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26 lines, in ink, on sheet of thin, lined writing paper. 12x9.

London writes to his 17-year-old niece Merle Maddern (Bessie's brother's daughter) from Manchuria, where he was covering the Russo-Japanese War for the Hearst Syndicate. Headed at top "Jack London, First Japanese Army, Autung, Manchuria, May 8/04." London begins, "Dear Merle: As you glance at this let me tell you that these lines are read by an outsider before you see them. In an army in war-time there is an officer known the Censor, & he sees everything. So I shall not say any nice things to you for fear that they'll make him blush..." He signs "Your Loving uncle, Jack." Merle Maddern went on to become a stage actress, appearing in over forty plays.