I am writing this in school during exams. The end of term seems so strange here because we don’t have one good “breaking up”, but everyone just drifts away. The school doesn’t finish officially until Friday, but today & tomorrow the students have exams (only 4 or 5 each, because they only take that number of subjects each year) then they just don’t come anymore. The rest of the week the staff marks exam papers and puts grades (marks) on report cards which are posted to the students and on Friday the seniors who are leaving & have passed come to their “graduation exercises” and get their diplomas. It all seems very peculiar to me – we don’t have a mass meeting & bid the students a happy holiday at all!
Summer seems to have come to Toledo at last, but still in no very pleasant way, because it has suddenly become hot and humid with terrific thunderstorms and very heavy rain showers. The sun shines in between, but it is so wet that it makes everything steamy and there are terrible floods in parts of the country, and tornadoes too. I hope that your nice weather has been continuing and that it is nice and warm and sunny for you – certainly you deserve it after the awful winter. With the floods & so on here, Til is wondering if it is going to be all right driving to her sister’s in Connecticut, but it is a week yet, so things may improve by then. She is leaving a week today (16th) and I am going with her, and will stay with her at her sister’s for about a week before going to Long Island. I am not going to pack up my trunks etc. & take them to New York now, because there is really no room for them at any of the cousins, & it is awkward taking them across N. York & on the L. Island Railway etc. so I am leaving most of my stuff here, & then returning to Toledo with Til in the car at the beginning of Aug. & will pack & send my luggage to the Q. Elizabeth from here & then probably leave here just a few days before I sail.
I had tried to keep myself free of engagements in June, but last week I still managed to have one or two engagements. On Wed. I went into town with 2 of the teachers from here & had tea & on Thursday I went to a meeting of the Daughters of the British Empire! It was held at Vida McCartney’s house – do you remember – she is a British bride I met when I first came to Toledo- and Mrs. Atkinson & Ruby & the baby as well as a lot of other people were there. We had tea, & then I was invited to stay to supper with 8 others & it was very hot & I practically fell asleep before the evening was over!
On Friday evening, the school had a Banquet for the Seniors who are leaving & afterwards the Junior Senior Farewell Dance. As I have a Junior Homeroom & teach some Seniors I was invited & went with Mr. and Mrs. Pasquier. It was very elegant all in evening dress & the girls looked very sweet- I, of course was a “chaperone” & didn’t dance a step, & my black dress nearly killed me, it is so tight now! On Sat. I was supposed to go boating on the lake & a picnic & it poured so I didn’t go. Yesterday we had Lois’ 2 sisters, Ruth & Mary, & Frances Kaya to dinner (roast beef & Y. pudding!) so it was quite a busy day!
I hope that you are both keeping well and taking care of yourselves –
With lots of love from Cynthia
P.S. Thank you for your letter, Mummy – am writing.
At long last I am managing to begin the gossipy letter but I have been promising you. I intended to begin last night but I thought I would read through your letters I had to answer before I started and it took me so long that I didn’t get any farther! Now today I have another one to thank you for- a lovely long one posted on 1st June, so it has been very rapid, and I lay on the bed and read it and enjoyed it immensely – particularly your visit to Irene & her sitting out in the garden-to-be with the builders!
I have decided that the only way to get organized over the gossip and answering your letters is to begin with the oldest letter I have & comment on it, and it will remind me of all the things I meant to tell you – the oldest one was dated the 13th April, so you can see that I am going way back!
In it you were just commenting on getting a p.c. from me sent on the plane the time I was in Atlantic City & that seems such ages ago. I think I sent you another p.c. of the aeroplane when I was coming back from Washington- I sent Pete Burton one I know- maybe you have got it by now. You will probably have heard of all the dreadful plane accidents there were over here last week – the one at La Guardia was a United Airlines plane & it is the 1st one they have had for years & years- they had a special safety certificate, because they had been accident free for so long.
You were also mentioning my Easter trip & it really was not so expensive as you would imagine – of course I paid my share of petrol etc. as well as hotels, food & so on, but there was no cost for the car, & so compared to travelling in any other way it was terribly cheap. I spent $110 I think, which included an odd drink in New Orleans & the pralines & everything, so I didn’t think it was bad. On the trip with the Atkinsons to Canada I paid my own expenses, but not petrol, & it was cheaper because we didn’t stay at such smart hotels or eat at such good places, & it was all right, but I was glad we had splurged in New Orleans!
You were writing about Nan’s wedding present & I think I told you in my A.M. last week that I had got it and sent it off. She sent me a list 1. Tablecloth 2. Bedspread 3. Rug or blanket 4. China, so I thought I would get her a candlewick B. spread like yours, & Til & I went down to one of the big shops & they were having a Linen Sale! I got a lovely cream bedspread & then I suddenly saw these beautiful blankets, so I got her a blue (double size) blanket too, & I think they are both lovely. They were reduced & together came to $22, & I thought that was very reasonable- at home I expect you would hardly get one blanket for that. The electric blankets, by the way, cost around $35, so that was too much, but I think for you to get them a warming pad would be lovely, or Nan says that they are very hard up for table cloths – they have mats etc. but very few cloths. After your remarks re. china & Nan’s too, I was inspired to go and look at some & I fell for some very pretty sets of pastel (pottery ware, I suppose.) Over here they don’t sell in 1/2 dozs. & dozs but in 4, 8, etc., but I got 6 of everything & thought that I might keep 4 & give Nan 2, so that she would have them for herself & Dick anyway. They are really sweet I think- one set is pale blue, one pale pink, one yellow & one green & I got a pink & a blue for Nan. I have just finished weaving Nan’s mat & Til is cutting the threads for me (very complicated – I’ll show you when I have the mat!) & it looks adorable. It is green at the back & the top is peachy – pink & white. I have enough yarn to make another one & Til & Lois made a lovely green & yellow & black one for me – they are awfully pretty & washable too – awfully easy to make as well, but unfortunately you have to have a frame so we can’t make them when I get home. By the way when I was in Canada I got 2 hot water bottles & a thermos flask, so I think I’m a good girl! I don’t think I will get the curtain net though Mummy, because as far as I can see all cotton stuff is very expensive- none under about 75¢ & that not nice, but I’ll look at net & decide later.
I was very tickled at your telling me about Irene’s remarks re. the pearls! By the time she gets my account of how I spent her money she will know that I didn’t get them at Woolworths! I sent her a string for Mrs. Scott you know & a pair of earrings, & a twisted pearl necklace for herself – actually they are not so expensive in the shops, but on top of the price there is a high tax for jewelry, so I am inclined to get fooled & think they are much cheaper than they really are!
You were writing about the Sheedys in your letter & Denis’ “borrowed” car, & I wonder if you have ever found out from Winnie whose it is! Denis wrote to me for my birthday & told me all about it & it is Neville’s, but what arrangements they have made about how long the lend is I don’t know! Who do you think I had a letter from yesterday? Joe, the horror! After all these months! He said he thought he’d better get a letter off before I came home & I should think so too – I was just thinking what a meanie he was! He said something about going to N/C for Whit. so maybe you saw him. By the way, you were asking if we were on Daylight Saving Time here, & we are not in this part of America, but some parts are, so it’s very confusing! Washington time is an hour different to us & so is Indiana, but all the trains planes etc. stay on Standard Time, so when you’re travelling it is all most difficult & I can never tell whether train times are going to be the same or faster or slower! I was greatly tickled at your cattiness over Maud’s past cracks at school teachers!! I bet you that she will still think all other school teachers (me!) have a very easy life! I agree with you that Nan will probably find a great difference when she is married, not having her own money & having to be careful, but I expect that she will get used to it soon.
I was just horrified to read in your letter how much Bella had paid for the little ballet dancer brooch she sent me for my birthday. As you guessed I don’t like it much & can’t imagine ever wearing it, & I never thought it cost anything like that. I was an awfully long time writing & thanking her & Mrs. Johnny but I finally did get notes written off this week, but I sent them by sea. I got letters from Amy & Mary Nutley this week & I must write to both- Amy thanking me for mags. & Mary sending Mary Johnson’s address in Connecticut. I hadn’t realized at all that I still hadn’t told you about my plans for the summer, until you told me about hearing them from Mary. Well, this is how it is. Til’s Mother arrived from Alabama on Monday, stayed the night & then Til took her to stay with her old sister up in Michigan. After we finish school Grandma comes back here & on the following Monday (16th) Til & Grandma set out to drive to Connecticut to spend the summer with C’Zelma, Til’s sister, & I am invited to go too. C’Z is a cellist & lives with another woman musician Em., & last year C’Z had a very serious operation for a brain tumour & is still weak & has a partially paralyzed face I believe, but is much better now. I thought that when I was in Connecticut I would visit Mary J. who lives not far away. I intend staying about 10 days with Til & her family then I thought I might try to get a weekend in Boston to see a little bit of New England, then I will go & spend the whole of July with Margs, Uncle Artie etc. as they see fit! At the beginning of Aug. Til is driving back to Toledo so I am going with her (Grandma too) (no train fares for me you see- isn’t it nice of Til?) I will then get all my trucks packed & sent off to the ship & it will save me the worry of carting trunks around all summer, & after that I’ll come back to New York & sail on 16th Aug. I have just bought some new luggage too- as I was sure I’d never get it all in my old! I have to get new locks for my old trunk anyway as they are both broken. But my new things I got at a Surplus Army Goods Store! An Army foot locker – black with a steel top & locks & an aeroplane case- biggish – they were cheap (compared to the luggage at shops) & seem good. I can see you wondering how I am going to get through the summer after all these purchases, but I tell everyone I am going to live on charity! Actually I’ll only have one train fare to N. York & when I’m staying with people I won’t have many expenses- I hope! This weekend I am going to pay my passage & pay Lois for Nan’s present & my luggage (charged to her account!) & get the rest of my money in travellers cheques & just see how much I have left!
I forgot to tell you that Til’s son Bill arrived here on Tuesday, so we are having all Til’s family one after the other! He has a pilot’s job down in Florida you know (instructing also) & had to fly an aircraft up here, so also took his holidays & is staying about a week or so. Lois works out of the airport & they keep very much out of one another’s way. I think it is a little bit of a shame that he should come just now, because poor Lois is going to be left alone here all summer & now we’re not having a chance to make the most of our time together, before we go. 11:30 p.m. so I am going to sleep now – night night – love from Cyn.
To continue! I am so glad that you had such a nice birthday, Mummy, and that all the things from me arrived at the right time. I know it’s a long time ago now, but still! The flowers from all your friends sound lovely & it was nice that the fun of presents etc. was spread over two days, so that the thrill was prolonged! I am very glad that you liked the photo – I thought the colouring was good too. I am looking forward so much to seeing yours – you told me about going to get it taken & getting the proofs in a little while, but you never mentioned what they were like when you did see them & I am most intrigued!
Carol Ewing
I think Mr. Wood could be trusted to have you looking your prettiest! I am glad that the blouse fitted that I sent for your birthday too. I have a red & white one just the same & I have used it a lot, but find that the back jumps out ! By the way- talking of my photo has reminded me of something else. A few months back, Hugh mentioned in one of his letters that he had seen a picture with a girl in it who reminded him so much of me- her voice and ways as well as looks. It was Teresa Wright in “The Imperfect Lady”, so when it was in Toledo last week Til & I dashed off to see it. It is about England in the 1900s & was fairly good, but the girl certainly was like me in some ways – I could see a likeness in her face, & Til said her voice was like mine, & in one place particularly where she had her hair down & was looking in a mirror, I nearly had a fit, because just at that moment she looked so like me that it was as if I was looking at myself! It was quite an odd sensation! Afterwards Til amused me immensely, because in the film the girl was too, too ladylike & Til said yes, she was just like me, but I was more of a hoyden!!
I sent off my coupon book to Nan this week, so hope it will be all right – I don’t see why not – I’m sure they can’t do anything about it because if they hadn’t wanted them used, they could have cut them out when I left. I seem to have been getting an awful lot of new clothes lately. It is just Fatal for me to go down town if I don’t want to spend money, & when I was buying the things for the girls I kept seeing things for me too!!
I told you about my gaudy jersey dress & as well as that I got a pink felt hat and pink suede gloves, which I wear with my blue corduroy suit or my navy 2 piece dress (I cover the red belt up) & with some of my other dresses, so it is very useful. The hat is one of the biggest I’ve ever had, but it’s kind of turned up, so people say it makes me look tall! I’ll attempt to draw it, but I have no idea whether I will succeed!!
Doesn’t it look funny! But it is really quite nice & becoming, & is the sort of hat that you can wear with your hair looking a mess & still it looks all right!
Before I went to Washington I finally managed to get a raincoat, & I am just delighted with it. I have been trying & trying, & either they were much too big or an ugly colour or something. Then suddenly I saw this one – it is called a Cravenette & is the kind of raincoat that looks like material, & it is a lovely shade of pale blue, so I am wearing it as a summer coat & no one is any the wiser! The only coat I have for summer is my camel-ly one & it is too hot, as well as being a bit worn! My raincoat is very plain – only big full sleeves- at tie belt and one big blue button. I like it very much.
I have also got myself two cotton summer dresses, which are pretty – one is pale gray trimmed with white piqué, and the other is turquoise blue with white buttons, and I have also got a new suit! You know that I have been trying to get a suit since the spring & haven’t seen a thing I liked – or if I liked it, it was much too expensive. Then one day about 2 weeks ago Til & I were ambling through town looking in shop windows, & she said “Look, that’s a pretty suit” & I said “Yes, isn’t it!” & before I knew what, I was in the shop trying it on & it fit me & I bought it! It is grey & is a very fine material – I think it must be a mixture of wool & cotton- & it has a tiny tiny little stripe lllll- like this – so fine you can’t see it unless you’re close. The thing that kills me – & will slay you & Irene too I know! – is that it has a bustle effect, & my suit & my seat together are a riot!! Til roars & says it looks cute! The skirt is straight & plain and the jacket is what they call a cutaway, & they are very fashionable here- you can hardly get a suit with a straight jacket.
These look very peculiar, but you will get some slight idea of what it’s like. I look definitely “hotsy” in it! I wear it with my pink, or with white (from last summer) & I was most embarrassed because when I wore it to school one day this week ( I was going out speaking) all the staff paid me compliments & of course all the kids too- the favourite comment was “Oh Miss Ewing I do like your suit. Boy! Do you look smooth!” I think that is the end of my clothing purchases, so now I don’t think I have anything else left to get for myself, except maybe a pair of shoes. I do hope that you like your dress & that it fits. It isn’t very ultra or fancy, but it is a pretty colour & I thought it would suit you & that you would like it. I do hope you can wear the funny little hat – I think if you wear the pinky-red & white dress, white hat & gloves & brown shoes & bag it should look nice. I got the brown bag before I got the dress, or I would’ve got you a white one, but the brown will be more useful anyway. The hat can be worn back or forwards, brim up or down, so it is very adaptable!!
You mentioned my small boyfriend Rowly in one of your letters & although he still comes every Wed. with his sister, I have been doing the dirty on him & going out, so I haven’t seen him much! He has really been getting a little pest the last few times I’ve seen him & just won’t leave me alone a minute- Rowlys certainly do seem to fall for me, but I certainly do tire of them quickly, don’t I!!!
I haven’t heard another word from Joan Greenwood about the flat, but I suppose that once she knew I would share, she thought there was no more urgency about it! I must make arrangements with the bank to pay her my share of the rent though, after the other girl goes, so that I definitely have my claim staked! I hope my account can stand it!! Anne said she told Jessie F. about my sharing with Joan & she didn’t seem very pleased, but goodness she is sharing with Joan Watkins now & didn’t mention anything about my joining them, so why should I worry!
There is quite a lot of talk among Marie Stoll’s friends here of how she & I must meet in New York, as she will be back before I leave, but so far nothing definite has been done. I am curious of course, but not pining! I asked Dr. Smith in Washington about the “youth & inexperience” of the British teachers & he said that it really wasn’t so that there had been complaints. Only one Ed. Authority had said they’d like an older person & I am pretty certain it wasn’t Pam’s – I think she is quite good despite her naïvety(??) naiveness (??) (!!) and as she is “out in the sticks” at Fostoria anyway, they wouldn’t want a very sophisticated person there!
You were asking about Lois & Til’s cars – neither of them keep them in the garage as it is pretty old & too small for the cars! They sit out on the side path, & nearly everyone around does the same with their’s. Like you, everyone is always asking at school how Lois can afford to buy two such gorgeous cars, but of course Lois saves all her money earned at the airport, & had been saving it for quite a long time to buy a car.
They also had the Chrysler to turn in as part exchange, & Lois hardly spends any money on anything else, as she does nothing but go to school & to the airport most of the time & buys very, very few clothes. Also Til has been saving her (private) teaching money too, & they combined. By the way – you were right & Maud wrong – it is Lo-is not Loy!
Do you remember the dinner that Lois & Til & I went to with Mildred when we got back from our trip? You said that it sounded as if we had a good time after all, & it was so funny because we did! We were all just dreading going, because we had had plenty of her as it was, then she had annoyed Lois immensely by trying to give her & Til some money as a thank you for taking her, & then finally we had talked over her peculiarities and mannerisms & expressions so much that we were sure we would giggle when exposed to them again! However, we sent out in a very sober mood, and picked up Mildred & drove to this special place she was going to take us to, only to find that she hadn’t booked a table & we couldn’t get in! So then we went to another place in town – famished with hunger – & Lois bought us all a drink before dinner to loosen the atmosphere as it were! And then Til got going! The mere sight of a drink makes her merry sometimes & she pretended to get quite high & began getting very pally with Mildred! There was one place in Mobile called Constantine’s that we ate at & Mildred thought it was wonderful & everywhere else we went she kept harping on Constantine’s till we were sick of it. So Til every time she took a drink turned to Mildred and said “Mildred (slight lisp!) here’s to Constantine’s- good ole Constantine’s!” & Mildred would drink & Lois & I would nearly have hysterics! Til was so obviously being crazy that we could laugh without being (too) rude & she just brought up everything she could think of & Mildred just thought she was being so pally & Lois & I nearly died- I eventually got quite gay too & joined in & we had a wonderful time! We think that afterwards when Mildred was sane & sensible she realized we were making fun of her, but she hasn’t cooled off towards her- only towards Lois & me! She is friendly with me again now though – probably because I’m going soon!
Did I tell you that I am going to give poor Mary Stuart a disappointment? Because when I got her letter telling me that she had a share in the money and to get her stockings, I had already spent it all & sent away most of the parcels! I am just writing to her to tell her the sad news. It was nice of her to send a present to Nan’s shower & all the presents sounded lovely & everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. All the girls told me what fun it was- Nan, Pam and Dottie & also watch marvellous eats you had! I’m glad Florence Schmidt came & added some excitement-I can just imagine how spectacular she must have looked arriving with her great parcel! Dottie said she was slightly overdressed in her opinion, & I think lots of the American women are-they go in for brooches & pearls & earrings & clips & bracelets & rings, until the effect is overwhelming!
I don’t think I ever told you of another tragedy that happened a little while ago- it wasn’t very cheerful so I thought I wouldn’t tell it for Pop to read, not that I suppose it would matter, but in some moods these things make him gloomier. One of my students, a girl called Evelyn Snyder was killed in another motor accident. She was a little dark girl, very chatty and friendly & after school she worked in the grocery near by that Til & I go to. One morning at school, she asked me to buy a ticket for a dancing display given by the dancing school she went to & she was telling how she went after work in the evening. That evening she was being driven home from the dancing school by an older lady & gentleman & a doctor drove right through a red light at a crossing & smashed up both cars, & killed Evelyn. Everyone was so shocked because it was practically identical with Mrs. Whaley’s death and Evelyn was a nice little kid- she was a senior, 17 years old, but small in build.
I think I told you all the places I visited in my Washington trip, – I just had a wonderful time altogether – the hotel was such fun, the weather was perfect, & the place is marvellous. I took my corduroy suit & navy 2 piece & new blue raincoat with my new pink hat & gloves & everyone was most complimentary! I had 3 invitations by strange men to dinner- one a policeman who showed me Pres. Truman! But I turned them down. Dr. Smith was just as nice as ever, & I quite enjoyed the chance meeting with Rowland- it was so silly! I had to invent all sorts of excuses why I hadn’t written & told him I was coming! Joan Burbidge, the girl at the British Embassy I had met in N.Y. at the beginning & liked & we had a nice dinner together & a gossip! Also the Ohio Representative, Mr. Ramsey & his wife were very nice about showing me around-altogether everyone was terribly kind & helpful, & all sorts of strangers pointed out sights to me, & showed me where to go.
I don’t think I have ever said thank you yet, for cleaning out my drawers etc.! I give you full permission to throw away my holy vests & pants! By the way, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed in Lois & Til’s cast off’s – there were aren’t very many & Til didn’t have hardly any & Lois’ will be too small for you. Most of the things I sent in the parcel (2nd hand) I want you to keep for me! Except the shoes of course. You needn’t worry about your weight but golly, mine! I am up to 108 lbs or 110 lbs & last night we had Frances Kaya (5ft 2ins) Lois (5ft 4ins) Ruth (5 ft) & Mary (Lois’ sister) (5ft 6ins) & doyouknow I weighed more than any of them!! Just wait till I get my good old bicycle & pedal some of my fat off! N.B. Don’t you dare throw away my snow boots – I love them & can’t afford to buy anymore! I am so glad that the other parcel of food & the one of pralines arrived safely. I had a praline down there & thought they were lovely too. I think the parcels have been doing much better recently & I only hope that all of the ones I’ve just sent off will arrive safely after all the buying & packing etc. It was quite a job!
I think your idea of not going away this summer, but of coming down south in the autumn & visiting me & everyone else at once is a good one. I certainly don’t think there’s any point in coming to London or anything to meet me – I’ll have all my luggage & I’ll just get on a train & come home & won’t waste any time! But it will be fun if you come down to Cambridge & stay in the flat with Joan & me & see my new abode.
I loved hearing all about Irene & her home & her adventures – she is a hoot! I can just imagine her thoroughly enjoying herself in her own home with her own husband. I sent Mr. Coplin a bunch of mags. by the way, & I hope the poor man is getting better. I was very honoured to hear that Irene had my picture up – I think she gets practically as much kick out of telling people about me being in America, as I get from being here!! I was tickled about the competition between Nan & Irene & Irene championing Bill’s woodwork – I bet she daren’t say a word to Nan! I can imagine Nan being a little bit touchy like Maud if any aspersions were cast on Dick or his efforts! Very natural of course!
I was greatly amused at your meeting old Pinky & her inquiring tenderly for me! It is nice of Mrs. Rainer & Prue to ask – give her my love when you see them – also my old Postie and Mr. Wilkinson!
You were mentioning my trip to Lorraine with the Atkinsons & the gathering of the Tyneside clan! Was I bored! And the thing that shattered me was that the old lady & gent used such a bad language I nearly died! Swearing every 2nd word! The trip to Canada with the Atkinsons was very nice, but of course nothing like the fun of going anywhere with Lois & Til. The Atkinsons are sweet & very kind to me, but they’re not “my type” & a little goes quite a way. In the car Mrs. is a great “pointer-outer” – you know “Look at that Cynthia, – and this- and that house over there – and the river!” till I was about dizzy & she isn’t content until I exclaim & say how marvellous each thing is about 10 times! Also they had friends again in Owen Sound whom we visited all one evening & I was tired to death & bored too! However they are nice & enjoy showing me off I think! They didn’t mind at all about the Banquet- they were bored too that time, & it was Howell’s doing leaving early, because he’d had no sleep the night before, so they couldn’t blame me! Howell’s & his brother-in-law have opened this fruit stand & on top of their ordinary jobs, they keep it open day and night & are just about killing themselves- idiotic I think! The Atkinsons tell me Howell still has nerve trouble from the war & that with this business it’s getting worse instead of better, but wouldn’t you think he’d have more sense & get himself some peace & quiet instead of doing 2 jobs & getting no sleep. He has gone down to Tennessee for a week to visit his people, so I don’t suppose I’ll see him again & it really doesn’t worry me a bit!
I don’t think I have anything more spectacular to tell you at all! The lunch for Mr. Bowsher etc. passed off very well, & last night for Frances etc. coming here for dinner we gave them roast beef & Yorkshire pudding & they were most amused! This week is full of farewells – all the kids at school asking for my address, & one class gave me a great corsage of white flowers & another a very pretty gold & blue brooch. On Wednesday the Faculty are having a lunch in my honour & on Friday the Home Ec teachers of the city – I’m not looking forward to either – I’ll be so embarrassed!
I have decided I can’t afford to send this letter by A.M. but I hope it will reach you soon.
The latest arrangements are that for my holidays I leave here with Til on 16th June & will only stay until about 24th in Conn. & then go to Long Island, because Til wants to come back sooner now, & I said I wanted to stay a month all together with the cousins. But I’ll write A.M.s to let you know what goes on. Lois will be here all the time & will forward letters if necessary.
Take care of yourself and be a good girl. My love to Maud & Bella & Winnie & Mrs. Johnny
I heard over the radio this weekend that England had just had its hottest week for years, and I am so glad to know that you are having some decent weather, and that you won’t be finding it so chilly. You certainly aren’t getting the nice weather from this side of the Atlantic this time, as it is apparently the coldest wettest spring for years here! It rained on 20 days out of the 31 in May & poured so hard on the 1st & 2nd June that we have already had 1/2 the normal month’s rainfall! It is pretty serious for the crops as the fields are all flooded & the farmers can’t get anything planted, but I hope it will be better from now on, because today has been sunny and it looks as if it might be nice tomorrow too.
Last weekend we had a holiday, because Friday was Memorial Day, which is a public holiday. Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson had spoken to me for a long time about their taking me a motor trip over this weekend so it was arranged that we would go to Canada. They called for me at 5 A.M. on Friday morning & we drove up to Detroit and then on up north along Lake Saint Clair to a town called Sarnia where we crossed into Canada. The frontier is on a beautiful bridge over the St. Clair River just where it runs into Lake Huron, and it is really lovely. After that we drove on north through Southern Ontario, along Lake Huron – pretty country, but rough roads and very poor stony soil. I sat in the back as Mrs. A. gets car sick, and they had conveniently put a pillow there, so I slept for 2 hours over the worst roads! We arrived in a place Owen Sound at about 3.30 p.m. (over 300 miles) and stayed the night there at a little hotel. Mr. & Mrs. A. had friends & took me visiting in the evening but what with one thing & another I was 1/2 asleep. It was fair & sunny most of the day, but a very cold wind, and on Saturday it was nice again, but still not warm. That day we drove to Toronto (120 miles) & arrived about 3 o’clock, & stayed there sightseeing & shopping. I saw Lake Ontario of course, & now having seen Lake Michigan at Chicago, I have seen all but one of the Great Lakes. Sunday we drove home, via Windsor & Detroit & it poured with rain the whole day, until we arrived in Toledo in the evening. Altogether it was a very nice trip though, & I was so pleased to see even that little bit of Canada.
Last week, before I went away, I spoke at St. Mark’s Church one evening & had a nice time there. Yesterday I spoke at a huge women’s luncheon, which I didn’t enjoy much – they gave me one hankie as renumeration!! Today we had the last of our luncheons at school, & we invited Mr. Bowsher (Director of Education); his assistant; the Mayor; Mr. Nauts; Mr. Brown; & the President of the Board couldn’t come, so we had one of the other men teachers. It was a great success & they seem to enjoy it immensely, & the Mayor even offered to help the girls wash up!! We had patriotic decorations in red, white & blue & a stars & stripes & union jack!
As usual, I never seem to have room to write all I have to say on one of these little things, but I’ll have to stop. I hope that you are both well & still having nice weather.
I am so intrigued with my nice new little letters! I got some this week, so I thought that I would write one to you now, because I will probably be late with my weekend letter, and I still haven’t managed to get that long newsy letter written to you yet. I just seem to have been so busy that I haven’t had a minute to get down to it – as usual I have been out and about 5 nights out of every week at least, and then I have also been shortening some new summer dresses I got, and lengthening my last year’s dresses, which now seem very short. In addition to that I have been having such a time packing & sending off the girl’s parcels – and I’m still not finished! I sent off I think it was 7 parcels on Saturday – cost me $8.00! One for Irene, three for Nan, two for Marjorie (Laing) one for you, and a little packet for Connie Fairlamb. I still have one for Dottie, one for Pam, one other for you, and one for my pal Ivy in Cambridge! Irene’s has her clothes + 2nd hand clothes, one of Nan’s is the same, another is food and the third is her wedding present – I have sent her a cream candlewick bed cover & a blue double bed blanket. They are both lovely & I was very pleased because I got them at a sale & so they were reduced a bit, but I haven’t paid for them yet! Both Marjorie’s parcels are food, & the parcel I sent to you is food too, & the packet for Connie has a little sun suit for the baby. Dottie’s & Pam’s are all packed, but not sent yet- I had such a time with Pam’s shoes- when I came to pack them I found they had given me 2 right shoes, & I couldn’t remember the shop I had bought them at! However after much toiling from shop to shop I found the place & got a left shoe to match. I am sending Ivy a pair of white sandals I promised her before I left, & she has been very sweet about writing to me, without many replies! I am most sorry about Mary Stuart, but I can’t send her anything, because by the time I got her letter I had spent all (& more!) of the money, so I am just going to have to write & tell her so. The parcel I am sending you this week has in some 2nd hand things of Lois’ which I would like you to keep for me – I think they are too small for you. The shoes are for you & also a dress I bought you which I hope you will like- and a hat to match! I can see you giggling at the hat, but I think you will look cute in it! If the blouse & old jacket of Lois’ are any good to you- you use them. I am so glad that you got the other food parcel & pralines & enjoyed them. I got a praline for myself & tasted it & thought it was nice too. I will really try to get that letter written soon! I am leaving at 5 a.m. tomorrow with the Atkinsons – it is a holiday for Memorial Day & we are driving to Toronto for the weekend.
I was so glad to hear that you had been having some nice summer weather – I do hope that it will last and that you will have it really warm to compensate for the fuel ban. I can just imagine how cold it gets in the evenings of even the hottest days so you must be careful and not catch cold.
The weather here is still being most peculiar and changeable- two days last week it suddenly got quite roasting hot – so much so that everyone wilted and was quite unprepared for it – then since it has been dull and cold and poured with rain most of yesterday. Today was fairly fine, but a cold blustery wind, I don’t think English weather is so bad in comparison after all!
Last week I had a fairly busy week- luncheons at school during the day and quite a few social events in the evenings! On Monday I went to Toledo University (my 1st visit) and spoke to the Mother’s Club there. I was quite pleased because I just went, and spoke and came away before their business meeting which was a great saving of time for me – usually they make me sit & wait through all their Minutes & Treasurer’s Reports etc. & it takes hours. They also sent me $5 afterwards too! Miss Marie Stoll’s sister was one of the mothers there, and from meeting her I can just imagine what Miss Stoll must be like.
On Wednesday the Senior Girls (all leaving school this summer) gave a tea at school for their Mothers, and I was invited with some of the other teachers. It was really a huge affair as there about 300 girls in the Senior Class & nearly all of them seemed to be there with their Mothers- and such Glamour! The girls were all lashed up in their best, so that I hardly recognized them. All the ladies (me too!) were presented with rose buttonholes as we arrived and there was a programme of music & one or two little speeches & then tea & gossip! I like all the senior girls I have very much, & it was nice meeting their mothers & seeing what they were like.
On Thursday I was invited to dinner with Mr. & Mrs. Dorman Richardson. They are a very nice couple I met in the winter at some Y.W.C.A. function. I have spoken at 1 or 2 things Mrs. Richardson has been at, and Mr. Richardson was president of the Men’s Club I spoke at before Christmas. Francis Kaya was there too & Mrs.?? ( a lady who used to teach at DeV. & now married to a Dutchman!) so we had a very nice evening.
On Friday I had a most hectic day. There had been some telephoning about my talking to the Toledo Garden Forum, but I didn’t realize it had been definitely arranged until I got in from the Richardsons on Thurs. night & found a note saying they would pick me up at 10:30 a.m. at school. I nearly had a fit as I had 2 classes making bread, & 4 girls giving a luncheon to some of the teachers! However I went to school- ignored my study class 1st hour, & helped the luncheon girls instead. 2nd hour I showed the girls how to knead & shape their bread & put it to rise, then left them to do it, & rushed off to speak at 10:30! The Garden Forum is made up of representatives of all the garden clubs in Toledo, & they were quite nice, but at 12:30 they all disbanded to go home for lunch & I was delivered back at school at 1 o’clock too late to get any for myself! Then I had to begin baking my bread! That wasn’t the end, because in the evening the Home Ec Club was having their annual Banquet, so I had to go to that and was I glad when that day was over!
The weekend, as I said, was cold & rainy, but on Sat. Til & I went down town & shopped & had lunch, and in the evening I went with Mr. & Mrs. Atkinson & Howell to a banquet affair. It was very crowded though & Howell & I were rather bored, so we left early & I was home in bed before 10.30!
On Sunday I got up & went to Early Service, & then it was very dull & rainy & I spent the time doing odd jobs. By late afternoon it had cleared up so Lois & Til & I went a drive & had dinner in a nice little hotel, & came home and went to bed early. I will stop now before I use another sheet as there is no more news. Thank you for your letter, Mummy, take care of yourselves.
Letters get more formal when Cyn writes an Air Mail to both her parents- less gossip, fewer details, fewer ampersands, and much shorter!
4229 Berwick Ave.,
Toledo 12 Ohio
20th May 1947.
Dearest Mummy and Daddy,
I hope that you are both keeping quite well, and that the weather is nice for you, so that you are not feeling the fuel ban so badly. I had a letter from Anne in Cambridge yesterday & she said that they were having beautiful warm weather, so I hope that it is the same with you. Here, it is still very changeable- last Friday it suddenly got very hot, like midsummer, then both Saturday & Sunday were miserable – dull & rainy with thunderstorms & since then it has been fine, but cooler, & everyone is wondering where summer is!
As usual I have been busy since I last wrote, but mostly social activities with not many talks which is a blessing! Last Wed. evening I was invited to a Banquet given by a Home Economics Sorority (connected with the University). I had spoken to their group before & they were very nice girls & I enjoyed meeting them. The Banquet was very nice & there was a Speaker, so all I had to do was sit & listen- I was Guest of Honour! After it was over, they initiated some new members & initiated me as an Honorary Member – so now I am a Sorority Sister of Sigma Alpha Something-or-the-other! But still it was very sweet of them to invite me to join.
On Friday I was a Guest of Honour again at a tea given by the Toledo Teachers Association – (more corsages!) – so I went with Til, and we had a good time. After tea there was a man giving a talk “Music is Fun” Til & I didn’t think much of it, but we enjoyed criticizing! Afterwards we picked up Lois & went the pictures to see “It’s a Wonderful Life” which was very good.
On Saturday Til & I went shopping & had lunch in town, & of course thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! I got some cotton yarn & came back & spent the evening weaving a rug, which is easy & fascinating, but made my fingers awfully sore!
Sunday morning, Mr. Atkinson came for me at 9 o’clock. He & Mrs. Atkinson were driving to Lorain for the day- a place about 100 miles east of Toledo along Lake Erie & when he heard that I hadn’t seen much of the Lake they invited me to go too. Unfortunately on Saturday night there were some very heavy rain & thunderstorms, & it was dull & grey all day Sunday, but even so it was a beautiful drive. Going, we went by the lake which was grey too, but we passed right through the peach growing district, but much to my disappointment the rain had spoiled the peach blossom, & it was nearly all gone. Coming back, we came through the country (more to the south) & that was just wonderful because we passed through miles & miles of apple orchards which were just lovely & made up for missing the peach. We also passed through Milan, Edison’s birth place. Jordan was quite a nice small town, & the Atkinson’s friends we were visiting were an old Tyneside couple- originally came from near Cowgate! He had just come out of hospital after an operation, & wasn’t very well, but she was full of go, & the Atkinsons had a good time talking away & exchanging news. I enjoyed the drive very much though.
Yesterday evening I went to Toledo University to speak to the Mother’s Club there & amongst the Mothers was Miss Marie Stoll’s sister. She was nice & must look very much like Miss Stoll I think, because even by the pictures I’ve seen, I saw a likeness. This evening I have been packing parcels & poking my rug again!
Thank you very much for your letter, Mummy, which I got yesterday- I intend to answer all of them soon, & will try to get it going this week. I was so glad to hear the girls had such a good time when they visited you.
Cyn’s photographs are more successful in black & white than colour- sadly the colour of the marvellous azaleas have faded in yellowed snaps. But the friends she writes of and the gorgeous cars show up quite clearly! Of course in the days of rolls of film, pictures remained in the camera until the roll was finished, so her photos of her trip at Easter were not developed until July 1947, and include some of her visit to her New York relatives then. The black & white snaps start in September 1946 at Lois’ airport, show winter coat weather, and finish with the Easter trip. Also included are Easter Sunday snaps of her New York relatives- I’m assuming it was the same Easter!
Cyn at the airport in September 1946.Cyn’s first flight!Til.Lois.Til, Bill, dog, and the car!Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile Alabama, March 1947.Azaleas!Bellingrath Gardens.Til, Cyn, and Lois.On the road: Cyn pointing, with Til and Mildred. Mona and Owen visiting Highland Mills at Easter.Hugh and Little Mona on Easter Sunday.
We have travelled about 220 miles since we left Toledo at 3:15 p.m. & it’s now 11 o’clock & we are safely in a nice little hotel in this small town. It was a nice morning, but by the time we left school it was raining, and after about half an hour we ran into an awful sleet storm! However it cleared up after a while and we arrived in Fort Wayne at about 6 o’clock & had dinner at a restaurant called the English Terrace! There was nothing very English about it but we had a nice dinner & I felt much livelier after it, because I’d missed my tea & was consequently very dopey all the time! After we left Fort Wayne it was dark, but very clear & moonlight & we drove on till we got here, stopping only in one little town, Newcastle, for me to send you a P.C!! The country from Toledo to Fort Wayne would’ve been lovely, along the river Maumee, but it was snowing and raining so it didn’t look very thrilling. The river was all brown & swollen with ice on the banks and there was still a lot of snow about & no signs of spring except the twigs of the weeping willows were turning yellow, but not even the grass looked green yet.
Til & Lois are sharing a room here & Mildred & me. We have twin beds & a shower, la- pomme & basin all in a corner of a room & a curtain around! Mildred is very nice and terribly agreeable- she teaches Maths & Science at school & is about Lois’ age. Mrs. Pasquier (you remember, my friend at DeV.) gave me an Easter present before I left- all prettily wrapped & with ribbons around, and & inside were three tablets of Morny soap- each one wrapped & tied up differently – wasn’t that sweet of her. You asked what the prize was I got at the luncheon a little while ago – it was a pretty little linen guest towel, woven by the hostess & I am only won it because I sat at the right place at the table!! Night, night – lots of love.
Decatur. Alabama.
29th March 1947.
Tonight we are in Alabama and since this morning we have travelled through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee & and Alabama- about 440 miles today, and nearly 700 from Toledo.
We got up at the crack of dawn this morning- Toledo time is one hour ahead of this time, so I thought I was getting up at 7, & it was really 6.0! The others had spent an awful night because the hotel was noisy & the rooms terribly hot, but of course your daughter slept soundly through it all! We had breakfast & set out about 7.30 & Lois drove all morning till we got to a place Elizabethtown, Kentucky where we had lunch. We were most surprised to find that all through Kentucky & Tennessee the fields & hills still had snow on them, & looked not much further ahead than Toledo, but in the southern part of Tennessee the snow vanished & we have seen lots of daffodils in gardens which looked lovely. The grass began to show greener too, although no leaves on the trees – the famous Kentucky “blue grass” doesn’t come till the summer apparently & Lois says it’s just as green as anything! It was a most heavenly day for driving- sunny & clear as can be, with a breeze, and everything looked just lovely. The country was all very pretty, especially Tennessee with wooded hills and mountains – I didn’t see any mountaineers (like in Hugh’s funny stories!) but I did see some of their shacks & I don’t know how they hold up!
The lunch we had at Elizabethtown wasn’t much good, but the success of the party was when we all went to the Ladies Room & I got locked in the lavatory! I couldn’t get out & the others were laughing & laughing, so I climbed up & peeked over the top at them, at which they all had such hysterics they couldn’t do a thing to help me! Finally Til managed to open the door for me, but Lois & Mildred could only prop up the walls & giggle! I know that this will remind Nan of the song about the “3 old ladies locked in the laboratory” but they were there from Monday to Saturday! In the afternoon Til drove & I sat in the back & slept for an hour! It was quite hot in the car & it’s beautifully comfortable & easy to sleep. Lois drives sometimes at 70 m.p.h. & the car is so big & smooth that you don’t realize it’s doing more than 40. We stopped at Nashville Tennessee & had a chocolate soda for my “tea” & I sent you a P.C. Then we drove on to this town where we had dinner at one hotel which didn’t have room for us to stay & as the dinner wasn’t very good we weren’t sorry. This is a funny old place & we have two rooms with a connecting bath & a most peculiar sitting room & we climb 3 enormous steps from it into our bedroom which is in a kind of annex! Must stop as I’m sleepy again- Night night- Cyn.
Mobile. Alabama.
30th March.
Well here we are – 1010 miles away from Toledo! Isn’t that a long way? If we could drive over the Atlantic I’d be a 1/3 of the way home! We got up at 6 o’clock & had breakfast at 7, & were on our way about 8 o’clock & just drove like mad all day. We only had one big town to go through, Birmingham, & we had a coke there, at about 10.30 & then went on & there were no more towns till we got to Mobile. We had lunch at a “joint”! A hamburger & a glass of milk & once again I slept during the afternoon! All this morning we drove through hills with pine trees & woods over them, & as we got further south we saw the grass is getting greener & some of the trees had leaves. All the soil in Kentucky, Tennessee & Alabama is red- sometimes yellow or rust, but mostly bright or dark red, & it looks very amazing against the various greens. In the southern states too we passed masses of little shacks where blacks and poor whites live- junky Til calls them – some just tumbling down at one end. And then right next door you’ll get the smartest little modern house, & it looks so queer. Once or twice we passed beautiful big stock farms with marvellous modern barns etc. & white railings around all the fields etc. but mostly there are no hedges or fences at all. We arrived in Mobile at about 3.30, & had reservations at this lovely old hotel “The Battle House” where Til used to play in a little orchestra when she was about 17 years old! We have very nice connecting rooms & we got washed & brushed up & had tea & went for a drive around the town. Mobile is famous for its azaleas & this is just the right time of the year so we drove along what they call the Azalea Trail & it was really incredible it was so beautiful. Streets are lined with huge bushes of every colour- gardens of houses just masses of blooms- parks full. I never saw anything like it. Tomorrow we are driving out to see a famous Azalea Gardens near by & I hope it’s a sunny day because today was dull. After dinner we just lay on our bed & read magazines & everyone is in bed now so I’d better stop. Lots of love, Cyn.
31st March.
Today has been another dull day, but still we have had a nice time. Mildred and I slept until about 9.0 and woke to find Lois waiting patiently for us, as Til had left about 7.30 to drive to her Mother’s which is 30 miles from Mobile. We got up & had breakfast & then went a meander around the town & looked at some of the shops & ended up by going down to the docks by the river at & watching the ships & some people fishing for cat fish! There really isn’t much difference between the north & the south just to look at – I suppose I expected all sorts of exotic things, but the towns look pretty much the same, & although there are more coloured people, with it being cold-ish weather, they’re all wrapped up & look just like the ones in Toledo! Of course, I just love to hear all the people down here talk – some of them I can’t understand at all, but I’m getting a little bit used to it now.
Til brought her mother to Mobile for lunch & she is a very spry old lady for 81. I somehow had imagined her an “old” old lady, but she is not a bit- more of the type of the old Bull, although she doesn’t look like her at all- white haired, with rather a hawk face & a twinkle in her eye & quite an uproarious laugh! We had lunch here at the Battle House, which wasn’t very good, then we drove out to the Azalea Gardens about 22 miles away & they were really lovely. Unfortunately the sun wasn’t really shining, but I took some pictures & I hope they’re nice. It was a great long walk around the gardens – they have a lake and lawns & a little waterfall, well as various walks, so Til & Grandma took shortcuts while we walked for “10,000 miles” Lois said! The azaleas were lovely & there were also great trees of camellias of every shade – white, pink, red & dark crimson & they were just beautiful. Lots of the trees have Spanish moss hanging on which looks most extraordinary & one of the black gardeners showed me how it grew & told me that they cooked it & the outside fleshy part came off, leaving a strong hair that was used for stuffing mattresses, furniture etc.
After that we took Grandma home & saw her little house & the nut grove. There are pecan nuts & tunge nuts & the latter are used for making paint & varnish. Then we came back here & went out for dinner & then to the pictures & we went to the nearest place which had a picture of Gary Cooper’s called “The Wedding Night”. It turned out to be as old as the hills & must have been made in about 1928! We giggled like anything it was so Passionate & the clothes were so funny!
Now I must stop and go to bed- night-night- Cyn
New Orleans 3rd April 1947.
Hello Mummy honey. This is my birthday & I know you’ll be thinking of me – isn’t it awful how old I get! Til & Lois don’t remember it’s my birthday, and I’m not going to tell them till this evening so that they won’t feel that they have to do anything about it. I’m writing this just before we leave New Orleans, so I have to go back and tell you what we did on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday morning we got up fairly early and had breakfast and left Mobile. It was dull & began to rain on the way, and we went driving on the road to New Orleans and had quite fun singing all the songs about rain that we could think of. We got to Biloxi and then from there on it was a lovely drive along the Gulf of Mexico, with some beautiful hotels & houses facing the sea, but it was just pouring most of the time. We got to New Orleans quite early in the afternoon, & it looked lovely even driving through the rain. The streets going into the city are wide and with trees and palms & flowering shrubs & it really was beautiful. Canal Street is the main street- very big & wide, & it leads right down to the Mississippi. On one side is the old French Quarter, the Vieux Carrée & on the other the newer part & the crossing streets have different names on each side. Our hotel, the Monteleone, is in the French part, one of the old narrow streets called Royal Street but it was big and modern & very nice & we had two lovely rooms with twin beds- & connecting doors.
We unpacked a bit & Til telephoned her ex-daughter-in-law’s home. Tony (the girl) wasn’t in, but she spoke to her Mother & Mrs. Breedy said Tony was at work & the children at nursery school, but that it would be all right for Til to come out & see them that evening. Til was very excited & thrilled, but later on Tony rang up & made all sorts of objections & so forth & was anything but friendly & said she couldn’t come that evening. However, after much palaver it was eventually arranged next morning that she go out that evening so she did see them after all.
We went out that first afternoon & looked around some stores, & I sent you a box of a special kind of candy they make down here called “Pralines” & I hope you like them. They are in a sort of little cake & I think there should be quite a few of them in the box, & I thought if there were, perhaps you could give Dottie one or two for Peter, & maybe send Anne one or two- but not if there aren’t a lot- you make a pig of yourself! We went into have a soda at teatime & it had been dull, but more or less fair when we went in, but it was now pelting down, & we tried to run from doorway to doorway on the way to the hotel, but we arrived soaking & drenched with me looking like a drowned rat!
That evening we went to one of the famous restaurants in New Orleans called Armand’s & had a lovely dinner. All the time I was there (down south!) I tried to eat as many strange & different things as I could- hot biscuits, hominy grits, crayfish bisque, shrimp gumbo, oysters Rockefeller, & all sorts of fishy things! After dinner we went back to the hotel & found out that there was a tour of the Night Life of the city! So we took it – about 3 big buses with a guide & we set out at 9 o’clock & came back at 1:30 a.m. We went to a nightclub first, then 2 gambling houses, then 2 more night clubs & ended up having coffee (milk for me) & doughnuts in the old French Market. Actually it wasn’t 1/4 as exciting as it sounds & we were all disappointed! The first night club wasn’t bad- we just sat & listened to the band. The gambling places were really dull – I expected plush & gilt like a regular casino, but these were just wooden halls with roulette boards etc. I put 50 cents in a slot machine & that was my gambling! I got a silver dollar (exchanged, not won!) & am keeping it for good luck though! I got quite matey with our guide, who had been a soldier in England, & he entertained me & gave me a Coca-Cola while he had a beer! The 2 other night clubs were awful – not so bad in appearance, but the floor shows were all strip-tease efforts, which were pretty boring after we’ve seen the first 1/2 doz. girls take their clothes off! The doughnuts at the end, were the nicest part & we were all quite glad to get back to the hotel & go to sleep.
On Wednesday morning we woke up to find the sun shining & it was a glorious day. We decided that the only way to see the city at all properly in the short time we had was to take these tours, so we took one in the morning & one in the afternoon, & they were both lovely- a great improvement on the night life! The one in the morning was especially nice & interesting. It was around the old part of the city, & we saw the Cathedral & the Museum & the old streets & houses & heard the stories about them all. In the afternoon we went on a boat & had a tour of the river! It was fun – a big excursion boat, & the tour lasted from 2.30- 5.0 o’clock but actually it was pretty much like any other river with docks etc. I saw United Fruit Docks where Owen’s ship docks but I had no idea even of the name of his boat. In the evening we went out to one of the suburbs to see Til’s grandchildren. Tony was quite cordial & invited us all in & the little boys (aged 3 & 4) were sweet. Til had brought them Easter eggs & they were tickled to bits & excited. Mr. & Mrs. Breedy were there & they were very friendly too & the whole thing passed off quite successfully, except that Til was a bit upset after she left. We went to one of the other big hotels, the Roosevelt & had a drink they’re famous for called Ramos Gin Fizz which is lovely! I made friends with a man who came & sat at our table & talked to us & had also been in England during the war, & he wanted to buy us all another drink, but we were good & left! Til and I were the naughty ones & talked to the strange man, while Lois sat & grinned & Mildred sat! We went & had dinner at another French restaurant La Louisianne & it was nice too.
My birthday morning we got up earlyish & got the car done up for our trip home & walked around & looked at the shops. We left New Orleans at about 11 o’clock and drove up through Louisiana by the Mississippi along the River Trail, but actually we couldn’t see the river at all because it has big bluffs or Levees built up at the sides and we didn’t catch a glimpse of it for miles. On each side of the road was water though with trees & underbush growing alongside & in it, & in amongst that is what they call the Bayous. We got to Baton Rouge (the capital of Louisiana) in time for lunch which we had at a place which wasn’t very good. Baton Rouge was quite a nice little town, with the most beautiful big modern Capitol building, built by Huey Long & in which he was shot & killed. After that we drove along through more open country, which in the old days had been all big plantations. A lot of these old plantation houses have been restored now & are open to the public for a fee, so we went to two for me to see. The first was called “Greenwood” near a little town called St. Francisville. We had to drive miles off the main road to get to it, following signs all the way like a treasure hunt, & when we got there at last, it looked really lovely from the outside, but was very disappointing inside. It had no formal driveway but just parkland & a wild (rather muddy!) lake, but across the water it looked wonderful – a square white colonial house with a veranda all round & great tall white pillars. Nearby, you saw the paint was peeling off & the plaster from the verandah roof fallen down, & inside 3 of the downstairs rooms were furnished with some nice antiques but we were shown around by a very garrulous old man & there wasn’t much to see. The other big house, farther along the road, was really done in style. It was called Afton Villa, & at the gateway there was an old man in a top hat & breeches, who welcomed us. Then we drove up the driveway which was quite one of the most amazing things – it was big & wide & long- lined with trees which had Spanish moss dripping right down over the archway. Through the trees you could see the woods & parkland with azaleas & camellias growing & you can’t imagine how wonderful it looked. The house outside wasn’t very pretty because it was a copy of a French château & was a bit muddly & ornate looking and a dull gray colour, but inside it was lovely. The first owner had built a little 4- roomed house for his bride, then she died & he married again & his 2nd wife wanted a big house, but he wouldn’t do away with the 1st little one, so built the 2nd all around it & you can still see the way it is. A lady showed us round & was very interesting & the whole place was delightful & had just been newly done up & looked lovely. We saw the hall & Gothic staircase & stained glass windows – the sun parlour, the dining room & parlour from the first little house, the drawing room & a tiny powder closet, a beautiful spiral staircase, a bedroom with a dear little cradle, & the sweetest small ballroom. I just loved every minute of it & bought a recipe book of Southern Creole recipes! We spent that night in Natchez (in Mississippi) which is also famous for its beautiful Colonial (Ante-Bellum, they call them) houses, but after the two we’d seen we didn’t have much ambition to see any more! We got rooms in a house that night, as the hotel was full (it’s now Saturday 5th April) and we had dinner in a place called The Carriage House Tea Rooms. It is a restaurant in what used to be the carriage house at a big old place, Stanton Hall, & was very nice & looked pretty & was served by coloured girls. I told the others at dinner that it was my birthday, so they were all determined that we should have a drink to celebrate! So after dinner we went out to find one, but unfortunately it was a “dry” county! However after enquiring, they told us about a place down a side street, so we went & it looked just like a lowdown bar, but Til & I stuck our heads in & asked if 4 nice ladies could have a drink & they all said “sure, come on in”- so we did! There were no chairs or anything, just a bar with a rail for your feet but they (the men) were as sweet as can be to us. The men made room, & the barman gave us highballs & when we looked for a place to sit, he escorted us way around the back to a very moth eaten little booth where we sat & drank in seclusion! After a while in came a tall good looking young man in Army shirt & trousers who had been in the bar, & excused himself & begged our pardon in a very delightful Southern accent & asked if he could talk to us & buy us a drink! We declined the drink, but down he sat & the poor lad was just so tight he could hardly focus his eyes on us, or talk properly but he begged our pardon so nicely & told us that he promised he wouldn’t get out of line with us ladies, that we forgave him! His name was Willie Wood (he was 32!) & he had been in England in the Army too & said he just loved England, which made me love him. He had been in a Parachute Division, poor boy & was wounded in 1945 & has been in hospital ever since. He is still in hospital in Arkansas, but was home for a leave, & when Til told him he shouldn’t drink he said “oh yes Ma’am – it helps me” & he was so pathetic we all could have wept for him. He kept asking us to stay in Natchez longer & told us he would show us the houses & take us to the Country Club & told the others that I was the one he was interested in! However we finally bade them all farewell & left!
Last night Til was sick & felt awful all next day when we drove up through Mississippi to Memphis. It was very dull flat country, so we just drove on & on & spent the night at Brownsville, Tennessee in a Tourist Cabin, & that night Mildred too was terribly sick. They had both eaten a chicken salad at Baton Rouge which tasted queer, so they decided that must have given them food poisoning, & they certainly felt badly. Lois & I got up early this morning & got Mildred some stuff in a drugstore & she felt better & Til has been much better today, but it sort of damped our tour. We drove through Tennessee & Kentucky today & tonight we are at a little hotel in Carrollton, Kentucky, & tomorrow we’ll drive home thro’ Cincinnati & Dayton, both in Ohio. The last 3 days have been really hot & a bit uncomfortable for driving thro’ bare open country, but today as we went thro’ Louisville there was the most colossal storm with thunder & lightning & torrents of rain like a deluge & it rained till we arrived here- about 2 hours. It is cool now & of course tomorrow will probably be probably cold in Ohio. The hotel is nice here & I am in a bed in Lois & Til’s room & Mildred is in a connecting room by herself as she got absolutely no sleep last night. We had a very nice dinner & were lying here undressed & reading mags. when we heard such a noise up the street. Mildred was asleep, but Lois & Til & I rolled up pyjamas & put on coats & went to see what it was & it was the Holy Rollers! The man in the hotel told us to go in the Hall, so we did, and sat at the back & I nearly had a fit- white people, not black, screaming & yelling & lying on the floor & jumping about screaming. We only stayed a few minutes, but long enough for us – we were horrified. Night- night- Love from Cyn.
Toledo.
Sunday 6th April.
Here I am back again in nice old 4229 Berwick Ave! Even though the trip was lovely & I enjoyed it all it’s nice to be back again, although of course the thought of school tomorrow doesn’t appeal to me at all! We drove 2590 miles in 9 days- wasn’t that incredible? And 2 of the days (1 in Mobile & 1 in N. Orleans) we used the car very little, so most of that mileage was done in 7 days- Lois drove all the whole time except for about 150 miles Til drove one day, but Lois is a grand driver & she seems to take it all in her stride.
We got up this morning at about 6 o’clock & got packed etc. There was no “Episcopal” Church in the little town, so the others had breakfast & I had a cup of tea & we set out about 7.30, with the idea of finding me a Church as we went along so that I could go to Early Service. Unfortunately all the little towns only had Baptist or Methodist churches, & then we crossed the state line between Kentucky & Ohio & we went back on Eastern Time & jumped an hour ahead so when we got to Cincinnati where there was an Episcopal church it was 9.0, instead of 8.0 & no service! So I had to wait & go at 11.0 at Dayton & nothing to eat! The drive from Carrollton to Cincinnati was lovely, all along the Ohio River (we sang “Beautiful Ohio” & I thought of Mr. Byrnes!) with pretty rolling wooded hills, & it was a lovely sunny morning, although very windy. None of the trees are out up here yet, so it doesn’t look as pretty as the south did, but soon it will be lovely. I forgot to tell you that I was quite sorry in the south because of course it was the wrong season for me to see cotton or tobacco or sugar cane growing, so I didn’t see any of those things. I saw some dried up remains of cotton fields, but on the whole I had expected the country to be much more cultivated than it was. Of course I only saw along the highways, but there was so much land just brush and rough woodland, & I had always imagined it would be all plantations etc. but I suppose I’m thinking of pre-Civil War days! Going back to trees being green down there, there was one tree I’ve never seen before which was so pretty – the Judas tree. It grows wild in the woods, but is also in towns & gardens – it is about the size of a rowan tree, but not so sturdy & at this time of the year has no leaves but is absolutely covered with pinky- mauve flowers like tiny sweet peas. It looks lovely amongst all the other green trees & seems to flower before the fruit blossoms come out – there is some story about it being the tree Judas hung himself on, & now its branches are so thin they can’t bear any weight, but I don’t quite know the whole tale.
Cincinnati is one of the biggest towns in Ohio, but we just wooshed through, so we didn’t see much. Dayton is smaller, but looked a very nice town. We found me a Church & in I went for the 11 o’clock service, looking slightly dishevelled as it was so windy, & very plain in my camel coat & a little cap, to find myself in a packed, very fashionable elegant Church. They make a great fuss over “Easter bonnets” apparently & giving flowers, & all the ladies had on the most incredible new hats full of flowers & veils & ribbons, & were all wearing colossal corsages of roses & gardenias & what have you! However, I didn’t mind & enjoyed seeing it all & the church & service were lovely. They had all the altar decorated from top to bottom with white lilies & huge sprays of white flowers and I felt right at home because on the “programme” it said that 2 Easters ago the RAF in training at Wright Field paraded to the Church, and up by the altar was the RAF flag. The vicar preached a very nice sermon & said that the theme was taken from an article written by William Temple, the late Archbishop of Canterbury, so I felt pleased again. I stayed for communion & there were so many people it took a longish time & I wasn’t out till 12.30 to find the others patiently waiting for me. Then we went & had lunch & I was hungry!
We drove right up through Ohio & stopped only once for a milk shake, when I nearly had hysterics laughing at Til! She had an ice cream soda, & in some peculiar fashioned poked her spoon in & the soda sprouted out of the top of her straw all over her sleeve, so I began to laugh & laugh & every time I’d try to stop, she would say something funny, till I was just weeping & giggling! That was our last spree!
We arrived home at about 5.30 & found stacks & stacks of letters & cards waiting for me & it was lovely, but I shall tell you all about those in another letter- this is just about the trip. And what do you think Lois & Til & I have done ever since we got home? Sat and discussed Mildred! I haven’t mentioned it before, but she was an absolute bore from beginning to end & nearly drove us all crazy! Lois just knew her sort of casually for years, & she more or less invited herself on the trip originally, but we had no idea that she was like this. Things wrong with her were: –
She kept saying she loved doing this & doing that & when it came to the thing looked bored as anything.
Could talk only about A. Food (about which she raved all the time) B. Her appearance C. Her intestines! I heard more about how many times she went to the la-pomme etc. than I knew about myself. I was revolted!
She sulked all the time she was in New Orleans & made no effort to be pleased with anything.
She was jealous of Til & Lois being friendly with me, & didn’t like me much I’m sure although she goes around telling everyone I’m “darling”!
When we ordered food in a restaurant, she always wanted to taste what we had & liked ours better than her own!
She was quite tactless sometimes & when we went out to dinner at the places in N.O. was just like a wet blanket.
She always had tea & kept telling the waiters she wanted it hot, & then made a fuss & got pettish when she got it.
She was a “fusser” & insisted on keeping “account books” of every 1d. we spent & pestered us for hours over 5 cents she couldn’t place!
She couldn’t bear it when we all bothered around Til when she wasn’t well, & we’re sure worked herself up into a state just to get in the limelight we’re sure! She was never actually sick, – just groaned & moaned & trotted to the la-pomme one night & had “cramps” she said- yet next day she was all bright & cheerful & ate huge meals!
The last straw – she got her curse & told us all about it & strewed Kotex all over our rooms & the back of the car, to be ready for all emergencies!
So now you know all about it! Actually – it’s really all true, & she was a positive blight, but I had no idea Lois & Til felt the same as me till we were in N.O. & of course we had no chance to discuss a thing, because she was always there! So tonight we really let our back hair down & had a lovely time. Til & Lois & I got on wonderfully from beginning to end, & even despite Mildred it was a marvellous trip & I loved it all – even though I could have hit her over the head with a large pole, many a time. She talked about the “River Trip” from the moment she left Toledo, & how she’d die if we didn’t go & how she loved going on the river etc. & when we went she sat & filed her nails all the time & didn’t look at a thing & never saw anything or seemed to enjoy it at all! What a woman! She is Lois’ age, but seems 100 & has just about everything wrong with her – according to the way she talks! But still!
I must stop now Mummy- it’s bedtime and work tomorrow. I wish you could have come on the trip with us and seen all the thiMAngs we did, but I hope you have a little bit of fun reading my gossip.
Lots & lots of love
from Cyn.
Happy Easter Day! Finished on Easter Sunday 6th April.
This is just a short note, as I am in the middle of writing you a long one that isn’t finished yet. I just wanted to say that I am so sorry I kept you all in suspense to hear the broadcast, when I don’t suppose it was on at all. I have didn’t know until just before it took place when I met a lady from the BBC in New York that London doesn’t actually re-broadcast it straight away but records it & then if it’s any good they put it out later. If you’ve heard nothing about it when you get this letter Miss Lang (the NY lady) said for you to ring up the BBC in N/C & ask them, & if they don’t know about it, they will find out for you when it is going to be broadcast, & if it isn’t to be broadcast, they might be able to let you hear the recording she said. I sent all sorts of messages so you should hear them! The lady in charge of the broadcast at the BBC in London is a Miss Miranda Dulley.
The whole thing went off very well really. I left school at 10:45 with Jim Villwock, the DeV. boy on the programme, & Til took us down to another school where we met Mr. Lamb (the moderator & in charge of the whole thing) Mr. Roulet (the mayor) Mr. Bowsher (Education Officer) the broadcasting announcer, Miss Lamb, & Ed (the other boy in the broadcast). We were all given our scripts & then we went & all had lunch together & then went to the State Cinema, where the broadcast was taking place. The audience was about 2000, both school children & adults – they could all get tickets just by writing for them & the kids got out of school for it, so it was very popular! All my homeroom seem to have been there, but the audience was dark, so fortunately I couldn’t see them! I wore my new navy blue dress (with my white collar washed!) & sat up on the platform with all the rest of them. There was such a lot of fuss & confusion with microphones & wires & photographers all over the place & people rushing around, that you would wonder how it all came out right, but it did! They got London on time, & the Mayors spoke to one another, & then the Directors of Ed. & then the boys spoke- both English & American, & then it was question time- and London went off the air! Of course we were still being broadcast locally, so we had to go on, & kids from the audience came up and asked questions, & the boy speakers answered them & this went on for about 15 mins. with the engineer rushing around, & we in a fit, in case I wouldn’t get my chance to say my piece to England! However, at last London came on again, & Miss Stoll & I had our talk at the end & it all came out nicely. I was so scared when the time came & the microphone was too high for me & I stood on my toes & craned my neck & Mr. Lamb kept pushing my back to encourage me & my script I was holding shook so I could hardly read it! But I said it all & everyone who heard it here said that it was good & that I spoke very clearly – also that I sounded homesick! Miss Stoll came through quite well, & I could hear what she was saying, whereas, some parts of the other speeches (from England) you couldn’t, but the other teachers said it didn’t sound like her voice. I went down to the radio station afterwards & heard the recording, & I got quite a shock when I heard my voice, & it didn’t sound like me a bit! I am most interesting to know whether the reception in England was good, & whether they could hear us. I do hope that you’ll be able to hear it sometime, Mummy.
Tomorrow evening I am going to Tiffin, a town in Ohio, to speak at an Educational Conference at Heidelberg University – doesn’t that sound imposing?! I am using my Atlantic City speech with only a few alterations, but I’m beginning to think it must be more important than I thought because a reporter from the Toledo Times has just rang up to ask me about it! My my! After the conference I am going on to Pittsburgh to meet my friend, Roland!! – I just couldn’t get out of it any longer! I’ll let you know how I get on!
On Monday evening a terrible thing happened which has made everyone miserable all week. One of the teachers at DeV. – Mrs. Whaley was killed in a terrible car crash & her husband very seriously injured. I don’t know if you remember, about a month ago I went to dinner at her house on Sunday, & Pam Holbrow was there with Mrs. Whaley’s mother & sister from Fostonia, & we had the loveliest time. She was a really nice person, & everyone liked her, & she was just sweet to me – so you can imagine how sad everyone feels. Yesterday people were going to the Funeral Parlour & today to the Funeral, but I didn’t go – I wrote to Miss Eger in Fostonia.
I’m a stop now as it is bedtime, but I’ll soon be sending my next “saga” to you – it’s getting fatter every day!
I hope Mrs Johnny is keeping better – and that you’re taking care of yourself
A Family History in Letters 