My Darling,
You can see from my seat in this train miles of whiteness stretching as far as the horizon. My eyes are sore from its glitter. Every time the train stops we hop out and have a battle-royal. The train is centrally-heated, thank the Lord; - outside the temperature is as low as 20 ° below freezing!
I had better give you a resume of what has taken place since I last wrote. We had a wonderful day in Los Angeles. - We saw all over Warner Bros. Studio. Jack and I went without lunch and wandered off by ourselves. We saw a scene of a new picture, in which Kay Francis is being starred, in the process of being filmed. That chap (I forget his name) and his famous mouth-organ band were in the scene. I met Kay Francis, who, by the way looks better off even than on the screen. Jack and I had a whale of a time! We were introduced to Bette Davis and Jane Wyman, both of whom, like Kay, are very charming and, I think, better looking off than on the screen.
I had nine letters in my pocket to post, - four of my own and five for a couple of chaps who had been bad boys and were not allowed on shore. I asked Miss Wyman if there were a Post Office handy or someplace I could buy stamps. She offered to post them for me, and, when I tried to give her the money, laughed me to scorn. So you can say you've had a letter posted to you by a film-star. - Number (5) it was.
I saw all over Hollywood, and Beverley Hills. You have no idea how beautiful the homes are!
Los Angeles, at first sight, is a maze of oil-derricks. They look like a large forest. It would take a fortune to live there, though! I saw the famous Brown Derby, Ciro's, the Chinese Theatre, with the foot-prints and hand-prints of the stars; I never saw Spencer Tracy, or Clark Gable, though, so was unable to give them your regards.
San Francisco is a beautiful spot. We stole into its Golden Gate at dawn, and saw its wonderful bridges. Its famous prison, Alcatraz; and Treasure Island, which was built for the World Fair.
From San Francisco, I travelled overland to Vancouver. It's a lovely drive, through California, and Oregon, then British Columbia. I sent you a Cable from Vancouver. Everyone in America had friendly smiles and we were cheered wherever we went.
I walked over as much of Vancouver as I could in the few hours we stayed there, and liked the place very much.
Canada has strange liquor laws. The Hotels are not allowed to serve anything but beer, and then, if you want to drink you must sit down at a table. If you want to drink a nip of rum, or a glass of whiskey, you must obtain a license (25 cents), then buy it by the bottle at a liquor store!
The trip across the Canadian Rockies is awe inspiring. Snow clad peaks, glaciers, racing torrents with leaping salmon are everywhere.
When the train stopped at Winnipeg, the populace greeted us with supper and a dance, although the train only stopped an hour or two. We had half an hours walk around Edmonton and Jasper; and at Melville we put on a march through the township for the inhabitants; the march developed into a snow fight.
These trains are very comfortable. I have my own bed to sleep in at night, with clean linen every night. I sleep like a top.
We are getting near the dangerous part of our trip, now, darling; but, strangely for me, I'm not worried. - and please don't you worry, either, dear. I know I'll come back safely to you. My only worry is that you may have found someone else, much nicer than I, and will no longer want me for a husband. Please keep loving me Molly Darling. - No matter how long this dreary waiting and separation may last. I'll make it up to you when it's over, and I'll go on loving you more and more each day. We'll be the happiest married couple ever.
Pray for me, darling, - and remember that I'm thinking of you all the time.
I adore you, Ed xxxxx
P.S. Love me? - Don't forget to give my love to your Mother, Dad and the kids, - or to tell them how much I love you. Ed xxxxx
