U.S.S. "Juniata"

off Monte Video, S.A.

Nov 23 – 1881.

 

Dear Alice,

                        We are here at last & expect to be in port soon & get some news from Gods country. A long tedious trip from Rio.

 

            How are you getting along and what are you doing?

 

I am commencing this and I have not a thing to write about. Each day has been so like all the rest that I can only say that I would like to have gone to sleep first day out & slept until today if possible

 

            I thought the Ranger cruise a most uninteresting one at times, & that they were a measly lot on board, but I think I could have enjoyed a change to the Ranger even.

 

            Burwell, whom you remember, is a most unmitigated sneak, rude and / insolent to those beneath him, & not truthful or reliable at any time. Wood is outspoken, nothing of the sneak about him, but a dreadful blackguard, & reckless of everything. Usher, Chapin & George are fair sort of fellows but under the influence of Burwell & Wood entirely. Baker, alone, would be bearable, but with such a crowd & with such a tongue, he is a dreadful bore, he will talk for a day & you would not be able to say or remember a thing he had told you. Taking them as a crowd they are decidedly uninteresting. The D^r & a Lieut Barnes Navigating Officer whom you did not meet are the only two decent fellows in the [?]droom except Lawrence & myself. Lawrence improves on acquaintance. he attends to his acquaint duties better, is well read and compares very favorably with the average Naval officer.

 

Herbert carries himself very well, the only objection I have to / him here is that he is so timid, when there is a line officer around. Maude would be disappointed & chagrined if she knew that her elaborate menu has not been on the table since we left New York, whether it is gone, appropriated by Baker, or broken I don't know. The question has been asked several times "where is the menu"? but no reply, from Baker, so where it is I don't know.

 

            I hope things bid fair for you to have a pleasant time coming winter. dont forget your French & music lessons. And in case we should have chance to spend a few weeks in Eng^d after I get through here read up your history & make up your mind what you want to see.

 

            My notion now is if I could get long enough leave—2 weeks in Birmingham & Derbyshire, 2 in London, 2 in Paris & one or more in B— and Derbyshire after we got back. from B— we could see Warwick, Stratford & Kenilworth, & from Ripley / see Chatsworth & one or two places in Derbyshire. A 3 months trip would be as little as it could be done in, and allow plenty of time going & returning. A flying trip to Paris only, if any. You need not talk of it, it is distant. You might elope before then, or the J— might go to Europe & you meet me there, &c &c. There is no telling where the J— may fetch up. Does Sophia Hack say anything of going to Europe?

 

            I bought a souvenir of Rio for you (there was very little to buy there, except precious stones) a hummingbird brooch, and do pin (for scarf) small & neat not gaudy. Pin you can give to Maude if you choose, when you see it, or keep it. if you have given her plenty of birds for her hat, don't say anything of this as it may be long before I can send it, and moths may get to them, or roaches.

 

Much love from Papa

 

Dont neglect your studies during the winter.

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