June 29, 1916 - I can enjoy the outside and balmy season.

Here is the last letter from June 1916. Joe is now keeping Helen up to date quite frequently.

June 29, 1916
My dear Helen,
     I have just received the parcel containing the two pieces of music; but have no bill.
     Yesterday morning found my eye terribly red almost to the point of the color of a strawberry. This time it pained, and the Doctor said it was the result of too much reading. I guess so. So I had to lay off a bit.
     However, today I addressed the Manufacturers Association and the Credit Men's Association at a dinner held in one of the local Clubs. Yesterday I did the same thing in New Haven; and preparing didn't help my eyes any. In being introduced - as well as in the letters to the members - the presiding officer remarked that the speaker today is one who though quite young, "has already had a long and honorable career in his profession." Coming from a man at the head of our largest institution here gave me a little bit of pleasure, you bet. So I launched into an Elbert Hubbard style of epigrammatic speaking and had a bully time. Enough of that. Still I knew you would be interested to hear what I did for the past few days.
     Saturday night I must attend a special charter meeting in Shelton that is very urgent. That deprives me of going to New York, so I'll leave Sunday morning at 8:24 arriving somewhere about 10 I presume; ready for Mt. Vernon, if you are going to your friends, as you planned.
     My eye is troubling though it's much better today, and will probably clear by Saturday. For that reason I have not read nor written much.
     Of late, I have read considerably at night. I took advantage of stormy nights to stay in a read, and have been up quite late. That now tells , but I'm glad it's pleasant, so that I can enjoy the outside and balmy season.
     Will write tomorrow, possibly,
     Sincerely
     Joe

In reference to the letter from June 27 in which Joe wrote of a piece of his writing appearing in The Fra I have located and purchased a copy and will be posting it as soon as I receive it.

The next letter will be July 6.

June 27, 1916 - I am as fluent a swimmer as the Lusitania . . .

Joe continues to share his daily busy life with Helen. As he now refers to her as My dear Helen. Progress on that front.

June 27,1916.

My dear Helen?
     This letter will probably sound more like a scenario than anything else I can think of; but for the reasons that will appear, it is the best that can happen just now.
     It is just 7:30 P.M. Our Bnai Brith Lodge-of which I am the present presiding officer-has its final meeting, before the summer recess, tonight, and we will have with us the Board of District Deputies for this jurisdiction to oversee our work. I have just returned, that is about an hour ago, from Morris Cove, a shore resort outside of New Haven, where the Business Men's Association have been spending their day in an outing, and was invited to speak this afternoon, I left here at noon. Well, all morning I have showing the new steno the various things in the office to familiarize her with the surroundings, and at present it looks as if she ought, to make good. But it takes a little time before one gets used to new environments, and naturally things do not move as briskly as one would desire. But then. after a short time, everything will be running in good shape, I hope.
     I had many laughs on account of your letter this morning. Not at the letter itself, but because of the insertions. The standing army was really funny, but the Boob News about the velvet lined sardine cans for pet sardines was the straw that broke the camel's back. To see the girl take the gold fish out for an airing reminded me of the girl that took her canary out one after-noon via the tom-cat route. And to cap the climax, that article giving the extract from an editorial. There must be some people who believe it sensible to go home early, apparently.
     Yesterday my car ran beautifully to Shelton, and after Court when I got in and tried to start, it would no more move than if it were the Rock of Gibraltar. I tinkered with it for awhile, as did my brother's "Showfur" but to no purpose, finally I left for Bridge­port on the train, and at a garage they found something the matter with it, so that it took the rest of the day to get it running again. I haven't had it out to-day, but if the chance arrives maybe tomorrow will afford an opportunity of trying it out once more.
     While in Morris Cove a gentleman informed me that he saw a piece of my handiwork in the July number of the Fra. My copy has not arrived as yet, nor can one be obtained from the stands, so I must wait a few days to see what particular thing it is.
     Another good laugh was started to-night when the Doctor suggested that he would call for me in the morning and we could go down the Park (Long Island Sound) and take a swim, I am as fluent a swimmer as the Lusitania after the torpedo tickled it. He ventured to teach me, in fact suggested that an elephant that escaped from the circus swam out to the light house; then, why not I? Oh, and gee whiz, and gosh darn. That was the most unkindest cut of all.
     Sincerely
     Joe

The next letter is June 29.

June 13, 1916 - Autoing all P.M.

Here are two postcards that Joe sent Helen and her sister Florrie from a business trip to Gettysburg, PA

This marks the scene of Lincoln's address.
Great times.
Autoing all P.M.
Joe

 The scene of the bloodiest day of the war (July 3, '63)
JGS

The next letter is June 27.

June 7, 10916 - Did you ever see such poor writing?

It seems that Joe's younger brother Louis was quite ill at the time of this letter. Having lost his brother Meyer at a young age I am sure that the entire family was very worried about Louis.

 

June 7, 1916

Dear Helen,
I spent Monday and part of yesterday in New Haven, and after seven members of the medical faculty looked over Louis, they decided that it was not necessary to operate at once and perhaps not at all. He is in the hospital being under constant care, and perhaps he'll pull through without a cut.
Naturally this has interfered with my peace of mind and the usual routine, so that I will not be able to get away tomorrow. In fact I've got a case to try in the morning, unless it goes off the list before hand.
My remote idea of going to New York Saturday is still remote, in fact I would have to return early in the evening to pack my things preparatory to going Sunday. So, under the circumstances, I don't put much faith in my being able to get away Saturday for any considerable time, much as I should like to. My present plans for the Pittsburgh trip are to leave here Sunday and stay over to Monday and then go on.
If things let up so that my brother feels much better, I'll feel more easy about getting away. I've got to go to Norwalk today, and it's pouring . Did you ever see such poor writing.
Sincerely,
Joe

The next letter is on June 13.