- Date: Tuesday evening, 14 December 1937, 7 p.m. (date estimated)
- Written at: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Stationery: Fort Pitt Hotel, Pittsburgh
- From: Joseph “Joe” Sharmer
- To: Ruby
- Condition: Complete — 2 pages; envelope not found
Each page of the original is shown beside its transcription. Click a page to enlarge it.
PAGE 1
You are the sweetest girl in the world Dear
Tues Eve — 7 P.M.
My Lover — & Baby. Dear —
Honey I am lonesome as Hell & no place to go because its to cold outside only 8° above so I am going to pour it out to you excuse rambling but Honey I love you so much I cant help it. I wrote you a letter this a.m. but I want to keep the places hot. Havent heard from the sweetest girl in the world since I arrived here but I love her just the same. Honey I could tell you all about my trip but I would rather tell you how much I love you — I can tell you all about the trip some night after I return but right now I want you to know I love you — God Honey if you were only here — I would make you say Stop. Honey don’t think I am a softie and cant stay away from home but in having you and loving you as I do I havent any desire to look any further. You are Honey all anyone could desire — or want. Pardon me please. Your good looks — personality — sweetness — charm
PAGE 2
lovliness, generosity — oh Hell Honey I cant I am sorry but you have them all but God I can’t reach them — You are sweet Honey & I love you Dear — Remember you asked me to write & I said look out — Here they come — Hope they dont bore you because I cant say it enough — “I love you Dear” Honey Dear — remember how you use to say can you afford to waste it — Lover when I come back please let me have a date every night because since I left I know how much I love you now & please excuse me for raving but God Honey — if you only knew how much I miss you — No use to cry I guess because I know you are true and Honey Ill keep the mail hot telling you how much I love you Dear — I am going to dress & mail these letters two to J S B one to the sweetest girl in the world my lover Ruby — Dear —
All my Love Sweetheart
Joe
You are Dear the sweetest Girl in the World. I love you Dear — Joe
Hope you know the M.L. on envelope is “My Lover”
Notes & context
The date. Joe wrote only “Tues Eve — 7 P.M.” on Fort Pitt Hotel paper. He was in Pittsburgh twice before Christmas, and “I could tell you all about my trip” fits Tuesday, 14 December 1937: he had gone down to Dodie’s in Washington for the weekend and come back overnight from Philadelphia, writing on the way (From the Broad Street Station). The next morning he wrote Beautiful as the Morning. The date is an estimate.
“M.L.” = “My Lover.” Joe’s postscript settles a question raised by many of his envelopes, which carry the initials M.L.: they stand for “My Lover.” His other envelope mark, “L and K,” was Love and Kisses (Report on New Year Eve).
“I wrote you a letter this a.m.” That morning letter has not been found.
“Two to J S B.” Joe’s regular reports to his boss, J.S.B..
“Can you afford to waste it.” Evidently Ruby’s teasing question about all the paper — or the postage — Joe spent telling her he loved her.
