamp the effort as very satisfactory, all things considered. A too complete satisfaction, I am fully aware, may result in some such _____ content as makes an A.J. Smith, and renders progress impossible. I don’t believe in that, but I think that so long as there is progress, progress that makes one’s work stack up well with that of one’s fellows. We should not stamp our work as “failure,” or even as “unsatisfactory.” And we should avoid getting that that way of thinking and feeling. It cultivates discontent.

You’re receiving the first award in your first attempt at “still life” must certainly be regarded as eminently satisfactory, regardless of the fact that your work probably does not equal the works of Chardin. (I am not sure if I have that name right.) Of course you think I am too partial, and I know I am incompetent as a judge of your work. Nevertheless, I believe I am capable of a general estimate, based less on my judgement as to the merits of what I see, than on a general survey of the views of others. And, while I have not made any very great success in life, as regards worldly achievements, I have at least learned that a sense of disappointment or even of failure, is not necessarily fatal to progress or to happiness.

Have you yet made any inquiry as to cost of living in Boston? We might be able to fix things up so you could go there this coming year. I didn’t ask Madame Breger to look up all those matters. She did it on her own book. I merely asked what the expense were at the best of the Paris schools, meaning the tuition. I suppose she misunderstood me.

The news from the dag, or from Denver.

Love to Mamma and Sally.

Your loving old dad.

Pike’s Peak looked up, vast and white, and as clear and distant as the nearby hills

To Bertha from CC Ballou –

Denver
 September 11, 1920

My dear Specksie,

Tours of the 7th received. Before now you know that the property has arrived. I think I wrote you, but I don’t know where to look for the “good-neck”’; so I will pack and mail you the bronze one that is on the glass porch table. It is just as good as the other one, I think and at any rate is the only one I can _____ my hands on right now. I am not opening any boxes, as I don’t know what is in there and any way I don’t want a lot of small articles laying around loose while I am in town. I have most of the furniture unpacked. The two big beds are set up, both OK. The lamp also. The tables are all right, also the bookcase and cabinet. In fact, everything as far as I have gone, I have unpacked only the Salvador and _____, both OK, though _____ glass was broken. I unpacked and put in place the rosewood bookcase this morning before I came to town. The shelves had been removed, of course, but the bottom pieces were not taken out. They are loose, just like the shelves, and had tumbled about but did not buck this glass doors. I put the shelves in the cabinet last evening after cleaning them. It is a marvel that thing with three glass sides and a mirror back wasn’t busted, but the packing seems to have been well done. _____ has been very careful in unpacking things. I have a cook in sight but will leave that for Mamma to arrange.

Yesterday was the finest day I ever saw in Denver. Pike’s Peak looked up, vast and white, and as clear and distant as the nearby hills. It is a pity you didn’t have some previous _____ regarding the library. Are the books carded? I will try to find out something about such matters and perhaps I can help you. I expect Mamma one week from this morning. She leaves on Wednesday or said she expected to, but of course can’t make the connection you made in Chicago. So, she will get the evening train out and spend two nights and one day instead of two days and one night on route from Chicago. Everyone wishes to be remembered. The _____ _____ and half the _____ _____ left day before yesterday.

Your loving dad.

Your banker at Elks can buy you a Liberty bond

To Bertha from CC Ballou –

War Department
Headquarters Recruit Depot
 Fort Logan, Colorado
September 22, 1920

Dear Specks,

I resumed command this morning.

Yesterday evening, I rearranged some things in the house, putting the “new” bookcase in the southwest corner of the dining room for a China closet, moving the _____ to replace it under the _____ near the parlor, library door, the big thing with shelve sin it was moved from the dining room to the space between lounge and dining room door. The oak bookcase is between hall entrances to the dining room and parlor. I hung Mamma’s portrait (India ink) in southwest corner of the library, facing the _____. I put the “_____” over the parlor mantel. There will doubtless be other charges necessary, but it will all work out in time.

Mamma laughed at me last night because I was counting up the weeks to Christmas. Austin failed to get a commission. Mr. Austin’s candidate for _____ senate failed to get the nomination. Austin is looking for a job. The Herron’s go to Camp Benning, Georgia. Dr. Stone leaves this week for station at Omaha. The _____ gone to Arkansas. The ______ are gone to San Francisco. The Steves’ are not ordered away. Dr. Chase is discharged. The Schmidt’s are gone. Dr. _____ is here get but will possibly soon be discharged, having failed. O’Keefe and Kleitz failed but being retired scout officers, they will probably continue on duty. _____ is gone to For Wonder (Washington) with rookies. Will be back in a few days. General Wood asked in recent letter to be remembered to you.

You wrote about not recognizing one of those checks I gave you. If, at the time you draw your pay, you find you have not need it, you can _____ it up and let Mamma know, as she can note it in her checkbook. I dare say your banker at Elks can buy you a Liberty bond each month. You can get a hundred dollar bond for from $86.00 to $96.00 and get interest on $100.00. Better ask _____ about it.

Your loving old dad.

Watch out for colds.

My deep disgust at being ordered to Spokane

To Bertha from C.C. Ballou – October 14, 1920

War Department
Headquarters Recruit Depot 
Fort Logan, Colorado

My dear Specks,

I have neglected you as of late – partly owing to “much trabajo” and partly to my deep disgust at being ordered to Spokane. We are in the throes of packing up. I received your check, and bought you a Victory bond, and owe you a balance of $3.55. The bond costing $96.45. It pays 4 ¾ percent, and matures on May 15, 1923, or about two and a half years from now. The interest you will draw, plus the $3.55, makes you about seven per cent on the investment, should you keep it till it matures. At any rate you get 4 ¾% at any time you want the money at what it cost you.

I make my last speech here Sunday night, Central Christian church, “Our duties to The Government.” Mamma is busy and – also disgusted – we will be about as near you as we are now, but farther from the others. I also regret leaving my many friends here. The worst is the packing up after getting things looking so nicely – my regiment is the 21st – scattered over five posts on Alaska and there in Washington, Montana and Utah.

Sorry we don’t go via Elks.

Your loving old dad.