Dear Bess: December 2, 1912
Transcript
Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 2, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.
Today, we would like to share with you a letter from this date in 1912, in which Harry S Truman discusses the upcoming Christmas holiday with his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, in Independence. Harry Truman loved Christmas, but you sense some worry that he cannot afford to do what he wants for Miss Wallace. Have you ever felt that way? If so, please take comfort that Truman did over a century ago.
Dear Bess: [Dec. 2, 1912]
Here goes for two letters from you this week, see? I'll admit that one of yours is worth two or maybe half dozen of mine still it's a bad precedent to make. Therefore I'm expecting a letter from you tomorrow also Friday. I just wonder if expectations will amount to anything. You see my paper has finally arrived. Mary brought it out. The blooming stuff is as big as a tablecloth and looks like wedding invitations. I guess they put one over on Mary and gave her more than usual for the money. You know that's customary at all jewelry stores. I suppose you are in town today causing a flurry in the mark for presents. You ought to do as I do make a flying trip on the day before the 25th at about 9:30 PM and avoid the rush. I told Myra that is I were in her place I'd give six of those seven casserols of hers for presents and then she'd have no shopping whatever to do. The main thing would be to be careful and not return them to the original purchasers. That sure would cause a disturbance but it might save her money at future Christmas times. There is only one present that causes me any worry whatsoever and of course you could never guess which one that is. I have in mind a limousine a rope of pearls or some other equally inexpensive little trinket that could be bought for somewhere around $2.98. That's the trouble of being born with multimillionaire tastes without the dough. My main ability is to spend cash not to make it. If some gold old malefactor of great wealth would only employ me as his disbursing agent I'm sure I could give him a most tasteful example of how to get rid of his money with the least possible effort and to the greatest possible good to the largest number particularly my friends, enemies and acquaintances. What I need is a guardian or something of the kind as a sort of balance to my insane desire to get rid of what I make. I am doing better than formerly but not so well as I should. I guess as Dicie said we only live once so why not go the limit within the law and good morals. (Which I fear is not so very far.)
This is a most misleading and unsatisfactory document but I'm going to let it go. Maybe you can tell what's not so and what is. The main thing is that you owe me two letters and I want em also you which seems a very very big word doesn't it. Let's hope I get em all in due season. There's another reason I should be a Wall Street Baron. Maybe you'd make a good guardian you never know til you try anyway. I'm doing my level best to get a lot of change gut as Miss Brown says His Majesty has a hand in most things and he usually takes money as his share. Be sure and send those letters. This is wash day and the boilers leakin so I've got to go now.
Most sincerely, Harry
In this letter from 1912, Harry S Truman muses about Christmas, and hints that he wishes he could do better for Miss Bess Wallace, his love, who lives in Independence, Missouri.