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The Dear Bess and Dear Harry Podcast, from Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Harry S Truman

From Harry S Truman National Historic Site; a chance to share some of the stories associated with Harry Truman, Bess W. Truman and their times. We will share letters written between Harry Truman, Bess Wallace Truman, Margaret Truman, and others. We will link to digital versions of the letters in case you'd like to see them. You may need to refresh the page for the latest episode.

Episodes

Dear Bess: November 15, 1918

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 15, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. We have a gem of a letter for you today, from Captain Harry S Truman in France, writing to Bess Wallace in Independence, Missouri. This letter gives us a glimpse of some of the politics to be found in a military unit. How we wish we had the letter from Miss Wallace that Captain Truman mentions, but, alas, it is lost. Captain Truman proudly boasts about the success of Battery D in the recently-ended World War. Somewhere in France November 15, 1918 Dear Bess: Your good letter of October 26 came today and you of course can guess how happy I am to get it. I am enclosing the forty cents for the very nice things you said to me. Being written with red ink reminds me of a letter I censored for one of my Irishmen the other day. He started out with blue ink and ran out so he said well here goes with a little blood and went on and finished his letter with red ink. I suppose his girl thought he really used blood. A letter from you written with charcoal, chalk, or clay would be fine enough to send me into the seventh heaven. I don't care what they're written with long as I get them. I am very glad that Pike Sands holds no malice for my having busted him. You know it is the hardest job a man ever undertook to be absolutely square and just to 194 men when you have good ones and bad ones (very few bad), smart ones and dull ones. I love 'em all and if anybody wants a fight or a quarrel with me he can get it suddenly and all he wants if he says anything derogatory about my Battery or one of my men. I wouldn't trade off the "orneriest" one I've got for any other whole Battery. While I'm not a braggart I believe I can take my outfit and beat any other one in the A.E.F., shooting or doing any other kind of Battery work (every Battery commander in the regiment says the same thing). I recommended one of my kids to go to West Point and he was one out of seven in the A.E.F. to go. I was as proud of him as if I had done it myself. You know I have succeeded in doing what it was my greatest ambition to do at the beginning of the war. That is to take a Battery through as Battery commander and not lose a man. We fired some ten thousand or twelve thousand rounds at Heinie and were shelled ourselves time and again but never did the Hun score a hit on me. There are rumors rife that we will go to Germany to do police and rioting duty. I'd rather go home but if your Uncle Samuel needs us in Germany, to Germany we'll go and be as happy as we can. We got in on the last drive and fired up to the last hour and I suppose that is the reason they'll send us if they do. Shall I bring you some German spoons and tableware or just some plain loot in the form of graft money? I hope they give me Coblenz or Cologne to hold down; there should be a good opportunity for a rising young captain with an itching palm, shouldn't there? I can't remember when I was ever taking any beauty sleep unless it was some time when I'd been up for 60 or 65 hours and was probably sleeping the next twenty four. I have done that several times. Once I was up so long I thought I never would want to go to bed anymore. The Major made me and I felt better after 24 hours of sleep. I hope Bill Bostian has a good time and I wish I was in his place, except that I'd like to bring the Battery home now that it has gone through the war with me. I hope to ride a prancing steed down Grand Ave. at the head of D Bty, the fourth in the column when the last parade before the muster out is made. I dreamed last night that I was trying to exchange a 100 franc note for real money in a Kansas City bank. It was a disappointment when I found I wasn't there. I got a letter from Fred today and shall proceed to answer it. Please keep writing to one who always thinks of you. Always, Harry Harry S Truman Capt Bty D 129 FA American E.F.

This letter is a gem. In it, Captain Harry S Truman boasts of the success of his artillery battery, and notes that as commander he did "not lose a man." This letter is a great one to use when assessing what the war meant to Harry Truman.

A copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-15-1918

Dear Bess: November 1914

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 21, 2021…a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. We would like to share with you today a very touching letter that Harry Truman wrote to his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, in November, 1914. It’s not exactly certain when he wrote this letter…a notation on the back of the envelope says November 12, and the postmark is unclear. But it was evidently written shortly after the future president’s father, John Anderson Truman, died.

John Anderson Truman died in the family farm home in Grandview in early November, 1914. His son was at his side. His influence on Harry Truman just cannot be calculated. Harry Truman and his father were quite close, and for the last years of John’s life, they were business partners on the Farm. John was also quite well regarded in the community, and he was mourned deeply there. In his final days, John Truman told friends who visited that he regretted not being a success in life. But after his son became President of the United States, and reporters started asking him about his “failed” father, Harry Truman replied, curtly, “how could my father have been a failure? His son is President of the United States!”

Grandview Dear Bess: Here I am a day late sending you a letter but I had a most awful time with a load of hogs today.

They were shipped yesterday evening and I drove down to the yards and stayed all night in order to be there when they were unloaded this morning. I went over to the yards at half past seven thinking I was very late but the hogs did not arrive on the market until 2:30 p.m. There were 34,000 on hand and the yardmen couldn't handle them all. Mine were finally sold about fifteen minutes before the market closed, at 3:00 p.m. I just now arrived at home and I expected to get in at about 10:00 a.m. I suppose I'll carry some of the malodorous dust from those hog yards in my clothes for sixty days. I wouldn't work down there for fifteen dollars a day.

I have quite a job on my hands now trying to make things run as smoothly as they formerly did. You know, I've been in the habit of running the farm for some time, but Papa always made it go. He could make the men step lively even after he was sick a great deal better than I can or ever will. It surely makes me feel a loss that is quite irreparable, I tell you. There are things that I don't suppose I'll ever learn that were entirely natural to him. I have got to arrange to get some cattle to eat up a lot of feed I can't sell, and I'm morally certain that I'll be skinned on the deal. When Papa did those things, the other fellow was never sure that he had all his hide when the deal was over. About six weeks before he died he bought ten cows from an old tightwad here in the neighborhood that no one else can do business with for $500 and sold them for $900. If I could only make deals like that, there'd be nothing to worry about. You've no idea how much he appreciated the flowers you sent him when he was at the hospital. He wouldn't let the nurse throw them away until they were entirely gone. He was very particular to point them out to Aunt Ella and tell her where they came from. We certainly appreciated the flowers that you and your mother and Frank and George sent to the funeral. Your good letter also helped out wonderfully. I can't tell you how much good it really did me. I can't write you a good letter either for as you can probably tell I can't talk of but one subject. It is probably a very good thing that I have more work to do than I can possibly get done because I have something else to think about. I hope you will consider this worth an answer, and if Ferson gets his new car and will let me have it I hope to ride you around in it Sunday. Would like awfully to see you sooner but can't very well leave home.

Most sincerely, Harry

This touching letter from Harry Truman was likely written just days after the death and burial of his father, John Anderson Truman. In this letter Harry Truman bares his soul to Bess Wallace, many miles away in Independence.

A copy of the original letter can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-1914-postmark-0?documentid=NA&pagenumber=8

Dear Bess: November 22, 1946

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 22, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We wanted to share with you a charming letter that President Harry S Truman wrote to his wife, Bess, while the President was resting in Key West, Florida, on this date in 1946. Harry Truman and his family loved Key West. It was a place for the President, his family, and his staff to escape the stress of Washington, if but for a few days. This was Truman’s first visit to Key West, and it began a tradition that he continued for most of the rest of his life.

Key West, Fla. November 22, 1946

Dear Bess:

It was nice to get your good long letter in the pouch at lunch time yesterday. I am sorry about Margie's not getting back for any of the W.H. functions. Looks as if we've lost her for good and it's a wrench - but we'll have to stand it I guess. Glad the teas turned out not to be so bad as usual. Thanks for telling George about the turkey.

Adm. Leahy & I went fishing yesterday - unannounced. They do it differently here. We sat on the back end of a crash boat in two easy chairs and had a navy captain bait our hook and take the fish off. It was a trolling job entirely. I caught three and the Adm. three and Foskett one. They were nice fish but I don't know why we caught them except that this is Friday and we can furnish some of our Catholic friends something they can eat today. We had a nice ride in the afternoon sun.

Yesterday morning we went down in a new German sub. There was no sensation to it and nothing could be seen except the inside of the ship and the team work of the crew which was excellent. We went down 450 feet. Charlie went down in an American ship the day before and claimed a record for himself having gone down 300 ft. one day and 450 the next he said 750 was his record. We go to Ft. Jefferson today for a day of fishing and sight seeing. The fort is located on the Dry Tortugas where Capt. Kidd, Sir Francis Drake and other equally famous pirates worked.

Tomorrow we go back to slavery. Only one consolation, I'll see my sweetheart.

Lots of love Harry.

In this letter, President Harry S Truman writes of some of the fun he is experiencing during his first trip to Key West, Florida, a place he came to deeply love. Fishing, going in submarines, what's not to love?

A copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/november-22-1946

Dear Bess: November 26, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 26, 2021 , a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. We have an intriguing letter for you today, written on this day in 1912. Harry Truman’s mind is in several places in this letter. But it includes a powerful description of the hard life on the family farm in Grandview. And Truman weaves in some classical references, showing the solid education he received in Independence. We thought you’d like to hear it.

Grandview, Mo. [Nov. 26, 1912]

Dear Bess:

I am going to get this one off on time or bust a hamstring. That is a classic expression because that said string holds the key to the whole set of harness. If it breaks, away go the horses and you stand in the road. Also it is the last piece of harness to break. It is either very rotten when it breaks or the rest of the harness is very strong. I've spoiled my excessive effort but I'll get the letter off.

It was well I left when I did the other evening because that car was uptown. It is a "most" uncertain quantity. No wonder people swear at the Met. They had a transfer out Sunday which said that the car ride is the cheapest thing in town and gets more knocks. A man will go to dinner and tip the waiter for five rides and then whip the con when his transfer is overdue. Mr. Ed Howe of Atchison was the composer of that. I suppose the Met will give him a life pass for it. They ought to. I wish I were a railroad attorney or some other kind of grafter so I could ride free. The depot agent at Grandview has worked for the Frisco thirty years. He gets a pass for himself and wife over the whole system for the balance of his days. He's only fifty, so he can ride some thousands of miles yet. He says he's going to California December 1 and stay a month and then to Penn. and stay a month and then go to work again. I really don't believe, though, I'd want to be a station agent until I was fifty in order to get a pass. Rather be something else. Section boss for instance. I guess I'll be a clodhopper and pay the grafters. That's his privilege.

I have to write this on the installment plan, as usual Papa keeps wanting something. Also he's anxious for me to get to work. We are going to haul some tons of hay today. It is a backbreaking job. Fine exercise though. I just wish I could get some of these white hopes and black champs in on the usual routine farm exercise. You'd hear them howl about being stale and overdone along about four o'clock the first day. They'd do their country and also their morals much better service if they spent their time producing something with their tall muscular force. I hate a prize fighter worse than a packing-house employee. They are both butchers and barbarians under the hide. Worshippers of Woden I guess. Anyway they attempt to imitate Thor when he drank an ocean of booze.

Which makes me remember that there was a Latin Bible called the Vulgate which King James used in his translation along with the Septuagint and Hebrew. I am not writing an essay or connected letter - my trains of thought are scattered as were those of Mr. Brian O'Cree's mother in perpetua. For another jump, I have diligently searched for authority to translate mores death but I can't find it. Guess I'll have to come in and say it means bad manners or something along that line. I guess we could say O horrors and make it modern couldn't we? Hang Cicero, Hebrew, Thor, and all the rest.

You owe me a letter. Send it quickly.

Most sincerely, Harry

This letter discusses Kansas City public transit, hard work on the Farm, and has some terrific classical allusions. It shows Harry Truman's breadth of knowledge.

A digital copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-26-1912

Dear Bess: November 29, 1913

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for November 29, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. Today’s letter from Harry S Truman to Miss Bess Wallace is from this date in 1913. In this letter, we hear the names of some of the hired help from the Truman Farm. This is sort of rare, because in these pre-Social Security days, it was rare for employment records be kept, and we have no good list of the non-family employees who worked on the Farm. And Truman writes about his sister, Mary Jane, and a beau she was waiting for. Mary Jane Truman was born on the family farm in 1889, and was the last of the Truman siblings to survive, dying in 1978. Mary Jane Truman was a beautiful woman in every possible way. And as we enter into the holiday season, it’s fascinating to hear of Mr. Truman musing about what he can get Miss Wallace that is worthy of her and the holiday.

Grandview Nov. 29, 1913

Dear Bess:

I got your letter this morning. I was sure glad to get it. I suppose you are on your way to the City of the Platte. (Which really means Buenos Ayres.) You must not forget to mail me a card from that burg, so that Miss Duvall will speedily discover her mistake. I have made up my mind to stay home on Sunday in order to help with the evening work. It will be the first Sunday that the men leave and you know my staying at home will look grand to daddy until he sees your card from Platte City.

The Noland girls have never said anything sassy to me about you. They are well aware that they'd better hadn't I guess. They always talk to me as if they were of the same opinion that I am regarding you.

The hired men are paid off. They beat me badly when I paid them. Wornall hadn't had a settlement since July. He had over forty dollars coming. The other fellow got thirty dollars. Just think what a lot of Christmas presents that would have bought. I wish I knew what you want for Christmas. My brain refuses the task of thinking up something really worthwhile and within my financial ability. Were I a Jawn D. [Rockefeller], there'd be no trouble whatever. There's autos and jewelry and most anything in a millionaire's line, but there are so few things an ordinary person can get that are really worthwhile. Maybe I'll have an inspiration of some kind before midnight, December 24. You may get anything from a needle to a threshing machine. I could use a threshing machine in my own business. It might be good policy to give you one. It is said that a man to be absolutely ornery must own one and a fiddle. I haven't reached either yet.

Mary's in an awful stew. Her Pleasant Hill beau has written that he'll be here one day this week. Today is all that's left, and she's got someone else for tonight I think. Then there are three extra people and I bought her the wrong kind of cheese for the sandwiches. I guess she'll be a wreck by Sunday evening. I told her I am going to stay home tomorrow evening and she said she knew I'd stay till 4:00 P.M. Won't she be surprised. You might send me about an eight- or ten-page note for this and I'll try and send you a good letter Wednesday.

Most sincerely, Harry

In this Dear Bess letter, we hear about paying farmhands, Mary Jane Truman's social life, and Harry Truman wishing he had the ability to buy a fancy Christmas present for Miss Wallace.

A digital copy of the original is here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/november-29-1913

Dear Bess: December 2, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 2, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

Today, we would like to share with you a letter from this date in 1912, in which Harry S Truman discusses the upcoming Christmas holiday with his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, in Independence. Harry Truman loved Christmas, but you sense some worry that he cannot afford to do what he wants for Miss Wallace. Have you ever felt that way? If so, please take comfort that Truman did over a century ago.

Dear Bess: [Dec. 2, 1912]

Here goes for two letters from you this week, see? I'll admit that one of yours is worth two or maybe half dozen of mine still it's a bad precedent to make. Therefore I'm expecting a letter from you tomorrow also Friday. I just wonder if expectations will amount to anything. You see my paper has finally arrived. Mary brought it out. The blooming stuff is as big as a tablecloth and looks like wedding invitations. I guess they put one over on Mary and gave her more than usual for the money. You know that's customary at all jewelry stores. I suppose you are in town today causing a flurry in the mark for presents. You ought to do as I do make a flying trip on the day before the 25th at about 9:30 PM and avoid the rush. I told Myra that is I were in her place I'd give six of those seven casserols of hers for presents and then she'd have no shopping whatever to do. The main thing would be to be careful and not return them to the original purchasers. That sure would cause a disturbance but it might save her money at future Christmas times. There is only one present that causes me any worry whatsoever and of course you could never guess which one that is. I have in mind a limousine a rope of pearls or some other equally inexpensive little trinket that could be bought for somewhere around $2.98. That's the trouble of being born with multimillionaire tastes without the dough. My main ability is to spend cash not to make it. If some gold old malefactor of great wealth would only employ me as his disbursing agent I'm sure I could give him a most tasteful example of how to get rid of his money with the least possible effort and to the greatest possible good to the largest number particularly my friends, enemies and acquaintances. What I need is a guardian or something of the kind as a sort of balance to my insane desire to get rid of what I make. I am doing better than formerly but not so well as I should. I guess as Dicie said we only live once so why not go the limit within the law and good morals. (Which I fear is not so very far.)

This is a most misleading and unsatisfactory document but I'm going to let it go. Maybe you can tell what's not so and what is. The main thing is that you owe me two letters and I want em also you which seems a very very big word doesn't it. Let's hope I get em all in due season. There's another reason I should be a Wall Street Baron. Maybe you'd make a good guardian you never know til you try anyway. I'm doing my level best to get a lot of change gut as Miss Brown says His Majesty has a hand in most things and he usually takes money as his share. Be sure and send those letters. This is wash day and the boilers leakin so I've got to go now.

Most sincerely, Harry

In this letter from 1912, Harry S Truman muses about Christmas, and hints that he wishes he could do better for Miss Bess Wallace, his love, who lives in Independence, Missouri.

Dear Bess: December 7, 1941

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

We have a special letter for you today, with a special date, December 7, 1941. Senator Harry S Truman wrote this letter to his wife Bess Wallace Truman before he learned of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. After hearing the news, Senator Truman rushed to St. Louis to secure a flight to Washington, DC. It was an intense trip for Senator Truman, but he was able to return to the Nation’s capital in time to hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt refer to December 7, 1941, as a “date which will live in infamy.” Senator Truman then voted “aye” to declare war on Japan.

Today we wish to pause and remember the casualties of Pearl Harbor and the other installations attacked 80 years ago today. They shall always be remembered. This letter by Senator Truman represents a world lost on December 7, 1941.

Pennant Hotel Columbia, Mo.

December 7, 1941

Dear Bess:

Well it was very good to talk with you this morning. Roy and I went to breakfast immediately afterwards, looked over the hanger across the road, took a walk toward Columbia, and then he left for Springfield. I've had lunch and a nap and have been reading last night's Star and Journal along with today's Post-Dispatch and Globe Democrat. It's funny how things change around in thirteen months. I'm on the front pages of the Kansas City Star, St. Louis Star-Times, and Kansas City Journal for yesterday and am on the front page of the Post-Dispatch editorial section for today and mentioned in about three or four other places in the other parts of the paper and the Globe.

Had a nice visit with the family and with Mamma and Mary. Went over to see Aunt Ella and Nellie and Ethel. Do you know that they have never been to see Mamma since she was hurt? I don't understand 'em. I've saved their jobs and their location on two specific occasions and I'd do it again, but I think they should at least have shown some personal interest in the old lady I'm most interested in, don't you? Your mother looks fine and so do they all. I saw everybody but didn't get to call Mrs. Souter because I got your letter from Hinde as I left town and was halfway to Columbia before I read the instruction to call her. Frank said that Albert is going to stay in the OH house. He was having dinner with Frank and Nat the evening I had dinner with your mother.

I am just about to go back to bed again and get more sleep. That ought to put me in condition to meet the situation from noon tomorrow until Tuesday midnight. Hope you and Margie enjoyed the day. Kiss her for me.

Love to you, Harry.

A special letter on this anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Senator Harry S Truman was gradually returning to Washington following traveling to Colorado for a funeral of a friend. He briefly stopped and visited his family in Independence, and wrote this letter from a hotel in Columbia, Missouri. He quickly returned to Washington.

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/december-7-1941

Dear Harry: December 10, 1938

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 10, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today we wish to share with you one of the relatively few “Dear Harry” letters that Bess Wallace Truman wrote to her husband Harry, this time from December 10, 1938. It’s unfortunate that Mrs. Truman destroyed most of her correspondence with Mr. Truman, but we certainly understand her personal desire of privacy. In this time before emails and text messages, and when long distance calls were expensive, letters were an inexpensive way to keep in touch. And it was simply a part of their world.

December 10, 1938

[Independence, Mo.]

Dear Harry- You will be a bit surprised to find this waiting for you no doubt. I don't know whether you meant you were starting for N.O. on Sunday or would arrive-so am getting it off in time. Thanks for the stamps-I judged you wanted them used.

Wasn't that a tricky Christmas card from the Shields-Was it in with the table-cloth? Am mighty anxious to see the cloth-am glad you didn't feel too badly stung on the duty.

Marg & I went to K.C. yesterday & bought her evening dress. She is wild about it but I'm afraid it will hurt your eyes.

Bud called up last night-He and Sharon are in K.C. on their way west-B. to Denver & S. to Dodge City-They are coming out tomorrow for a short visit.

Hope it's nice & warm in N.O.-It's chilly here but more pleasant than that warm weather was-

I got some nice cologne in attractive bottles at Wooly's for the girls & will send them to Vic & ask him to "distribute" them. (Writing on a soft magazine has its difficulties.)

Have a good time and hurry home-

Love- Bess

In one of the relatively few "Dear Harry" letters, Mrs. Bess Truman updates her husband Harry with some of the latest happenings in Independence, while Senator Truman is en route to New Orleans.

Oh, how we wish we had more of Mrs. Truman's letters!

A digital copy of the original is here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/personal-papers/harry-s-truman-correspondence-file-1919-1943/december-10-1938-postmark

Dear Bess: December 14, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 14, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a fun letter for you today, written on this day in 1911. Remember, the courtship of Mr. Harry S Truman of Grandview and Miss Bess Wallace was likely in its first year. Quite significantly, in this letter Mr. Truman shares the joy he feels in having received a standing invitation for Sunday dinner at 219 North Delaware Street, where Miss Wallace lived. Much has been written and said about the relationship between Harry Truman and Mrs. Madge Gates Wallace…but in this letter he is over the moon that Mrs. Wallace has extended this invitation. It’s a pivotal moment for Harry Truman. Imagine him at a Sunday dinner, with George and Elizabeth Gates, Mother Wallace and her three sons, George, Frank and Fred, and Bess Wallace. Do you think he was nervous? Or more pleased to be there?

Lots of fun in this letter, from commentary about Christmas and gifts, Mr. Truman’s choice of reading material, and a prank that he played on his sister, Mary Jane Truman. We are so glad these letters survive!

Grandview, Mo. December 14, 1911 Dear Bessie:

I have been dissipating this week in Pleasant Hill. The town is wet and I really could. The Grand Lecturer of Missouri was there and Mr. Blair wanted me to go learn a lecture for him! I have a hard enough head so that when anything is pounded into it in a strong manner, it stays. That's why I got called on. I am very glad I was, for one of the good old brothers down there took me home with him Tuesday night and gave me quail on toast for breakfast-all I could possibly hold, with a plate full of them still on the table when I left. It was a downright shame to leave them. Even the old Lecturer himself looked at them with regret. He came over specially for breakfast. This good brother begged me to stay Wednesday night, too, but I just had to come home. Papa says I only visit at home anyway. I am trying to make use of my time before we fire the hired men, for it'll be home for me then, sure enough. One reason why I attend these instruction Lodges is because when I visit K.C. Lodges or Independence they make a point to call on the farmer Master to do something-and if it is bungled they say, oh well he's from the woods; it's to be expected. If it isn't, they won't believe I'm a farmer. I am though, and I'm glad I am.

Miss Betty is a very good cook to ask me to dinner next Sunday and I shall be glad to go, more than glad, because you are going. Then I'll still have a dinner at your house to look forward to. Tell your mother that I will be pleased to have lunch there Sunday provided it won't cancel a future dinner.

Do you suppose Allen Bros. could be persuaded to take us out and come for us without a J.P. Morgan fee? It would be much more convenient than a rig because there'd be no horse to look after. My sister has an old beau in Pleasant Hill. I accidentally ran into him and it entered my head to play a joke on her. I got one of the boys in the instruction school to write her a card and sign the fellow's initials. I beat the card home, so I don't know how it'll turn out. She has never seen his pen ability, so if Vivian gets the card we'll have a circus for a while.

It certainly is nice of you to say that you enjoyed Lucy more than Trovatore, and I am glad. I enjoyed it more than any Grand Opera I ever heard. The Christmas wish hasn't struck me yet. But it never does until the day before. I guess everyone will be happy when it's over with. Life would not be worthwhile without a Christmas, though. Be sure and save me a fig. An atrocious pun could be made here but you must give me credit for not doing it.

Nellie Noland called me up the other day and her voice sounded as if she were in the last stages of acute excitement. The cause was a visit from some people who had entertained her at Standardoilville. She wanted me for tomorrow night and I have a Lodge election and Third Degree that night. The people decided not to come until next week and I am very thankful. I could neither turn Nellie down nor miss the meeting. I don't know what I'd have done. Probably sent my astral body one place and my temporal the other.

Girls go to an awful lot of work and worry for Christmas, don't they? They'll sew and paint and do fancy needlework for weeks and weeks just to give away. It just takes me about thirty minutes to do the whole stunt. I go grab two or three boxes of candy with pretty pink ribbons (I don't know if the ribbon has one b or two) and holly on them and a piece of tin "joolry" for Mary and the job is done. I usually have to take my four girl cousins to a show Christmas week and then I'm square for the year.

Ethel says men have no business giving girls things to wear, even cousins, because they use such horrid taste in selection. I think she's embittered because a fellow gave her a solid gold bracelet with an amethyst (I wish Theodore Roosevelt spelling were in use) as big as an English walnut in it. It really wouldn't do for Liza Carilen to wear on the stage.

I have been reading The Shuttle, by Mrs. Burnett. It is not so good as The Rosary, by Mrs. Barclay, on practically the same subject. Life and Adventure are my standbys. Adventure is the only magazine printed on cheap paper that I can read. Some people like realism in their reading for entertainment but I want refined Diamond Dick in mine. I would nearly as lief read geometry as George Eliot or Browning. Sometime I am going to read Daniel Dronda though. I hope to meet Mary in K.C. Saturday for the purpose of being bled for Christmas and will call you up about going to Mr. Pritchett's.

I certainly appreciate your making my Sunday invitation a standing one. Remember please that you are in debt to me for a letter, which I shall expect after I see you.

Most sincerely, Harry

This is a most important letter. Among Harry S Truman's often humorous takes on Christmas and Christmas shopping, Truman is overjoyed that he has, now, a standing invitation for Sunday dinner at 219 North Delaware Street, where Bess Wallace lives. A turning point for Harry Truman, the suitor!

A digital copy of the original can be seen here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-14-1911

Dear Bess: December 17, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 17, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We would like to share this letter from December 17, 1912, with you today.

Harry S Truman, farmer, writes of a gift that he has procured for his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace. It’s evident he put a lot of thought into this purchase, and is concerned how it will be received. And if you like to eat sausage, pay note to Truman’s description of how it was made on his family’s farm.

Grandview, Mo.

[Dec. 17, 1912]

Dear Bess: I've got it - oh, job well done maybe. It's not a rope of pearls or a limousine. It took me seventeen and one-half minutes by the clock to decide and seven weeks to think of. Then of course it's not half good enough. I really couldn't get anything good enough, not even if I had a million. You can exchange it for something if it's not agreeable. It didn't come from Cady's or Jaccard's nor E.B.T.'s nor any hardware store nor Monkey Ward's nor the ten-cent store. I'll give you three guesses and if you guess, I'll send it back and get the other one, which happens to be the same thing. The guy brought the wrapper from gay Paree in the bottom of his trunk. He gave me that and it's better looking than the thing itself. You can't guess it, so you needn't try. I'm only building up your expectations so they can be keeled over at one fell swoop. You know a grand disappointment is as much fun as a good surprise--to the lookers on.

That lowdown dentist kept me for one solid hour and nearly drilled into my gray matter, fact is some of it must have leaked out. I went up and down 11th, Walnut and EBT's but didn't run into your mother. If I had I'd have had three lunches. Wouldn't that have been magnifique. When you phoned she wouldn't arrive until one I went to the Elgin and tanked up walked up Walnut and who should I meet but Myra and Mary going to lunch. They insisted and I went. All I could do was drink chocolate while they destroyed some sandwiches at the Scarritt arcade. Polly said she had only three more things to get at 12:30 and had to be at 57th and Highland at 2:30. I bet she's not more than there yet.

I trailed all over the district. Bought the twins a present and Mary one. Have yet to purchase the cousins and pappy one. I got mamma an aluminum roaster. She's been wanting one and as she'd probably make me get it anyway this is a good time to be nice about it. Mary's beau met me and wanted me to suggest what she wanted. I told him I was hunting a brother myself for a suggestion but had none to wake. He seemed to think I was some what of a knot head but I didn't care to have my back hair loosened when I got home. He suggested a thing or two and I told him to go to it they'd suit me all right. He informed that I wasn't the one he cared to suit. The argument ended at that point.

Did your flowers ever arrive? I should have sent a messenger but did think of it at the time. I suppose you carried the prize home. I was in your burg again last night to a Lodge of Instruction. I told Polly that's where I was going but they didn't believe me, neither did Ethel and Nellie or the folks at home. It doesn't pay to tell the truth even occasionally to some people.

We are going to kill hogs today, oh what a mess when the meat comes home. It's always my job to stuff the sausage into sacks. It is a very agreeable one too. Always I put in some good hide off my own hands along towards the last because they blister and the blisters wear off. It doesn't injure the flavor of the sausage.

May I come Sunday, and are you going to let me go shopping with you Monday or? - and? - Tuesday, whichever suits you best - and I wish that wedding was in kingdom come on Saturday night, for that's the only one this week that I can get off to go to a show. Perhaps it is as well for I'll have a few more cents for Christmas presents and lunch Monday and, or, Tuesday.

Sincerely, Harry

A fascinating letter. Will Bess Wallace like the Christmas present that Harry has bought for her? You can tell he's worried about that.

Dear Bess: December 21, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 21, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We would like to share a fascinating letter with you that was written by Harry S Truman, farmer, to his sweetheart Bess Wallace, on this date in 1911.

There is a lot of charm in this letter, as well as a little self doubt that Truman harbored. But the most interesting part of this letter revolves around a legal battle that Harry Truman and his parents were involved with. When Truman’s maternal grandmother, Harriet Louisa Gregg Young died, she left the farm to John and Martha Truman, as well as Harry, who was partner in John A. Truman and Son, Farmers. Martha Truman’s siblings contested the will, and that legal battle took not only time, but significant financial resources, seemingly much of the profits of the farm. Eventually, the Trumans won the legal challenge, but at significant cost. Unfortunately, much of the paperwork from this challenge seems to be lost, making the mentions that Truman made in these letters very valuable.

Grandview, Mo. December 21, 1911

Dear Bessie: You cheated me out of two pages. Aren't you ashamed? If you only knew how glad I am to get them, you wouldn't be so short with them. I suppose I am too crazy about you anyway. Every time I see you I get more so, if it is possible. I know I haven't any right to but there are certain things that can't be helped, and that is one of them. I wouldn't help it if I could you know.

I guess you are lucky that you don't care-as even the best of fellow, which I am not, couldn't very well make a girl happy on nothing a week and a hat- full of debts. You see, I was fool enough or good enough, whichever way you look at it to go in with daddy even on his debts. Say, don't ever mention that as no one knows he has any, especially his relatives, See?

Really though if I thought you cared, I bet I could win out anyway in spite of all the kin in creation.

This is a mighty poor Christmas letter but our dear relatives have succeeded in giving us the bluest Christmas since grandmother died. If you could see the allegations in the brief, you'd think my mother was the prime lady villain. It makes me so mad I could fight a boilermaker. They even accused our grandmother of being weak minded and most everything else-when she was the best businesswoman I ever expect to see. If we'd ever mentioned property to her, that itself would have finished us-as it should have done.

Bessie, if my dear men friends who invited themselves to dinner here Christmas go home on the afternoon train, I am going to try and see you Christmas evening if you are at home. I'll call you up if I can, or if I can't, about five-thirty. But don't stay at home on my account because I may not get to come. I'll bring you a copy of Richeileu if I come. I got Edwin Booth's prompt copy for fifteen cents. It's a stirring play I tell you. Mamma and Mary are going to see Julius in the afternoon. Maybe you'll run into them. I sent you a piece of tin jewelry the other day. I got it some time ago but found a busted link in the chain and had to have it renewed, so when I got it again I just sent it--that's why so early. With a Merry Christmas, I am, as always,

Your Harry

Lots of romance in this letter, plus an interesting insight into a legal battle Harry Truman and his family were engaged in concerning the will of Mrs. Harriet Louisa Gregg Young, Harry Truman's grandmother.

You can see the original letter here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-21-1911

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