April 16, 1933
Canton


Your good letters are arriving regularly and believe me they look good to me. I received one today mailed March 22nd. Pretty fast service. It can't be too fast for me. I am hoping that Jeannette received my cable of March 29th, and is now on her way. Lord knows I hope she is –the past two months have been doggone unpleasant and I am anxious to change

I have been looking for a house for the past three weeks but so far haven't been successful. The Chinese ideas of a house are quite different than ours. There are houses here that are suitable but as yet I haven't found one that is untenanted. Thank goodness I will have some preparations to make for the ladies arrival -that will help.

Dad, your remark concerning your feelings at Glendale when I left is all wrong. You have no reason in the world to have such a feeling; -I don't see how you could. I am full grown and twenty five, not only that I am married and have someone depending on me. It is high time I took care of my myself and family. I do appreciate your desire to make everything easy for me, but honestly Dad I would be unhappy if you did. Perhaps I am selfish but I want every doggone bit of responsibility and everything that goes with a family to thrash out on my own. Please don't misunderstand me; I appreciate your feeling exactly.

You know how much satisfaction you have gotten out of taking care of our family and putting us through college and all. I want that same satisfaction gotten by my own efforts. I would hate to wonder whether or not I could have accomplished it without your help. It would take all the fun out of it for me if every time I encountered a rough spot you helped me over it. I wouldn't feel like a man. Now please don't get me wrong Dad. I sincerely and deeply appreciate you wanting to help over the rough places –but honestly it would make me very unhappy if you did. As for coming to China –what more could a young man ask than the opportunity to work out here in a different and intensely interesting world. Believe me I think I am shot with luck. And the way things are now in the States I know I am lucky. So don't feel that way about it. It is a wonderful experience an I am enjoying it to the full.

I am busier than a bee every day at the field. Every minute is packed. I am doing $400 work each month. Each morning I give flying instruction. All dual work same as Basic stage at home. I fly until noon which is a days work, then in the afternoon give lectures and have Armament which is another days work. All in all, I am surely plenty busy. Now that I must find and establish a home I am on the go after quiting time, five P.M. It's a great life and I get a big kick out of it.

My Chinese name is being changed tomorrow. The new name sounds about the same, pronounced Bah sss, but the new combination of characters is much better. The new name means “his virtues are comparable to the greatness of Asia.” The old name was like this [image] the new one is like this [image]. What do you think of that. Now I will write the numbers to ten for you. [image] Enough Chinese for one lesson.

I received the clippings telling about the earthquake. It must have been quite a thrill and a horrible mess. I am glad you weren't hurt. Things seem to happen in bunches don't they. We have a few sunshiney days and it makes the whole world brighter, to say nothing of keeping down the mold. I am sorry I can't be home on Jean's birthday. Twenty one, my gosh, my little sister is a mature lady. I will start watching for wrinkles.

This is a great country. The longer I am here the less I realize I know. I wouldn't take anything for this experience. If I just make a living for this year I will be well repaid. Next year will be different –I must make more money.

Well good night all you dear people. I wish we could have cocoa together tonight. I guess I should be thankful for all the evenings we have had together. Write often.

All my love,
Stu.