Letters: May 29-31, 1923

1.  Below is the letter Stanford wrote to Mary Leah about the start of their trip. He mentions the letter in his diary for May 30, 1923. There are some very interesting details about the family's preparations and his thoughts and feelings about it.

Note in the above page Stanford's reference to his sister Nellie's having met the President, "Warren Gamaliel" (Harding), who didn't have much longer to live, as it turned out. He suffered a heart attack in August of this same year and died, leaving Calvin Coolidge in charge.

Though they have known each other only about six months, Stanford and Mary Leah already seem to be getting quite close. His admission that she is "the first girl who has ever understood me" is a revealing statement, I think.

2.  Mary Leah also wrote a letter to Stanford around this same time, though she wouldn't have received his as of yet. (She had received the letter he wrote Sunday, however.) Mary Leah has apparently gone with her family to Washington, D.C. and will soon travel to NY City. I'm not sure what she means by "Wakefield celebration." She really seems to enjoy going to the beach, though.

The addresses Mary Leah was referring to above were those Stanford sent letting her know where to send letters to him. The list is appended to the following letter from Stanford.

3.  Stanford wrote again on the 31st, telling Mary Leah all about their trip through Canada. It is below. Of note is Stanford's statement that the roads have so far been excellent, something that surprised me as I've heard roads in those days were difficult for cars to navigate.