International Relations in Europe=War?

From Jim's letter, September 15, 1938:

"My Dearest Gwen,

Oh, if you could only be here now. At night, when the air is cool and crisp, and the feel of it makes you stand straight and walk fast, and a moon peeks out from behind a misty cloud to throw it's light to the earth below, my mind runs back to one September 12th, just before you were to return to school. But the days are warm and pleasant for the sun shines, the trees are dropping their leaves, and the flowers are hanging their heads, the country side is being painted by a master and I am reminded that under these conditions we used to have a drive into the mountains. So you see darling our going together, and our love for mutual things, took us into such a variety of places that even over here you are a part of it all. And I hope you will always be the same in the future.

". . . No, I don't kick in my sleep. I do enough in my waking hours.
I love you. Will you marry your Sincere Sweetheart, Jim."


From Jim's letter, September 20, 1938:

"My Only Sweetheart,

Another twentieth day of another month, and incidentally this is really number twenty of a once eternity of a mere twenty four. Or, we only have four more to go before we can say one of our greatest dreams has become a reality and then we are going to go to work on even a greater dream and ideal. Do you know which one that is?

London Times article dated Wed. Sept. 21, 1938

". . .You know over here we are very nearly into a chasm, caused by international relations on the European continent. All the folk seem to want to talk about is the possibility and probability of a war. But what is the attitude and opinions of the folk and papers at home[?] Over here the papers are too conservative in what they give to the general public. Why don't you send me a paper some time? Would you like one of these that we have to read?

". . .Well Sweetheart, even though twenty months have come and gone and we have gone through many changes, one thing remains true. That is my love for you and the sincere desire to make you my own, as soon after my return as possible. After we have been so patient and have waited for so long, it seems to me we deserve it. What do you and your folks think? You may know it, and again you may not, but my own people, at home, think you are the only girl in the world. Even the ones over here seem to know you as their own. They are all coming to our wedding, so we should have a real crowd of relatives.

"Well darling, I really must close this lousy letter, and go to bed. It's late and morning comes too soon as it is.

"So darling, here is my love for you and a kiss, the expression of how high I hold it. Love me, as I love you, Sincerely,= Your Sweetheart Jim."

A Serious Question and Looking to the Future

From Gwen's Letter, August 28, 1938:

"Darling,
. . .'Sir James' before we proceed any farther with this courtship by correspondence will you answer me unflinchingly one very important question. I'm convinced that my whole future well-being depends on it. By rights, I really should ask Elder Howard or one of your former companions this all important question, 'Do you kick or talk in your sleep?' If you do I'm very afraid we'll have to install a petition when we get married. The last week and a half I've been having a nightmare of time. Mary Elaine has been staying with us and although I'm crazy about that kid in all other ways, she's not so hot as a bed partner. It seems that I'd just doze off into sweet slumber and 'Bam!' right in the middle of the back and when she gets in the land of nod she can really kick. Next time I'd doze off she'd sack me on the nose with her elbow. By this time I'd move over a couple inches and try again. Then in the mysterious stillness of the night I'd wake up with a start to hear an awful groaning and gnashing of teeth and then she'd shout a whole story of jumbled lingo that sounded like a fish market full of China-men eating mush while they gossiped wildly. But the last straw was when I finally fell asleep over on the perilous edge of the bed hanging by the extremity of the springs and she gave me another lusty kick. Wow but it was hard to believe she was so cute and sweet all during the day. And now as I write this letter after a week and a half of wrestling nights, the circles under my eyes are so dark and large that they're practically hanging to my knees and my brain feel[s] like the barrel on a merry-go-round, so, honey, do you blame me when I ask you in all sincerity, do you kick or talk in you sleep?

A copy of the monthly Millennial Star

". . .'Supervising Elder Wm James Telford,' you're getting to be a big shot aren't you? Every Millennial Star that comes lately tells of how you were a featured speaker at some meeting or how you blessed a baby and confirmed or baptized a couple. Kid, it's hard to believe that you're really you and doing all these wonderful things. I'm so gal dern proud of you that I'm saving every clipping I find that even mentions your name. Darling, truly our prayers are answered and dreams do come true. I only hope you won't let that dark head of handsome hair up there expand at all. Are you still keeping from being spoiled?

One of the articles Gwen clipped and saved from the Millennial Star

 ". . .Sweetheart, now you can imagine how excited and happy I am when I realize that the time is so short that you're even beginning to send some belongings home in advance. That's just like when you see the buds on the trees you know the spring isn't far behind. And the best part of it all is we've weathered the storms, the rocks and all obstacles and if we can just get safely in the harbor now  we'll meet again as the old Gwen and Jim, deeply in love and yet also a new Gwen and Jim with more experience, greater patience, more understanding and very, deep purposes.

". . .Well, honey, soon school starts and then Christmas comes and then spring and you. I can't wait. For now I must be patient and try to just write you and say here 's all my love.

Your Sweetheart,
Gwen"

Gratitude for Opportunities, Blessings, and People

From Jim's letter, August 1, 1938:

"My Only Sweetheart:

. . .My word I wish you were here with me right now. Today is an English holiday, and right now 7:30am it is a lovely sunny day out, and we could have a real lovely time going up to Scotland on an excursion train, or down to the sea side to lay on the sands and dream dreams of our future. However be that as it is, our day will not be too far ahead of us now. . .Can you realize my darling that it is eighteen months and twelve days since we last saw each other? But better still that it is only seven and one half until we shall see each other again. What shall we do that first night at home? Talk? Movie? Dance? Drive? . . .

Photo capturing the Dominion Monarch's size

"We had a very nice week last, seeing some things that I shall never forget. Over in Newcastle there is a cathedral and in the coloured glass windows they have portrayed the life of Christ. One window in particular took my fancy, and you as a student of art would really have appreciated it more than I. Then as a lark and merely on chance, we went over to a ship yard on the Tyne and by making ourselves known we saw the launching of the largest ship built here since 1907. 13,000 tons of steel plate, 650 feet long when completed will weigh 27,000 tons. The lady who broke the champagne on her (the ship) nose, had merely to pull a wire and away she went. Gee until you stand along side of one of those boats, you can never really realize there immense size and tonnage. But I know ships don't interest you so I'll not go into more detail. . .

QSMV (Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel) Dominion Monarch, launched at 3.30 p.m. on the 27^th July 1938, by Lady Essendon. . .The Dominion Monarch was the largest ship built on the River Tyne since the famous RMS Mauretania in 1906. (http://www.oceanlinermuseum.co.uk; photos from http://cruiselinehistory.com)

"Well for a week or two now we are through with our conferences. We had one in Gateshead last night. . .the real high light of the conference came when they gave me a seven week old baby to bless. The little rascal was as cute as a new doll, so we gave him the name George William Brewiss. . . Gwen I think of the opportunities that have been mine over here, some I never would have had at home. I thrill and feel to thank you for your sacrifice, my parents for theirs, and Our Father for His calling me. Really it has been grand and still is for that matter. But a mission such as this, for twenty-four months, is but a school to prepare a person for a still greater mission in life, that of serving in the still greater calling of marriage. There are scriptures to bear out my statement but why bore you with such things. . . So darling, given this opportunity I have come to you to ask again for your hand in mine and together lets fill our mission of life. . .Say you will.

"And now I send my love and undying affection to you and for you alone.
Sincerely Your Sweetheart,
Jim"

Facial Hair, Farmland, and Yellowstone

From Gwen's Letter, July 17, 1938:

"My Sweetheart Jim,

Elder Telford with a mustache?

. . .I can't imagine how you'll look with a mustache, but I have an idea. Anyway, why not send me a picture. It's probably a good idea to have one while you're there to discourage osculation [kissing] and to score off the fair sex, but, honey, when you come home, unless you have a desire to discourage me, please shave it off and I'll let my hair grow as long as you desire. Honestly, the sight of a man with hair on his face--even one days growth--gives me the creeps and reminds me of prehistoric cave men."

From Gwen's Letter, July 23, 1938:

The Wagstaff's twin calves

"What do you think of the idea of our starting a small ranch out on the farm if we have any spare time? Gee, kid, don't yo think it would be fun to fix up a small log cabin out there to go stay in occasionally when we get fed up on the rush and scurry of living where there are lots of people. Maybe we could have a couple of horses and maybe I could learn to ride like you can. Dad thinks it would be grand if we could start a herd of cattle and turkeys. He'll have practically four cows milking when you get home and if he's lucky, four heifers. It'll probably be our luck to have about four bulls though, but anyway the cattle are surely increasing by leaps and bounds around here. If we should happen to have anymore twins, we'll probably have a ranch already when you come home."


From Gwen's Letter, July 30, 1938:

"My Dearest Sweetheart,

Old Faithful Geyser

. . .We arrived home from our trip to Yellowstone last night and although we had a wonderful trip, I was anxious to get home and read the letter from you which I hoped I'd have. Honestly, kid, I do hope you and I can see Yellowstone to-gether sometime. It's absolutely beautiful. And in that one area there is almost every type of beauty and geological formation one could want to see. It would be a marvelous place for a newly married couple to go. The thing I liked best of all though was Old Faithful geyser. Maxine, Mary, Berdine, and I watched it at night through the huge windows of the lodge. It was all illuminated by a huge spot light and, kid, I just know you'd be thrilled to death with it as we were. It looked like an immense fountain surrounded by fleecy white clouds of foam curling up from it. All around it was pitch black except for the foam or steam. We also saw lakes that were crystal clear and as blue as your eyes. One of the springs was just like glass only it was emerald green. It's hard to imagine water of such vivid hues.

"We saw huge water falls framed by giant pines and ravines. We also saw bears. In fact Mary was chased by one while she was trying to take a picture of the mother and cubs. Boy, if you ever saw a flying Dutchman you know how Mary looked when she headed for our cabin. It was interesting to see them feed the wild grizzleys [sic], that is, after they fenced off all of us spectators. . .

". . .I can't realize that we may finally be married next June. It would be grand like you said if we could go to some National Park for our honeymoon. All of the parks seem to be just beautiful but any place would be beautiful to me then in a special way because I'd be so happy about being Jim's wife that I know everything would have new glamour.

"Now, sweetheart, Goodnight and I hope I dream of you.
Lots of Love
from
Your Sweetheart Gwen


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