138 A COLLECTING TRIP 
conceived the idea that the Americans are about to 
swoop down on them in devastating hordes and sack 
the Moluceas generally. An American ship from the 
Philippines with an admiral on board had been in 
Ternate only a few days before we arrived and the 
gossip was simply amusing. News from the outside 
world comes here at most about once a month. There 
are also numerous rumors about a Japanese-American 
war; if all we hear is true Japan will not be a par- 
ticularly pleasant place to travel in, but I suppose 
everything is exaggerated. Well, enough for this 
time. I shall write again from Java. 
Love to each and every one of you from us both. 
Lovingly, 
Tom. 
Hotel Bellevue. 
Buitenzorg, Java, March 22, 1907. 
Dear Mother : 
Yesterday evening, just as we were going to din- 
ner, came a Christmas card from you dated November 
2. Many thanks for it. I have hopes still that the 
letter giving me full accounts of Ruth’s wedding will 
turn up somewhere. Mrs. Palmer wrote me that she 
had received a very charming and sweet letter from 
you; she thought it so kind of you to have written. I 
ean hardly wait for the letters telling us about J. L. 
H. and Sal; we discuss him every night for hours 
— likewise all our spare minutes. 
Today has been roasting hot, ninety-four in the 
shade about 9.30 this morning and about 88 now, at. 
5.30. Damp heat too. I simply had to wash my hair 
and it took hours to dry, as there was no breeze what- 
