There are no letters from November 7 and 8th, apparently because Cecilia was on the train to Los Angeles.

Matsonia, Saturday, November 9, 1940

Saturday, Nov. 9th

Dear Daddy & Mother –

I feel like Lady Humpandsnort herself today & did yesterday when I “embarked” & found telegrams, flowers & everything wonderful.

I’ll start back in a day so can remember everything. Left El Paso 9:05 Thurs. morning on the Californian – was on the front car marked “exclusively for women & children.” It was a lovely modern chair car – with adjustable seats – all in new soft green & tan – indirect lighting, a lovely hostess & a steward who made a little speech at all the remarkable sights passed by. It is strictly a tourist train, catering to them. So I made a very happy journey & it only seemed like a jiffy until I got in the beautiful Spanish type station at Los Angeles & started roaming around trying to find the claim station where the redcap had my bags. All of a sudden I bumped into Frances Ellen in brown slacks & a corduroy reversible (and at 7:00 A.M. too – feel like kissing her). After we piddled around with several horsey baggage men (trying to arrange to have my trunk put on their baggage train – as the conductor had told me to) we had no success so went on home. She has a precious little play-house looking apartment. Dick got up at noon & and was “Glad to meet you, Miss King” We took him to work (his newest picture “(something) Columbus” (not Chris) is to b released next week. Wish I could have gotten there a day earlier & could have seen the opera starring Lily Pons.[1]

We then went by for Mrs. Hogan (she’s a lovely person, lots of fun) & came on down to the station – t took about 2 ½ hrs. allowing for the 5 wrong turns we made.

Then from the time I set foot into Pier 156 everything was done for me. Walked right into the “baggage information” & found they had the trunk brought from Wilmington & it was on the way to my stateroom. My ticket was checked & we three walked up the gang plank. They had brought me a gardenia corsage -- & I found your letter here & wires from the Reids & Aunt Susan. And the first place we went was to the room. I little small but nice and compact. Green nice berths with a little lamp above each – closet compartment for each person & a combined desk & dressing table with drawers beneath and the cabinet above opens into tri-glass mirror. A Chinese hooked rug on the floor. Bath adjoining (toilet has been flushing ever since we got on – don’t know when it will be fixed as my roommate is seasick in bed).

But back in line – we toured the ship & they left. Then the roses came – and they were just beautiful!!! I had three buds put in a vase on the desk – and the other put on my table (K7) in the dining room.

About that time, my roommate descended upon me. A sailor’s wife – kinky hair – gum chewing –oh, oh & oh girl. Californian. Says she hasn’t “been around much & shows me all her clothes.” But in spite of that she is an extremely kind, pleasant & well meaning girl (she’s very little older than I) and I still prefer her to being alone as I don’t know another soul on the ship yet.

I telephoned Mrs. Bradley but she was out so I left my name. Just before we sailed I got the loveliest corsage of huge gardenias from her!

The steward is so pleasant – willing to wait hand & foot on one. Made our berths beautifully & laid out robe, slippers, etc.

Frances Ellen said Mrs. Jan Garber (mother of famous orchestra leader) was in Hollywood last summer & went to same beauty parlor & heard of her (F. E.’s rugs) So the operator called about ten times asking if Mrs. Garber might come see the rugs but as they were never able to get together on a time, she didn’t get to see them before going back east.

Met Henry Dick’s publicity manager yesterday.

Sailing: I puttered around in the room, feeling a little lonely but reading your letter & telegrams over & looking at all the lovely flowers – until 10 when we were to sail. Then went out on the top deck A to watch us pull away out of the harbor. Everyone was standing at the railing shouting farewells to the hundreds of people on the pier below. The whistle tooted (I jumped every time – worse than thunder) & the deck steward passed out serpentine. All threw the paper threads to their friends below – millions of colors overlinking & twinning from all decks to the pier. We slowly pulled out & they held until the threads broke. I’ll have to admit my throat felt pretty lumpish. Forgot dinner, but it was a dreadful meal. I sat at K7 alone with five empty chairs but 7 beautiful roses and a friendly waiter to keep me company – had lamb chops, grapefruit juice, potatoes, lettuce &thousand island dressing – cake & coffee. Millions of New Zealand Hawaiian foods I’d never heard of on the menu. So to bed.

Morning. Could hardly wait to get up & out on deck to see the water. And it was – here I need my dictionary of words – because it was the most wonderful sight & sensation I’ve ever known. Not very rough but pleasantly “dizzy.” At breakfast I found a fat toady uncommunicative man across the roses from me & an albinish “New Yorker” next to me. He laughed because I was from Arkansas but I laughed when he got seasick & quickly left the table – I’m knocking on wood – hoping I don’t get “it,” though I’ve developed quite a complex about “it” since a warning concerning it seems to be a part of everyone’s bon voyages.

It’s cloudy today & terrifically windy on deck – feel good in my green plaid dress & reversible & bright red (very pretty) wool kerchief I bought for my hair. Have a blue one also.

Guess that’s the news up to date – oh yes – every morning 4 pages of news by wireless is under our stateroom door & a new magazine every day.

The wireless covers foreign, national affairs – Wash. D.C. news – stock market reports – football news.

Just got my deck chair assigned up on the sun deck above A deck – highest part of ship. The air is wonderful so I’m going outside.

Will continue this later.

Love

Cecilia