stefansson-wrangel-09-15-035

Reporters were at the deck Ada would not be photographed!

On board S. S San Francisco

Sunday Feb. 10 1924

My dear V.S.

Just sent you a wire to the Harvard Club to say that Ada Bennet and I were this far on the trip - safely and 'improving every minute" - Ada finally got over being sea sick yesterday and came out on deck in time to see the mountains and wish she were in Nome -homesick for ice and snow and wanted to walk miles into the mountains. She told me that the great dipper was "The Caribou"- said

her mout mother always said to her "Ada look at it a long time and see if you can't see a caribou but I never could" - She seems more and more content and today she was very happy When we went for on a drive thru Golden Gate Park - she sat with her hands clasped in her lap when we were driving thru the park, saying oh, oh! - almost under her breath. Finally she said - "If my mother could see this - I do not know what she would say - maybe she would say nothing - just like I do" -

Later she expressed her feeling by saying "I do not know why white people want to come to Nome when there is

ice and snow, when they have everything so beautiful like that this."- the Every flower- engaged her attention every bit of color.

My friends the Keatings met me at the boat - they expected to take me over to their home in Piedmont until tomorrow afternoon, but I did not like to leave Ada on the boat without me. So I went over for lunch, then they drove back over and we picked up Ada and Bennett at the ship and went out to the Cliff House and beach and thru the parks. Ada said she had never been on such a beautiful ride in all her life. I think the little boy saw everything Mr Keating was so fascinated by him that he hated to let him go. I d Benett was busy teaching Mr. Keating Eskimo -

Ada is talking more and more freely to people, She told me tonight there were so many nice people. She talked quite a bit to Mrs Keating - told her little things about the Island how there were many polar bear one or more every week, when she was there alone - -and many walrus out on the broken ice the first year - "thousands - fm the noise they made". - She always says "all the boys were good to her". She liked them - all - I wonder what she did

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put into her story, she dictated in Seattle. I was very sorry Marshal Jordan missed getting a copy of it to me for I could have - supplemented the story by asking questions. and getting her to enlarge on it. - He said he would have a copy in L.A. for me - but if he doesn't please have a copy one made for me. I dont want her to keep repeating to me if there is anything new to be found. ----

If there is anything you want to me to ask her please send me the list of questions. Sometimes I think I'll ask her about Noice stories - but not until I know whether she has told it in the Seattle dictation - there is no use in going over it again, if it has been done once.

I bought her a bunch of violets tonight. We walked up to the ferry building to send the wire to you and she saw the florists window. She could hardly be moved away from it, so I gave her some '-are they for me? she asked so surprised - there is something quite childlike and pathetic about the way she takes little things like that - while larger things - she takes

for granted.

I think what she said about her mother - "not being able to say and express herself - just sit still and say nothing" - expresses Ada very well, - She seems to sit still and absorb. - Last night I brought her on deck to see a masquerade dance - and when the maskers came mo marching down the deck she stood - just as close to me as she could stand, until I explained just what it all meant - she watched a girl in an Oriental costume - very thin ([gengettes] and beads) - finally she said - smiling -" if I have a dress mad like that on Wrangel Island - I think I freeze to death very quick"

10 P.M. I have just come up from Ada's cabin and I told her I was going to write to you - and asked if she had any message for you - she said, "please tell him I thank him for trip"

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I don't know whether you will think any of the things I write you about her of any value, - still of out of them you may get something you want - This I know, the whole feeling toward you is changing, you are quite real to her now - and a different person than the man she imagine some time ago. - Perhaps that is enough and if she stays out here until May - - and you talk to her yourself - it will go be the thing -

However I have told her that whenever she wants to go back to Seattle she can go - and if she knows that, she can do as she pleases.

Rest of Feb. 10 letters sent to ORW to be copied. V.S.

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to go back to Seattle she can go, -and if she knows that she can do as she pleases. = = = _______________________________

now having written about Ada steadily for several days - I'd like to stop and talk about you for a little while, before I turn in; This ship is very quiet - only a few people who are staying on - waiting to go out tomorrow afternoon - I am again wishing you were here were here now. Seattle was so crowded with people and with Ada and her affairs that I had

only a little time to talk about the tour and other things which interested me - Somehow I am looking forward to the next Calif trip with an unusal unusual amount of eagerness.

Hollywood will be lovely then and the friends we like so much will be there - I only hope you can plan a few days not crowded or that you can come out without it being heralded in every paper. Perhaps Larry will be there - and would drive us all up to his place - I should like that - - - I am trying to decide whether or not you are changed - [Somehow] things seem to weigh on you