January 23, 1905

Kansas City, Mo.

Dear friend Rosie:

Have just finished shaving myself with the Safety Razor. This is the first time I have attempted it and I kind of feared making the first attempt. But I had very good success and it did not take me very long to shave.

I am here at my brother’s house. He lives in a nice little brick cottage It is about 3 or 3 ½ miles from city center and I think he pays too much rent for the place (27.50 per month) but it is a nice location and a very high elevation. Marguerite is at school. Elmer is now trying to shave himself. He is working on train. Goes out in the evening and back in the morning. He gets quite a while to sleep on train, so it is not a hard run. He made a trip to Albuquerque last week on the same run I have.

My brother has been in Albuquerque ever since I have been out here with no chance of getting home. I have seen him twice at Albuquerque. He runs west of there on the California Limited. He may stay on that run, and if so, will probably move to Albuquerque later.He has not had any extraordinary success on the train yet but I think he will get along O.K. on it after a while.

It is entirely different from working on the other trains. Solid Pullman train and he does not sell cigars, papers, books or anything like that. Only carries Navajo Blankets, Indian Curios, Filagree and Agate jewelry etc. He carries blankets at as high as $150.00 each so you see making an unexpected sale on train to passengers amounting to $100 to $200 is something that he has got used to. But the other men have sold as high as $700 in 2 trips.

To-morrow I go out on a Dodge City run, but is in place of a man who is laying off, so I don’t know whether I will be able to holed it or not – Dodge City is about 370 miles from here and I go to Dodge City on day, return the next and rest the 3^rd day. So this is an easy run, if I can hold it and make money on it. Wrote to postmaster at Kansas City about forwarding mail, but have not received your letter yet. Expect your photo and paintings this afternoon.

Marguerite was not put in as high a class here as at Syracuse. She had painting at Syracuse, but her class are just starting at it here.

My brother had his furniture shipped here from Syracuse and his wife feels happier now with a well furnished house.

Write often.

Yours truly,

Max

3021 Vine St, K.C. Mo.