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Wonderful 12-page handwritten love letter dated August 9, 1914, written from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Della Tooker in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The letter is written on striking illustrated stationery advertising the Hotel Roofferoux in St. Joseph, Missouri and Hotel Burlington in Burlington, Iowa. The letterhead features detailed images of both hotels along with “European Plan” and “Absolutely Fireproof.” The original illustrated Hotel Roofferoux envelope is also included and bears a St. Joseph, Missouri postmark.
This is an especially charming and personal letter filled with Ray’s thoughts about Della, their future marriage, and the life he hopes they will build together.
Among the highlights, Ray:
• Jokes about the other traveling men and says everyone seems to have “a lady to claim” except some of the poor traveling men.
• Gives a hilarious description of a man with a toothpick on one side of his mouth, a match on the other and a cigarette in the middle, saying he looked “like the front end of a German battleship.”
• Writes lovingly about Della and repeatedly imagines her becoming his wife.
• Talks about choosing a gray suit for their wedding rather than something somber, because their wedding will be a happy occasion.
• Writes original romantic verse about their future together, including taking life as it comes and keeping their hearts filled with love.
• Imagines the two of them having a home, a steady route and paying job, taking long walks, talking together, and sharing their lives.
• Writes about loving her eyes, hair, mouth, nose and ears and says that with her loving him, there is nothing he cannot do.
• Mentions the price of sugar going up and casually references the war in Europe, placing the letter squarely in the opening days of World War I.
There are also wonderful glimpses of everyday 1914 life, including Ray buying a toothbrush, discussing what he ate for lunch, promising to mail Della a menu card, describing his hotel, and writing from his room while traveling.
The combination of romance, humor, poetry, marriage plans, early World War I-era commentary and beautifully illustrated hotel stationery makes this much more than an ordinary piece of correspondence. It is a remarkably personal glimpse into the life of a traveling man deeply in love with the woman he hopes to marry.
The letter consists of 12 handwritten pages and includes the original illustrated Hotel Roofferoux envelope with two 2-cent Washington stamps.
Antique condition with expected age-related wear, particularly to the envelope. Please review all photographs carefully for condition and content.
A wonderful piece of 1914 social history, romantic correspondence, hotel ephemera and Americana.
