One of these ships is like living in a monastery, and they are as disciplined and gentle as monks, and as reckless as cowboys.

When I go forward and speak to one of them they all gather round and sit on the deck in circles and we talk and they listen and make the most interesting comments-- The middy who fired the first gun at Matanzas is a modest alert boy about 18 years old and crazy about his work-- So, the Captain selected him for the honor and also because there is such jealousy between the bow and stern guns that he decided not to risk feelings being hurt by giving it to either-- So, Boone who was at Annapolis a month ago was told to fire the shot-- We all took his name and he has grown about three inches.

We told him all of the United States and England would be ringing with his name-- When I was alone he came and sat down on a gull beside me and told me he was very glad they had let him fire that first gun because his mother was an invalid and he had gone into the navy against her wish and he hoped now that she would be satisfied when she saw his name in the papers.

He was too sweet and boyish about it for words and I am going to take a snapshot at him and put his picture in Scribner's--"he only stands about so high--" DICK.
I enclose a souvenir of the bombardment.

Please keep it carefully for me-- It was the first shot "in anger" in thirty years.
TAMPA, May 3rd, 1898.
DEAR NORA: We are still here and probably will be.