June 25, 1933
Canton

I am sitting at ease on our veranda and a delightful little breeze is stirring just enough to keep it comfortable. This new house is a peach, there seems to be a breeze here when there is no other to be found in Canton. I didn't ever dream that the smallest trickle of a breeze would ever be such a large item in my life. Jeannette just came out with a cold bottle of beer which makes everything just right. She is stretched out in a lounging chair beside me here. What more could a person ask of life.

No mail from you all this week. Every letter that arrives tells that conditions are worse than ever in the states. I try my best to imagine conditions as they are there but find it impossible to conceive of such a mess in the good old U.S. I have decided to stay over here, if possible, for quite some time. At least until things over there are very much improved. As I told you in my last letter my opportunities over here are much greater than they are at home. I am reconciled to staying over here for a number of years if I can make it worth my while, and I think that I can.

The only fly in the ointment is that I will not be near you all. However even if I were flying in the states, in all probability would be miles from California. While I do not like being so far away I am thankful for the long time when we were all together. A few years apart will make it even nicer when we are all together again. Boats are always crossing the Pacific and if we don't come back for good we surely will for a visit. If the prices of oranges improve perhaps you can come over. All this and I am not even sure that I can stay after my contract expires. I think that I can though.

Work at the field is going along quite smoothly. I am busy as ever with my gunnery training and classes. Now that I know the Chinese better I am able to carry on my work without all the heartbreaks and worry that I had the first few months. It is impossible to set down the multitude of differences between the Oriental and Occidental mind. Working for Orientals is extremely difficult until you become accustomed to their way of doing things.

Time flies here in a way that is a never ceasing wonder to me. Of course I am busy at the field all day and it seems that we are out somewhere nearly every evening. The whole day is so full that time never lags. I suppose that accounts for its rapid passage. We have made some very nice friends here which always helps. The foreigners are so few that they hang together like leeches. I consider myself lucky in having the position that I have for it has made for me a great number of friends among the Chinese. I can meet foreigners at home, but this is China and the Chinese are of much more interest to me. My work puts me in a position where I can really know them.

Another reason that I feel that my position is a good one is this. At the end of a year here the four of us at the field will know more about military aviation in South China than any other foreigners in the whole world. In this competitive age a man must be at the top of his heap to succeed. In one particular line I will be one of the top four, and believe you me there is going to be some wonderful development right here in South China. The longer I am here the more I am convinced that I have wonderful opportunities all around me here in my chosen line, aviation. It is a hopeful outlook anyway.

I think of Jean being twenty one and graduated from college time, time, again. It just doesn't seem possible. I know it is so but can't help thinking of it and marveling. She will make an old man of me yet. Please do not think your present will never come Jean, it will. The present that we have for you cannot be sent from Canton without them hanging a 100% duty on you when it arrives in the States. We have found a much nicer one which will come to you in a surprising way, duty free.

Nothing exciting has happened this week, everything has gone along as usual so there is no news to report. Deeds' lady arrives tomorrow June 25, so he is in Hong Kong and quite jittery.

I suppose you know that the economy program has taken all but two of the dept. of commerce men from China, including Ed Howard. I think it would be much wiser to cut down the Consular staffs. As far as I can see most of them are just so much dead wood. Well the ways of the government are queer to behold.

I have a heck of a headache and it is almost eleven P.M. so I will sign off and try to sleep it away. I am holding every good wish for your happiness and improve conditions at home.

All my love,

Stu.