[Letter]
Tuesday, Aug. 5, 1941
Dearest Love:
I have just reached the lab, turned in my samples, and had some blood taken by Miss Addis. It was fine to see Dr and Mrs Addis again. They were sorry not to see you here with me. Mrs. A. says that Dr. A. is getting thinner and thinner and crosser and crosser because he works too much and doesn't eat enough. They were at Tahoe last week - but he worked on some papers (or a book) instead of resting. They are going again next week. I asked them to come and see us sometime - promising that they could be as quiet as they want to be.
Wendell met me and took me to Dale's , where I am staying (Mrs S is away). Wendell had given the bride away the day before, at Fort Ord, + the Latimer house is full of relatives. Wendell has loaned me his Mercury, the Ford being out of order. Dale and I going there tonight for dinner. I slept well last night (I got an extra blanket before going to bed), and got up this morning after Dale had left. I cooked two eggs (fried), two pieces of toast (salty), and had coffee and orange juice.
It was wonderful to come over the Bay Bridge! The whole effect of bridge and island, bay and city is breath-taking. I think that I shall never be used to the experience.
The bus-train ride was fun--perhaps even better than the Daylight. The bus was comfortable, and the drive over the Ridge enjoyable. The driver looked as though he were thoroughly reliable. He kept a uniform speed which seemed to me to be about 45 miles per hour. At 400 we changed to the train. It was just like the Daylight except that only about 1/4 or 1/3 of the seats were taken. I could sprawl over my double seat. I liked the ride through the broad San Joaquin valley. I saw some interesting things - people who had parked their big trucks beside the road during the heat of the day and were lying sound asleep underneath them, stretched out directly on
[page 2]
the gravel of the road shoulder; and the sign on a ranch in the valley, "Stallions at stud - Mr Coit."
I bought my cheese and some vitamin on the way to the train.
The lab looks nice after its repainting. I am going to tell Addis that its charm has gone.
What brands of tomato juice have no added salt? Mrs A. wants to know!
I have now talked to Addis. He seemed encouraged. My serum protein is better - up to 4.6% from 3.4). I don't know how my urine is - I'll find out tomorrow - I'm to come back at 11
30
to be able to talk longer. Addis said that the hospital doctors don't know about nephritis - they see only the worst cases.
My blood is better - 90% of normal. I had been afraid of getting anemia. He said 2 puloules[?] of lextron would be enough for me. Also he said the soreness of my testicles last fall + the little growths behind them now are due to edema.
I love you, sweet darling girl. I'll probably come home Sunday, arriving at LA at 5 PM.
Give my love to Linda + Liny.
Your own
Linus
[There are 3 cartoons cut from a newspaper included:]
The first is entitled "These Women! --By d'Alessio"
It is a picture of a young woman having her palm read by a gypsy looking woman, they are sitting across from one another at a round table.
The caption reads: "You are about to meet a tall, dark and handsome man who will introduce you to a short fat man with lots of money!"
The second is entitled "Strictly Business --By Dale McFeatters"
This is a picture of two arabic men, wearing turbans and sitting on the floor. One is smoking a hookah and the other is attempting to smoke a Dictaphone, and speaking:
"Personally, I don't find the American kind very satisfactory."
The third cartoon is entitled "Side Glances — by Galbraith"
There are two men talking in the foreground, watching a woman ,who is looking through binoculars at a plane. Next to the woman a young boy is pointing up at the plane. They are all standing on a dock.
The man is saying: "She thinks she's the best plane spotter around here, but she wouldn't last five minutes if she didn't bring that kid of hers along to identify them."
August
5, 1941
