About two weeks ago Tom commenced talking about joining Troop B and I objected andtried to persuade him that he had better wait until the President called for volunteers and that then he could probably get a commission. I thought I convinced him that this was the wiser course, but on Saturday he told me that he had enlisted with Troop B as a private; that the President had called out the National Guard and that with the number of men turned down in Troop B under the medical examinations, that this Troop did not have a sufficient number of men to report for duty and that he thought it was a shame for men not to enlist; that he also thought it looked badly to see married men with children go off with a Troop and young men staying at home; that he had enlisted because he thought it was his duty.

Ofcourse, if volunteers were called for I should have expected him to go, but, if possible, I would rather have seen him have a commission than go as a private. He had four years training at a Military Academy and Lieutenant of a Company and is very well drilled. I have watched him in the daily drills of Troop B and think he is one of the best drilled men in it.

I write to ask you that if volunteers are called, that you will, if you can, get him a commission in some Company in Asheville as a Lieutenant for I believe he is qualified for it. I am writing this without his knowledge. I think I could get him transferred from Troop B to some Company. I hate awfully to see him go because it will interfere with his law studies as I had expected him to get a license in September, 1917. He had commenced work with me in the office here and was becoming somewhat useful and was studying hard and reciting twice a week to Mr. Goldstein. However, he is of age and he did what he thought was his duty and ofcourse I have nothing further to day.

I know that you are proud of Carlisle being now in the service. I know he will make good.

With kindest regards, and best wishes, I am,