Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE): University of Wisconsin 1922 - 1925 (Hamilton Chase)

Here are letters and photos pertaining to the time that Hamilton Chase attended the University of Wisconsin 1922 - 1925 and pledged to Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE).

Most of the photos are at the end of these letters.

(See also the December 26, 2016 blog post about Hamilton Chase's weekend trip with a fraternity brother, Robert Llewellyn Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright)
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Hamilton Chase (at the steering wheel) with several University of Wisconsin buddies,  1923

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September 19, 1921

To Mrs. Harold T. Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

From Hamilton Chase

20 E. Gorham Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Family; --

I am mighty sorry that I haven’t been able to write you before, but I have never been quite so busy before.  We arrived in Chicago on time and I went out to La Grange immediately.   Had a good visit with Aunt Mary and Miss May Lundy, who was there too.   I rode out to La Grange and back with Ned Jobson.   He surely is a good boy.  Said he would write up to the Alpha Delts here, but we have seen nothing of them as yet.

This room is a dandy.   All the fellows who have seen it say that there is no better in town.   It is neat and clean with lots of light.  The house is on the right side of the street.  It costs us $ 16 a month for each of us, a little over $ 3.50 a week.   The only objection to it that I can see is that the landlady made us sign up for the school year.

We have been rushed a good deal since we arrived.   The Sigma Chis met us at the station and we have had three dates with them, one with the Theta Detla Chi, who seem good boys, three with the Phi Delts, who are very good here, and one with the Phi Psis, who we like very much too.

Dave was very nice to us in Chi (Chicago).   He took us to dinner at the La Salle and I took them to the Palace afterward, where we saw some very good vaudeville.  He gave us some excellent advice which we appreciated very much.  Phil was mighty crazy about him and he went even higher in my estimation.   Surely is a Prince !

We have registered and been assigned to our classes, so that our work is about over until Thursday, when the real labors start.

Everyone says that it is a fine course but mighty stiff.

It is really as beautiful a spot as Sis cracked it up to be.   The lakes are wonderful, and the campus is very attractive.

As yet we have received no bids from fraternities and I am all prepared to be a Barb although I really don’t think that it would be so bad.

Abe has pledged Sig Alph.   They seem to have a good bunch of boys ,and I hope they will do him some good.

My trunk arrived Saturday.  Write soon and often.  --- Loads of Love,  Hamp

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September 21, 1921

To Mrs. Harold T. Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

From Hamilton Chase

20 E. Gorham Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Family: --

Thanks so much for your good letters.   Well, I’ve gone and done it.  Pledged D.K.E. this afternoon.   Congratulations are in order !  Phil is one of the brethren also.  Which makes it very nice.  I surely owe a whole lot to Dave.  I had dates with the Alpha Delts and Sigma Phi thru his efforts.   I like the men in both these fraternities very much, but the Dekes impressed me as a much more companionable and cosmopolitan bunch.  They really are a fine crowd here, and I know that they and I are going to hit it off fine.  

Schools starts tomorrow morning and it is going to be me for hard labor.   My schedule is very stiff and with Military Drill (3 times a week) and two days track a week besides, I won’t have any time for foolishness.

I am very tired to-night so must cut this short and get to bed.  I’ll write more later.   Do write me soon and tell me all the news.  Do you suppose you could send me the Capital, Dad?  Wish you would !

Good- night ---

Lots of Love,   Hamp

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November 1, 1921

To Mrs. Harold T. Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

From Hamilton Chase

20 E. Gorham Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Family: --

I have received my grades from all but two of my examinations.  They are:  French 76,  English 84,  Engish History 83 and Algebra 99.  I haven’t heard from Geology yet, and I am still fearful of it.

This weekend was home-coming.   It was quite a gay town while all the alumni were around.  All the fraternity and sorority houses were decorated with autumn leaves, pine boughs, Wisconsin and Minnesota colors, and large Ws studded with red electric light bulbs.  It was a very pretty sight.  Needless to say, it was quite a bit of labor too.   Did you see what our football team did ?  It was surely a great game with our team at the long end of a 35 - 0 score.  If they can play that way against Chicago, we will have a darned good chance of winning the conference.

Thursday evening Mrs. Upton, formerly of La Grange, and Marjorie had me out to dinner.   Marjorie wanted to be remembered to Sis, and Mrs. Upton wanted to be remembered to Mother.  She said that she had always admired my Mother very much.  

My English History teacher is Curtis Nettles of Topeka.  I made myself known to him the other day, and he kept me about half an hour after class to tell me how much he admired my father.  I think that Dad’s reputation ought to help me along in English History.  He told me that if I was my father’s son I should have no trouble in passing my courses.

Well, folks, I’ve got to hie me to my downy couch.  Do write to me often.  Tell me all the town scandal.

With lots of love,    Hamilton

P.S.  Marjorie is in Y.W.C.A. work here in Madison and Mrs. Upton is living with them.  I don’t remember them very well, although I know I ought to.   Tell me something about them -- Will you please ?

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February 7, 1922

To Mrs. Harold T. Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

From Hamilton Chase

20 E. Gorham Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Family: --

I have certainly neglected my family during the last ten days -- haven’t I ?  I never was busier in my life, and if you could have seen me racing around, I know that you would forgive me for not writing.  I guess that you are more interested in how my exams came out than in any other matter - so I am enclosing the three post-cards which I received from three of my instructors.  Besides these grades, I got a Fair in Algebra and a Good in English History.  I guess that i was a little over-confident in Algebra, and didn’t study it quite enough for the exam.  I got a 70 in the examination, which pulled my grade down from a V. G. to a Fair.  I feel pretty well satisfied, however, as I got 26 grade points, and 16 is the required number.

I surely did have a wonderful time during this vacation.  I went to the matinee a week ago Saturday with Bill Ritchie and saw Francine Larrimore in “Nice People.”  It was a clever satire on modern young people, and very little exaggerated I thought. Sunday afternoon, Bill brought me over to Aunt Mary’s.  I took Auntie, Aunt Mary and Esther into the city on Monday.   We went to the new Chicago movie theater, which is a very beautiful place.  I had a lot of fun driving Uncle Ayres’ car thru the city, and got by without even having a cop ball me out.  Uncle Ayres rode back out to La Grange with us, and sat in the back seat -- pretty good, eh ?   Bill and I went into the city Tuesday afternoon and stayed all night with Johnnie Johnson, the Deke who sent me a Christmas card when I was home.  He is surely a prince, and we had a good time.  I met Bab Wednesday and came up here that afternoon with her.  Bab had room while she was here, so we stayed at the Deke house.  I went to the dance Thursday night as a stag and had a mighty good time.  Friday night was the big blow-out.   The Capitol was absolutely the most beautiful sight I ever saw.   There were different colored lights and spot-lights, and everything was decorated beautifully.  I quit my job as usher at about 11 o’clock, and went up to the Deke box.  The fellows were getting rather tired by then, and I danced with quite a few girls.  I surely did have a lot of fun, and stayed until the final whistle at 3 o’clock.  I took Bab to the dance at the house on Saturday night.  It was an awfully good party, and I had a mighty good time then too.  On Sunday, one of the boys at the house, Tom Wilson, and I had dates with a couple of Pi Phis.  So you see that I have been stepping around quite some.  I would have had time to write at that, except that they kept the Freshman busy working at the house, whenever there wasn’t anything else to do.  I have been asked to invite Abe over to dinner tonight.   I feel pretty sure, however, that he will never be a Deke.  

Well folks, please forgive me and write often.

With love,  Hamp

P.S.  I’m sorry that I didn’t get to see Dave, Sis.  I was going to call him when I got to Kenilworth, but I didn’t get there.

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March 6, 1922

To Mr. Harold T. Chase,  Editor,  Topeka Daily Capital

Topeka Kansas

From Hamilton Chase

Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Folks: --

I’m a full fledged Deke, and it’s a “grand ‘n glorious feelin’ “.  Initiation was over Saturday evening, and was followed immediately by the initiation banquet.  When we sat down to the table, Phil looked at the menu and program, and said “Well, I hope you make a good speech.”  

I thought he was kidding me, and started to laugh.  He then showed me the program, and I saw that I had to make a speech on behalf of the freshman in response to the speech of welcome from the president of the chapter.  I almost fell over, but managed to recover myself enough to get up and talk about 30 seconds flat.  It was the first time I’ve ever been called upon to make a speech, and I was surely working my knees over-time.  I’m wearing Gus Tebell’s pin until mine comes.   He’s the fellow I told you about who is on the foot-ball,  basket-ball and base-ball teams, and is president of the Junior Class, besides working his way thru college.   I surely do feel honored.

Well, I guess that is will interest you to know that I am feeling fine, and that I went thru “hell-week” without weakening.

Congratulations are in order  --

With much love,    Hamp

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To Hamilton Chase

20 East Gorham Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  Topeka, KS

April 2, 1922

Dear Son,

Mother’s eyes bother her, so I am writing this letter.  I should have written yesterday. It was one of my headache days, and besides, the first annual dinner of the new Harvard Club of Kansas at noon kept me until 3 pm and I was then too busy to attempt to write.  Ethel seems to think she and Dave will be married June 10 -- so you must see to it in time that you get home not later than June 9. As soon as the date of your exams is known, we can attend to whatever arrangement may be necessary to let you off not later than June 8.

I suppose you have been pretty busy the last few days, and we have been thinking of you.  I have no doubt you did your best and came thru all right, as I have confidence in your work.  If you flunked anything I shall be surprised, in spite of your bad luck. But it is better to have that alibi than feel the twinges of conscience for laziness.   That is the universal vice to which we all are born and which the successful overcome. The desire to work is not born in us but must be required by working, against our natural will, until it becomes a fine habit, which is as good as a native instinct.   Form the habit early, my boy. The longer it is deferred the greater the difficulty of overcoming the natural human instinct to be lazy. If you acquire ability to work while at Wisconsin you will be educated in the main thing.

So much for the Sunday sermon.

We had dinner at Aunty’s today,  Mrs. John E. Lord also being invited, and Mr. Lord, who couldn’t come.  Last night we went en famille to hear Kreisler and compare him with Heifetz, who was here a few weeks ago.  It was a fine performance, of course, and more considerate of the taste of the uninitiated than the Heifetz program.  The night before Mother and I went with the Sheltons to see George Arliss play Disraeli on the screen, having seen him in the same play on the stage, but we seldom go to the movies any more.

I think you probably know more news of the young folks here than we do.  Mother is very busy preparing for Ethel’s wedding and Sister is quite taking hold in the kitchen, tho it worries her that Ider continually presses her imitations on her to go “up the line” for a vacation.  Ruth and Jim Perry are here for a day or so and came over this afternoon. Sister all by her lonesome went to the Wells luncheon at K.C. Tuesday, coming back on the Rock Island Tuesday evening, to attend the opening of the Wells Endowment drive.  

Good luck, son, and much love,

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

20 East Gorham Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

April 8, 1922

My Dear Boy: --

I am glad you drop us a line of Topeka news once in a while.  We were interested to learn of Legler’s precocious adventure. Yesterday I happened to run across him as he was getting into his car at the filling station station opposite Hobart’s.  He started off on Tenth in an easterly direction with a rush and just succeeded in passing another car going at good speed as he reached what looked like the end of the block. I thought he wouldn’t venture to try to pass ahead of the car south at Harrison, but he did, and negotiated is successfully.   But I hope Legler’s suddenness will not be contagious among the boys of his age and generation.

Last evening we had a men’s dinner, and an exceptionally good one, at the church, with some short speeches, to organize for the canvass for subscriptions for the next year and tomorrow make the rounds.  We have bought four lots west of the church facing Topeka for future needs, the Sunday School overcrowding our facilities, with its membership of nearly 900. Dr. Estey made a few remarks twitting the church on its lack of business sense and jeering it with some jeers on its general behavior, but wound up confessing that it is know in the Presbyterian denomination “from ocean to ocean” as one of the great church bodies and for the loyalty of its membership.

The Sharpes have gone to Chicago and we are hoping that Dr. McGuire may conclude to buy the place.   The Sheltons thought of selling their house and buying it, but after looking it over yesterday and seeing in what condition it was left, not having been kept up for many years, they will not consider it.  Something of a building boom has started here and you would be surprised to see the new houses going up out Washburn way, and beyond.

I wonder if you have written lately to Aunt Fan.  If not I hope you will sit down and take a half hour to do so.  You must not forget that you owe it to them to write them occasionally about Wisconsin, and they are greatly interested.

Speaking of that, and your work and what you are driving at, when you are in the library, look up a copy of the Independent for April 1 and read the first article.   On second thought, I will cut it out and enclose it.

Mrs. Porter has been here a couple of days at Auntie’s, leaving for Kansas City this morning.   Uncle Joe starts for Buena Vista next week to get ready, and Bob Fullerton may go with him to lay out a golf course.  Have you been thinking at all of what you will do in your vacation next summer?

We are of course anxious to hear the results of the exams.  I hope you made the grade in spite of your handicap.

Sister expects to publish the announcement of her engagement on Easter Sunday and she and mother are now very busy in their preparations.   The wedding will be at the house in the evening and has all been planned out in detail, but there are large preparations to be made.

It has rained continually and if the sun comes out for a wink or two it closes in again.   The roads are rough and we have not been to the farm, but warm rains have brought the leaves and blossoms and flowering shrubs and grass and things look like spring.   Yesterday we had a telephone message at the office from the City Building reporting that Mr. McNeal, who had just left here, had broken out into a profuse sweat and collapsed and was taken home in a taxi.   He had had a cold for two days. I stopped at his house in the afternoon and Miss McNeal said she thought it nothing serious, and I have not heard this morning.

Much love,

Father

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To Hamilton Chase

20 East Gorham Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

May 4, 1922

Dear Hamp: --

I think you are abused by my neglect to write you the last week.  I set a time for writing to you and then something interferes. Now mother and sister are up to their ears getting ready for the wedding and it is more than ever up to me to keep you in touch with the family news.  The wedding plans are proceeding very satisfactorily and ahead of time so far as trousseau and other necessary provisions are concerned. Today the invitations and announcements came, in ample time.

Fitting sister yesterday Mrs. Campbell remarked behind her back -- “I never saw more beautiful shoulders” -- Sister was enchanted, only to discover that the dressmaker was complimenting her own handiwork.   It was the shoulders of the dress.

You must now find out as promptly as possible when your last exam comes off, so that if it doesn’t gee with our plans you may see what can be done, with my co-operation, if necessary, to take a special exam of your own in order to be here for your only sister’s wedding.   Even a hard boiled registrar or dean must give some consideration to such a contingency, and the fact that we postponed the wedding to the last possible date in order to have you here. You can, and should, if necessary make this statement plainly to whatever official has the power to make the necessary adjustment.

Mrs. Shelton apparently made a remarkable recovery from her operation, when 13 days later, it became necessary to do it all over again, except for the removal of the cancerous growth.   The wound had healed outwardly, but remained open its full length inwardly. Now she is again recovering, but she has necessarily had a great deal of morphine and has had no nourishment for two weeks.

Mr. Gafford is out at Mt. Princeton fixing up the hotel and putting in a 9-hole golf course.   The day he got there he said they had one of the heaviest snowstorms he had ever seen and he was snowed in.

Tonight Mr. Shelton goes with us to Aunty’s for a game of bridge.  He was in the other night and played with mother and sister and me.

You will be delighted to know that I can’t find any dandelions in the front lawn.   I have beat them out at last. The neighbor will resow them, but I can now keep out at the front.

Have you been thinking at all about summer work ?

Much love from

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

20 East Gorham Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

May 27, 1922

Dear Hamp: -

We are all greatly disappointed by your news that you cannot get away in time to be here  for Ethel’s bridal dinner. It will be an affair worth coming a long distance for, and being your only sister’s only bridal dinner it seems dreadful that you should not be here.  Mr. Connell told me that he would hold the 10:30 Sante Fe train for 10 minutes or more for you, but on looking up the Northwestern time table we found that this will not answer. The train down seems to be an accomodation train and may be late.  Even if on time it will not allow you to make the connection.

There is only one way out, and that is to get a special dispensation for a private exam in your French, say in the morning.  I suppose that on a statement of the facts -- your only sister’s marriage and the use you could be here -- it might be arranged.  Yet I would not attempt it if it brings two exams so close together that you will be hurried or hard pressed and run a chance of flunking out.  Of course, I do not know how your exams come. If there is a 24-hour interval, it might be well to try it; I mean between this exam and the one immediately preceding.

I am glad you enjoy college life.  There is nothing quite up to it when it goes right.  These years may prove the happiest in your life, and I am happy to know that they already begin to seem so to you.  Don’t let the good times interfere with preparation to stay put by making the grade of your examinations. That is fundamental and all the rest depends on it.  Take time in your exams. Don’t hurry yourself. Get plenty of sleep and take time out of play for preparation, rather than out of time for sleep. There is nothing like plenty of sleep to keep your brain clear of cobwebs and in form to permit you to do yourself full justice.

Let us know whether you think it advisable to apply for a special French exam.   There is no other way you can get here for the dinner. And in that case you must be sure to send your trunk on ahead, getting a thru ticket.

We are getting along very nicely.  I saw Mr. Gufler, who thinks he will have a job for your after about June 15.  Possibly a little later.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

20 East Gorham Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

June 3, 1922

Dear Hamp:

If you have not heard from us this week put it down to Sister’s wedding.  I myself have celebrated by being under the weather and had to go to bed one day, but have been up and about otherwise.  Today, Edith Connell is having a tea for Ethel and sent her and mother corsage bouquets for the occasion. It was a stunning affair.   Last night Mrs. Frank Merriam had us and Aunty and the Charles Sheldons to dinner.

I am sorry about the French Exam.  Your letter has just arrived. Mother and Ethel are out driving with Aunty.   My opinion is that you should stay and take the exam. Get everything out of your way for next year by all means.  A dinner is not of sufficient importance to set against that. You will have plenty of work next fall without a French hangover exam -- and your summer will be freer from care.  Here’s luck with next week’s exams! I hope you come thru nicely.

Since you will get here on Ethel’s wedding day, you better pack your evening clothes in your bag -- and don’t leave the bag.  The trunk might be delayed. The whole house is given up to the wedding -- even my room, where punch will be served, and there is no room even for a trunk.  The drying room in the basement will be full of upstairs furniture.

I am a little worried, from your reports of your beauty and freedom from pimples and other defects, for fear that you will outshine the bride.  That would be unpardonable. Maybe you better leave off the facial embellishment stuff for the next week -- What ?

However, mother says the bride in her wedding dress is capable of taking care of herself in my company  -- even her own family circle ! We are not anticipating the break in our household with any happiness, but are glad that as Sister goes you will be with us.  As the wedding day approaches we feel how much it means to us who are left behind, as selfish feeling, but one not to be thrown off easily. We have been among ourselves a happy family circle and the four us complete.   We can’t help feeling a little desolate when face to face with the fact that this happy period is passing. ---

Well, good luck!

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

Sept. 21, 1922

Dear Hamp: --

Uncle Arm made his settlement with the probate court yesterday and turned over to me certificates for eight shares of Santa Fe pfd stock (worth today about $ 750) and an envelope containing, he says, $ 40.92 in cash, which is the property of yours that he has had in his hands.  I am enclosing a receipt for you to sign and mail either to me or to him. Perhaps it would be well for you to mail it to him, with a note thanking him for looking after your property. And later it would not al all be a bad idea for you to send him a momento in the form of a book or a tie.  Perhaps you will run across a two-volume book that would suit him. He likes history and biography. It it cost $ 10 I would pay half of it. In other words, you might spend $ 5 on such a token, and send it to him.

I have turned the stock over to Mr. Copeland to send back to New York and have transferred to your name.  There is, as I said (I have not opened the envelope yet to count it) $ 40.92 in cash. Possibly with what Mother has of yours a share of stock might be added.   You understand that legally you own and control this property and it is not subject to my dictation. I nevertheless advise you never to let it get any less; but to help it grow.

This evening I am going with Mr. Morrow to the Chamber of Commerce dinner to the British Sulgrave people.   It has been right cold, especially at night, but is nice and warm today. Hope you are coming along all right and that you will gather in a fine bunch of new Dekes.

With much love,

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

Sept. 22, 1922

Dear Hamp: --

I have been clearing up and turning over into your name your properties, which I will keep in my box in the bank until you come home.  They come to the following, which it might be well for you to copy off or cut out of this letter and place in your pocketbook or some other place:

I bond 4 ½ % rfg St. Paul Railway   …..$ 690

2 shares Santa Fe common stock ……$ 210

8 shares Santa Fe pfd common stock..$ 750

$ 150 Liberty Bonds ……………………$ 150

Cash deposited in State Savings Bank $ 63.50

Total    $ 1863.50

Besides, you have your life insurance policy on which you have paid about $ 200 and which is worth perhaps something over that sum.   Altogether, about $ 2000.

The figures above are at present prices and will vary more or less with the market.

If you permit the dividends and interest to accumulate it will not be very long before it will begin to grow into respectable figures.  When you come home it might be well to take out another insurance policy. You have plenty of accruing income to meet the premium payments, and it is a form of savings investment as well as protection.   The kind of insurance you have has always a cash surrender value of more than you have put into it.

It has turned warm.   I am to play cards with the Connells tonight and have dinner tomorrow at the Merriams.  Do not see any young people, so I don’t know anything of news.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

October 7, 1922

Dear Hamp: --

Your letter was the only one I have had this week from my family, but today I had a telegram from mother saying that she will be home tomorrow.  I suppose she has Sister settled now in her apartment. The Gaffords expect to start home tomorrow and be here Monday, to stay a couple of weeks.  Monday I am going up to Manhattan to speak to the journalism classes at the college, but hope to be able to get back that night, tho they want me to stay over.

I hope you did not bet on the Yanks.  It does not look very good for them, and in fact they seem to be clearly outclassed.   This afternoon there was an immense crowd in front of our scoreboard, not less I should say than 2,000 people, a Yanks crowd, except the high school lads, who cheered anybody on either side who made a hit.

A day or so ago I got a rebate from the Santa Fe railroad on your Colorado ticket, and if the bank will take it with my endorsement instead of yours I will deposit it in your savings account, which is getting up where it is nearly enough to buy a share of some sort of stock.  I think you have the right idea, of leaving this grow and build up, and get your income in some other way, by working. At some time in the future it will come in handy, and will always be a support and give you a sense of security.

We are having fine weather.   Ida is away up the line and I am alone.

Much love,

Dad.
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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

October 12, 1922

Dear Hamp: --

After reading your letter asking her to send you Aunt Mary’s birthday gift, as you were short of funds, I concluded to send you the enclosed rebate check on your Colorado ticket, rather than deposit it to your account,  but I have been out of town this week and busy when I got back, and have just now time to write you, before going out to get mother and bring her down to do some errands.

You will have to use your head considerably to manage your money matters, not agreeing to do things or deciding on an impulse for things that mean money, and thinking about ways and means afterwards.  Try to restrain impulsive decisions or actions that cost you sooner or later and may embarrass you financially.

I had a telegram from the Northwest today from my orchard man saying that we have an immense crop, with a more immense problem of knowing what to do with it, as there is neither a market there nor storage facilities.  What he can do I do not know. Aunty also has a prodigious crop and our man is swamped, with labor scarcity added to his other difficulties.

I hope you have got rid of your cold.  If it, or another one, hangs on, you know the sovereign remedy.  Am glad you are doing good work in your classes. Keep it up and take good care of yourself so that you can do so.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  Hotel Idaho, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho

October 25, 1922

Dear Son:

Mother may have written you of my unexpected trip up here to the Northwest to see about the apples.  The Gaffords were unable to come, so I left Thursday morning, arriving at Spokane at 6 o’clock Saturday evening and coming over here Sunday evening after visiting the Pettits and getting their report.  There are apples here as thick as flies, but great difficulty in handling them, due to the rail shopmen’s strike and the lack of cars to ship. The warehouses are filled up. One packer I talked with today has 100,000 boxes now and is turning growers away.  We may have to store for a while till the market improves and shipment can be made. Apples of fine quality but small are dumped out in great heaps. If we could market all our apples, Auntie and I would have 15 carloads or more, but how many we will be able to market nobody can yet tell.  Today I have been pretty well over this valley from Coeur D’ Alene to Spokane, talking with growers and packers, and tomorrow shall go into Spokane and learn what I can there from some of the largest packers and commission men. Everybody’s a good deal up in the air and there is agreement on nothing except that the growers will not make anything on their crop.  I think I shall be able to start home about the end of the week. Auntie’s apples are all picked but it will be nearly a week before the pickers get through for me. There are old trees here in the valley, well irrigated, that bore 10, 20 and even 25 boxes to a tree, but I suppose, taking the whole valley, the average will not run above two or three bushels for all bearing orchards.   Millions of these apples must to go waste. There was a meeting here in Coeur D’ Alene at which the Governor and other prominent men were present this morning, discussing the situation, but nothing of practical value for this season came of it or will come.

I hope you come thru your tests satisfactorily and have made a good start.   I believe biology would interest you and hope you like it and are feeling your interest grow in your college work.  Don’t let fun get the better of you -- work first. The other way will get you down and by the time you realize it, it will be too late to get back.  It is a game of everlasting sticking to it, to be on top instead of having it on top of you. This is as good a lesson and training as you will get at Wisconsin or anywhere else.  Keep a good spirit and keep cheerful, Don’t be slothful, have a clear purpose in mind, and you will go along fine.

I have to preach a little to you on general principles, not being on hand to know how you are doing and feeling.  You are right about living in the house being a handicap. It makes your job more difficult.

Much love,

Father.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

November 16, 1922

Dear Son: --

I think you are right, that it is time you heard from me.  We enjoy your cheerful letters and while we don’t hear definitely about your doings and conduct and only now and then hear how things are going with you, which are the things we are particularly interested in, yet I would rather have you write often and regularly, if it is only to say Hello, than to get fewer letters.

Ethel has been so busy that she is apologetic about writing, but she is getting down genuinely to housekeeping and got up a dinner the other day which did her credit.   But on the whole I think our kids do very well by the old folks.

I don’t know what you can do about your accounting unless you either go to the instructor and get him to give you the key to the secret so that you will get the idea, or call in a regular book keeper and have him clear the mystery up.  You have undertaken quite a heavy contract this year and if you put it thru I shall feel proud of you. But you can’t afford to take any chances or let anything slide. If something stumps you, get hold of the expert and have him clear it up.

Mother and I took Senator Capper and Mr. Schenck to the Nebraska game and Lawrence.  Probably she wrote you about her experience. A girl sitting next to her and under her umbrella called her a good sport, but mother denied it with emphasis and declared that she was not a good sport and never had been.  However, she came back with me and Schenck thru the worst storm we ever tackled and she hadn’t a word to say, taking it as it came, including a thorough soaking. She wanted to wait at Lawrence two hours or more for the train, in her wet clothes, but I persuaded her to try it anyhow with us, and promised to turn back if it didn’t go, and we got home at 5 o’clock, changed our clothes and were glad of it.  

I was afraid to stop for fear the battery would go back on me, as it had done the moment we reached Lawrence, and we couldn’t start again, so we kept going.   Nebraska played all around Kansas and won 28 to 0, the same score as last year. It is a disgrace to Kansas. Yale, Harvard and Princeton, as well as other teams, frequently beat a better team by their fighting spirit, but Kansas expects a licking from Nebraska and regularly gets what it expects.

I cashed a small coupon of your Liberty bond the other day for $ 2.06 and am enclosing it, adding a little to it for good measure.   I suppose you will have Thanksgiving dinner with Sister so probably mother will send along a box to her.

Let us know how you are and how things are going and keep up the good work.

With love,

Dad

PS  Your writing on the typewriter is a good idea.  But it learning make it a point to use all the fingers as much as possible.  Once you learn to use only one it is difficult to overcome it.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

November 27, 1922

Dear Hamp:--

Your mother and I mailed you parcels post a Thanksgiving box Saturday, in view of your loud and painful outcries on my report that we expected you to share Ethel’s.  There was nothing to do but get up the other box, with the same number and quality of mince-meat pies, etc. I hope the box came thru all right and that the squashy pies did not spill out and mingle their juicy contents with all the rest of the stomach-destroying indigestibles.  But we had a pie yesterday, and it seemed fairly wet for mince meat.

Yesterday afternoon we took the Hammatts in Old John to the farm, where Ready is preparing to leave us, giving up the fight.  He is fattening the cattle and doing a good job of it with our new ensilage, which for 100 feet away makes the place smell like a still.   The hogs look fine, too. We have sold the sheep, and I am looking for a new tenant.

Wisconsin came out about like Harvard this year, but not quite as bad as Yale.  I was glad that you did not lose the game Saturday, even if you did not win it. I went down with the Harvard and Yale men to a luncheon at the University Club, where we got the play-by-play bulletins of the New Haven game.  We were all bitterly sorry for the Yale fellows in the first quarter, but cheered them up by promising that Harvard would soon score its second touchdown. It didn’t.

But it didn’t have to.

We are still having wonderful weather and with the furnace fire going have to open the windows.  Mother and I feel a little lonesome with Thanksgiving looming up and with the Hammatts are considering what we will do about it.  I suggested a trip to Kansas City, but it did not make much of a hit, Thanksgiving being such a home day. Ida was to go up the line, but thought better of it, while still wanting the day off.  We may wind up at the Chocolate Shop or Santa Fe Harvey House.

Now that football is over you will not have distractions and can bone down in real ernest.  I came across the enclosed letter in cleaning the desk the other day and concluded that you might be interested in reading it and measuring how far you have got along since it was written towards accomplishing anything you set out to accomplish.  But to do it you must have some definite goal to aim at. The letter showed a kindly and friendly interest. Throw it away when you have read it, or do with it what you please.

We are looking for letters from you and Sister telling us about your reunion and the game.  I know you had a bully time and are glad you have the memory of it.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

December 3, 1922

Dear Hamp:

While mother is lying down upstairs I will have time to write you a short letter before I go out.  The Wests expect us and the Hammanatts to lunch at 6 o’clock. Your letter came yesterday afternoon.  I did not realize that you were plunged into your exams so soon, and am hoping that your come thru better than you expect, tho you undoubtedly bit off a larger lump when you started out this semester.  It will do no harm, if you make the grade, but next time I would be a little more prudent about how much I took on if I were you. Let us know promptly the results. By the way, have you done anything to make up the Physical training of last year ?

We had our quietest Thanksgiving on record, after debating a number of plans, none of which seemed very satisfactory.  In the end we were alone and our Thanksgiving Dinner consisted of a debauch of sausage and hot cakes and coffee, with no dessert !   Nothing very elaborate but quite a dissipation for us. Then, we went to the 1:30 show of “The Prisoner of Zenda” at the Isis and had things pretty much to ourselves, the crowd not coming in until the second performance, when it packed the house.  In the evening the Merrimans came over for cards. They had dinner out in the country at (aGrange) picnic ! Strange Doings for all of us. We enjoyed you and Ethel’s letters about your fine reunion. She thoroughly enjoyed your visit with them.  I was glad to hear what you said of her housekeeping and am quite proud of Sister’s courage in having the family Thanksgiving Dinner at her house without any help.

Good luck!

Let us know promptly from you.

Much love,

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

December 14, 1922

Dear Hamp:--

I am looking today for a letter from you reporting how you came out finally on your exams.

If you came thru you did very well, for I think you undertook too much this semester.  What between the exams and Legler Paxton and Jack Merriam I suppose you have been a good deal stirred up in the last week.  We were over to the Merriam’s the other evening for a game of bridge and heard about the wedding plans. Nobody is invited except the immediate families and a few girls and boys to relieve the occasion of its solemnity.  The Merriams themselves did not know until a week ago that the wedding would occur so soon, and Mr. Merriam got word of it in a letter from Jack while he was away from home. Their house is going up out on Topeka Avenue near the Country Club and they hope to occupy it in April.   Mrs. Crawford is quite crazy about Legler and is delighted with Isabel’s engagement.

We are now looking forward to seeing you in another week.  You will help us out a great deal for Christmas -- Thanksgiving was a dull, gray day to us all alone.  Last evening mother I took Anna Furry to see “To Have and To Hold” and to the drug store afterward. Anna has developed into a good deal of a woman and is here now helping her Aunt Dorothy to make her candies.  She told us they have made 100 lbs this month so far, very fine candies, too.

One night they worked until 12 and then up at 3 to start in again.  But yesterday Dorothy burned her hand quite badly. Anna is delighted with the work.  

It has been very cold this week, near zero, tho not quite our first touch of real winter.   Mother and I usually drive down town in the afternoon to do her errands, and Old John never behaved better.   The older he gets the better he runs. When he fails I think it will be like the Wonderful One Hoss Shay.

Take care of yourself this cold weather, don’t get your feet wet, or change your shoes if you do, so that your holidays will not be spoiled by a cold.

With love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

May 1, 1923

Dear Hamp:--

I must say that I was disappointed to get your report of a flunk in economics, as I felt confident that you could handle it.  Your idea of going to the professor and learning from him what the trouble was is good. I hope you converted it from a good resolution into a fact.

We all have good resolutions, and sometimes they vanish in the incense they create and that is all they amount to.  This world is a good world, but it has its laws and woe be to him who thinks he has them beat. The other day I was going around with McFarland the druggist, a sweet young fellow, sweet natured.   He told me it took all the nerve he had to go to the bank and borrow $ 35,000 to buy out Tully, especially as he knew he was not entitled to the loan. He did it, however, and is making good. The bank made a bet on his character and that includes industry and resolution.  He said, however, that he wished he could make a good subscription (We were out for the Y. M. C. A.) like some of these other fellows. It was a fine thing etc. He liked to give and admired other fellows who seemed able to do so. I told him he was wrong, that he had no business yielding to this temptation, but the thing to do was to attend to McFarland’s interests.  When you get to be 50 or so, I told him, you will be able to do something in a large way, while these fellows who are so generous now will be hard up. If you hope to be generous, get yourself a position where you can be so in a large way. He said he believed that was so and he had never thought of it. As a matter of fact it is only what an older man has found out about nature’s laws and ways.   What we have paid a good price to learn is worth something, but is then valuable only to pass on to the younger crowd.

You must consider getting to work some time.  And get it fixed in your mind that you can not beat the game but must play it according to the rules.   Observe the successful man and go to it, keeping yourself sweet however, at all costs. Dismiss from your mind all timidity and fear and simply bone down to the job in hand from day to day.   But keep your eye on something higher and never rest content with what you are. Try to think your job out, its possibilities and methods of putting it over. Learning to think instead of dreaming, musing and letting your mind take it easy is a hard job.  But the fellows who do it succeed.

This is a longer sermon than usual, and sermons are not much good after all.  Yet they may get you started thinking out your own particular personal problem.

Sister has been having so many parties that she rejoiced last night that nothing was on today.  She expects to go home Saturday. Today the painters have their ladders at the house and I suppose are ready to start.  We will be more or less torn up for a month, I suppose. Write us often, even if only a page. You don’t tell us what you are doing and thinking very much.  We are very much interested, you know.

Much love,

Dad.
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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

May 11, 1923

Dear Son:--

I don’t know what decorations you have on the walls of your room, but on a chance, even at this late date, I am sending you one I found and was so favorable struck with that I dickered for it and got it for you.  The idea suggested could not be improved on. Artistically there is room for some difference of opinion of its merits. However, I am mailing it to you with my endorsement of the sentiments.

Ethel is packed and ready to return home tonight on the Santa Fe limited.  Mother caught a bad cold from me and had to have Dr. Mills in today and as Ida planned to go up the line over the weekend tomorrow Sister was in doubt this morning whether to cancel her reservation and stay over, but as she had extended her visit a week already and was expected home tomorrow we did not feel that she ought to upset all her plans.  Aunt Lizzie and Mr. Gafford are on the way home and Sister had a postcard from them from Gallup today. They separate in Colorado, Mr. G going to Buena Vista with the car and Auntie coming on home by train. I suppose she will be in early next week. Mother and I had planned to go down to Excelsior Springs over Sunday and perhaps for a few days longer, but she is in bed with her cold and with Auntie coming we shall put it off.

We smell strongly of fresh paint, the first coat having been put on the house this week between rains.  It may be another month before we are done with it. Tuesday the painters turned up and on that day we all went to Leavenworth to visit the penitentiaries.  As a matter of fact we spent so much time with Warden Biddle of the federal institution that we had only a glimpse of the other. We went up in Mr. Shelton’s new car and had a beautiful ride.  We got to the penitentiary at noon and hunted up the warden, who happened to have the federal parole board with him. He insisted on having us all for dinner and afterward showed us about the place,  interesting but it wore mother out walking. That night we had a sharp frost and had to cover all the plants and since it has been raining a good part of the time.

I wrote Aunt Fan this week and told her the news of you and Sister.  It would be a good job if you would write her. She carries on a wide family correspondence and it is only fair that she should hear from you now and then.

Lately I have been inveigled into joining a class of men in volley ball at the Y. M. C. A.   I hated to think of it but got led into it and find it a lot of fun. I am going up in a few minutes for the game.  We play twice a week -- Dr. Scholle, Sam Cobb, Dr. Crumbine, Charley Elliott, Wilbur Gardner and a few other hardy athletes.  

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

530 N. Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

May 24, 1923

Dear Hamp: --

You have been neglected, owing to our violent actions in the last week or so, hiking out for Evanston and so on.  I calculated on having some time on my hands when that trip came, so put off writing you, as I was pretty full-handed with work and getting ready and getting my grass cut.  But I was disappointed. Either I was driving or I was resting and in no shape to tackle letter-writing. We covered 1,625 miles and when we were not going or coming we were on the go between Evanston and La Grange or taking the baby for an outing.  Mother dropped you a postal.

We got home at 8:30 last night in fine order.  We did exactly what we started out to do, tho at times it pushed us, owing to bad roads in Iowa.  That state is years behind Kansas and Nebraska, not to speak of Illinois and Wisconsin, not only in roads but in road-marking.  The Iowa roads must have been marked by an inmate of one of the state institutions moving backwards and throwing the signs over his head.  They were never where you wanted them. We made two pretty long runs, 278 and 285 miles, both thru Iowa and over tough roads for a good part of the way, and we averaged a fraction over 25 miles, according to our mileage register, for the entire trip going and coming during the hours we were on the way.  The longest day was going up thru Iowa, starting at quarter before 8 and getting in to Cedar Rapids at just 8 at night, but mother stood it very well. As I had to do all the driving, my thumbs were numb and one of them still is. The little Chivver is a wonder. I will never say again that it is good only for our scenic route out 8th and around by Washburn.   I ran it as high as 47 miles and mother got so that she said nothing at speed anywhere under 40 on a good road. The car never batted an eye tho I had to buy a tire, owing to tearing up one when it was down over a rough road, so that I did not know it until I had done the casing considerable damage. We had two or three punctures. Linge fixed the car up for me when I started out and I had it oiled and greased at Evanston before starting back and am having it gone over again by Linge today.  When we came in to Topeka at a good clip last evening it was running as evenly as a Sante Fe Limited.

We found Sister and young Davy in perfect trim.   He is a fine boy and the living image of his grandfather Nethercot.  Mother says he is the best natured baby she ever saw, and she has seen at least two others.  Sister did not dispute her dictum.

While we were gone Charley and Grace came home with Uncle Joe’s car after first being married in California.  This morning they were off again for Colorado with Uncle Joe.

My shoulders ache and my thumb is numb and I must shut off now.  I regretted very much that we could not take three days more and hike up to see you, but it was not practicable.   I am not as young as Uncle Joe in hiking fitness and we had to place a limit on our first touring escapade. We got thru very well for a couple of greenhorns, but the trip would have been perfect if we could have stretched it to Madison.  

Much love from

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

May 29, 1923

My Dear Son: --

We enjoyed your letter, mother remarking that it was one of the best we had ever had from you.  Nevertheless I do not quite understand how you ran out, as you stated, of letter paper. What have you done with it?  What families are you writing to? I hope you have been writing Aunt Fan, and if so, I approve of it. That was a fine report on your English theme.

I have not felt very sympathetic with your going on to complete the college course, as I feel that you must begin to think of work and business at your age.  Two years more in college will not be profitable unless they lead immediately to work, and are a training specifically for it. And as I understand you have abandoned the business training course.  You must consider what you are doing with regard to what it points to and the character of the preparation. I have been thinking that life insurance is a good business in which you might find that you were interested, but if the course you are now taking does not point in that direction, the question is whether you are gaining or losing time by two more years at the university.

It is not necessary that you go into life insurance;  but it is quite important now to have a fairly clear notion where you are heading and to employ your time in particular preparation for a definite objective.  Your mother and Aunt Lizzie discussed the question and concluded that you ought to go ahead.

It is not necessary to make a decision now, but will be as well to go thru your exams and lay your plans as if you were to go back in the fall, leaving the final decision, however, to a later conference when the whole matter can be gone over.

I think, accordingly, that is will be all right for you to down to the track meet at Chicago after college closes.   There is no occasion for any great hurry to get home and if you go back in the fall it would be a good idea to attend this meet.  

I haven’t attempted to find you a job here for the summer.  That can wait.

Bernie Crosby is to be operated on by Dr. Mills today for some mysterious ailment.  People are saying that it is cancer of the stomach, but Earle Williams told me yesterday that they hoped it was an ulcer, which is bad enough.  He went thru the Mayo clinic last week and came home for the operation. If it turns out a mortal thing it will be a hard blow to the Crosbys. Mrs. Hammatt is here alone, but Frances is coming home this week.   Mr. Hammatt is in Minneapolis for several weeks. The Hammatts want to sell their house and have made up their minds to leave Topeka definitely. It is a good plan, I think. I am not ambitious to have you settle down here, but believe Chicago a much better location for a young fellow starting out in any line.  

I am wishing you luck on your exams.   Go to it and put your time in for all you are worth.  How they come out should have considerable influence in determining the future.

We are pretty well.  I don’t know, with all the rain, when we shall ever get the second coat of paint on the house.  Last week people were beginning to be reminded of the great 1903 flood, but the river is going down and flood danger is past.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 North Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

June 9, 1923

My Dear Hamp:--

They are painting all around me and will be over my desk shortly, and I will have to get out.  After six weeks the painters yesterday thought they saw a chance to put the second coat on the house also -- and last night we had such a rain as we have seldom experienced, a heavy downpour all night long.  This afternoon North Topeka has been warned of danger tonight from the river.

I have been negligent about writing to you having been pretty hard rushed the last week, with many meetings and appointments, and am sorry this should occur just when your friends are leaving you rather desolate.  Abe got home yesterday and called mother on the phone this morning reporting that you are well and hearty. That is good news. We were disappointed that Ethel and Dave did not get up to see you. But if we come up to Chicago this summer we will make a trip to Madison.  I have been urging mother to go up to the sanitarium, as she is far from well, and stay a month or so before I leave. Probably she will get away late this month.

Mother probably wrote you of the Miller wedding and sent you a newspaper report.  It was another terrific night, but we got away better than most, tho somebody got to my umbrella first.  There was a deluge all evening so that I feared Old John would not start, but he started at the first push of the button, and I managed to get up to the side porch, so that mother did not get dripped on, with her wedding dress.  We had left the upstairs windows open and were fairly flooded, the plaster all wet downstairs.

When I am not so pressed for time I will write you concerning your work, and after we get reports of your exams.  I have not been, as you think, opposed to your attending summer school, provided your grades warrant it. But I would not feel very favorable to it if you should fall down on them.  To give two more years to college work you should be certain that you will get something practical out of it that will actually help you get and hold a job. From now on your work certainly should have that always in view.  I would hate to have you drop French now, however, when a little more time on it should put you in position to make use of it as an asset any time. And, on that matter, I would advise you this summer if you do any outside reading to do it in French,  not minding to look up words in the lexicon but take it as it comes. You will find that you help your vocabulary very much by that method. The same word will turn up again in a few pages and after several turnings-up you will get its meaning from the context.  I discovered that reading French novels when on the train.

I must hurry to get mother and Auntie and take them to their card club.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 North Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

June 11, 1923

Dear Son:--

The other day when I wrote you I looked thru my pockets for the enclosed check, but had left it in another suit.  I am sending it along instead of depositing it to your credit in the bank here, where you having a savings account, as you may have use for it.

I am writing you now, rather than putting it off later today,  because there is a farmer in here talking to Tom McNeal in the next township.  He is accustomed to conversing with friends on the next quarter section, and I judge not anything confidential.   It is easy to hear him; too easy. It is not easy to do anything else, and he has kept it up until my nerves are frazzled.  I don’t know another newspaper office where it is wide open and farmers drop in for a few hours or so, or the whole day, and howl their heads off on patter of small interest, farm details,  talking shop and never a hint of wit or humor. Farmers have probably as much humor as other people; but I never happened to get any of it in these visits. They are talking about this being a good town or that a dead town, or this neighborhood good farm land or the other poor farm land and so on ad infinitum,  ad nauseam -- to my notion.

We have escaped another flood by a hair.  Sunday everybody was down at the bridge. But the rains let up and the river is falling rapidly.  The ground was completely saturated so that Sunday afternoon when we got two inches of rainfall in about an hour you scarcely see grass in the Linday’s yard out of our sitting room windows.  It was a pouring river of muddy water all thru the yard.

Today the painters are finishing up on the house, and I like the looks of it -- the body a very light gray and the trimmings cream color.  We took a chance on that combination, and when it was suggested to the painter he fell for it at once as a pleasant change. There is nothing like it in town so far as I know, and we have been looking at houses for quite a while with a view of finding some combination that is agreeable to the eye, not too commonly used and suitable for wear in the Kansas climate.

Today mother went down to Judge Witcomb’s court along with eight other friends of Mrs. Quinton to give their moral support to Mrs. Kendall whom Quinton has sued to tie up her property.  He brought the suit in Mrs. Quinton’s name and some of the women were there to testify of her mental condition, that she could not authorize such a thing. But Quinton thought better of it and admitted at the opening of the case that Mrs. Quinton is incompetent, claiming a right to bring the suit as her natural guardian.   Mother said he gave the nine women a dirty look when they came in, and I suppose he thought they were all there to testify.

How are you making it ?  Did John Adams come on for summer school?   That would help a good deal. Last night we took Harry Morgan, whose wife is away, down to Auntie’s and played bridge and later in the week Mr. Shelton is going with us, as he did last week, so Auntie is fairly gay.   Mr. Gafford is at Bueny. Take care of yourself and let us know how things go.

Much love from

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From Annie Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

June 27, 1923

My dear Boy --

I had such nice letters from both Aunty and Sister and (_____).

I will have one this afternoon from you telling about your trip to Chicago.  I’m sure glad you went but sorry it was so hot while you were there. How long did you stay ?   I sent your old summer (boating?) hat etc. thinking you might find them cooler than the ones you are wearing to school.

When did your summer school begin?  Ethel says she and Dave had a dreadfully hot trip.  I am delaying my trip some what till this hot spell is over.  I know how awful it is in Chicago when it is hot. (We are quite … ) 99 degrees on Monday but yesterday and today has been lovely.  We had a big storm last night. Uncle Jo returned yesterday and wants to start with Aunty and Grace late this afternoon -- it looks doubtful to me on account of the weather -- the rain does not seem to be over.  Did I tell you your names was on our invitation to _______ (Leonard Kline) wedding invitation? He is to marry a Kansas City girl -- she is very attractive looking and has a rich father so I hear.

I have about decided to leave the evening of the 4th.  Father plans to come up the last of July and we will probably all come home together when your school term is over -- so let us know the date.  I sent your box on Sunday so you probably have it now. Take good care of yourself dear and write often.

Love and hugs,

Mother

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

June 28, 1923

Dear Son:--

We haven’t heard from you this week, but thru Ethel and Aunt Mary learned of your visit to Chicago.  Sister reports that you were looking well, so I suppose you are all right. It is a long time since we have seen you -- in fact the longest since you were born, which is something of a record and not one that we want repeated or broken.  Next week mother starts for Chicago and will try what the sanitarium can do for her. Dr. Allen here says that he can do nothing to save her sight and it is up to the general practitioners rather than the oculists. I hope some good will come from her trial of the sanitarium.   I expect to come along about the last week in July and to stay until you will come home, when we will all come on together, unless plans change.

An oil man is fixing to drill just across the road west from our west 80 at Wakarusa, but I put little confidence in him.  The other day he took me down to see the men preparing ponds to supply water for his engine and talked about what he was going to do.   I will believe him when I see the oil. Ike Gilberg came in the other day to advise me not to put any money in it. He had never seen the land but by his clairvoyant insight had “investigated it” and found there is no oil there;  “nothing but sand”. On the other hand, Kearny is strong for it. When two such experts disagree I take to the woods. The driller is not a man of good standing, from all I can make out, and may only be fishing to catch suckers with leases.

We have had some burning hot weather, but it rained in sheets Tuesday night and yesterday turned cooler, last night so cold that I came in from the sleeping porch, not having enough covers on the bed.  Today it is ideal in temperature. The Gaffords planned to start for Bueny yesterday, but I learned that there had been a rainfall of from one to three inches across the state to the Colorado line, so put it off until today and expected to start after the mail came in, provided everything looked right.  But mother called the house a little after 10 o’clock and they had flown. So now we are quite alone.

Wheat harvesting is on and I must get down to the farm this week if I can make it.  Topeka avenue is still being paved and is so torn up that we do not try to use it. It will not be open until late in the fall, if then.  I have two young fellows running the farm, brothers, and apparently good workers, but there will be little wheat, weather conditions having been so unfavorable in many ways.  Some farmers will not even cut it, I hear. The Agricultural College figured that Kansas farmers fell 40 million dollars short of making a profit on their wheat least year, it is no better this year,  and farming is still in a bad way generally.

Let us hear how you are getting on and what you are doing.  I am sorry John Adams did not join you.

Much love from

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

July 5, 1923

Dear Son: --

I enclose your score card, which came in the other day.  It does very well. Hope that you are enjoying your summer work as much anyhow as a job at Mr. Gufler’s or elsewhere.  Mother left last evening for Chicago and I suppose Sister met her at the train this morning, as that was the understanding.   Mother will go out to the sanitarium at Western Springs and see what they can do for her. I expect to come along some time near the end of this month, by which time I hope the sanitarium may be thru with her and get her started right for recovery of her general health.  There is some mysterious derangement that is causing the loss of her vision and the oculists can do nothing for it. These sanitarium people have the reputation of doing a good deal with dieting and I am counting on it.

Phil said he had a letter from you the other day so I suppose he sends you the news that you are interested in.  I don’t know anything about it anyhow. I have just once set eyes on Abe since he came home and then only for a moment.  We are not having a bad summer for humans, tho perhaps not so good for crops. It rains continually and rained hard last night, which at least keeps the heat down, tho not the humidity.  I have not suffered at all.

I hope you did not lose any good money on the prize fight.  If you bet anything it should of course have been on Dempsey.  Some day a younger man with a fighting face will put him out, but there isn’t anybody in sight yet.  About twice in a generation a real fighting man turns up. Dempsey is the only one since John L. Sullivan.  Like John L., he will be knocked out some day when everybody is betting on him and unable to believe that the crown is ripe to pass.   He did not do very well, for that matter, at Shelby, but would have done better if the other man had been a fighter instead of a side-stepper and sparrer.   I remember when John L. had exactly the same experience with Charley Mitchell, a wily clever English sparring man, but not a fighting man. The fighting man does not understand them and can not get to them very well.  He knows how to stand up to another fighting man all right. Dempsey could not get to this slippery fellow and when he did the blow was half-spent. Mitchell kept dancing up and tapping Sullivan and dancing away again and he had the fighting man so fussed that he never could knock him out.  Sullivan was disgusted with that kind of game.

If you will make a point of practising your French I think you will catch on to your French teacher’s conversation much quicker.  Turn English sentences into French out loud when you are alone, and try to get it into your ordinary conversation a little, and it will come better than when you do nothing with it except in classroom.

I am all alone now and expect to hear from you pretty regularly.

Much love from

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

July 11, 1923

Dear Son:--

I am treated very well this week -- a letter from you yesterday and one today from sister and another from mother.  I feel like complying with your suggestion to send you $15 therefore. You have not caused me anxieties as some youths do their afflicted parents and I hope are not developing the habits of spendthrifty.  You have not got yourself into any serious devilry and I hope that you won’t do so. I have little use for mollycoddles, but there is a golden mean and a happy medium, and maybe you will find it and locate on it.  I would rather a boy were honest, square, loyal, upright and downright, frank and open, honorable in his dealings and truthful under even the most trying circumstances, than that he were excessively moral in the conventional sense, the danger of hypocrisy in the latter event being extreme.  I would rather he had these manly virtues as they seem to me, and more so the more I look around and take in life and the more or less well known human race, than that he were to subject himself to inhibitions and prohibitions of a conventionally “moral” sort. Let him be himself, and allow himself expression in a rational way, rather than from a perhaps somewhat sickly subservience to a rigid morality, so called, be subject to repressions and not fully express himself.  Let him be a free man, in other words, under a self government of his mind, and he will be rewarded with a good inner conscience, no matter what people may say about him. And let him permit his own mind to determine for him, on the whole, and as he sees it, what is right for him and what is wrong -- and the conventional world can go chase itself.

Probably I would not venture to talk this way to a boy whom I did not feel that I had reason to have confidence.  I think you will understand it, and in fact I believe that boy-morality, the ethical codes that a crowd of healthy and well bred young fellows just naturally draw up, when they have arrived at an age of mental maturity and can form judgements on their own account, is likely to be more natural and sound and healthy than codes imposed upon them by others.

Inhibitions and repressions are not entirely healthy.   Freedom is immense. But whoever chooses freedom must set up inner laws of his own and obey them.

It is quite a while since I wrote you a sermon.   (I think your French teacher approved the patness of your answer, and what suited you in it was its brevity.  A few more words and longer sentences will try out your French).

Much love from

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

July 20, 1923

Dear Hamp:--

I congratulate you on your economics exam.  It shows what you can do and that you have the ability and can “have the knowledge” if you desire it.  I wrote mother about it, not knowing whether you had done so or not.

Probably I shall leave for Chicago next Friday and will not come back until the close of your summer school when we can all come home together.  Just when does your work come to an end? It sticks in my mind that it is the 16th of August, but I am not certain.

I shall be glad to get away as I am mentally seedy and dusty -- down to the fine dust in my intellectual tobacco can.  The works, to change the figure, groan and squeak and the gears catch and scrape. I put on more power and get no more action.  A few weeks of change of scene will fix me up again.

We have been lucky in escaping Kansas hot weather so far and I suppose will catch it in August.  This morning when I closed up the house the thermometer in the sitting room registered 74 -- remarkable.  I go to bed early, as there is nothing doing and get up regularly at 6:30 pm. By the time I get to the Chocolate Shop at 7:30 Dr. Coston is there waiting for me and we abuse the bankers and relieve our minds generally.  I find that I do not get down to work until about 8:20. Two hours to get ready for the day. I eat no lunch and generally get dinner at the Harvey house, the only objection to which, and that is a serious one, being that the meat course is every day the same precisely  -- steak nowadays. But the rest of the meal has variety and as a whole it is altogether the best in town. Two or three times I have taken the Lindsays next door to a picture show (in their car). I do not call around and see people, which is bad and perhaps a part of my feeling of lack of power or pep.  I appreciate that it is wrong but go on doing it, not having a desire to see anybody.

When you come home there will be so little left of your vacation that I do not think you should consider getting a job.  Better loaf until it is time to go back to work. It will probably be hot, as the climate has to strike a balance for the season.

Take care of yourself and don’t catch any more cold or go in swimming twice a day.   Once ought to be enough.

Much love from

Dad.

______________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

July 27, 1923

Dear Hamp:--

I am just getting ready to start for Chicago and have a good many memorandums to check before I get away, so can write you only a line.  If we can get up to Madison we will do so, and will talk it over when I see mother.

We had a fine rain last night and it is cooler, tho it has not been oppressively hot this summer.  The rain prevented my going to the farm as I intended doing this morning, so I had to take it out in telephoning.  They expected to start threshing today, both wheat and oats.

You may have to come on home, as you say, and hang on the hooks here till we come, but it will not be much over a week.  I do not know what plans mother has, if any, regarding you. I have not discussed it with her, and had the impression that you would not leave Madison until the middle of August.  You will hear from us in a few days.

Much love from

Dad

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

Aug. 1, 1923

Dear Son:

We got home here at La Grange at 9:30 Sunday night, Dave driving us over.  Sister was tired and stopped at Evanston but Mr. Nethercott came with us. We had a fine drive, the weather being perfect, and no traffic to contend with until we got to Chicago.  Coming thru to La Grange I never saw anything to equal it -- miles on end of cars mostly congested, standing in line, occasionally advancing a few feet or rods, then choked again. See the traffic was going the other way, so that we were not held back except when we got behind a truck and could not pass on the narrow pavement, the line of cars going the other way being so close.  But we got here. Tomorrow I think we are going out to see Sister. Yesterday Uncle Ayres and I played nine holes of golf. I had not had a club in my hands for two years, but made a 47. That is just about an average game when I was in full practice. But I doubt if I can do it again. My first tee stroke I never even hit the ball, but soon got going. Uncle Ayres has not played either for two years and made a remarkably good score.   For several holes, he had the lead on me.

Ethel expects you to stay with her, as Dave will be away.  You should write her at once and let her know when to expect you.  I hope the exams go off all right and that you will confer with the proper professors about the insurance course.  Get their best opinion and advice.

Much love,

Father

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

October 5, 1923

Dear Son:--

We had a fine letter from you, another from Sister and still another from Aunt Fan in New York this week, so it was a bright week for us.   Cherio! Now that you have your neophytes all picked I suppose you are getting down to work and study.

I did not get back my catalog,  but recall the courses you name.  I do not care for the U. S. History particularly.   You have probably been over that sufficiently. But that is the trouble with making up a course of study.  It is either too hard work or there must be fillers. Your 16 hours, however, ought not to be too hard. I believe I would keep the life insurance in mind, getting your hand in somewhat by trying out the selling game.  A good way is to “ talk it up” without directly soliciting. I have an idea that so far as I know has not been developed: Starting very early with small amounts a young man can by the time he is 25 have perhaps as much as

$ 10,000 insurance.  It should all be 20 payment.  Every five years or so he can take out $ 5,000 more.   Then, at 35 some is paid up and he can take out as much more at no additional drain on his income.  At 40 he might have 25,000 of which $ 10,000 was paid up and the dividends on which would pay the premiums on $ 5,000 more.   And so on. By the time he was 55 he would have as much paid up as you can easily figure out for yourself, and the dividends would carry as much more as he cared for.  These paid up policies then would be valuable property, collateral on which he could borrow half their face value, in a case of need, and paying regular dividends. There is no better “proposition” going, and it beats getting rich quickly by blue sky speculation forty ways.  The important and necessary feature is to get the early start, when the rates are lowest. The earlier the start the younger the age when they begin to be paid up and to yield dividends to carry more. Think it out. It is a good scheme, and for young men and nobody else, for nobody else can use it.

The more important matter, of course is your college work, and this is merely on the side, if anything at all.

Eva Miller and her husband are now located in Evanston and Ethel has had them to one or two things and is trying to get them an apartment.   Edith came home this week from a visit with Sister and is enthusiastic over the good time they had. Uncle Joe has gone to California and I suppose Aunty will follow very soon.  She was sorry not to see you and remarked that it was a year or so since she had seen you.

Much love,

Dad.

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

November 5, 1923

Dear Hamp:--

I got your telegram Saturday and your special delivery letter this morning.  I am sorry you fret over your accident. It was very fortunate not to turn out worse.  You are getting a little valuable experience dealing with a sharper also. So don’t worry.

This man did not wire me and is no doubt a bluffer.  If you have any further talk with him don’t get angry, but tell him to go anywhere, where the woodbine twineth, for instance, and that when you have a claim against him by paying for the damage to the Ford you will see that he pays it.  I don’t know whether it will be worth while suing him or not; but you might consider it, if you have the evidence to prove him responsible.

You are certain to have very much more troublesome things to worry about.  Above all, do not let this petty matter interfere with your work. Your grades are very good and I am very much pleased with them to date, so do not let down.  They show faithful work this term. Keep it up and keep raising it.

If you had not drank a drop of liquor on the day of your accident, which you could testify to, you would have a good case against this man.   The less you have to do with him the better, but if he continues to annoy you I would turn the tables on him. Let him understand that he is responsible for the accident and if he owns a car you can collect a judgement against him.

There was a dreadful tragedy here yesterday when John E. Lord in a fit of despondency went down to the coal bin in his house and slashed his throat and his wrists with a carving knife.   It was characteristic of his considerateness in small things and his failure to size up large ones, that he went to the coal bin to commit this bloody deed, where the mess would causes a minimum of annoyance to the household.  It has cast a pall of depression over the town. Yesterday also was announced the engagement of Mr. Shelton and Miss Francis. This was the general topic of talk until this tragedy eclipsed it completely. Jack Merriam is at the hospital making a good recovery from an operation for appendicitis.  

Well, good bye for the present.  I must tackle an accumulated bunch of work.  Keep up your good work. Do as good a job of thinking as you can, and don’t permit yourself to worry.  

Much love,

Dad.

It might be advisable for you and your friend with you in the car to take the story to the dean your selves.  But you will know better than I can here whether to do so or not.

___________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

January 9, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

We were glad to get your letter yesterday and are hoping that you have shed your BVDs and are wearing clothes, in view of the weather.  It was nearly as severe here for three days, Friday the worst, when it got down to 16 below and never got above zero all day. Sunday it moderated and now it is mild fall weather.  

Since Sunday mother has been abed with the grippe, but today is feeling much better and thinks she may get down to dinner.  She is sick and disgusted with being alone in her room. We were unable, of course, to attend the wedding Monday. Mrs. West told mother over the phone that it was very elaborate, and then Mrs. Akers called her up and described it as very simple, but a pretty wedding.  The wedding presents are highly spoken of, among them checks of $ 1000 from Mr. Capper and $ 5000 from Mr. Paxton. Anybody in my family of the male persuasion who should take a notion to get married on the hypothesis that he would receive a wedding check of $ 5,000 from me would I am afraid meet a terrible disappointment.

We watched Young John pretty carefully, but he came thru the bitter cold without turning a hair.  Yesterday I had Linge tighten him up and also give the car a washing, and as the motometer did not work, took it down to the shop,  where they at once took it off and gave me another in its place. I do not know what the matter was.

I found that the bank had charged your draft to my account, when my checks came in, and I deposited your check in my favor.

Too bad that you missed Sister in Chicago.  She would have been very glad to see you, and also to hear from you all about people and things in Topeka.   I had a letter from Dave in which he reports that she is fine and well and keeps going all the time. The chances are now that you will not see her until you are an uncle.  That dignity and the anticipation of it should make you put forth special efforts to make a good showing in your exams, which I suppose must now be about going. Now I won’t keep you any longer from your books.

Love from mother and me,

Father

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

January 21, 1924

Dear Son:--

I guess you did not fare very well in letters from home last week,  but mother has been sick abed for about two weeks and I have been a little busier than usual around the turn of the year.  The other day, Mr. Wilson asked me what to do about Walter, so homesick, he said, that something would have to be done. I think that he has since gone back to Philadelphia to see him.  He told me also that Warren Crosby and Bernard Gufler are afflicted with the same complaint. I could not give him much help, tho in answer to a question I told him I thought you did not greatly suffer.  Perhaps you would better say nothing about it, as I do not care to be circulating such gossip. I told Mr. Wilson I thought that just after the Christmas holidays was the time for a boy at college to get a good dose of homesickness if he ever experienced that uttery “gone” emotion, but it would fade away.  Exams coming on just after holidays make it severe. I do not recall that I was ever much addicted to it, and if at all was in freshman year.

However, I hope that you have steadied down and got over the demoralization of holidays and are prepared to face your exams.  It is quite necessary to go in deliberately for a mature mind, self control and a purpose. The time comes when folks must begin to think, and to speak and act in view of that mental process.  Thinking is not everybody’s faculty and is difficult. It doesn’t come just naturally or automatically, but with deliberate intention and effort of will. It consists in converting vague moonings into ideas, and ideas into something done before committing one’s self to doing them.  No easy job. It is work, but in the way of self development. The time for you to make good use of your power of mind and will has really arrived. It does not mean to become dull or melancholy or priggish or anything of the kind, but to use your head all the time. Then when any sort of actual crisis occurs, when you have to “make up your mind”, it will have had some practice.   Trying it out in small everyday things makes the mind and will skillful and prepares you to meet difficult questions. It does not do to wait for them. Try your thinking cap on little things first, on anything and everything, curbing the natural tendency of impulse. The practice is valuable and there is no reason why it should not also be amusing. It is a process of self-testing, trying out, to find where your brain is and use it.

Ha!  That is quite a sermon.   Do not think, however, that I do not mean every word of it.

We get very cheerful letters from Sister, and today I had from Uncle Ayres saying he and Aunt Mary will spend a week with us after the middle of next month and that Ethel is fine.  We have had uncommonly cold weather for an uncommonly long stretch of time. Yesterday mother was able to be out and we had dinner at the Arthur Nichols’ with the Frank Merriams. I have the special privilege of sending a postcard over the North Pole, a limited number to be sent, in connection with the transpolar naval flight, and maybe I will address it to you.  If you get it do not throw it away but keep it as a souvenir.

Much love from,

Dad.  

Note the President Warren Harding Memorial stamps

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To Hamilton Chase

524 N. Henry Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

January 31, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

Probably I should have told you that your bank at Madison reported “no funds” on your $15 check, so I made it good here, and it need not bother you.  I have paid it, and if it was also charged against your account at Madison the charge should be stricken off. But unless some careless blunder was made, which is not likely, it was not charged to you at all.

Mr. Lang was in here this morning and inquired for you.  He returns to California tonight. He is entirely for California and says that it is the only place he knows of where one can keep busy all the time doing nothing.

I was glad to get the schedule of your exams, a favorable arrangement for you, I should say, once you got the first two off, giving you plenty of time to prepare for the others.  Let us know promptly how you come out. In your schedule for the next semester I like everything, but it does not appear that you are getting in very much more of life insurance specializing.  

Tomorrow I think I will have Mr. Garvey out to lunch and hear what he has to say.  Mother has her whist club, if she is able -- today she is down with a bad sore throat.  Mr. Garvey told me that there is a right and a wrong way to start in the life insurance game and he would go into the matter with me more extensively.  He knows more about it than most of the agents, having given it a good deal of intelligent thought as well as study.

Mother and I played bridge with Frank and Edith night before last in their new apartment.  It was the first opportunity we had had to see it. For beginners it is first rate and I think they will like it for a year or so, a miniature home.  You can cook a steak with one hand in the kitchen and eat it with the other in the dining room. There is no heating to look after and nothing to do but to push buttons.  The dining room is no larger than our pantry and the kitchen about the same, the dining furniture consisting of a table built into the floor and two benches against the wall.  Four people can sit down to the table comfortably and five in a pinch. Not being familiar with modern apartments I was very much interested.

Sister has been quite gay, going to parties, having dinners and invited to theatre by Mrs. Miller, who has been visiting Eva.  She writes in lively spirits. You might drop her a friendly line when you get thru your exams, if not sooner. How are you feeling and eating ?

Love from

Dad.

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February 11, 1924

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Dearest Auntie: --

I owe you two letters, and thanks for two checks which it was very generous of you to send me.

Today was the first day of the new Semester, so once again I’m starting in with a clean slate and good resolutions to make high grades.  I hope they’ll be made good this time.  I’m not overly proud of my record of last semester except that I got a Fair in Money and Banking when one of the best students in the house got a Poor in it.  Outside of that, I got a Fair + in U.S. History, a Poor in Psychology, and a Fair in French Conversation.   I haven’t heard yet how my Insurance and French Literature came out, but I expect a Good in the latter.  We moved into our new house in the very middle of exams (had to get out of the old one to let another bunch in) and the effect of the great migration was pretty bad on my last exams.   It was largely responsible for the Poor in Psych, I think, as I had a grade of 80 in it before the examination.       This new house of ours is wonderful.   It is much larger and more suitable for a Fraternity House, being well situated on the Lake besides.   You must come up here sometime and see us.  Our furniture is woefully inadequate, but we hope to get more in time.   After paying all my bills, I have $ 43.00 left, and think that should last me until the first of next month anyhow.

I didn’t take in Prom except to usher at the Capitol for the big event last Friday night.   As usual, it was very beautiful and very crowded.   Everyone who went seemed to have a mighty good time.  I would like to have gone but didn’t know anyone besides Margaret upon whom I would care to spend $ 35.00 of your good money.

We are pretty hard hit just now.  Two of our boys left college during last Semester, and three Freshman and one Senior were kicked out for low grades at the end of the semester.   We have been looking around for new ones to replace them, and have pledged two boys who look like good material.  Also, we have a third one on the string.   One bunch in school, the Delta Tau Deltas, lost ten.   This is always the saddest time of year.  For it is hard to say good-bye to the boys who didn’t make the grade, and they pretty nearly always seem to be the best boys.

This semester I am taking Corporation Finance,  Greek Civilization,  Contemporary French Literature,  French Conversation,  US History and Man and Nature.  The latter is supposed to be the most interesting course in the Psychology department.  I hope I won’t have as bum luck with it as I had with Psychology.  If I pass everything and go to Summer School, the chances of my graduating at the end of the first Semester of next year are pretty good.  What do you think of that scheme?   Must close and get to bed.  

Write me when you have time.

Lovingly,   

Hamilton

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To Hamilton Chase

Deke House,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

February 13, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

We had a letter from Sister yesterday reporting that you are in your new house (tho she didn’t give the address) and stating that she had a “sweet letter” from you.  I am glad of that. The more sweet letters she gets about now the better.

Thru her letter we heard also that you had got thru all your exams, except one not yet heard from, so I suppose you are in good standing all around.  And have not got into any accidents or trouble lately, which is cheering.

We are not uneasy about Sister but are naturally anxious.  This week we expect to hear the news that will relieve our anxiety, but waiting is an ordeal, particularly, of course, to mother.  I don’t know whether I can hold her here or not; she is straining at the leash. Next week we expect a visit from the Lundys for a week.  I am hoping to be a grandfather by that time, so they can tell us all about it. I do not know whether I am more or less fortunate than most grandparents, but at any rate it does not make me suddenly feel old, as I have been old enough to be a grandfather, in the ordinary course of things, for some years already.

Mother no doubt told you of Esther’s visit.  She stopped off here a day or two en route to California and I guess will spend the rest of the winter there.

I saw Glen Davis a few minutes the other day and answered his questions about you.  We have had more real winter than for several years and the most wintry snowstorm in many years.   It drifted several feet deep and remained on the ground solid for a week. Since then the streets have been very bad.  In fact I had a time getting to meet Esther at the station, getting stuck as soon as the car was out of the garage and if one of the Covells had not come along and given me a boost would probably have been there yet.  I got stuck another time trying to turn around in front of the house, and a third time when the car slid into a snow rut and up against the curb and would not budge. Handling cars in Wisconsin in the winter must be a good deal of an art.

We are expecting this week to get your report.  I enclose two checks, which however ought to be endorsed to apply on your life insurance this month.  I think Sister would appreciate it if you had some flowers sent her. She will be at the Evanston Hospital Association, 2650 Ridge Road, Evanston.  (I see I was mistaken about the second check -- it is merely a proxy notice). Flowers are low-priced in Chicago, so do not spend over two or three dollars.  And if necessary take it out of the check and send me the balance for your insurance. (Whatever became of the January Standard Oil check ?)

I congratulate you on making the grade right along.  It is not only a comfort to us here but is a creditable to you, when many do not make the grade and comparatively few go thru to the finish.  I am so sparing of commendation and praise that maybe you can put a little higher value on this on that account, but I do not, on the other hand, have so much occasion to urge you on or find fault as formerly.  You are getting on. Still, I would not be in a hurry to get married.

With love,

Dad.

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February 17,1924

To Mrs. Harold T. Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

From Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney,  Madison, Wisconsin

Dearest Mother and Dad: --

Congratulations Grandparents!  How does it seem to have two generations behind you?  I’m glad it doesn’t make you feel old, Dad, ‘cause I’d hate to ever think of you and Mother as old people.  Somehow, I don’t think you ever will be old.  I don’t believe that anyone who is so interested in everything in life as you all are can ever get old.  Thank you for your Valentine, Mother -- it was very kind of you.  I also enjoyed both of your good letters very much.

As yet I haven’t received my grade in Life Insurance, but the Contemporary French Literature grade was 90.  This semester’s work is just beginning to get underway, and it looks as though it might mean a lot of work before the year is over.  However, the Profs. Always try to scare you the first week and it doesn’t pay to let them pull the wool over your eyes.  I think I’m going to like all my courses -- Prof. Rostovtzeff is especially interesting.

I am enclosing the check which you sent me to endorse.   There was no January Standard Oil check.  I got on in December, but I deposited it against my loan at the bank.  My finances aren’t too rosy, so I wrote Sis a letter instead of sending her flowers.  I expect you are enjoying a visit from Aunt Mary, Uncle Ayres, and Betty at this time.  Give them my love.

Much love,

Hamilton

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To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

February 22, 1924

Dear Uncle Hamp:--

I have written so many letters this week that you have been neglected.  Your letter gave us great pleasure, a very fine letter. I am glad you wrote your Sister.  She and Mrs. Nethercott and Dave tell us that her room has been aglow with flowers and plants, so your letter was more welcome than flowers.   We have had two letters from Sister herself. She had an extraordinarily favorable experience all thru. But I am hoping that she is not overtaxing  her nervous strength, with the excitement of so many letters and visitors. Mother and I between us have written more than one letter a day to her and Dave, and she has heard from many friends as well as relatives.  

The Lundys and Betty are with us and will stay until next Monday.  It has been cold and we have not attempted to do or go much, but today it is “brightening up” and moderating.   This evening the Connells have us all to dinner and for a game afterwards, including Edith and Frank. Mother is about all in, with so much excitement the first week of her grandmotherdom.  She suffers from want of sleep and really looks haggard. I hope the next week she can settle down and get a complete rest. I can not help fretting about her. She has little strength and anything out of the routine frazzles her nerves.  Ida has come up to the scratch and is doing a fine job.

If you did as well in everything else as French I would expect to see you a candidate for Phi Beta Kappa.  In fact I believe if you get the conversation pretty well and later want to do so it would be possible to get a life insurance job over in France for a time with one of the big American companies.  That may or may not be, but I have had it in mind as a possibility in case you had any hankering for an experience of the kinds. And in fact, if you wanted any experience abroad it might be arranged in the consular service, with a good knowledge of French, or even the diplomatic in a minor connection.  The French therefore opens some gates that otherwise are locked fast. But it is quite important to get some sort of grip on the conversation. It is true that some young fellows have got into the diplomatic or consular service with a superficial knowledge of French compared to yours. The insurance, business and banking and economics work is directly preparatory to the consular service, to which admission now is on examination.   These things may be worth thinking over in the next year or so. I have tried two or three times to get Harry Garvey to lunch to hear what he has to say about the right and wrong way to get into the life insurance game, but one thing or another has interfered on his part. Next week we will get together.

We had a long letter yesterday from Aunt Fan.  I wrote her at once last Thursday, but Dave had telegraphed.

Possibly you will get down to Chicago to see your nephew before we see our grandson, but Ethel and young David are coming here as soon as they can make it.   They have probably written you that his name is David Chase, a god sensible name, tho they call him Valentino, I understand, and Sister writes that he has side burns.  I think he is going to have black hair and look like his mother.

Much love,

Dad.

__________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

March 1, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

You have been overlooked this week, but it is because we have been pretty much occupied -- and of course we had to write Sister, whatever happened, as she and old and young Davy got back to their quarters, a new family.  Mother dropped you a line to let you know that we are as usual. I wrote Aunt Fan to keep her informed about the remarkable progress of the new baby, and wrote to Uncle Henry.

Yesterday we started our oil burner in the furnace, which seems to be operating all right.  I had got to the bottom of the coal bin, the furnace badly needed repairs if we are to keep on using coal, so we settled the matter then and there by having oil put in.  We were without a fire for only half a day and fortunately it was the mildest day we have had. Today it has clouded over and is chilly again. I am glad to be relieved from shoveling coal in and ashes out.

Your little note at the savings bank was down to $ 8.25, so I paid it off.  But it will take all your St. Paul interest next month to clear you, after which your small income will be increased a little.  Taking care of pennies is still as sound a principle as ever, notwithstanding that the penny and dollar do not go as far as when George Washington could throw a silver dollar across the Potomac.  You are gradually adding a little, bit by bit, to your property and if you make it a rule not to spend your investment income but reinvest it, in the course of a good part of a lifetime it will come to something.  Interest is a fine thing to have working on your side instead of against you. I noticed the other day that a man in California had received a prize of $ 12,500 as part of the interest on a fund of $ 500 established 150 years ago by Benj. Franklin to accumulate for such a purpose.   Interest works 24 hours a day and is not concerned with the 8-hour day at all.

Last night we played mah jongg at the Guflers’ who inquired about you and sent their regards to you.  They are both mighty good friends of yours. Mr. Gufler thinks you are a very handsome fellow, but mother is not of that opinion.  She thinks you are not a beautiful person, but have nice manners and a good appearance. You might be beautiful, like your sister, but it would not be anything particularly to your credit.   But if you should cultivate good manners nobody could deprive you of credit for so doing. In fact old fashioned ideas are the right idea. The main thing is to be a gentleman, and manners are vital.  However, they amount to nothing but a deceit and a fraud and a hollow pretense and hypocrisy unless they come from the heart. They must be the expression of good feeling, respect for others and self respect.

It is time for me to get home for lunch, so I can not prolong this sermon at present.  Mother and I take a little ride around town (her favorite scenery) after lunch every favorable day, and it seems to do her quite a lot of good.  The traffic cop got excited and scared a young fellow driving a truck into backing into the rear of my car the other day, and then when I jumped out and jumped on him said it was all my fault.  I thought I would have to get a new fender, but it ironed out and fortunately cost me only $ 2.50. This is our first accident.

Love from

Dad.

___________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

March 8, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

Everything is wrapped in a mantle of snow which is still shattering down.  We have had a good deal of winter, tho in Wisconsin you would probably not think so.   The other day I reached the bottom of the coal bin. It had been a dirty winter and mother had complained of coal dust and soot, which kept Ida busy a good part of the time so that she could not go up to her room and take naps.  I am weary myself of shoveling coal in and ashes out, so we made up our minds then and there and the next day were on a gas burner. It has worked perfectly. So far.

The walking is so bad that I will have lunch today with Harry Garvey and get from him what he has to say about the life insurance business.  I talked with George Godfrey Moore at the Chamber of Commerce the other day and he agreed with Garvey that selling insurance is not the best way to get started.  But I may know more about it when I have heard what the insurance fellows have to say. Moore thought it very likely you could with your French get a job over in France if you wanted it.  Maybe so.

I was interested in the name of French writers you are reading, of the present day.  I don’t know much about any of them and I suppose you are fairly familiar with present-day schools, and what they represent, how they are classified as classicists, romanticists,  modernists, clericals and so on. Ignorance among intelligent people is sometimes surprising. The other day I was talking with an intelligent man I had loaned Conrad’s new book “The Rover” to.  This man was two years or more in France and Germany. “The Rover” is laid in French revolutionary times and the “sans culottes” and “culottes” for short are referred to more or less in the story.  This man could translate it because he knew a little French and wanted to know if I knew what the term meant literally -- sans culottes. The funny thing was that he had never known the the term was the common slang word in the Revolution for the mob.  It was all news to him, and he thought it very amusing of Conrad -- sans culottes.

You ought to go at your French conversation with a bang and get it, practice it, don’t let the opportunity escape while you have it.  You will catch on to the corporation finance: it is the kind of thing that the family has some faculty for, after all. But I would make every use possible conveniently of the teacher in talking with him and clarifying ambiguous and obscure points.  That is what he is for. A decent teacher will appreciate being consulted. You caught onto the principles of economics, I thought, very readily.

Mother is going to Dr. Bob Stewart, being discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm of the older doctors.   We are hoping that he can help her.

We ordinarily take a little ride around town after lunch and this does mother a world of good.  She likes it, and it does not take her out of town where, as she says, the ditches seem to rise up and threaten her peace of mind.  It was well she was not with me this morning, when a young fellow picked me up in an enclosed Ford coupe and we slid completely around in turning in from Huntoon to Topeka blvd and went on our way pointed exactly right.   We were going a little too fast, but the young driver surprised me by saying it was “fun”. My ideas of fun have changed considerably in the last 30 or 40 years, I find. It makes me dizzy to spin around in a closed car.

Well keep up the good work and write us regularly.   We missed our letter from Sister this week and do not know how young Valentino is getting on.

Much love,

Dad.

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March 19, 1924

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street, Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Auntie: --

Thank you very much for your good letter and for the enclosed check of $ 150.00.  I’m glad to hear that Aunt Mary is out there near you again.   It must be a great pleasure for you to have her nearby.

I’m going to write to Dad soon to see what he thinks of my plan to go to Summer School.  He spoke of it when I was at home at Christmas time, and seemed to think it was a good idea.   He also let drop another remark at the same time which interested me a lot but which he has not followed up.   He suggested going out to the Northwest with him.   That’s what I’d rather do than anything.   I’ve heard so much for such a long time about that country and its possibilities that I’m very anxious to go out there.  I’d like to work out there next Summer.   Maybe I’d learn something about the orchards, and it would certainly do me a lot of good physically.  If that can’t be done I guess the best plan would be to go to Summer School and finish up as soon as possible.  It was certainly very kind of you to leave the question up to Father and me.  It is certainly an honor to have you place so much confidence in me, and I hope I won’t do anything to lose your confidence in me.

Spring vacation starts April 9th, and I’ll probably be low in funds by then.  Give my regards to Uncle Joe and also to Grace.

With much love

Hamilton

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To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

March 22, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

We had a nice letter from you and one from Ethel the day before, so we are in good humor.   The sun has also broken thru and it is brite and fair for a change, after wretched weather, which did not prevent mother and me from taking our daily after-lunch ride on her favorite course, out West Eighth to Lindenwood and so south thru Washburn addition and down town, a grand scenic route that delights your mother, because there are no country-road gulfs of side-ditches rising up to menace her peace of mind, with their grotesque, twisted, cruel, distorted faces, threatening to engulf her  and the care and grind us all up to miserable powdery paste in their blistering, mushy maws. No; on this landscape there are nice, neat, protecting curbs, and even if you bumped over them you would land calmly and peacefully in a pleasant grassy spot, and all you would have to do would be to call up Linge and be put right side up again. And so on. I have become entirely reconciled to take my touring on little paved paths between houses and never to get beyond arm’s length of an up-to-date city residence in the most attractive near-addition to the business quarter,  where you can say, That is where Susannah and her husband live; that place next door is Mr. Pinkston’s new place: that baby carriage must be Sally Simperton’s and so on.

Hum.   I have let me imagination run away with me and are really getting interested in this scenic route and all the baby carriages and new grass seed.  It sounds as if it might really be quite attractive, notwithstanding a certain lack of variety in picturesque natural scenery, as trees, hills and valleys, thrifty growing wheat, various wild flowers and grasses,  far-off vistas of farmsteads and timber and a winding stream, the trilling of birds and scooting of timid wild beasties. After all, me for the real countryside.

We talk more or less of taking a trip early in the summer, maybe to Evanston, picking you up and then traveling back to Colorado.  Or even hitching a trailer and camping it, moving on east from Evanston as the spirit moves us, to the Berkshires, or what not. But I think it is mostly talk.  

Last night mother and I went to a dinner and card party at the Coles’, quite a large party and a good dinner.  Mother lost only one game and she beat me the only game I lost. I got the prize, however. So there is one card prize that came home which she didn’t bring.

I notice that because Mrs. Legler Paxton did not send two notes of acknowledgement of a wedding gift you inferred that you “don’t rank well”  with her. Now, cut that kind of thinking out. It is not the right psychology. People who disparage themselves by thinking they don’t stand well with anybody often stand better than they suppose, and lose 50 percent of the benefit of it by not thinking so.   Think exactly the other way and when you think on such a question make it your rule to think of incidents or things that are favorable rather than unfavorable to your amour propre. A very good thing is amour propre and it is desirable to cultivate it in this particular world.   As good natured a person as you naturally are and as friendly should not permit touchiness to touch you. I speak as a parent and a father.

Much love from

Dad.

_________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

April 17, 1924

Dear Son:--

I hope you are not having the bumptious unreasonable weather that has jumped on us.  Tuesday the weather bureau reported a temperature of 90 and everybody hustled into his summer clothes,  John Klopfer even digging up his last year’s or pre-war straw hat. Last evening mother and I went to church to hear Dr. Estey’s preparatory sermon for Easter and communion Sunday.  It turned cold and was sharp when we came out and in the night we had a genuine frost. I don’t know what it did to the fruit trees, which were aflame with blossoms. Today it is warmer, but we had to start up our oil burner again in the furnace.

Today is mother’s birthday and not knowing of it Mary Burnett Cline invited her to play mah jong this afternoon with some of the girls, so she will have a celebration of some sort.  Dr. Rob Stewart and the oculist, Dr. Reed, agree that mother’s tonsils and decidedly infected and want to have them out. She called up Mrs. Gault yesterday, who has had hers out, to hear what the results are, but she got Babbie on the ‘phone, who was supposed to be in Madison.   Babbie told her she was called back by her mother’s accident, a broken arm. But no doubt you have heard all that. We were surprised, not knowing what had happened.

Your description of young Davy lacks something of being a complete pen sketch from which our imaginations could construct his exact image, but I am glad you paid your sister a visit and saw your nephew.   He has only one aunt and one uncle. Unfortunately it was not practicable for us to attempt to drive up to Chicago, even if we had been assured of the weather at this season, for mother had one of her bad weeks and was miserable.  But we have done some riding out in the country, as our battery was getting down and needed building up. Saturday we drove out to Lawrence. We made it in 55 minutes each way, which showed that it is possible to tour in the Chivver.  It doesn’t shiver quite so loud when above 35 as around 30, I found. I tried it out and got up to 40 and I guess it is capable of going higher. But over 25 there is no great pleasure in riding in it. It is in fact an around-town car and for that purpose is as good as a Rolls Royce or a Ford.  We have been out in the country every day but one since last Friday.

Monday evening we took the Wests out on the Meriden road but not get to Meriden, owing to a prairie fire which was a flame for about half a mile, and we turned back to escape the smoke.  We have now quite a number of concrete turnpikes out of Topeka, the latest west on this side, out Washburn way towards Dover, and there is not so much traffic as when Lawrence drew all the cars.   Sunday mother and I drove down to the farm and came back by the Burlingame road. The country is still pretty brown, thou, and not colorful.

I had a birthday the other day and have now at last got by my 28th, in fact so far by that it doesn’t greatly interest me any more to count it all up strictly.   Still, if it were not for some neurasthenia or something in my left hand I could lay claim to being better than I have ever been. I have nothing to complain of in health and should be more grateful than I am, tho I am occasionally grateful at that.  Taking some care of health all along the road is desirable., tho it is human nature not to do so until at least middle life. It is pleasant to be free from bodily pains and discomforts when you get along in years.

Love from Dad.

_________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

April 21, 1924

Dear Son:--

Mother and I enjoyed your good letter, and appreciate your thinking of us on our birthdays.  I would rather have a letter than any other testimonial. I am glad you had such a successful spring party and so popular a partner.  Hazel reported seeing you and Sister and was astonished at your physical magnitude, as she no doubt told you also. Evidently your devotion to your books is not threatening to destroy your health.   Consequently you can put still more fury into your studies, if necessary, to make sure of a good record.

Tonight we are going out to the Country Club for dinner of the Fortnightly, Mr. Copeland reading a paper on the railroad act and Mr. Hogueland and I to discuss it.  As I do not know what the paper is, I am depending upon my general information to get me thru. Today they began excavating our alley for concrete paving and I managed to find a garage down town for two weeks, fortunately, so we can use the car.  It will not take long to do the paving, but drying and hardening the cement will probably keep us off of two weeks or so. They alley needed it and is cluttered up with all the scourings of winter, none of which is ours but which made it troublesome to dodge around and get into our garage.

Today and yesterday have been hot, following a couple of days so cold that we had to have our oil tank partly filled again and run the furnace nearly full blast.  It has been a long winter. Our (in fact, the Lindsay’s) old board fence blew down and has finally been removed. All our new plants and shrubs have come up wonderfully, and I have already done considerable execution on the dandelions.   They are not bad this year. They thrive handsomely until they have about totally destroyed the blue grass and then they die, as if the only object and aim of their existence had been accomplished.

Dr. Bob Stewart now has mother in hand and with the new oculist, Dr. Reed, and the x-rayists has definitely condemned her tonsils to be out.  She had her sinuses rayed too, and asked them whether, if they turned out infected, they would amputate her head. A cutting remark to the cutters.  But maybe the new doctors have discovered the source and cause of her failing eyesight; they think it not unlikely. She herself never believed in the Bright’s disease theory or the kidneys at all.  I hope that they are right and the gradual decay of her vision will be checked right where it stands.

Sister writes us that she enjoyed your visit and speaks in just as loyal and complimentary terms of her only brother as you do of her, which makes us happy.  I hope that you will always be a credit to your sister. Neither of my children worries me at all, and not every parent can say as much. I fact I would hate to worry over my kids.

Much love,

Dad.

___________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

October 2, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

From your letter I think you have a fairly good selection this semester, tho I do not care for the American end of it much more that I did the summer school schedule.  So far as American foreign policy is concerned, it can be summed up simply, for practical purposes of an American. The Monroe Doctrine supplemented by the “open door” about describes it, and the open door is only a phase of the Monroe Doctrine:  Keep your hands off and let other people alone. It is essential to an understanding of the success of the American policy to understand that it is not merely an order to others to keep their hands off; it is a pledge that we will keep our hands off.  If we hadn’t fulfilled our own part of the commitment reasonable well, with some bad exceptions, for 101 years the Monroe Doctrine would have been a frost instead of a successful policy.

Buckle down now and put your program thru;  you can do it and are doing it.

Ethel and young Davy came in yesterday after a successful journey, the baby behaving very well.  He is a charmer, owing to his intelligence. His face is lit with interest and curiosity and purpose.  It never has a blank or unresponsive look. I am quite taken with him, altho last night in a crib he was not accustomed to, which swayed or rocked and let him down in a corner, he had a dickens of a time, and so did the rest of us.  Finally, to give sister a chance to catch up on some sleep mother and I carried his crib into her room next to the bed and after he had bellered his throat out Grandpa down stairs struck II and the tinkle of the bell for so many strokes interested him so much that before he got back to crying he had fallen asleep.

This morning I was up at 6, but he was ahead of me and in the best imaginable humor and spirits.   He made up this noon for yesterday’s lack of sleep and this afternoon mother and Ethel are taking him to Edith’s for tea.  Yesterday afternoon the young sewing club had its meeting and we took him over there. With sister and mother going out every afternoon I expect to be called on to come up and take care of the baby myself.

Fortunately, we are having perfect weather, very mild, an improvement on Evanston.  Young Davy has had a cold for more than a week, but we will have it cooked out of him.

Monday we drove the Sheltons down to K. C. in our car.  I got a flat tire in K. C. but there were plenty of bystanders to tell me about it and John and I got the spare on in short order.   That was our only mishap. We bought a little rug for the hall and went to the Orpheum, where they had a pretty good bill. We stopped at the De Luxe restaurant in Lawrence for supper and got home about 9.  Otherwise ours are the “plain and simple annals” they usually are. We missed the train to see the Connells off to England, owing to misunderstanding of the schedule, and had Edith and Ray Connell come up and play bridge with us for the rest of the evening.   The Reeds have gone and mother grieves because of the unlighted house. The Bob Stewarts looked it over but concluded to move to Potwin instead of undertaking to put it in condition.

The Gaffords are on their way and will be home Saturday or Sunday.  

Much love, Dad

P.S.  Did you take the 2nd volume of “The Swan” back with you ?

_________________________________________________________________

To Hamilton Chase

530 North Pinckney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From HT Chase,  1257 Western Ave, Topeka, KS

November 25, 1924

Dear Hamp:--

I am writing to enclose you a check for your suit and while I am about it to suggest that if you have any Christmas money and want to get mother a present to get her a pair of knit bedroom slippers, that come up rather high to the ankles, the sort that she has worn.

After all, Harvard and Wisconsin performed better than expected on their last day of the season.  That makes it more promising for next year. Both will probably come back, with good teams.

Uncle Sam paid us his promised visit:  that is, he got in from Colorado, where he was kept longer than he expected, and his first question (it was 2:40) was whether he could catch the Santa Fe out at 4:55.   He did. Besides, he was in such a rush that he did not expect to see Sister in Chicago. These are his much vaunted visits. The last time he was here he talked to us at the railroad station and went out on the same train he came in on.  Mother was sick abed, but he came up and spent an hour with us and I took him a short drive about to see the town. He looked very well and said he does the daily dozen every morning.

Mother was abed all day yesterday again, but today it is sunnier and I brought her down to see Dr. Reed.  I will have to take her home in a few minutes.

With love,

Dad.

Hamilton Chase's U of Wisconsin class notes 1924

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December 31, 1924

To Hamilton Chase

From Mrs. Harold T. Chase

To my Beloved Son --

This is such an important year I must take my pen in hand to wish you “God’s speed.”

I can scarcely realize that the little boy who came to us twenty-three years ago is now ready to take his place alone in the world.  I wish you all the success in life possible.  But the thing I long for  more than any is that you will pass along this good name your Father has given you as clean and untarnished as it came to you.  You were blessed with a fine heritage from Father and your Grandfathers.   And you know the sins of the Fathers are visited upon the children.  

So this is my wish for 1925.

Your loving

Mother

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1923 Junior Prom

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January 2, 1925

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

Dearest Auntie: --

Happy New Year !

Thanks a lot, Auntie, for your generous Christmas check which will probably help out a great deal in the lean months ahead of me after February.   I had lunch today with Mr. C. B. Merriam who offered me what looks like a pretty good job with the Penn Mutual Co.   It hasn’t  a very active agency here, and he seems to think that it could be developed greatly.  That’s where I’m supposed to come in -- we’ll see later how well.

This has been a very gay vacation season in old Topeka.  Yesterday was unusually lively.   The MIllers gave a tea-dance in the afternoon,  Mrs. Gufler gave a surprise dinner for Bernard, and some of the younger boys gave a dance later.  I’m pretty tired to-day as a result.   Phil and I are leaving tomorrow night for Madison.   We expect to get there Monday morning in order to get a little work in before school starts on Tuesday.   I have a book that must be read for Logic, “The Mind in the Making.”  Father says it’s a fine book -- so I guess it must be.

Mother and Dad have both been very well since I’ve been home and seem to be in excellent spirits.  Needless to say, we all missed you greatly.  It still doesn’t seem like Christmas without dinner at your house.  You should see how pretty it looks with the pine and spruce trees covered with snow.  It has been unusually cold this vacation -- Monday was nine below zero.

I expect it will be necessary to ask for more money about the tenth of this month or a few days afterwards.  I’ll need more for the January house-bill -- which will be the last one if I pass my work.

We’re enjoying Uncle Joe’s oranges immensely.   Thank you again for the $ 50.00.

Lots of Love,

Hamilton

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January 13, 1925

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

Madison, Wisconsin

Deary Aunty:--

I certainly want to thank you for your fine letter.  I want to thank you especially, however, for all you have done for me here at Madison.   These years here have been the happiest of my life so far, and probably will prove to be the happiest of my whole life.  I feel sure that I have developed and broadened, and, I hope bettered myself in the last four years.  It has certainly been a wonderful experience, and I want you to know that I appreciate it.

There are only two weeks left before exams, and they will be very busy ones.  I have several topics to write, and a lot of reviewing to do so that it will mean being in the library every day from now on.  I am having a very hard time with Logic -- the most interesting course I’m taking.   Afraid it may be a close call one way or the other.

I believe that $ 50.00 more will be enough to get me home.  I’m going to stay for Prom, and will probably leave here about the tenth of February.   

Thank you again, Auntie

Lovingly,

Hamilton

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February 1, 1925

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Auntie:--

Exams have kept me from writing sooner to thank you for your generous gift.  I certainly do appreciate your generosity, Aunty, and hope that I haven’t been too extravagant.

I’ve had five exams this past week and have one more on Tuesday.  Have only heard from one course so far.   It was Logic, and I was scared to death of it.  It was certainly good news to find that I had passed it.  Yesterday I had two exams -- Political Science and Masterpieces of Romance Literature.   They were both much harder than I had expected, and I’m just a little afraid to hear how they came out.  I’ll let you know what my marks are as soon as they come in.  I certainly hate to see the day coming along when I’ll have to leave Madison.  

Thank you again, Auntie, very much.

Most lovingly,

Hamilton

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February 8, 1925

To Hamilton Chase

530 N. Puishney Street,  Madison, Wisconsin

From Mrs. Harold T. Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka Kansas

My dear Son,

This is probably your last Sunday in Madison for some time -- as I am sure you got through with all your examinations.  However, we will soon know.

You will find a warm welcome awaiting you when you come home to live.  I can scarcely believe your school days are over,  you have been away so many years.  Was the “Prom” all you expected dear?  I do hope you enjoyed it and Mildred too.  It was a long trip for her to take to attend it so I hope she enjoyed it thoroughly.

Aunt Mary, Uncle Ayres and Betty arrived last Wednesday and leave next Wednesday for California.  I always enjoy having Aunt Mary but so many in the house is too much for my poor nerves so I am glad it is only a week.  We have had wonderful weather until today, it has been horrid:  first rain and tonight a wet snow.  (__)  had to behave this way as we planned to go to Leavenworth for the day.  Perhaps we can go after you get home.  

You have to bring all your possessions home with you this time -- bedding, clothing, etc. -- take plenty of time for packing.

I (_______) Ethel and David are looking for you(_____) make  (_____) a nice little visit so you can tell us all about the Baby.  Give them my love and hug little (Dear) for me.  We will expect great things of you now you are coming home all grown up and ready for a man’s job.

Good-night -- with dearest love from Mother

P.S.  Aunt Mary sends her love and congratulations.

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May 7, 1925

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas

Dear Auntie: --

It’s been so long since I’ve written that I’m afraid you may consider me a very unworthy nephew.

I was talking with Mrs. Lord -- she hailed me on Eighth Street -- the other day.   She wanted to know all about you, and when you were coming home etc.  I couldn’t tell her much about when you were coming home.  I had rather hoped that you could be here in time to go up to Madison, and see the graduation.  Especially since you were unable to attend Ethel’s graduation.  I am coming along pretty well with my Correspondence Course now -- had a lot of trouble at first getting the right books.   So, I expect to be through with it in a couple of weeks.  If our plans work out right Mrs. Gault and Bab and I will drive up to Madison -- starting about the first of June.   Of course, that depends somewhat upon whether I can make enough money to afford the trip.  The trouble with this Insurance Business is that a whole lot of the premiums are payable monthly, and it’s hard to raise any chunk of money.  Did you know that I sold the Mill Group Insurance ?  It was pretty nice of Uncle Arm, I thought.  But, if he could have seen how much the men appreciated it, I’m sure he would consider the money well spent.  That is also payable monthly -- my commission being about $ 7.50 a month.  It takes a whole lot of them to get you any place, as you can see.  I don’t know whether or not to stay with it after June.  I had a couple of offers of jobs in Chicago before I left school.  I think it might be well to investigate them more carefully when I’m up there next month.  One was in advertising and the other in a book publishing company (Lyons & Carnahan).

Sis and the Daves arrive Monday evening if all goes well with them.  Needless to say we are all on pins and needles awaiting their coming.  It’ll be so very crowded here that I may have to move out.   I wonder if you would object to my sleeping on your sleeping porch?  It may not be necessary, however.

Have I told you about Jane Burrall ?  She is a girl of whom I grew very fond while at Madison.  I gave her my fraternity pin before I left.   Didn’t tell anyone but Mother and Sis and Dad about it because I was afraid that it might blow over after I had been home a month or so.  However, it hasn’t -- so, I’m mighty anxious to get back to Madison even beyond reasons purely honorary (A.B.).

The family are out at the Country Club this evening.  The Croppers (my boss and wife) are giving a dinner-dance.

I hope you’ll answer this Auntie, and forgive me for being so slow in writing.  

Much love

Hamilton

P.S.  Give my best to Uncle Joe.

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June 1, 1925

To Mrs. Joseph C. Gafford

Hotel Tetley,  Riverside, California

From Hamilton Chase

1257 Western Ave, Topeka, Kansas

Dear Auntie: --

I want to thank you a great deal for your thoughtfulness and consideration in regard to my financial condition.  It is unfortunately not of the best.

I had bad news since I last wrote you.  At that time I was under the impression that my course consisted of six assignments and a final exam.  I had everything planned so that I’d finish it up by the middle of May.   My plans were completely spoiled when I learned three weeks ago that there are not six but twenty four assignments to the course.  So, lately I have been studying all the time, and have had no time for the insurance business.  Grace fixed me up a place to work in her room down at your house, and it’s been a great place to study.   Absolutely nothing to bother me.   Laura was there Friday looking for moths and found plenty of them in Grace’s decoys.   But the house is in fine shape -- all spick and span.

When I signed up for this course, at Madison, I paid only the first installment of $ 5.00.  The whole fee is $ 20.00.   I figure the trip will cost me around $ 70.00.  I have only been able to save up $ 20.00.  I expect to see two policies in July which should make me about $ 15.00 a month.  If you would be willing to let me have $ 65.00 -- $ 15.00 for my course, I would like to take the $ 50.00 as a loan and pay you $ 15.00 a month until it is paid out.  Would that be satisfactory to you ?

I have now eight assignments left to finish me up.  I expect to take the final exam on the tenth, and leave for Madison the eleventh.  Bab is very anxious to get up there, and is impatient at the delay.  I believe she’s almost as crazy about the place as I am.  She’s certainly been a good friend to me since I’ve been home.  

We had a great visit from the Daves and Sis.  My nephew is without a doubt the finest baby alive.  He walks by himself now, and carries on quite a conversation -- mainly “oogly -- woogly” etc.  Sis has lost her color which seems a shame, but she hopes to get it back now that they have a house and she can be outside more.  She’s one fine Sister, Auntie.

You tell me what you think of my plan.  Be sure to let me know before the eleventh.   Thank you a great deal for remembering me.  I do appreciate it a great deal.

My best regards to Uncle Joe.

Lovingly,

Hamilton

P.S.  I’m afraid I left my card out of your graduation invitation.   So, it’s Hamilton Chase that’s asking you to Wisconsin’s 1925 graduation exercises.  Won’t you come ?

H.C.

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DKE 1925 Prom,  University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Graduation 1925

Hamilton Chase graduates from the University of Wisconsin in 1925

Hamilton Chase (2nd from left) University of Wisconsin around 1923

Hamilton Chase (2nd from left) around 1923

Ethel and Annie Chase around 1923

Ethel Chase, Hamilton's sister, around 1923

Ethel Chase around 1923

Ayres D Lundy (of Chicago)  and Annie T. Chase around 1923

Univ, of Wisconsin around 1923

U. of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

Hamilton Chase (far right in back) at U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

Hamilton Chase (on the left) with U of W friends, 1923 or so

My guess:  Alcohol kegs being destroyed at U of W around 1923 (Prohibition)

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

U of W around 1923

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June 26 1928,  Tuesday

To Hamilton Chase (Hon. H. Aquila Chase)

Acting District Manager

The SouthWestern Bell Telephone Company

Winfield, Kansas

From Allec,  a U of Wisconsin DKE fraternity brother

Dear Ham:

I almost began this letter by asking “What the hell are you doing in Winfield.” But two things prevented it.  In the first place, you might have felt obliged to give me a minute account of what you were doing morning noon and night.   And confessions can be carried just so far and no farther. Yours no doubt would be interesting, and later on in a more liberal age, may be permitted publication.   But not now. And in the second place, I knew what you were doing in Winfield, having learned it from three reliable sources: your folks, John Adams and Phil. So I shall not start my letter that way.

Or I might ask when will you get your Ford ?

But I think the best way is to say, well how are you getting along in Winfield?  And if you get a long, how short can you make it ?

Well I was surely surprised to hear that you werent in Ottowa.   The weather’s been bad too. K. C. is still on the map. We had a convention here not long ago.  Cant think right now what it was. I got in for the third day. They’re having another one just like it in Houston, and if you find out what that is, maybe you can figure out what we had here.  Anyway the traffic was terrible, but I got through without a nick, so I am the envy of the populace, and I might also add, the cynosure of all eyes. Will Rogers was very good. We also had, but the way it never rains but it pours, we also had a DARING holdup here.  And I was within a few blocks of the place at the time, saw the man who died from fright, walked along the street a few minutes afterwards and didnt find out what happened for several hours. And when I miss something or anything, you know it must be pretty slick. Well this was.  But our able police force were no caught napping, not this time anyway. And the majority of the bandits are behind bars at the moment of writing. And if the delegation is bound by the unit rule, the ought to have the rest soon.

And last Saturday, I quit work at three thirty, pick up Jack,  drove to Olathe, changed trains, and the three of us got to Topeka at six thirty.   The Antons, Crosbys, Walter and his new girl (one Millicent Dillon, formerly of Topeka,  aet. 20, without a sous to her name) and the three of us had dinner at the Club. Drinking at Antons afterwards included the Gaults and Adams, and Jack passed out.  Old Mill. Food at Antons. Dinner at Crosbys next day. Wilsons had a few of us at Jayhawk Sunday night. So you see it was quite a weekend. Georgia did not drink.   I did.

That takes us up to date.  Stick your head out the window and tell Winfield hello for me.   We’ve never met, but what are such formalities ? By the way, Add has joined the Waddles.

How long are you in for ?

Yours,  

Allec

P.S.  Wright is out in CC district, thanks to a Star want ad which he gave me.  30 answers.

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