Dear Folks,

Here I sit in my room, gazing over my covered window sill at two girls standing on the balcony of Memorial Hall just across the terrace. They are inaccessible so the subject might as well be dropped.

When I came in from church this morning, I found your letter on my desk and following me was the mailman with the package. Thanks for looking after the socks so soon. Ralph and I sort of “game” with each other about receiving letters, and I had the laugh on him in getting a letter and a package at once. He has the record though, as he received two packages and a letter one day. Friday he got three letters, one at each delivery and one Saturday. He writes constantly, five and six letters a week whereas I only write two, so I shouldn’t get as many as he.

You spoke about Uncle Bentley’s visit in your letter so I sups you know how the little is. It certainly is too bad his health is so poor. Tell Uncle Bentley that we have visitors constantly to our drills, so he and Aunt Margaret can drink their fill when they come down. Most always there are people on the balcony in gym watching us and many stand around to see the cutter and infantry drills. Of course they are interesting, but they are far from that degree of perfection that will appear later. The real beauty around here comes during June week, when they have the dress parades. The best days to come and visit are Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The drills are int he morning on weekdays and on Sundays we all march to Chapel.

Last nite I went to the show and saw “Melody in the Spring”. It was the second time but I enjoyed it just as much. Afterwards the upperclassmen had a dance in “Mem.” Hall and I went to sleep to the familiar strains of modern dance rhythm. How we do enjoy the weekends here! The weather has been ideal and the fellows just raise holy red. We were told if we were not more quiet in the show that we would be kicked out. So much noise was made that the officers and their families couldn’t hear the vibraphone. In mess hall we yell like heathen and the upperclassmen look at us in disgust. We are said to be the noisiest plebes there have been here in a long time. Such terrible manners! Our motto is “grab it if you want something or you won’t get it”. The grabbing will be over when the academic year starts though.

I’m glad to hear that you are getting rain. Here we have frequent shows to that the tennis courts and muddy around the edges every day. How is the corn. I can just picture a nice big juicy ear (or several) of golden bantam with a touch of salt.

While on the subject of eats, I might say that the cookie and candy proposition sounds alright. Couldn’t you possibly bake a nice cherry or apple pie and send it? John’s mother is sending him a cake. (it’s a white cake and I don’t like it). Also stick a powerhouse or two in the box and a package of dates (and a late Times-Union). To end up the affair, use your own discretion and don’t mind my rabble. I’m just building air castles. I would buy a few luxuries at the store but I have only four bits left till the next “monthly insult”.

Yesterday I sent three rolls of film to the photographer to be developed, and I will get those back in about two days. That will mean that I will send you the negatives of any good picture so you can get them developed. I would get them for you, but the four bits will vanish in just one development. Maybe they won’t turn out well at all. It’s hard to say.

I’m sorry to hear that Uncle Clive is so ill. It is little wonder that he is in such a condition with his disease, but he pulled through for so long that it seems like he will always. But I supposed that is not so. Remember me to the Sodus Centre folk when you see them, especially say hello to Uncle John for me.

My health is in very good condition, the blisters and the vaccination are all healed. I find with my swimming and the weather that I have a bit of catarrhal trouble but it isn’t bad. By the way, we are receiving swimming tests right along now and they are extremely hard. From second to ten percent, only, pass them. They are very particular how one goes they the motion of each stroke,–the crawl, the side strike (both left and right side) and the back stroke (crawl or inverted-breast stroke)–and must do it exactly as it is taught here at the academy. I shall surely have to practice plenty on my part.

The family news is very pleasing indeed, all the way from Dad’s glasses to Liz’s vacation. It sounds O.K. I would suggest that you, Mother, take a vacation. It would do both you and Dad good to see something different for awhile and have a rest. if Dad prefers to stay home you should go to Grandma’s like we went to Aunt Prude’s one year. Tell Un and Ruth to hang on. My roommate says we are on the verge of the greatest boom the country has ever known. Damned if I know, but it sounds plausible.

Well, time and paper are growing short, so I think I shall turn off and save some for another time. Just give the cat a good workout and you’ll have the extent of what my presence in your midst would mean.

Love,

Reginald

**”Un” is his brother, Underwood.

Catarrh, according to google is a build up of mucus in one’s airway.

The “monthly insult” is his draw (pay) from the Naval Academy.