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of pink and white carnations and marvelled at how Doris had sprung up from a little girl he had known when she was only 7-12 years old. He himself has thickened up somewhat but his blue eyes are as clear and honest and full of little humorousness as ever, and he was in a delightfully cheerful frame of mind at seeing us. He plans to go over to see his folks next summer for 4 months. He said that he had sent them enough care packages of food & clothing for them to take care of him now. His brother is getting along well, has charge of a music school this year in the Black Forest and has bought a new car. "They are doing all right" said Hans.


After he had left with the rest, we were tired and trooped down to lunch. Doris only interrupted it to have a look at the Statue of Liberty as we sailed out. And after lunch we repaired to our cabin along with the 6 others that inhabit it, for a doze. The others are 4 college girls and 1 English girl with a little 3 year old daughter who is going home to show her to the grandparents, and a Flemish woman who is going home to see her folks. They are a nice considerate lot who try to be as quiet as possible and not interfere with anyone's sleep. We had a fair night.

The next morning a man asked me if I wasn't Mrs. Blake and then I recognized Mr. Dayton, who is a botanist in the Dept of Agr. and a friend of Sid's. He is going to the Bot. Conf. too and is travelling alone. He stood up on the rear hurricane deck rail after supper and talked for over an hour till the sun had set and the little moon had come out, and had most interesting chat about folks we know and so-so. Doris has been rather lonely and without young people of her age, - she is shy and can't chatter as the others do. And he has a very lonesome young Harvard boy in his cabin from Wash DC. and he promises to bring him along and introduce him to Doris. I hope they get together soon.

I am enjoying every minute of it myself. There are plenty of folks if I want to talk to them, and I have found this perfectly delightful spot that just suits me if I don't want company.

We are in the midst of a tremendous migration of Catholics - the boat swarms with "Sisters" and "Fathers." The sisters sit in long rows along the promenade decks, they all have chairs - and some are murmuring as they slip their beads through their fingers, others sit with interested almost fascinated gaze, watching the people passing. We have at our table 2 huge elderly Irish men opposite us. They