December 11, 1936

Dear Florence and Ed:

       I was so thrilled this afternoon.
The Bullocks Wilshire man brought
three huge boxes - it seemed like
the whole store.  I simply tore the
wrapping off as fast as I could.
       It is the most beautiful 
present that I have ever seen.
I will probably do most of my
cooking right on my new Toast Master.
I was so worried about having
toast out there.  I like it much
better than bread - and a gasoline
stove isn't exactly made for toast.
Then your gift came.  I really 
don't know how I can ever thank
you except by asking you to come
out at any time and let me make
you a fine piece of golden
brown toast!

Love, 
Jane

Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzana, California 1298 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu 42 Hawaii

August 7, 1944

Dear Jane:
Thanks for your note of July 15th and the snapshots of the boys.
They are very cute.

I did not say that I didn't like th e name Danton.  I think I just
asked how come?  It is an unusual name; so naturally I wondered
about it.

Both Hulbert and I have been wondering what Jack is doing since
his Douglas job folded.  If it isn't a military secret, we'd like
to know.  After all, Hully and I are sort of interested in Jack.

Love to you all,
Ed

Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzana, California       1298 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu 42 Hawaii
6 September  1944

Dear Jack:

Yours of August 26 arrived yesterday and that of September 1, today.
Thanks to both and for the birthday greetings.  I don't expect any-
one to remember my birthday.  I have difficulty in remembering those
of others.

Hulbert was in yesterday, and I let him read your August 26 letter.
We were both delighted to hear of your new connection.  It sounds
might encouraging for the future.  It also sounds damned interesting 
and right up your alley.  Am glad that you are working under a nice
chap who appreciates your ability.  Harry Cohen, president of Colum-
bia, is an old friend of mine I'd hate like hell to work for him my-
self; so I am glad that you went with Universal. I used to have 
friends there, but I suppose they are not there any longer.

Had a letter from Joan yesterday.  She seems to have been having a
wonderful time in Chicago, for which both Hulbert and I were very
glad. She has a lot of good times due here.

Wish that I might see Johnny and Danton before they grow long white 
beards. Johnny is cute. I can tell from the snap shots that have 
been sent me.  Am sure that Danton will be a great little guy, too.

Am glad that you got Johnny a rocking horse.  The two children must
keep Jane busy.  Maybe when Hitler is licked, there will be house
maids looking for jobs again; then it will be easier.  That should
be soon now.

Ralph has written me about Mother's ashes, and that he has arranged 
matters satisfactorily.  Thank you both very much for looking after
this for me.  I suppose it could have waited until my return, but I
have been gone so long now that I have more or less abandoned hope
of every returning.  If Japan is good for a hundred years, as she 
claims, it will be a long war.

May I ask you a foolish question?  I have asked Mildred and Ralph,
but neither has deigned to enlighten me.  I am motivated by nostal-
gia. I want some one to tell me how the flowering eucalyptus trees
around the tract have fared.  Also about the old walnut trees
on my lot behind the office and the other trees I had transplanted
there from the old homestead. Silly, eh?

Thanks again for your letters.  I know from experience how darned
expensive babies are; so if you need any financial assistance, let
me know.

Love to you all,
OB

Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzana, California

1298 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu 42 Hawaii

                                   September 23 1944

Dear Jack:

Yours of the 19th with photos of Johnny and the glamour gal just
received.  Gosh! but they're cute.  I have already shown them 
to the only person in the vicinity of my office who is around
Saturday afternoons.  She loved 'em.  I shall take them to the 
hotel and put on a one man exhibition.  I'm a typical grand-
father.  Then I'll mail them to Hully along with a request that
he make copies for you, himself, and me.  He won't.

Thanks for the tree information.  I appreciate it.  It is amaz-
ing what water will do in that country.  The black walnut at the
office went both figuratively and literally nuts when it got a 
lot of water after we built there.  Thanks for the trees you 
planted on my lot.  I shall like them.  By the time I return, I
should have a forest there.

Hulbert has a terrible going home complex.  I think that if he
could get home for just a short leave it would fix him up. He 
might be damn glad to get back here.  From what I hear, we are
much better off than you folks. Ralph writes me that all he can
get to smoke are Juleps.  Migawd!

Am glad that Johnny likes his "Fony".  One cannot learn to ride
too young.  Give him my love, and tell Danton to take his fingers
out of his mouth and try putting his feet in.  That is far more
intriguing.

Love to you all!

OB

Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzana, California          1298 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu 42 Hawaii
October 13, 1944

Dear Jack:

For no particular reason, I take two of my fingers in hand to 
write you.

The front page news of today is that one hundred and eleven
(111) years ago your Grandfather Burroughs was born in Warren,
Massachusetts, October 13 1833.  He died thirteen days before 
you were born.

I just dug out a genealogical datum that may interest you:  The 
average age at death of eighteen of your ancestors (and mine) was
eighty-one years.  The youngest died at sixty-nine, the oldest
at ninety-three.  These were the only ancestors the dates of
whose births and deaths I have.

Hulbert said he might be in yesterday, but as he didn't show up
by 4:15 P.M., I gave him up and accepted an invitation to a cock-
tail party being given by Lt. Col. Wolfe, Flight Surgeon of the
7th Bomber Command, with whom I became very well acquainted on
Tarawa and Kwajalein.  The Colonel's party ended up at a party
being given by Army Flight Nurses at Hickam Field, where the Col-
onel is temporarily quartered on his way back to the front.  It 
was quite some party.  I really didn't see much of it, as I spent
most of the evening writing my name on things, principally Short
Snorter bills. My Short Snorter collection has now grown, through
no effort on my part, to a length of 4 ft. 4 1/2 inches.  But if I 
didn't see much of the party, I drank quite a lot of it.  The 
girls must have been saving up their liquor rations for quite
some time. 

I spent the night at the Colonel's quarters and got back to the 
hotel for breakfast.  It is no fun driving between Hickam and 
Honolulu at night; so when I go out there, I usually stay all
night.

Am enclosing a clipping that amused me. I think it may amuse you,
also.

Phil Bird phoned to say tha t he is calling for me at 1:30 and
that we are going over to the other side of the Island.  I don't
know why nor where, and I didn't ask.  Phil is a captain on the
staff of my very good friend Colonel Kendall J. Fielder, A.C. of
S., G-2, USAFPOA.  I hope that some day you can meet both of
them. 

Now I gotta go back to the hotel and get into my uniform.  I only 
wear it when I'm likely to go onto a military reservation; be-
cause I am so goddam old that everybody takes me either for God
or a major general and salutes me.  It is rabarrassing.

OB

Dear Joan, Jack, and Ralph:

When Hulbert was in yesterday he made a brilliant suggestion.  (Nothing
serious.  The doctor says he will pull through all right.)
It seems that he and I have accumulated a number of books since we have
been here.  Being Burroughses, we hate to part with books.  Also, being
Burroughses, we dread the thought of packing them all up at one time
after the duration and six months.  So Hulbert suggested that we mail
them back in driblets to Joan and Jack, thinking that they might like
to read some of them and that we should then have them for our respect-
ive libraries when we return.

I shall mail mine to the office where they will be available to all and
sundry, and to which all and sundry may return them after they have read
them.  I shall also send you a list of titles in each shipment.

Shipment No. 1:

Gem of the Prairie - an informal history of the
Chicago underworld.  Interesting.
I Love You  I Love You - Bemelmans.
Invitation to Experiment - Ira M Freeman Ph D.
The Devil's Dictionary - Ambrose Pierce
Night Shift - Maritta Wolf.
Billy Mitchell. Founder of Our Air Force.  Swell.

Aloha.
OB

PS:  Something tells me I am going to get damn sick of this commencing
right now, as there is no wrapping paper available in Honolulu to wrap
anything larger than a canary bird.  If Hulbert has any more brilliant
suggestions, I am going to crown him.

 
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzana, California

1298 Kapiolani Boulevard
Honolulu 42 Hawaii

27 February 1945

Dear Jack:

Many Happy Returns of tomorrow.

Under separate cover, I am mailing you a book of sketches by
John Kelly, the outstanding artist of the Islands.

Hulbert is in today, looking fine and apparently feeling the
same.

Hope that you, Jane, and the boys are all well.

There ain't no news. 

Love to you all,

OB

Edgar Rice Burroughs
Tarzana, California

Dear Jack:

I wrote you, as follows, to the Baker Hotel, Dallas:

 
"If you are planning on returning by way of
Oklahoma City on the chance of arranging
for an exhibition there, Joan and I will 
meet you there, if you will let us know.

"As we are going to stop at motels, I can't
give you any address in Oklahoma City; but
you can get in touch with Phil Bird, whom
I also will contact as soon as I arrive
there.  He is in business under the title
of Sooner State Distributing Company, 
711 North Broadway, Oklahoma City.

"I hope that you and Jane and Johnny are
enjoying your trip.  Joan and I are looking 
forward to meeting you in Oklahoma City.

"Love to you all.   (P.S. Joan called Mrs.
Ralston yesterday and got a good report on 
Danton.  The rest of us, also, are all well.)"

It may take Joan and me three or four days to reach
Oklahoma City; so if you are going to be there, let me
know as early as possible.

Love,

OB

Mr. John Coleman Burroughs
Adolphus Hotel,
Dallas, Texas