Letter, Charles Harmon to Kate Gleason
A letter to Kate Gleason from Charles Harmon, captain in the United States Air Service in France. Harmon congratulates Kate on being appointed president of a bank. He provides details about his war experience and teases her about her personal relationships and her narrow escape from matrimony in Japan. Includes Italian currency.
France, August 21, 1918.
Dear Kate Gleason:-
Today’s Paris edition of the New York Herald had a cable item that
you were the President of a Bank. Hooray for the Irish. If I ever get
any money I shall deposite it in your bank. The only kind I have now is
stuff that looks like cigarette coupons. But loyality demands that I
send that. I hereby deposit one Fatima Coupon the which is to draw all
the kinds of interest you have in stock as long as you are President.
Yesterday I had a telegram from a camp in England from my 20-year
old son, Carl, who is a Sergeant in Ambulance Co. #337. He has just got
over. Every day I meet a new flock of Americans that I knew back in the
States. Every man that amounts to much at all is in this Army.
I am Chief Inspection Officer for the American Air Service. All
the planes in our Service pass through my Department. I organized it
and am, B’Gosh, running it. I have been doing a lot of flying as a pass-
enger, and now I am taking a special senior officer’s course in flying.
Expect to spend the winter in Italy.
You will be interested to learn that I have’nt been married again
lately. I dont know, I seem to have sort of gotten out of the habit.
The Army agrees with me, and I am becoming more beautiful each day. The
new gold service cheveron is very becoming. I have’nt any hardware on
my buzzum yet, but who can say what may happen?
Some one told me recently that you narrowly escaped matrimony in
Japan. There is’nt anything wrong with your luck. I expect to hear
that you have been elected Senator from New York almost any time now soon.
Is there any one here in Paris or vecinity that you want any thing
done for, -or to? You remember that I once offered to do any little odd
job, like a murder for example, for you any time you did’nt feel like attend-
ing to it yourself. I still feel the same. I have always been pretty
darned strong for you, although I sometimes wonder why you never proposed
to me when you had such a lovely chance.
I wish specially to be remembered to Eleanor and to your brothers.
If Eleanor has not nailed a man yet and if you are’nt going to take me
she might begin negotiations. I have never married anybody in Rochester
yet and I dont wish to seem partial to other localities. Beside that I
am really fond of her.
Seriously, I wish you all the best in the world. I have many pet
recollections of real enjoyment at your house.
Sincerely,
Tod.
Captain Charles A. Harmon
U.S. Air Service, APO 702
Amexforces, France.