U.S.S. HOUSTON 
Navy yard, 
Mare Island, California 
September 7 , 1938 
Dear Dr . Schmitt, 
As you have probably already guessed your letter missed me 
at panama * We arrived at the Navy Yard, San Francisco, today 
and when all the mail .which had travelled half way around the 
wo rld^ar rived your letter was delivered to me. 
It is fortunate that I have a small bottle of Shalimar which 
I bought for myself , and whi ch I am glad to send to you. The 
stock of perfume in the Ship’s Service Store was gone before 
we got to port. I bought over fifty dollars worth of those 
things for myself because , as I told you before , I am leaving 
the Navy Oct .22nd, and will not have another opportunity to 
buy at such good prices • However , when I wrote to my wife 
about the amount I spent she gave me a severe lecture on 
frugality so I don’t mind parting with part of my collection. 
Perhaps there may be something you can do for me in t he 
future (in Washington) « I am sure that if any one could do^ 
something for me there it would be you. However , I am hoping 
that when I leave the Navy next month I will have something 
lined up that will insure me a financially stable future. 
I gave Mr . Reilly a list of my qualifications in the event 
something turned up in Washington. 
Incidentally , the cost of the Shalimar perfume is ^6 .40 for 
the small bottle . I am sending you three of the cigarette 
lighters, whi c h,, i f you will permit me, I would like to make 
a gift of. 
Enclosed is your money order which I am unable to cash due 
to its being dram on the postmaster at Balboa. You may cash 
it at the station it was issued from. 
The book (about the cruise) will soon be finished. I will see 
that you get a copy of it. 
I am giving my residence address below and in the event you 
ever decide to take a vac at ion out California way please look 
me up . 
3641 East 6th Street 
Ipng Beach, California 
Phone 807-58 
