July 30, 1933
Canton

We are experiencing the tail end of a typhoon today. Last night the typhoon was up here but it did not materialize as expected. Today we have been having quite a heavy wind but nothing amounting to typhoon proportions. We haven't had that experience as yet and I am looking forward to the day it arrives. In all probability when it comes it will take the small matshed, which we have on the roof for the boy, and deposit it in the next province.

This week has been filled with social functions, and to tell you the honest truth I am rather glad it is at an end. The last four nights we attended parties in Shameen. It is all good fun but I do love my sleep, and after all it is the same crowd night after night. At one party we met one of Germany's big men. He is Chancellor Brünning's right hand man. At the moment he is travelling incognito. He was interesting, but I would hat to meet him in an alley some dark night.

We had a little excitement early Friday morning. We returned from a part on Shameen about one. Everything was serene and quiet. Our house is on the edge of a golf course as you know. About two o'clock there was a terrible hullaballoo on the gold course followed by a number of shots. Next morning on the golf course, about 400 yds. from our house, was a soldier shot to death. I understand that it was some kind of a brawl. We are certainly having all kinds of experiences aren't we? There is absolutely no danger to us, those things happen everywhere.

I am surely surprised to hear that you have not recieved the questionaire you sent me. I filled it out and mailed it to you. You ask how many hourse I have flown here. I have only flown 55 hourse to date.

I am continuing this letter this evening. The wind has blown itself out and the heat is settling down again. This past week has been deadly. All day long I am absolutely soaked with perspiration, clothing wringing wet, and all night I lie in a pool of water. You can imagine how much energy I have. No one can do much work, it is just a case of getting through the day somehow. I am still doing a lot of work but I have to drive myself, the old pep is wilted by the heat. Next month is supposed to be hotter than this one just past. September is another scorcher, but the cooler weather is supposed to start in October. Come on you October.

In my last letter I asked you to send me all information on my chances at home. Your reply won't reach me for two months and by that time I will be nearing the end of my contract. I am including this in this letter just in case the other letter goes astray.

My work at the field is going smoothly. At the moment everything is going along very well and I am getting good results. Just how long such a happy state of affairs will continue is problematical. I am enjoying it to the full while it lasts anyway. I have found that it is wise to appreciate good times while they last.

I imagine Jeannette has given you a good picture of all the Americans and other foreigners here. In the social whirl of the past week I have been with them every evening. Beleive me they are a dejected and washed up looking bunch. I can easily see how they would get that way living in this climate for any number of years. I would hate to stay here and see Jeannette fade to an unhealthy sallowness that all these women have. This is no place for a woman. Someone said that five years was all that a woman could stand in the tropics. I would put that estimate down to about three years. As far as men are concerned the heat is too much for continued hitting tha ball, anyways business can't be done that way over here-- it is a slow and leisurely affair. The Chinese won't move any faster than they want to, and that is pretty slow. I can't see that much of that is going to do a man good.



Love,

Stu.