Dear Bess: October 30, 1913
Transcript
Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for October 30, 2023 , brought to you by the staff of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. We are entrusted by the American people to care for the home of Harry and Bess Wallace Truman in Independence, Missouri, and the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri…and we are eternally grateful to the American people for their trust.
Today we would like to share with you a letter that Harry S Truman, farmer, wrote to Miss Bess Wallace, the love of his life, postmarked on this date in 1913. Some fun scribbles in this letter, the least of which is Truman briefly fantasizing that he might be governor of Montana someday (and Miss Wallace Mrs. Governor!)
But notice, especially, the romance. He had a way with a pen or pencil, didn’t he?
As always, thanks for listening. Here’s the letter.
Postmark October 30, 1913
Dear Bess:-
I am going to send you a late letter anyway, hoping I'll get one before the week's out. My Blug meeting was a very tame affair. The boozers were not out and I was persuaded to defer any action in regard to selling the hot stuff until after Nov. 11 when Grandview is going to have a [underlined: Township Fair]. As Pres of the Coral Club I instructed a committee to buy some advertising matter and also to raise some money to buy it with. It seems that money has to be in everything.
I am almost persuaded some times that it's bigger than most things. Exbartenders are well represented in the House of Lords (Brewers they call themselves) as well as in New Yorks most exclusive set. All on account of their ill gotten gains. Theres no use being a sourdough though. As Bertha M. Clay would say it's better to be poor but honest even if it does hurt like -- blazes sometimes. In the last month nearly every person I've dealt with in business has taken some cash and left me holding the sack. It's a good thing I wasn't appointed on the committee to raise money because I'd be tempted to embezzle some of the funds.
We are due to have a card party at our house tomorrow night. Some of the Grandview folks are coming down to [underlined: learn] to play 500, with me to tell 'em how. Won't that be a joyous job. I am going to have a good time at it anyway though. They are all rather hilarious and you know I'm not very backward myself when it comes to making noise. If I could only make money as easily as I can stir up a racket, I'd have begged, persuaded, or cajoled you into thinking Harry was the nicest boy in seventeen states. But never mind, my ship's going to come in yet and if it doesn't have you aboard it'll only be a charred hulk and not worth the candle. You know, I told you once before that I thought you the superlative of excellence in everything and I think it harder all the time. I've been crazy about you ever since I can remember. I hope it's a mutual admiration society because then I can work harder and not get half so tired. You know when the motive's strong enough a man can do most anything if he's got the stuff in him. Perhaps I haven't got it but there is nothing like trying to find out. Who knows, I may be His Excellency the Gov of Montana someday (hee haw). How would you like to be Mrs. Gov? I dreamed that I owned a [underlined: German] silver mine in Wyoming last night! Wasn't that a grand dream on a piece of Bride's cake? I guess the spangles and white fronts gave me the silver suggestion, but where under heaven could I get the German part? From my granddad on my mother's side I guess. He was a Dutchman.
Papa has gone to sleep in his chair. He's waiting very patiently for me to finish my letter so he can go to bed. He occupies the couch down here by the stove. I don't feel a bit like going to bed now I've got the habit of staying up I guess. But my oh me, how I hate to arise at 5 A.M. It has to be done though when Papa's around home. If he goes to bed at half-past four he gets up at five and so do I. Mamma is a sleepyhead like me. She never wants to get up but she can stay up till the small hours at night.
I guess this letter is a mixture and doesn't amount to much. I hope you'll answer it though. My letters get one day later every week. You'll get this one Friday unless I mail it on the K.C.S. at 6:30 tomorrow. I lost one by doing that and I'm not going to do it again. Hope to see you Sunday evening and get a letter Sunday morning. Most sincerely
Harry
Papa's going to K.C. tomorrow if I can trust him maybe you'll get this Thursday.
Some fun in this letter, and some beautiful romance.
Harry S Truman, Governor of Montana? Could it be?
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/157639036