It has been a lovely sunny day today with quite a feeling of spring in the air, so I do hope that you are having some fine weather too, and that things will be getting better now.
I am getting quite excited about the Broadcast, which is tomorrow, so by the time you get this letter, it will be all over and finished with. It is at 1.20 in the afternoon here, and I am to go to one of the other schools in the city for a rehearsal at 11 o’clock, and then to have lunch with all the radio people & the mayor etc. before the broadcast. I got the script today, and my part is not very much, but instead of just having to read it there are parts which say “Enlarge on this”, so I hope that I’ll be able to think of something at the right time!
Thank you very much for your lovely long letter that I got on Saturday, Mummy – I was so pleased to get it, but sorry to hear about your having still more snow storms. I was also sorry to hear that Daddy still had a sore back, but you said that it was improving, so I hope that it is really better now.
I don’t know if you have had a letter from Alma since I last wrote, but I got one last week telling me that Aunt Maggie had died so I expect that you heard too. She said that she died very quietly in her sleep, so that is a comfort anyway. I must write to Alma but I haven’t done so yet. I was sorry to hear that little Mrs. Johnny was still poorly, but it is a good thing that Mr. & Mrs. Simon have come to stay with her – it will be much nicer for her, and relieve you of a lot too, Mummy. Please give her my love and say that I hope she’ll be better soon.
Last week I wrote on Wednesday & told you about the Mother-Daughter Banquet & getting paid $5 for it – and it continued to be my lucky week, because I got a present & a prize as well. On Thursday I went to dinner and to speak at a meeting of the Salesian Club. I was taken by a teacher from DeV. called Olive McHugh- she is about Lois’ age & small & friendly & I like her & we had tried to arrange to meet sometimes & never managed it. Then she asked me to this club of which she is a member. It is a Club for Catholic girls & they have a lovely old house as a clubhouse where some of the girls have rooms & live, & all of them use for meetings & for private entertainment if they wish. We had the dinner there- about 40 girls (i.e. from 20 to 40 in age) & then went into another room where I talked to them about Cambridge & Easter in England, & they all seem to enjoy it & seemed very pleased. Then the president presented me with a little box all tied with ribbons & inside with a lovely gold link bracelet – wasn’t that sweet of them? I was so pleased, as it is really pretty & I thought it was so nice of them.
On Friday evening Mrs. Atkinson gave a Baby Shower for Ruby the English bride who is staying with her. I was going to buy something but Til said she had some baby clothes put away that had never been used, so we got them out & I washed & ironed them & packed some up elegantly & took along- 3 little woolly jackets, 1 pr. booties, 1 bonnet & one pink wool cot cover. They had about 14 people there & they all took presents, so there was a goodly haul! Among others there was an English bride from the Isle of Man, who had twin daughters last November. Her husband was a Lt.Col. but is now out of the Army, & she is a lovely girl – reminded me so much of Mary Stuart in both appearance & ways & I really enjoyed meeting her. I hope I’ll see her again. We played games & ate ice cream & had tea, & it was midnight before I got home – I had no idea that a shower was such a party!
On Saturday Til & I were invited to a luncheon given by two teachers from DeV.- Mildred Schmidt & Miss Lerche. Lois was invited too, but was at the airport. All the guests (10) were DeV. teachers and we ate an enormous meal, that made me feel extremely sleepy, & then played cards all afternoon!- they suggested bridge, but fortunately ended up with something else that required less brain! On Saturday evening Til & Lois & I went down to a Show in town called the Sports & Home Exhibition – you know the type of thing. We had fun watching men demonstrate wonderful gadgets & peelers & slicers, & caught celluloid fish to try & win a free washing machine, & came home footsore & weary!
On Sunday I spent a quiet restful day until teatime when Mr. Atkinson called for me about 4. We went with Ruby & her husband Fred, to see their house (it’s nearly finished) & then to tea at the Atkinsons. Afterwards another friend of theirs, called Howell Thompson, came in. He’s about my age I think, was in England, France etc. during the war, teaches Agriculture at a Vocational School near Toledo, & originally comes from Tennessee – sometimes I couldn’t understand what he said! After we talked a bit, Mr. A. & Fred & Howell suggested bridge & made me join in- fortunately I got Mr. A. as a partner & he was very good, so I just sat back & didn’t do much!
Now it is getting late, so I must go to bed. Til & Lois & I spent this evening in the house listening to the radio etc. so it was nice. I do hope that you are both keeping well & not getting colds. Take care of yourselves –
I am so sorry that I didn’t write to you sooner this week but with being in Atlantic City I didn’t have time, and since I got back on Monday evening I have been in such a rush. Thank you very much for both your 6d.- Air letters, Mummy, – one I got last week, and one was waiting for me when I got back. I was so sorry to hear that it was still such dreadful cold weather at home when you wrote, and that the electric cuts and black out and everything was still going on, with no signs of getting better. I do hope that by now the weather will be better, and that by the time you get this letter, things will be getting better. It sounds so bad, from all the news and the things that people tell me in letters, but surely now it is March, the weather should improve.
I was so sorry to hear about your not being well lately, and having a carbuncle, Daddy. I can imagine how painful it must be and lasting such a long time too, but I hope that it is easier now, and will soon be gone. I was sorry to to hear about poor little Mrs. Johnson, and I hope that she is getting better.
Since I wrote last week, I have had quite a tour. I didn’t do anything except write out my speech and get things ready to go. I was quite worried in case the weather was going to be bad and the plane flight cancelled again, but although it was still cold & snow on the ground, it was clear and nice, so it was all right. Til & Lois took me to the Airport on Thursday evening, & I got the plane at 4.50 p.m. It was a big twin engine plane & held about 24 people I think. The first part was from Toledo to Cleveland – about 3/4 hour, & the plane flew fairly low, so that I could see the ground quite nicely, & all the lake frozen over. It was very bumpy, & the plane sort of waltzed in the air, which wasn’t very comfortable, but we arrived in Cleveland just as I was beginning to feel slightly peculiar! At Cleveland, Pat Ridley got on. She is from Bellingham, trained at Northern Counties after I left, & taught at Ipswich in England, & is at Ashland, Ohio, now. She is a blonde & reminds me a bit of Irene, & we got on very well together. We flew very high above the clouds after we left & it was a lovely & smooth & we had a most delicious dinner served to us – which we ate! As we neared New York we went down low again & it got bumpy again & poor Pat was air sick! I didn’t feel it too badly, but she did, & lost all her nice dinner into a neat cardboard carton which the Stewardess called a “Burp Cup”! We landed at La Guardia Air Field at about 8.30, & were taken to our hotel, the New Yorker, where we had rooms.
Next morning we went to the Airline Terminal to see about our flights back (we had to confirm them) then we rang up Cunard about our passages home, & did a little window shopping! We met a girl that Pat knew, the daughter of the people she stays with in Ashland, for tea at Radio City & had a nice time, then we caught the 7 o’clock train to Atlantic City.
We got there at 10:10 p.m. & went to this hotel where our “suite” was booked! Miss Sanger had got it for us, & Pam Holbrow was already there & it was lovely- a double room with twin beds, a bathroom & a single bed room. As we were having our expenses paid, we thoroughly enjoyed living in the lap of luxury, & we telephoned down for milk and sandwiches and had great fun! We read each other’s speeches and felt very girlish & as if we were back at College again!
Next morning at breakfast we met Miss Sanger & she told us we could do as we liked until a Luncheon at 12.30. It was a beautiful sunny morning, although cold, & we bundled up & walked along the “boardwalk” & it was lovely. Besides the Home Ec Conference there was a big Principals and Supervisors Convention which was lasting a week. We saw a programme, & who should be speaking at it, on the Sat. but our old friend Dr. Paul Smith, in the morning & Miss Edith Ford from England, at the banquet in the evening! We couldn’t go to the banquet, but we went along to the morning’s meeting & “gate-crashed”! There was Dr. Smith sitting on the platform, & when he saw us, he stared & stared & then began to laugh! Unfortunately, he was the 3rd speaker, & we had to leave before he began (he was speaking about the exchange of teachers) so we were very disappointed, but we left him a message.
At the luncheon we found another English teacher there, an older woman called Holman that we didn’t like a bit, but we didn’t haveanything to do with her & we were glad. She didn’t speak at the meeting except for a few words, but a Dr. Kabat from Washington spoke 1st, then me, then Pam & then Pat. I thought the other 2 girls were very good, & as usual everyone was most complimentary & the woman, Miss Kreser, who had arranged at all, came & wept & told us we had saved the meeting! We were most amused! We went to a tea afterwards & were very social & got back to the hotel about 6.30 feeling very pleased with ourselves! The next morning Pat & I went back to N.Y. again & Pam to Philadelphia, but we all met on the plane again on Monday to fly back- and gosh! What a trip! It had snowed & rained since Sat. afternoon, but it was clear on Monday, but terribly windy, & every one of us was sick! Pat got off at Cleveland and we envied her so! Pam wasn’t actually sick, but felt awful & so did everyone, & we were so glad to see Toledo – Til met us at the Airport, & she had been ill over the weekend with kind of neuritis in her shoulder, so she wasn’t feeling too good either. She insisted on taking Pam back with us, instead of going on to Fostoria, so we all went back & had something to eat & crawled into bed & slept from 9 o’clock!
Yesterday Pam went back to Fostoria & I went to work, but in the evening I had to rush off again. A Miss Cooper called for me in her car & took me to Fremont (about 40 miles away) to a Mother Daughter Banquet, where I was the speaker. It was quite fun & afterwards they gave me $5 so I didn’t mind so much!
I must stop now, or else this will be too fat a letter. Before you get this I hope you’ll hear me saying “hello” over the wireless next Tuesday – I’ll be thinking about you. I do hope that apart from Dad’s boil, you’re both keeping well –
This is the pretty paper that Lois’ sister, Mary, gave me at Christmas, so I thought you would like to see it. I am in the middle of writing you that great long letter I told you about, but it is taking so long that I thought I would just write a little letter tonight to say hello. I am enclosing all sorts of funny things for you to see:- 1.) A list of my Christmas presents. 2.) A picture taken on the Aquitania of the eight of us in the cabin. Miss Mitchell is the fat lady that Nan saw at the station & she sent me the snap. She is somewhere near New York. 3.) A newspaper cutting of Gwen that she sent me. 4.) Two Edison stamps that Mrs. Pasquier gave me. Mr. P. is a philatelist & I told him one day I had a collection, so yesterday the Edison stamps came out & he went & got some & Mrs. P. gave me 4- wasn’t that sweet of them? I sent 2 to Mr. Laing & 2 to you – I thought I’d better send them, rather than keeping them hanging around here.
I have been sitting writing letters all evening in my little room & Til & Lois have been out. I wrote to Dottie, the people in Long Beach, Anne & the Delta Gamma! The latter are a group I spoke to a week last Wednesday & this week I got a parcel from one of the shops all wrapped up with red ribbon, & in it a note & a pair of nylons! Wasn’t it wonderful of them? The stockings are a size 9, so I may keep them & send them to someone, or perhaps get them changed. I forgot if I told you that I had sent Ruth a pair for her birthday- size 10 1/2 I got- I hope they get there all right. I haven’t written to Amy yet, but I will really try this weekend, although I go out to a tea on Sat. afternoon – to Mrs. Pasquier’s Sat. night & to speak to a Church Fellowship Group on Sunday night!
Did I tell you that I had sent Allan Jaeger a book for his birthday – just a little kid’s book & it cost $1. It is Valentine day tomorrow & they make such a fuss of it over here – I sent one to Allan, because all the kids love them, & one to Uncle Artie! Also to Ruth’s kids (David and Mary L .) & one to Roland Purdy about being “screwy” with a screw attached! Hugh sent me one that got here this evening that is a hoot! It is a goofy fellow sitting saying “WIMMEN IS POISON” & inside he’s with a hayseed-y looking girl, saying “How about you and me getting POISON- AL”!! I am enclosing some hearts for you that I got at the luncheon I spoke at last Sat. We had one on our napkins & the other with John Alden on was to find our places at the tables- I matched up with Priscilla, but someone had to tell me, as I’d never heard of them!
Who do you think I had a letter from a little while ago? No one else but our old friend Mr. Byrnes! I am enclosing it for you to see, because I think it’s funny, & I don’t think it needs answering, do you? Poor Mr. Byrnes- he seems to remember all our shelter jokes, doesn’t he?
I haven’t bought anything at all this month, but somehow my money seems to go just the same! I got my clock mended- $2.50- 2 stockings mended- $1.00- a coat and 2 dresses cleaned- $3.00- stamps & postage on magazines- $3.00- Allan’s book – $1.00- Ruth’s stockings & Nan’s & 1 pair for Marcelle (wedding present) $5.50. It mounts up! I will see if I can send Amy some stockings later on & Charlie a tie maybe (they cost $2.00 I think) Have you any bright idea for Pop’s birthday? Or should I send him another tie, or hankies or socks or even suspenders or what! Or braces! Don’t forget to let me know if the magazine “Holiday” doesn’t turn up, & I’ll see about it. I am looking forward to getting your dress for Nan’s wedding – I think it will be fun! Tell me if there’s any colour you prefer & if you want it plain or flowery – I think plain would be more suitable for all seasons, don’t you? I am so pleased that your dress fit perfectly – do you think it looks nice on you? If Nan’s parcel shouldn’t arrive by any chance, will you let her try on your dress & see how it fits? I got you a 14 & her a 16, so we should be able to judge, don’t you think?
I must stop now as it’s 1130, & I must go to my bed. I do hope that you are all right, my honey & not having trouble keeping warm with low gas. By the time you get this I hope so much the dreadful weather has gone. Both A. Muriel & U. Artie wrote to me about you.
With lots & lots of love
from Cyn
Christmas Presents
Mummy- Cami-knickers-Little glass dog (cute!)
Nan- Photo of herself which I like, but I don’t think it flatters her. Ballet calendar, with pictures of different ballets, which I love.
Nancy Allan
Dottie- Book “Even From the Law” by that girl Alison Lathom she knows who writes books. It is fairly good, & it’s about Durham & Lake District etc. which is nice. From Peter, a little tiny book about “The Sleeping Princess” ballet, which is sweet.
Bar – Book ” Pleasant Valley” by Louis Bromfield about when he lived in Ohio, but I haven’t read it yet.
Irene – A calendar of a bowl of flowers – rather á la Katie, but she said she sent one of spring flowers because it was very English.
Mrs Allan- Book “The Happy Prisoner “by Monica Dickens. Don’t tell anyone but I took it to N. York & read it on the way, & then at Christmas I didn’t have a thing to give Ford so I gave him the book! Margs knew & maybe some of the others, but Ford was so delighted that I felt quite embarrassed!
Anne- A little fair isle beret to match the pretty jumper she knitted for my birthday.
Lillian- A little powder puff.
Mrs. Johnny- Bella- Hankies.
Miss Lefroy – A little booklet.
Mary Egan – Something which hasn’t arrived yet!
Til & Lois- The nightdress & dressing gown I told you about. The dressing gown is exactly the same material & everything as the nightdress. A bit like this!
Ruth & Ernie (Lois’ sister and brother-in-law) – a pink silk slip & a little box with three tablets of toilet soap.
David and Mary L – (the children) A gold bracelet & earrings to match. The earrings are round rings that clip on the ear!
Mary and Bob – (Lois’ other sister and brother-in-law. They brought these presents for me & they were waiting when I came back from N.Y. Wasn’t that sweet of them?) A lovely big box of writing paper- pale green with a little flower in the corner. Also a tablet of toilet soap.Ettie- A set of “Chen Yu” lipstick & nail varnish to match! This morning I sat down & carefully put the nail polish on, & then carefully took it all off again because it looked so funny!
A. Ettie- A set of “Chen Yu” lipstick & nail varnish to match! This morning I sat down & carefully put the nail polish on & then carefully took it all off again because it looked so funny!
A. Muriel- A box of air mail writing paper & a silver brooch. The brooch is the fine filigree work & made in the W.I.- very pretty.
Margs – 2 prs nylons.
Monie – pink silk slip with lace along the bottom.
Mill & Ford – a box of writing paper- nice but plain.
Hugh & Monie & Alan- Hankies-
U. Artie – $40- trip to N.Y.
My Home Room- Brooch and earrings – they are really sweet – the brooch is a coppery-gold bow with a pearl in the middle & little blue stones around & the earrings are just the pearl & blue stones around & look lovely – they are small & pretty just as I like them.
Just a recap of the American Hazells here, since Cyn is describing her Christmas with them. Her mother’s older sister, Aunt Ettie, lived in New York and had three daughters, Millie, Marguerite and Mona. Cyn had met them as adults when she and her mother visited New York in 1939, and briefly visited when she arrived in America in August 1946, but she didn’t know their husbands well, or their children. Aunt Moo (Muriel) was visiting her sister from St Vincent, and Cyn briefly visited their brother, Uncle Artie and his wife Aunt Phine, in Central Valley, N.Y. between Christmas and New Year. Mention is also made of younger Hazell cousins Bebe, Pat, and Brenda.
4229 Berwick Ave.,
Toledo 12 Ohio
Sunday 9th February 1947
Dearest Mummy,
At long last I have managed to begin a letter to you – I am most ashamed of myself for taking such weeks and months over it, but I know that you realize what a whirl I am in most of the time and I really am sorry. Of course the longer I leave it, the more and more stupendous a job it looks and the less courage I have to begin, but here I am to tell you about Christmas now! Isn’t it awful- in February! I don’t really mean to try and give you a detailed account now, but I’ll tell you all the special bits and answer all your letters that I have- it will probably take days!
To go back to Christmas at Aunt Ettie’s- I arrived on the Monday morning, and as far as I can remember, we didn’t do anything that day except sit around and talk. We had lunch at A. Ettie’s, in her breakfast nook in the kitchen & it was very cosy. Her house is on exactly the same plan as Monies’, & in some ways I think it is nicer than Marg’s because Marg’s kitchen is absolutely minute! None of them do at all well for me as the cupboards are way high up! But Marg’s kitchen particularly seems so cramped & is usually untidy & lots of dishes to wash up, but Monies’ & A.Ettie’s with having the breakfast nook seems roomier. A.Ettie and A. Moo both looked the same as they did in 1939.- I don’t notice any change in them at all. They were asking me if I noticed A. Moo’s deafness any worse, but I couldn’t remember that it was. She is much worse than you, even with her aid I think – even when she has it on you have to speak right at her, but I don’t wonder that she gets tired and confused when the whole crowd is there- I did & I’m not deaf! There’s always so much going on & so many people that you hardly get a chance to sit & be peaceful! And as soon as we’d all get sorted out to our own houses & be sitting reading quietly, Margs would say “Now I wonder if Mother & A. Moo wouldn’t like to come over for supper” & off she’d go to buzz them (Bill has fixed up a little private telephone between the 2 houses, as A. Ettie has no real phone) & her Mother would protest & say no they wouldn’t come, they were both reading & Margs could never understand it! She thought they’d be lonely! Then of course in the morning it would be the other way round- there would be some plan of all going to A. Ettie’s for something & the girls would be doing this, that & the other & not dressed until A. Ettie would be about tearing her hair! What a crowd!
One of those days before Christmas A. Moo & Monie & I went shopping in Garden City for some last minute purchases. One of mine was a bottle of rum! I knew that they would all be having drinks on various occasions, & I didn’t want to be drinking their drinks all the time, so I got the rum & gave it to the family, & we all had drinks from it. I also treated A. Moo & Monie to a soda, & we had quite a nice time.
That first evening I was there I gave the girls their wedding presents- at last- and they seemed very pleased with them. Allan apparently likes hats, so he was quite pleased with his fair isle beret too, but insisted on putting it on himself & cramming it on his head. (It was his birthday on 1st Feb. and I sent him a card & a book.) Little Mona was very taken with her tiny “ballerina” doll & kept me busy bending her into different positions, & I don’t know whether Hugh really liked “Black Beauty” or not, but everyone else told him how lovely it was!
All the houses looked very prettily decorated & both A. Ettie and Margs had lovely Christmas trees, which were up & decorated when I arrived. On Christmas Eve, Bill sat down & wrapped up all the presents & put tags on while Margs flapped around & made a cake & finally went to Church with us! Allan hung up stockings for us all, & Bill really did all the work of parcelling etc. & even wrapped some of his own presents! Monie & A. Moo & I drove down to the local store for something & of course I got myself entangled with a drunk ex-soldier, much to their amusement! He had been in the 1st Division & in England & when he discovered I was English, he wanted to kiss me – and did! – because everyone in England had been so swell to him! He then presented me with two very old, dry, prickly holly wreaths & with difficulty I got away without making a date!
On Christmas Eve Margs & I & A. Moo & A. Ettie went to Midnight Service – Monie stayed at home because Owen was coming. It was very nice but very long, because I think we left home at about 10.45 & didn’t get back till 1.30- Bill nearly sent out a search party for us. We had been invited to some friends of Margs & Bill’s nearby for an “egg nog” party, & Margs said we‘d go but with one thing another we never did & I was quite sorry because I have never had egg nog & the pictures in the adverts in the magazine look so tempting!
Allan was quite good on Christmas morning & didn’t wake up till nearly 7, so we weren’t awakened at the crack of dawn. He was very sweet opening his presents – not wild with excitement at all, but very intent! The family present-giving was to be at A. Ettie’s so, apart from one or two little things in our stockings we didn’t open anything but Allan had most of his. Then we had breakfast, & tried to clear away the mess, & I had kept asking Bill when the King’s broadcast was, & he would turn the radio on vaguely, & then Allan would want something & he would turn it off, & so it went until I missed it all together. I was really so disappointed I could have wept, & in a way it made me feel quite sad all day. I know that it was silly to feel so, but I had spoken of it so much, & I knew you would all be listening & I was looking forward to it as being my special Christmas piece from home – they were all very kind of course, but all busy with their own affairs, & I couldn’t help feeling a little bit homesick & left out. However, I survived! Of course it was hours before the whole family was organized at A. Ettie’s, but eventually the presents were opened & we had the dinner which was very good. The only other thing we did, I think, was to go to Margs’ neighbours’ that evening & we were given a hot Swedish punch to drink, called Glogg! Which amused me!
After Christmas I did nothing much until the Friday when I went into New York to meet Gwen, but I think I told you pretty much everything we did. We talked our heads off of course & Gwen was very grateful to me because I provided her with a young man!! You will wonder how on earth I did that, as Gwen is in Kansas City, but it is really quite simple! Remember Mary the nurse, in Cambridge? I wrote to her, & had a reply telling me that she was coming over here to marry her American boy friend Tony in January, & giving me Tony’s address in Kansas City! I wrote to him – mentioned Gwen- & Tony & his best friend called on Gwen & have since given her a good time! Aren’t I a little blessing to my friends! Since Christmas, there is a sequel though, as Mary has written to me to tell me that she’s not coming to the U.S. after all! At the last moment she got cold feet, & she has met an English boy, so there it is! Gwen said Tony was very vague & had no plans where they were to live or anything, so probably it has all turned out for the best!
When I got back to Margs that evening, Mill & Ford & the kids had arrived down & Margs was having her cocktail party that evening. She had quite a crowd of her neighbours – all rather “solid citizens”! A Jewish couple, & a fat old couple, & another man, whose wife had to stay at home to look after the kids, & then the family. It was quite nice without being riotous & I chatted to Ford. Bill’s idea at any party is to get a drink & another man & go in a corner and talk – no one could call him gay! But I got to like Bill quite well, although his lack of humour puts me off – you hardly ever see him laugh (never!)– but he was very kind to me really. On the Sat. after Margs’ cocktail party, Bill & Margs took me to another given by some old friends of theirs, & they kept telling me what fun they were etc. & it turned out to be the dullest party going! Lots of dull stodgy people, the host & hostess completely occupied with food & drink, no music or dancing & just nothing to do except eat or drink! Margs & Bill got quite high- out of boredom! – and I sat & ate solidly all the loveliest “snakes” until I was full & bloated! But I hadn’t seen such gorgeous things for years!
On Sunday we had another big dinner at A. Ettie’s- roast beef- & on Monday morning Ford was driving up to C.V, leaving Mill and the kids behind & coming back on Tuesday for New Year’s Eve. I wanted to see U. Artie, & he had written “sort of” asking me, then we telephoned him & told him I was coming up with Ford, & all the time, he never really said I must stay! Of course we knew he probably meant it, but with A. Phine you can’t be sure! So Ford said if I went & they didn’t take it for granted I was staying he would just call in the evening & take me to Cora’s, but everything went off fine- A. Phine had the bed fixed & all! Uncle Artie of course was sweet to me, and so was A. Phine really –I took their Christmas presents with me- cigars for him & hankies for her & they seem very pleased. U. Artie had a taxi come for him in the afternoon & I went down to C.V. with him to the Bank & P.O. etc. He asked me how much my fare to and from New York was and I told him $40- it was actually a bit more in the end but that seemed a lot to ask for as it was- & he gave me a cheque. It was so sweet of him & I thanked him very much, & felt that he was really being very generous to me – then, what do you think. He got a money draft to send to Pat- her monthly allowance – and how much do you think it was? $100! I nearly had a fit! He was supposed to send her an allowance until she got a job, & then she had one and still got the money- & more than a lot of well-trained people in England to get too. And still she’s not content- do you wonder those girls make me mad at times! Margs has just written to me & in her letter she says Pat has now given up her job & is taking this hairdressing course, & also that Bren & her baby are due in England soon! I heard all about Bebe from A. Phine of course, & from the way she talked I guessed that her engagement wouldn’t last long, & now I hear that it’s over. But from what I gathered Bebe was much more thrilled with being engaged than with Paul, so it seems as if this is the best thing.
Uncle Artie seemed as well as could be expected & he & A. Phine didn’t fight while I was there, but only scrapped occasionally! As I told you, Ethel had an awful cold & so wasn’t very happy, but she seems to fit in very well, & has really settled down. Margs was telling me such a scandal about Ethel figuring in a divorce suit, & she doesn’t have a home of her own so maybe she is glad to have such a comfortable place. Although I shouldn’t think it’s at all easy because U. Artie is quite deaf now, & his sight is poor too, & with A. Phine’s sight as it is, it is very difficult. I enjoyed the two days I spent there, & it was a nice rest but I was quite glad it wasn’t a long stay because we really don’t have much in common to talk about, but they were both very nice to me.
Ford came to lunch next day, then we left & collected Cora, & drove down to Long Beach. I think I told you I thought Cora looked just the same- but talk- golly! That evening was New Year’s Eve & I think I told you most of our adventures then. When we got into the city & were walking up Broadway, we went into Jack Dempsey’s Bar for a drink, & I was pleased to see it, as it’s a place you often hear about. After that we went to Times Sq. & home again. Now, I think I shall indulge myself in some catty remarks! As you know, I like Margs & Monie & Mill immensely – Mill not so much perhaps, as I don’t get a chance to get to know her so well as I do the others – but I have come to the conclusion that they are sloppy! Don’t breathe a word to a soul! Maybe it is after living with Til & Lois, who are always immaculate & as tidy in their persons as if they were always on show – I know I don’t reach their level at all. But Margs & Monie get up in the morning, & slop around for hours in a dressing gown & pyjamas without doing their hair hardly, & then when they get dressed, they are usually garbed in a pair of old slacks & jersey or shirt! Mind you when they go out or go to town they dress up & look very smart indeed, but I suppose I have enough of Papa in me, to criticize! Millie, I think is even worse- not herself so much, although I don’t think she cares how she looks, she just dresses ordinarily – but I was really shocked in some ways with the kids Hugh and Monie – they don’t even looked clean half of the time! I know they were maybe wearing old clothes to play around in, but they were really old & dirty-looking- Monie in slacks of course – I’ve never seen her in a skirt! But Mill just doesn’t ever seem to bother, or to insist that they should dress up or look nice – probably nice for the kids, but again – I criticized! (Margs keeps Allan a beautifully!) A. Moo always looked so elegant & lady-like in the midst of all the throng – neat white hair, & she changed into pretty dresses if they were having a family party too, but not many of the others bothered, although I think Margs & Monie did occasionally. Now- having got all that off my chest!
On New Year’s Day we had another family dinner, & then the Pembletons set out for home, & we didn’t seem to be quite so overwhelmed! I forgot to tell you that Owen left on Monday, but after I left, Margs wrote that he was back again. On Thursday, Margs & I had a heavy date with Bill & Hugh in New York! In bed that morning, I got so worried- Bill was charging around getting ready for work, & shouting at Margs (sound asleep in bed!) & I was afraid he would get so mad he wouldn’t take us out! When I told Margs later she was most amused, & of course he did! Margs & I went into New York in the afternoon & I wanted a new hat, & so she decided to get one too – & so we had great fun. We thought the hats we got were lovely at the time, but next day we had our doubts & I have never worn mine since! They were both black and mine is like this: –
I don’t think I can attempt to draw Margs! We went to Bill’s office & met him there – he has just been made an associate member of the firm by the way, & is very pleased- & then we got a taxi to the Waldorf, where we went to a lounge called Peacock Alley, & Hugh joined us there. We had a drink & Margs began to feel gay & insisted she wanted to rhumba! So we went to another place for dinner called the Havana Madrid, where we ate & danced & saw a floor show in the South American style! After being there a while we went to the New Yorker, where we had another drink, & danced & that was where we watched the ice show. Quite an evening! Hugh left us at the station & Margs & Bill fell asleep in the train & I had to wake them up when we got there!! They both liked Hugh very much, & he liked them too.
Next day was the day I was leaving & Margs etc. were to take me to the airport, & she invited Hugh to come to the house in the afternoon, as he said he would come and see me off too. Then, first Hugh rang up next day to say he couldn’t come as he had some unexpected work, but would go straight to the airport, & then of course the darned Flight was canceled! Eventually after much rearranging of plans Margs & Monie saw me off at Long Beach, & Hugh met me at Penn Station & took me to Grand Central. Both of us expected that I could get a train as easily as anything but were we wrong! All the airlines were out of use, so everyone had rushed for the trains & the place was seething, with queues at all the windows. After waiting & waiting & finding everything booked up, Hugh finally called the Military Authorities! He said he had a British Government Official going to Toledo, & no reservation – could they help, & at once I had a bedroom at my disposal! Wasn’t that something! Actually I was quite alarmed in case anyone investigated who this official was, but it wasn’t so untrue, because all the girls who got their passports & visas in London got them free & stamped “Government Official”, so only us poor provincials missed that & I don’t see why I shouldn’t pretend I have it too! I left N. Y. that night & got to Toledo next day & had a lovely comfortable journey – very different to the one going, which I hated!
Till & Bill met me in Toledo & I thought there was something strange but it wasn’t until Lois came from the airport later in the day that I realized there had been some sort of quarrel, & the atmosphere was very strained. I heard about it later from both Til & Lois – I think I told you want a haphazard happy-go-lucky fellow Bill is- well, Lois can’t stand the way he just drifts from one thing to another, & imposes on Til, & of course she is just the opposite, – very steady & would give Til just anything she has. Actually, she has given Til the beautiful new Buick, & is saving now to buy herself another one. Anyway – she is also, to a certain extent jealous of Bill, because I think his best point is that he is very fond of his Mother, but also, when Til and Bill are together they kind of shut other people out- you know? I felt it & it hurts Lois badly, but of course it’s natural that Til should see no wrong in Bill. However Bill had been there all the time I was away & finally there had been a big bust up, & Bill & Lois weren’t speaking to one another & Til was being very bright & hard & the atmosphere was just stretched on wires. Bill left that same week for Florida & was away 2 1/2 weeks & all the time it was the same strain. Lois & Til both told me their sides of the story, & I could sympathize with them both, & I love them both, so I just hated to see them that way. You know me when I’m in a house full of emotional strain- me noives were shattered as usual! & I felt quite miserable & depressed. However- Bill returned one Wed.- just for one night- & Lois went out & stayed at a hotel – so that finally brought things to a head. Bill left & has gone to Florida where he has a job now (his wife has just got a divorce, by the way) & the next night Til & Lois had a real do – I went up to my room, but I could hear them talking & talking, & at last they got everything settled & since then they have been fine. I was so relieved! Lois was all set to leave & go & live somewhere else & I just couldn’t imagine it happening, & of course now they are just back where they used to be & it is lovely! I do enjoy being with them both so much, & I enjoy staying in the house in the evening or going out with them to the pictures more than anything else. Til is the liveliest of course – she is full of fun, & we enjoy having tea in the afternoon & gossiping about things. Lois is much quieter, but she laughs with & at Til & me, & we all enjoy it. When I came at first they hardly ever ate dinner in the house, but went to a restaurant every day, & now we cook at home much more than we go out. Til & I go out shopping, & come home & cook, & it hardly takes us more than 3/4 – 1 hr & sometimes much less & we talk & cook & serve up dinners that we think are wonderful! The only complaint I have about Til’s cooking is that she & Lois like their meat very well done, & I think they overcook it! Til’s favourite dessert is Floating Island , so we agree beautifully over that! I can’t decide if I’m getting fatter or not – I weigh 108 pounds now, which is 10 pounds more than I used to be, but I think I put on most of that in Cambridge.
Since the Christmas holidays I don’t think there has been very much of vital interest to tell you, apart from the things I told you each week. Do you remember my Saturday night date with Norman Walker, the young man I met in Chicago? Well, this time too, I was bored stiff, & I think he feels exactly the same way about me! We had the silliest evening really – full of frustrations! He was supposed to be coming to take me to dinner at 8 o’clock, but it was more like 8.30 when he appeared as he lost his way! Then we drove downtown & he didn’t know anywhere to eat, so I mentioned two places I’d been to, & we set out to look for one & couldn’t find it. After a search we found the other & then couldn’t get a place to park the car! At last he found a parking lot – just a square of mud & melting ice, & he drove onto it & sort of over the edge onto the pavement to let me out onto a dry place- then, the car wouldn’t move back or forward- its wheels just spun on the ice, & it was sticking 1/2 over the pavement! Finally some fellows came along & helped push & got it back & we staggered off to have dinner – me just fainting with hunger by this time! We finished dinner at 10:30, & then went to the pictures- & had to stand in a queue inside, & when we did get in, we sat right at the front at one side & it was all peculiar. I got home at 1:30 a.m. & I’m not surprised I haven’t heard from the young man again!!
Another escapade I haven’t told you about was my proposed weekend at Niagara – with a young man no less! Just about the time I was feeling kind of fed up, I had a letter from the man English teacher, Roland Purdy, saying that he was going up to Niagara, Buffalo etc. for a weekend – how about coming & seeing the sights with him. So me- thinking, gosh anything to get away from this grind of hard work – wrote an enthusiastic acceptance! Finally after all arrangements were made I began to come to my senses & think what an idiot I was! 1.) Because we were to stay at the General Brock (the big hotel we had lunch at) & you know how expensive that was- and that + rail fare mounted up to quite a lot & I began to think I couldn’t afford it 2.) I had to go & make a speech in Fremont, Ohio, on the Friday which meant I wouldn’t leave here till Sat. morning & get to Niagara Sat. afternoon & have to leave to come back on Sun. afternoon 3.) I could hardly remember what Roland was like, & I didn’t want to get entangled with him anyway!!! However – my nice little guardian angels saw what a pickle I was in, & that turned out to be the very time we had the ice storm & the schools were closed & I sent a telegram saying the weather was too bad for me to come, with a clear conscience! Since then Roland has written & asked me to meet him in Pittsburgh (last weekend), but I wrote back & said I was booked up- quite true!
Do you remember my promising Anne’s Tadek to do what I could about seeing if he could come over here? Well last week I went downtown and saw a (Polish) Judge Grzezinski- Lois’s brother-in-law, Ernie, arranged it for me – but there is not very hopeful news. He says that someone here would have to put up a bond for Tadek & promise him a job & he didn’t offer any suggestions as to who would or how that could be accomplished. He also said that he didn’t know whether Tadek would be released to come. Anyway I wrote & told Anne & sent the judge’s name & address, so if Tadek wants to, he can maybe write himself.
Apart from that, I have done nothing else except my usual round of social engagements! I told you about going to my friend Mrs. Pasquier’s on Sat. night – what I didn’t mention was that I got home at 3 a.m.!! I went at 8:30, & we had drinks & talked & didn’t begin supper till 12.30, & then everyone sat & talked some more. They are very nice – I like both Mrs. & Mr. P. The young man who lectures at the University (in English) reminds me of Noel Coward & was a bit elegant! Otherwise pleasant!
Tonight, just as I was sitting writing, a young married, Marjorie Whiting, that I met at a place I talked, arrived to ask me to dinner tomorrow night, but I had to refuse, as it is Til’s Friends of Music Concert & Lois & I are going. I was quite sorry though because she is nice & friendly & new in Toledo & she said her husband had invited a friend to come, so it sounded as if it might be fun! However she lives nearby, so I expect I’ll see her again – she has two little girls.
Oh – I nearly forgot to tell you of another amusing incident. One of the boys who used to be in my cookery class, Bill Volk, left at the end of the semester. He lives just up the street & knows Lois & Til & Bill Burns & is a nice, friendly sort of fellow, (about 18) & was always quite matey with me, & gave me a lift home in his car one day when Lois wasn’t there. I know all about his sister & her divorce & all sorts of things! Anyway, one evening last week, Bill rang me up & I was in alone – he talked & chatted & asked me what I was doing & if I was by myself & I was just knew he was pining to ask me out or or come along & see me! In fact, he did suggest coming along & teaching me to play gin rummy, but I said Til & Lois were coming in soon & we left it at that. I told Til & Lois that I could just imagine their faces if they’d walked in & found me & Bill sitting there! He pops into school occasionally & has a chat, but he hasn’t phoned me since! I have no boys in my Foods classes now – they have either left or are taking something else, but I still have all the dear boys in my home room!
Now, at last I think I’ve told you ALL my gossip up to date! But I have a great pile of your letters here, that I want to answer a little bit. Thank you for them all, so much, Mummy. I know I don’t answer them as I should, but you know that I just love getting them & hearing all the news & the things you do & how you’re getting on, & thank you very very much for every single one. Thank you also for the lovely Valentine you sent me – I thought it was beautiful & I loved it. I got one from Cambridge next day, which I’m sure is from Anne.
I have been so worried about you all lately with this dreadful weather & the crisis you have been having. I am glad that you don’t have to depend on coal, but it was bad enough as it was & I hear on the radio that you are still having awful cold weather, but I do hope it will go soon. Some people here have been driving me nearly crazy by saying “My, you must be glad not to be in England now” or “You chose the right time to come over here” or even just glooming over the “awful news from England” until I could slay them, but I have one or 2 champions who protect me! – the main offenders are 1 or 2 teachers at school, & the others all tell me to take no notice or tell them to leave me alone! It is dreadful though, that this terrible bad weather should come on top of all the other things people in England have to put up with- it’s time you all got something nice instead of lousy things.
Now, at long last, I can get down to a gossip with you over Nan’s engagement! Well – I am really very pleased about it – I’m sorry I don’t know Dick better, but both you & Dottie seem to like him more & more & I think he & Nan are very well-suited to one another. I go so much by yours & Dottie’s opinion- & nearly always you coincide! One thing I must tell you – as a Deep Dark Secret – Dottie told me not to breathe a word! – but she doesn’t like Nan’s ring, & says it looks so small on her hand – but I had to tell you because you said practically the same thing! However, I suppose Nan just feels that she’d rather have something small but good, & of course prices are awful now. I had a nice long letter from her & she seemed very pleased with my cable & letter & present of stockings – & I sent a card too, but I don’t think that had got there yet. She seems to have a nice lot of things & she is certainly taking all the household things etc. very seriously & getting down to everything! Nan told me that they wanted to get married at the beginning of Aug. & asked me to be a bridesmaid most particularly so I shall try to make it if I can, although I just wish it could be a week or so later, but of course I know they want the wedding at the beginning of Dick’s holidays. The only reason that I would miss it would be if the trip to Jamaica came off, as it would be too good to miss, but I’ve written to Monie & told her that unless she can know for sure soon I’ll have to let it go. I must book my passage home now anyway, I had a letter from Washington telling me as it is going to be very crowded so I’ll have to know soon. I don’t finish school until nearly the end of June, so I won’t have much time for sightseeing which I’m very sorry about, but I suppose it can’t be helped – & maybe I won’t have any money left anyway! I must ask Nan what she wants me to bring her for a wedding present – I shall have fun buying your wedding outfit & Nan says for me to get something in blue & a viely- flowery headdress or hat – so I’ll see.
I don’t think Nan & Dick will ever be the sort of “matey” couple that Irene & Bill are – but then Nan is so different from Irene too- but somehow Irene & Bill just suit one another so well. I like to hear Irene’s housekeeping struggles (e.g.1/4 lb. potatoes!) & I love hearing about her settling down as a young married!
Thank you for telling me all Anne’s news – I had a letter from her too, telling pretty much the same thing. I am really sorry for poor old Miss Stoll & that old pig of a Howlett– she wrote to DeV. & said she hoped Mr. Nauts was being kinder to me than Miss H. was to her, & I felt quite badly because everyone here is so very kind. But Mrs. Brand (one of the teachers- a friend of Miss S’s) says that she likes Anne so much & the other teachers too & says everyone is very kind- but she is nearly collapsing with the cold! The fellow Jessie got jilted by for Blanche is called Bob, & she was going around with him when I left Cambridge, but I never liked him – a conceited stuffed owl! – so I don’t think she’s missing much! I had a letter from Lillian today (I wrote to her) & she says her mother is much better, & she tells me as a great secret (don’t you tell Anne!) that she has applied for, & think she has got- a job near home as a P.T. Organizer! I am so glad for her sake as she is very pleased. I thought I’d send her a parcel of a few food things for her Mother – one of the things Lillian asked for from the U.S. was a tin of tuna fish & one of salted peanuts, so I’ll include those! She has sent me a pound for black woollen dancing tights!! Everyone seems very pleased with my Christmas presents – Irene & Dottie both, & Anne & Jessie F. & Pam Hapgood. I never hear hear a word from Jessie Hall of course. I sent Lillian a pancake make up, but she didn’t mention it – perhaps in the excitement of the job! I do hope that Dottie’s birthday & Nan’s Xmas parcels turn up – but I am most relieved at Irene’s wedding parcel, as that was the most expensive. I forgot to tell Irene, so do tell her if you remember, but I got her wedding cake box all right! And on the outside was carefully written “Cake Removed”!! Wasn’t that funny! I was most intrigued, by the way, at all the Whist Drive Prizes you are collecting right & left! You must be getting an Expoit! I thought it was nice to give the breadknife to Alan & Mary Bain too- she must be a nice girl.
I am sure that in all the awful cold weather, Irene & Bill must be thrilled with their Warming Pad! I have one in bed too & it is lovely. By the way – I’ve often meant to ask – did Ruth ever get her present from me? The compact I sent for Xmas I mean.
I was sorry to hear of all Alma’s & A. Maggie’s troubles – I must write, but I don’t know about sending a parcel as you said Mummy, because any place over here has such lots of food I think. I might send her a nice tin of biscuits or something, but the little things I would send to England wouldn’t be any treat here. While I remember, will you please give my love to Bella & Mrs. Johnny & thank them for their letters. I won’t write to them but I’ll send P.C.s again. I am glad Maude got the food parcel & that the ladies liked the things. My love to old Winnie too- I owe her a letter still- I was most amused at her looking at the Xmas cards – I never got even a card from Joe, the skunk! By the way – everyone who writes A.M. to me now just puts 1/- on the letter except you! Has it been reduced?
I was sorry to hear about all Jane & Bill’s bad luck – they have been having a bad time, but I do hope that things will go well from now on for them.
I was amused at your comments about all my newspaper pictures! I think the “upswept” one is quite good, but Anne wrote that all the staff disliked it & thought I had changed & looked sophisticated, but when they saw the Red X they liked that & said it looked just like me!
I love the story you told me about Katie & Mrs. Paice saying I would make Frank a nice wife! I don’t think Mrs. P. has seen me since I was a sweet shy young thing in my teens, but even then I think I’d have bossed Frank around, so goodness knows what I’d do now!
I don’t think I ever told you how much I loved hearing about Irene’s wedding. I was pining for your letter to come & it told me all the things I wanted to know, then Dottie wrote all about it too so I got a wonderful “overall” picture. Irene sent me 2 snaps which were nice of her & gave me a very good idea of her outfit.
As you will have guessed by this last haphazard page or so, I have been reading through all your letters & commenting & it has taken me hours! I think after all I am going to have to send this by sea as it will be so heavy, but I hope it won’t take too long. Now that I have got this screed done I will write to Amy & get that off my chest! I don’t think I have ever said thank you for your idea of my buying something for Christmas & you paying for it- I think it is lovely, but that you sent me plenty, with a lovely cami-knicks & the cute little dog. Anyway I don’t want you to get the silly hat I got in New York! I had thought I might get a new grey-ish suit (to match my coat) in the spring, & now I have thought I might get it in time for the Atlantic City Conference if I see anything I like, as my blue corduroy can practically get up & make a speech by itself, it’s heard me make so many! I thought I could wear the suit with the blouses & hats I have now & at Easter I would get perhaps a pink felt hat, as they have some pretty ones, & a pink blouse. I am kind of scared to spend much on clothes although I’d love to get some new things, as I don’t know how my money will do, but at the moment I don’t seem to have much to wear at all apart from the blue suit, so I think I’ll have to get something. By the summer, I hope to know better how much I’ll have left to “frivol” with & be able to get some things then.
I must stop now as it is midnight & I’m in bed – love to any of the girls if you see them, & to Maude too & please thank her for her letter.
This is to answer all your letters and to give you the low down on my latest doings! I think if I begin with my doings & then end up with your letters, you’ll be able to separate the part which would only interest you, & tell the other part to people who would be interested.
I think my last long letter to you finished around the 16th or 17th. The 17th was a Sunday – the day I was guest of honour at a YWCA tea that I hadn’t been invited to, you remember! Did I tell you that I wore my new coat, and my fur hat to it, and everyone was very complementary & they do look nice together. On the Monday evening I was guest speaker at the Quota Club dinner, & Miss Sanger took me. The Quota Club is a collection of business women – one of each sort, like the Rotarians, & they had a lovely dinner at the Women’s Building – a very nice house in Toledo that is shared by various women’s clubs. I was wearing the black dress I got in N.Y. & they gave me the prettiest corsage I’ve had yet- tiny pink rosebuds & tiny pink chrysanthemums tied with pink ribbon, & we had weenie little beef olives to eat! They were good! We went into another room for my talk & I told them about rationing etc. as Miss Sanger had said the same talk would do again. They all asked questions & seemed very interested & I got a $5 cheque!
Next night was Til’s Friends of Music Concert, so Lois & I went of course. Til had a viola solo to play in one of the pieces, & she played beautifully & afterwards the conductor Mr. Lange from Chicago Symphony orchestra, kissed her hand! When we got home, we sat around drinking cocoa, & talking about it & full of giggles, & the phone rang for me, & it was a lady making arrangements for a P.T.A. meeting I was to speak at on Thursday. Well, I began quite sensibly talking, but then I said something very English according to Til & Lois about Berwick Ave. being the first turn “after the cinema” (apparently they say movies not cinema!) & Til & Lois started to laugh at me, & I began to laugh too & I thought the poor woman would think I was crazy!
Next morning when we were washing the breakfast dishes, the news came that Elsie Godshel had died. It was best for her, poor girl, as the tumour had gone to her brain, but of course Lois & Til were dreadfully upset, & the next few days they were sad & tired all the time, & rushing over to help Mr. & Mrs. G. as much as possible. That evening Til couldn’t go over though, because there was a P.T.A. meeting at one of the school she teaches music at, & her band there was to play & I was to give a talk. She was due there at 7 o’clock, so we left at about 6.45, with 4 little boys of about 12-13 from another school, that Til was taking to play in the orchestra too. Of course, they were wildly exciting & full of noise & wisecracks & just tickled me to death, because I’d never heard anything like it before! We got there, & Til’s little band (all little kids under 13) playing all instruments began at 7 o’clock & they were just sweet. They played for about 15 minutes or so, then all the parents went around the school & the Principal took me around- she was a horrid woman I thought- big & fat & overbearing- she & all the other teachers were sporting great corsages, but they didn’t give me one, & it is one of the wealthiest P.T.A.s in Toledo as it’s a good district, but they didn’t offer me a penny! Also when they wrote to me, they didn’t ask if I’d come, but said I’d been chosen to speak! Pooh! If Til’s band hadn’t been going, I have turned it down. But another thing about the nasty old principal – it was the school where my Tyneside pal Mr. Atkinson is, & he was there & in the hall as I went past with the old dame. So of course I stopped to talk, but she soon wooshed me on & when I said something about how kind he’d been to me she said oh yes, he & his wife are very nice, but of course not very well educated! Wasn’t that a mean thing to say – even if it is true, she needn’t have been so catty – I feel much more kindly dispose to poor “little old” Mr. Atkinson now!
Anyway we trailed around the school & finally at 8:20 they begin the business meeting & at 8:50 I began to talk, having been there since 7! You can imagine I made it short and snappy- I told them a bit about English schools & things I thought were funny in the States, & things people thought were funny about me, & then sat down. They all laughed a lot anyway, and seemed to enjoy it, but the old meanie principal told Til she thought I should have spoken longer, so Til just told her I had engagements every evening & was just about worn out! Old pig woman!
While I’d been speaking Til’s four little boys sat in the front row as good as gold, & then we all careered out to the car & it was thick fog, which they thought was wonderful of course! Til took us all to a soda fountain & bought them sundaes etc. & I sat & laughed & laughed! You know what Mickey Rooney was like as Andy Hardy? Well, they were all just as bouncy & crazy as him, & they were all very intrigued with me & one little blonde boy told Til that I “sent him”! We finally got them delivered to their homes amidst a riot of noise!
Next evening I was to speak at another P.T.A. & they said they would collect me, so at 6 o’clock up arrived a great big tall young man – a bit like Denis but brown-haired, & he wore very thick-lensed glasses. He was the son of one of the teachers who had invited me to dinner, & it turned out to be a rural school miles out in the country, which I hadn’t realized. His mother was the lady I had giggled at over the phone, so as soon as I saw her, I apologized, & she was big & jolly & said that she’d told her son I must have some fun in me! There was the Principal (she had a wooden leg!) & another teacher & another female there, & as I told you the dinner was wonderful – the table just groaned! They have a system here of passing everything around & you help yourself- chicken, potatoes, gravy, squash, sweet potatoes, carrot sticks, celery, pickles etc. etc. – it seem to go on forever! And we had tomato juice, cranberry salad, pumpkin pie & coffee as well – was I bloated! Then we drove to the school, the young man still taking me in his car (I’ve forgotten his name!) & we went into the gym which had a stage at one side, & a stand with seats at the other. The Mothers had a “washboard” band first, & played a few funny tunes & then the kids came on & sang “America” & saluted the flag etc. – me standing like a dummy! – & then some of them put on a sort of Quiz Programme like the radio & asked certain members of the audience questions which was quite amusing. It was a most motley audience, fathers & mothers & children of all ages down to babies in arms- a great difference to the city P.T.A. meetings- much poorer looking people, but kindly & nice. I wondered how on earth I was going to talk against all the chatter, & babies crying etc. but I didn’t attempt to make it an intellectual talk, but told about how the exchange was done & why, & described my school in Cambridge & told them funny things that had happened to me over here, & they were all wonderfully quiet & seemed to like it. Afterwards some came up & spoke to me, but a lot were shy, but there was coffee & cold drinks served & I had a “coke” & spoke to quite a few of them then. Then the young man & I set out home & the Principal thanked me & gave me a check for $12.50- the biggest I’ve ever had- from that little country school! I felt nearly ashamed to take it, because they gave me dinner & were so sweet to me, & the young man drove me all that way. Coming home, it was pouring rain, & it was about 3/4 -1 hours drive, & he had to go all the way back again.
Next day was the day I was to meet Pam & go to Detroit. It was perishing cold, so I wore my tweed suit & fur coat & black hat, & set out for the station to catch the 5.40 train. I was to meet Pam on it (she got on at Fostonia) but when I got on I couldn’t see her anywhere, so I sat down & chatted to a little man! Eventually after we started, along she came walking along the gangway – I couldn’t miss her- she’s a great big lumpy untidy girl, & she was wearing one of those really plain English Tweed suits, square & boxy & a skirt a bit too long- you know the type! We went to try & get dinner, but there was a queue, so we came back to my place & she brought her case along & sat near me. My little man bought me a carton of hot coffee from a man who came through the train & it was nice. We got to Detroit about 9 I think, & got a bus into the town, & then hopped off & walked along until we saw a nice place to eat. It was called a “Barbecue” & had a great fire in the window, & dozens of chickens & things on great long skewers frizzling over it! We didn’t have that though – too expensive! – but we had a nice dinner. Then we asked where the Y.W. was & ambled around & finally found it, & we had a nice room on a corner of the building, & twin beds. The centre of Detroit is a round park called the Circus, & all the main streets radiate off this, & we could see it from our bedroom window.
On Sat. we got up so late we missed breakfast, & had it in a drug store. Then we set out to shop & first of all went to the Bank where I got some money. The bank building was a great sky-scrapery building & most palatial inside, more like a palace that a bank! Also in the building was the British Consulate, so we went up & asked about crossing into Canada & told them who we were, but no one took much notice of us! We went along the main shopping street & the whole place was decorated for Christmas already & looked lovely, but it was icy cold & Pam would gaze in shop windows! We finally went into Hudson’s (the second largest store in the world- Macy’s in N.Y. is the biggest!), but gosh, it was so big that you just couldn’t find anything or buy anything! By lunchtime we were exhausted & the restaurant had a queue, so we went out to a little place around a side street & had a nice lunch there. I forgot to tell you, we spent about 1 hour in Hudson’s, buying Pam 1 pair of shoes! After lunch I went to another shop & bought 1 white blouse, 1 black wrap-around skirt, & 1 pr. black shoes in about 1/2 hour! The blouse is cute – it’s cotton- round neck & fastened down the back & a castellated edge at the bottom! The skirt is a wool + some thing & wraps round & ties – makes me feel pregnant particularly as it has gathers over the tummy! Then we went to Windsor in Canada, by a bus through a tunnel, but it was awfully disappointing – just like a suburb of Detroit & only one rather crummy main street. We didn’t buy anything, but looked around & came back. I looked at china as I had a vague idea I might get some English china little something for Til’s Christmas but although there were lots of tea sets etc. the prices were awful.
The evening we meant to go to a nice place for dinner & then to the pictures, but when we passed the picture house there were crowds collecting so we went in then to see Fred Astaire & Bing in “Blue Skies”- nice, but just because they were in it. Afterwards we looked around for someplace to eat & ended up in the dingiest dive! We had something to eat at the counter & I talked to the man sitting next to me (he seemed quite respectable – maybe a little drunk!) & when he heard we were English etc. offered to show us the town, but Pam said she was tired, so we went home like good girls!
On Sunday Pam really got on my nerves! We had breakfast in another drug store & then walked around & took the great tram ride along the river I told you about. And she sat in the tram & bit her nails & even on an icy cold Sunday morning gazed in shop windows & trailed along so slowly & wouldn’t walk quickly! Near to the Y.W. there’s a big hotel called the “Wolverine” which amused us, as it sounded “wolf-ish” & we went to their Coffee Shop for lunch & it was very nice. Then we went to see “Margie “& then got the train – I think I did I told you about going to the wrong station etc.! – and then home! I was so glad to see Til & Lois again! And they were very amused to hear that Pam bored me!
On Monday at school, I don’t know if I told you about the Faculty (staff!) giving a goodbye tea to one of the teachers, Miss Rose Bloom who is going to a Zionist Conference in Switzerland. She is a little, dumpy, very Jewish looking woman & was going to represent some Zionist women’s organization at the Conference. I have been put on the Faculty Entertainment Committee (why I don’t know!) and so I said that me & my Foods class would make the cakes for tea, & do the centrepiece- feeling rash! So we talked it over in class & decided to have a centrepiece of Switzerland & I left it to 2 girls to make & they did a cute thing – mountains covered with (cotton wool) snow & tiny Xmas trees & little chalets at the bottom & a (mirror) lake with a little skater on it (made of pipe cleaner) & the skater had skated “Good Luck” on the Ice! For cakes we made lots of Genoese pastry & cut out little circles & covered each with different coloured icing- white- mauve- pink- yellow- blue- green- peach- chocolate, & put nuts, cherries, silver balls etc. on each. They looked just sweet set out variegated on the plates & I took some of them in different colours & set them on a d’oyley covered square like this:-
The writing I did with pink icing in a forcer, & we put it in front of the snow scene on the table & it really did look lovely & everyone was most enthusiastic & complimentary & thought I was clever! That was the day I heard from the Daily Mail about £75, & in the evening I had another surprise. I spent it at home as Til & Lois were at the airport, & I was writing letters up in my little room & the phone seem to ring about 10 times & each time I would clatter downstairs & it would be for Til or Lois, but one time it was Long Distance for me! I was so excited especially when it turned out to be a young man I’d never heard of called Norman Walker! What it was, was that Joan Camp, one of the English teachers had been going to Chicago for Thanksgiving weekend, then she had an invitation somewhere else, so she wrote & said that she was sorry not to meet me, but would I like a hearty ex-G.I. friend of hers to show me around, so of course, I wrote back and said yes, & I got a letter from a man called Arthur Robertson saying he’d be very pleased to take me out if I’d tell him where I was staying. This other man who phoned was a pal of his, who worked in a town called Napoleon, not far from here & he was driving home to Chicago for Thanksgiving & offered to give me a lift. Wasn’t that nice of him? But he was driving on Wednesday evening & of course I wasn’t going until Friday night so I couldn’t accept the offer, but he seemed very nice & chatty, & had driven over to see me on the Sunday, but found no one in. So wasn’t that an exciting phone call! I was quite intrigued!
I don’t seem to have done anything on Tuesday, but on Wed. we finished school for Thanksgiving weekend. In the afternoon Lois drove over & took Mrs. Godschel some messages in the car. Elsie loaned Lois her car before she went to the hospital, as Lois has ordered a new Buick which hasn’t come yet, & when Elsie died Lois wanted to return it, but Mr. and Mrs. G. wouldn’t have it, as they don’t drive. Anyway Lois persuaded both Mr. & Mrs. G. to go out to dinner, so Til & I met them in town, & we had quite a nice little dinner party, with a drink that made us all quite loquacious. Then Mrs. G. took some flowers to a friend in hospital, & then we took them home & we went on to see Bette Davis in “Deception”, but it wasn’t really terribly good.
When we got home that evening Til’s son Bill was home, & he has been back ever since. He chucked his job in Columbus – apparently he is the type who is always hopping from job to job & never holds one for long, & now his idea is to go down south in the new year.
Next day was Thanksgiving & we spent the morning doing various odd jobs & then went to Ruth’s with Lois at about 2 o’clock to help get things ready. The dinner was about 5 o’clock & all Lois & Ruth’s aunts etc. that I told you about. The dinner was wonderful but afterwards when we got the washing up done, I was just so stuffed & sleepy that I could hardly be polite! Bill left to go & visit some friends – I forgot to tell you that Lois gets just mad at him at times & thinks nothing of him as he is so undependable over his jobs, & doesn’t care, & borrows money from Til when he’s spent his own. They don’t have rows or anything, but she just thinks he imposes on Til. He is very gay & full of fun & I get on with him all right & think he’s quite nice, but I agree with Lois a bit. He teases me like anything, so we all have quite a good time, but his being here, seems to add a bit of strain to the household that wasn’t there before. Til still has hopes that he & his wife will be reconciled, but from what Bill says about her, I can’t see that they will.
The day after Thanksgiving I was up early & packed my bag, & Til & Bill drove me down to the station. My train left at 10:30 & I was in Chicago at about 2.30 & had a nice comfy journey reading my book. There was no dining car on the train, so I had a cup of coffee from a man who came along the train. When I got to Chicago, I went & got a taxi, & shared it with a pretty elderly lady I’d seen on the train. She had white hair & pink cheeks & a pale blue hat – you know the type – a bit like Auntie Mac or Mrs. Annison, but not quite like either. Her name was Miss Alice Barler, she told me & she was very interested in me, & we talked quite a lot. She lived in Chicago & was coming back suddenly because of the death of a friend’s mother, but she said that if she had time, she would ring me up during the weekend. The Y.W. was another huge & palatial place & I was most tickled because it had an awning & an imposing door man just like a Park Lane Hotel! I had a nice little bedroom with a little private bathroom & so when I settled in, I went out for a walk to find something to eat. I found that I wasn’t far from the Lake, so I walked towards it, & on the way I found a nice little coffee shop, that sold cakes & I went in & had coffee & chose cakes for myself from the counter. Then I went on walking & came to the Lakeshore Drive which was beautiful – I walked along it for a bit past great expensive apartment houses & then I turned off & came to one of the main streets & walked along that. Then I came to a shop “Saks 5th Avenue” that I’d been in in New York – a very expensive place – so I went in & found it crowded with women who looked each one like a millionairess, so I looked around & came out! I finally walked back to the Y.W. through all sorts of odd streets that looked as if they could have gangsters all over the place, but of course I didn’t see anyone a bit intriguing looking! When I got back there was a message for me saying Arthur R. had telephoned & would call for me at 7:30, & I just got in my room when Norman W. telephoned & said that he and “Art” (!) & Art’s girl Bella would all come at 7:30, so I felt quite excited. I had a bath & got ready & I had on my blue corduroy suit & new coat & fur hat, & looked quite nice. I debated with myself about having dinner, as Norman had said something about Arthur & Betty coming straight from work, so I decided not to have it, in case we were going to eat, & anyway if we didn’t I still felt stuffed with Thanksgiving dinner & so it wouldn’t do me any harm. Of course I was fooled – the others had eaten first, but I didn’t really mind- I must get it in my head that a 7.30 invitation means “Eat First”! However I waited in the lounge, & asked a strange young man gooping around if he was Norman Walker & of course he wasn’t! They did arrive eventually – Art a small dark fellow with glasses, Betty young & very dumb & quite pretty, & “Norm” (can you imagine!) about 30-ish, & ordinary looking with sandy hair & glasses. As you will gather, they didn’t come up to my expectations! Betty & Art were at the “young love” stage & I kept wondering all evening why Joan Camp had said he was “hearty” because he seemed so quiet & shy to me, & then when I got back to Toledo there was a card from her saying that she’d sent my name to another ex G.I. – not the hearty one! They were very nice to me, but somehow the evening was a disappointment to me – we just didn’t all get going somehow – as I said Art & Betty were both shy & a bit dumb- they both worked in “Quaker Oats” firm & Norm had worked there before, so the only thing they had really in common was something I knew nothing about. Then when I talked to Art about England & the Army- Norm was in the Pacific – she was left out- it was awkward somehow. They were very kind & took me a lovely drive for miles along the Lakeshore Drive & we saw the lights, & it was lovely. Then we went to a nightclub place “The Ivanhoe” where you went downstairs & had drinks in bars in caves etc. with imitation stalactites & water falls & so on, & then we went to another nightclub where there was dancing & a little floor show. It should have been a lovely evening, but somehow it just wasn’t & although I thanked them profusely, I don’t think they were any more enthralled with it than I was! Norm apologized that he couldn’t take me out the next night as he was going to a dinner with his father, & said that he’d like to take me out in Toledo sometime, but I don’t know whether he will & I don’t really care. Probably the whole trouble was that I hadn’t been out with any young people for so long, I was expecting too much, & that was why I was disappointed.
Next morning I got up for breakfast & had it in the Y.W. cafeteria. There were lots of girls- black, white & medium, & a few Chinese etc. & as I walked out of the room, I saw one Japanesey looking girl at a table, & thought nothing more of it until she smiled & waved, & it was the Hawaiian girl, Frances Kaya, from Toledo. She has been in Chicago for Thanksgiving as she has a cousin there, & the cousin & his wife had gone to a big football game out of town that day, so she had planned to go back to Toledo on the 11.30 train that morning. However, we chatted- it was even more of a coincidence our meeting than I thought, because though she comes quite often to Chicago, this is the first time she’d stayed at the Y.W.- then she decided she’d stay till the 2.30 train & have lunch with me. So I left her packing & set off to town, & went to the British Consulate & had quite a chat to one of the Consuls. Then I went to one of the stores & met Frances there & we looked around & then went & had a very nice lunch in the lunchroom of one of the biggest shops. Over lunch we talked more & found we were quite congenial spirits, & Frances decided to stay till the 6.15 train! So we wandered around all the shops & went to a nice Chinese restaurant she knew of, and had a very nice dinner there. We left in time for her to get a taxi to the station – but could we get a taxi! They were packed & finally she decided she’d missed the train & she might as well spend the night! But of course she had no place to stay- the Y.W. was full, so she called & left a message at her cousin’s (they weren’t home yet) & said she’d sleep on their sofa! So then we went to the pictures, & saw Ginger Rogers in “The Magnificent Doll” – historical which surprised me! And then we went back to the Y.W. & finally Frances’s cousin came & collected her. I found a telephone message waiting for me from Miss Barler, so I called up & she’d meant to take me out to dinner, but I explained that I’d met a friend. She asked when I was leaving & I said 2.30 Sunday, so she said was I Episcopalian & when I said yes, she said would I like to go to Church with her & her cousin & cousin’s daughter & then to lunch, so of course I said yes. I got all packed in the morning & checked out of my room & Miss B. came for me with her car (a beauty) at about 10.30 & took me & bags & all. We went to a very fashionable church & there was a communion service & it was very nice. But we had to kneel right of the stone floors- my knees nearly broke so I don’t know how the old ladies managed! Then out we rushed & the other two, both very nice – the girl about my age – pretty & smart & married & divorced. Then we dashed back to Miss B’s apartment which was lovely, & while the cousin set the table, the rest of us went to a marvellous shop nearby, where we chose from all kinds of meat, veg etc., all cooked & hot, exactly what we wanted, & they were dished on plates & tied up & we carried them back with us! I had chicken (roast) & potatoes & gravy & beans! Then we had peaches for dessert & coffee & then we all rushed out to the car again & they drove me down to the station, & even came & saw me on the train. Wasn’t that sweet of them? Miss B. (I remember now- it’s Lady Watson she reminds me of- but a bustling Lady Watson!) gave me the address of friends in Toledo (I’ve called them twice and got no answer) & insisted that I must come back to Chicago and stay with her. Now that party did go with a swing, & quite wiped out the disappointment of the other one!
The train home was just packed! I thought I’d never get on for one thing, & when I did, I was just a crammed in the aisle with about 1 million others! After while I sat on my case & next to me was a little Chinese girl called Elsie Ho, & it turned out that she came from Hawaii too, so I told her about Frances & we had quite a chat. I arrived in Toledo at about 7 o’clock in a freezing snowstorm & it was icy, but I got a taxi home, & Til & Lois were in to welcome me & had even debated about coming down to the station to meet each train, as I hadn’t told them which one I was coming on. It is always nice to get back to them.
Monday I didn’t do anything, & on Tuesday Til had a concert at 5:30, so I went to that with her but wasn’t very thrilled. On Wednesday I went to see Olivia de Havilland in “To Each His Own” at the local cinema, & it was a bit dramatic, but the part I liked best was a little bit in England where Roland Culver was in, & he was nice and funny too. On Thursday was the Boston Symphony Orchestra Concert, & I told you how much I loved that. The concert hall & the music & everything were lovely, & made me feel quite emotional & weepy! However, afterwards we waited for the 1st violin who is a pal of Til’s called Mr. Kripps, & we went & had coffee & Til & he talked music, & I thought it was fun & Lois was bored! But I thought he was a nice little man & I enjoyed it!
Next day I went straight from school to a tea – the one where we had little plum puddings!- & I gave a talk- it was the Consumers Group of the Association of University Women, & Marie S. used to be a leading light, so I have to “fill” her place!
Next day was Saturday & I went into town & shopped a bit – I wanted a new dress – sort of dressy dress in turquoise or dark red I thought, but I couldn’t get anything in either colour. I ended up with a pale blue 1/2 wool 1/2 rayon – pretty, but rather little girlish! It is on princess lines & buttons all the way down the front with silver buttons, has scallops around the short sleeves & cut out bits at the neck. Everyone thinks it’s pretty, but it wasn’t what I meant to have! I came home for lunch & then went to another tea where I spoke about Christmas in England, & Frances was there too. On Sunday I went to dinner with the Atkinson’s but I think I told you about that.
This week on Monday I didn’t do anything, and on Tuesday I went and had my hair done in the famous up-do I was telling you about! Then I went straight on to speak at the Young Business Men’s Club at the Y.M.C.A. & I had a lovely time. I wore my new dress! It was a birthday dinner as the club was 27 years old & they had the cake that was in the picture. We ate first, me and about 40 men mostly middle-aged! – then we had a sing song & they even sang God Save the King for me – all of us solemnly sitting down! After that we had an Anglo-American Quiz game which was quite good, & then one of the founders of the Club spoke & then me. And goodness- they were the grandest bunch to talk to- anything I said that was the least bit funny they just roared! I told them some of the funny things that happened to me here, then told about how the exchange was done, & then told them of some of our “special” days that they don’t have like Pancake Tuesday & Whitsuntide & Guy Fawkes & ended up by describing Christmas. They all clapped so hard I was embarrassed & said the nicest things to me, & I really had fun!
Next day at work what with my hairdo & my picture in the paper with two men, I got properly teased by students & teachers alike! In the afternoon I took one Iof my classes to see round the Libbey Glass Works, one of the big factories here, & we had a most interesting time – but gosh, was I worn out! We walked for miles around that factory & it was lovely watching the men blowing & all the different things, but my dogs just killed me. In the evening Til & Lois & I went to see Olivia de Havilland in “The Dark Mirror” which was quite thrilling, but I was fair wore out!
On Friday I went to another tea straight after school, & this time I wasn’t supposed to talk, but of course they asked me “to say a few words”! I should think they’d all be sick of hearing my voice by now! Til says that the next one who rings up to ask me to speak she’s going to say that I’ve lost my English accent & that I’m no fun to listen to anymore!
Yesterday I spent the entire day shopping. I went downtown in the morning, met Til for lunch, shopped again, & went home. Then Bill was going to Connecticut to see his Aunt, so we took him to the station, & then the stores were still open until 9, so we went with Lois to do her Christmas shopping & I was so tired I just crawled! Today I slept until 10 o’clock & at 10:20, the lady & gentleman next-door called to take me to Church – and I was ready, & I had breakfast too! The rest of the day I have been wrapping parcels & writing letters. How I’m going to take any clothes to N.Y. I don’t know as I have a case & a half full of parcels only!!
Now at last to answer your letters – I don’t know if I ever thanked you & Irene for selling my old clothes – I think it is wonderful & I am pleased that I shall have a little money still in the bank when I come home. I was also pleased to hear that Daddy has been getting some new clothes too & that they were nice & that he was bucked with himself. I am so glad that he is a bit better now – I do hope that he gets some fun out of the magazine I’m sending him – actually I can just hear him saying “I can’t think why Cynthia wants to waste her money sending this thing each month”!! But I thought it would be something coming for him regularly & it would be something for him to look at & the pictures are lovely.
You were talking about Nan’s new red evening dress – it sounds nice & she told me about it in her letter too. Dottie hasn’t mentioned it, but she hasn’t liked some of Nan’s more recent new clothes, so I’ll be keen to hear. The Nan-Dick mystery still goes on! And of course, Nan doesn’t say a word! Dottie was describing their all being at Dick’s house one day & Nan being social & helping Dick’s mother with the tea etc. which made me giggle! But I still can’t really grasp it’s serious & won’t till they’re engaged, because I remember Nan being just the same way with George & that other man! But still! I wonder if Mrs. Allan really likes him? I certainly won’t feel 1/2 as happy over Nan marrying Dick as I do over Irene marrying Bill – that I think is fine. Dottie says Irene is being very level- headed!
Isn’t Amy a hoot? I had her letter & card yesterday & she made me chuckle- I must send it to you to read I think. She is certainly peculiar over Evelyn’s husband etc. isn’t she – mystery & all!
I loved hearing all about the U.S.A. Bee & the good time you had with the girls. Also the nice things my dear Dr. Paul Smith said about me! Also that you liked the American girls, & you certainly seemed to make a big hit with them! I was interested to hear about Miss Schmidt. I had a letter from Mary N. the other day, but she didn’t tell me much that you hadn’t told me. She seems to think that Marie S. & Miss Schmidt would be better off in each other’s places, as Marie would enjoy the Wallsend Teas etc. & Miss S. the Cambridge “on-goings”!
I was glad that Winnie & Denis got my letter & liked it- also that the others got the P.C.s. I sent them all Christmas cards & I sent Amy a P.C. previously too. I sent Uncle Joe a Christmas card to Winnie’s, so that will intrigue her!
You were asking whether I had ever been to a Beauty Parlour in Toledo, but I haven’t. As you say, I am scared of the price! & anyway I don’t really know where I’d go. And I certainly don’t varnish my nails! As usual, if I have them clean, it’s about all I can manage!!
I was tickled at all your wild dreams about me- wanting to slap me one time & getting me engaged to a Pole another! Perhaps the Pole was Ludwik, if it wasn’t Jan! Poor Ludwik I must write to him – I haven’t written for ages, but I sent him a Christmas card. Lois’ brother-in-law is a lawyer, & he is talking to some Polish lawyers he knows about Tadek, but so far I haven’t heard any more.
By the way at one time in your letters you seem to be getting Mr. Nauts & Mr. Brown muddled up. Mr. Nauts is the Principal & Mr. Brown the Dean. Mr. N. is the one who met me at the station at first, but Mr. B is the one with the babies. I haven’t baby-minded for Mr. and Mrs. B. yet as they said they were going to have me to dinner, sometime, so I thought I’d wait until they did, & then offer to baby mind in repayment sometime afterwards.
I don’t know if I told you that our holidays are from 20th Dec. to 6th Jan.- an exceptionally long time over here – they usually get just 10 days, so of course I am pleased! You wrote about Pat Hazel wanting to go back to St. V.- Really those girls give me a pain in the neck! If you ask me they’re all spoiled brats- I don’t wonder A. Trix thought I might be wailing with misery over here, if she thinks I’m like them! They can’t go anywhere or do anything without getting dramatic & emotional about it! I can hear you giggling at me, but really! Now that Pat has a job I hope it’s better & she’ll soon get a boyfriend & be ready to die if she is parted from him! Meaow! I was surprised to hear of Nan’s cousin Greta getting married- she looked dull to me, but still! Maud was probably mad that she’d beaten Nan! Catty tonight, ain’t I?!!
I am glad that you have fun reading my letters with Irene. She is a nice little lass, & I am sorry that when she gets married she won’t be so near & you won’t see her as much because she is really nice & sweet about coming to see you & knows that you miss me. I had a letter & calendar from her yesterday – I thought it was a good idea sending me a calendar – especially as they don’t seem to have them here much. Thank you so much for making & sending my cami-knickers – I am looking forward so much to seeing them. The washing machine is wonderful but somehow it doesn’t seem to treat my undies as tenderly as I would myself! But I am in such a rush, I only manage to wash stockings by hand.
I was glad that you & Mrs. Scott had a nice meal at the Criterion even if you didn’t see Snow White! I should think the meal would be a vast improvement on such an entertainment!!
I have just gone on reading your letters & find that you ask for Ludwik’s address to send him a card. I’m afraid it’s a bit late, but it’s:- Lieutenant Ludwik Gołębiowski, c/o Miss Dick, 43 High St., Dalkeith, Scotland.
In your last letter you made me laugh a lot, telling me of Daddy shivering at A. Ettie’s Christmas card & then being worried because the little girl on the McCall mag. squinted! He is funny! Also about his talking of “Mr. and Mrs. Simpson”!! I was amazed at that blue nightdress case thing getting 15/-! Aren’t some people amazing? I only hope the person who gets it for Christmas doesn’t have my tastes!!
I was sorry to hear that Maud hadn’t been well. I think they are silly not to have a Dr. because it might be something else which could be more serious than just an upset tummy. To skip to something else- Amy’s remarks about nylon must be sewn with silk is hoo-ha! That is because the ones you made me are fine & you didn’t sew them with silk. Some of my camis of silk have reeved with the washing machine but the nylons haven’t & I’ve worn them a lot. I’d love another pair for my birthday- the more the better I says! I don’t want to spend my money on undies here, especially as they’re rayon & not very well finished.
I have never written to Marcelle yet, but I sent her a Christmas card, & when the one from her that you forwarded arrives, I’ll really write. I’m glad that she’s really marrying her dear Albert – they’ll make a nice dopey couple! Poor old fat curate & his wife – but now that’s over, they’ll probably have a large fat baby!
I must stop now Mummy as it’s really late & I must go to work tomorrow. It’s 15th Dec. today & I’ve been writing this letter for weeks! Now it is your Christmas letter & I hope that it gets to you in good time honey with all my love & good wishes. You know that I miss you & I’ll be thinking about you & I’ll be listening to the King’s broadcast on Christmas Day. We haven’t always had very gay Christmases, but you & I usually managed to have some fun, didn’t we? And although I’ll enjoy being with all the others at Christmas, we’ll all be wishing you were there too, & it won’t really feel like Christmas to me, not being at home.
In an earlier letter, Cynthia told her mother of a plan to go to Detroit, Michigan and Windsor Ontario, over the border in Canada, with a more congenial companion, Pam, another English exchange teacher, than the older Tyneside couple, the Atkinsons. They would have taken a weekend, involving trains and buses, and late November is not the ideal time to be exploring like tourists, but the details emerge in a further letter. This is just a note to her mother to show her pretty writing paper and enclose a few oddments. It’s interesting showing trains in the pre-Amtrak days with a nod to a very successful advertising campaign!
26 November 1946
My dearest Mummy,
I got these darling bits of paper and envelopes in Canada, and I didn’t have to pay duty when I bought them back to America. They were so sweet though, that I thought I must write on one for you to see, and I’m enclosing some things that might amuse you.
A letter from my faithful admirer, Ivy, in Cambridge. She has written quite a few times, and I write once in a while & send P.C.s and movie mags. but her letters tickle me to bits, & I know they’ll amuse you too. They remind me a bit of my “girlish” letters from York!
A little map of a few of the states to show you where various places are. I feel quite superior now, as I know where these states are round about, but I’m always getting floored over ones like Nevada!
A picture of a little kitten! There’s a story attached to that- coming home from Detroit Pam & I set out for the Station to catch the 5.40 train. We finally got a bus & the driver said “Which station – Union?” So we said yes, having no idea, & got dumped off at a dark dingy place we’d never seen before! However, we trotted in & found it was the wrong station, but that there was a 5.40 train we could catch on the C&O line (Chesapeake and Ohio) instead of the one we intended to take on the B&O (Baltimore & Ohio)! It was a nice comfortable train & not crowded & when we went for dinner, we had the place nearly to ourselves, & a very nice attentive middle-age coloured waiter looked after us. We had a lovely dinner, & he kept asking us if we enjoyed it, & at the end he brought us little finger bowls with water in paper cups with this kitten at the bottom. Of course we were intrigued & he gave us each one & apparently they’re a family of cats in the C&O advertising- this is the mother Chessie & the father is Peak & there are twin kittens. Father was away in the Army & is just back with all his medals & Mother is sleeping soundly in a berth again! He was such a nice waiter & seemed well educated & so interested in England that we had a nice time! I am sending you Chessie to keep for me as a souvenir! Bon souvenir as Ludwik says!
Mummy Brown and white cotton dress. Pink slip. Pearls & earrings – lipstick & rouge.
Dad Tie- Magazine “Holiday” for 1 year.
Nan Brown & white striped cotton dress trimmed with green. White necklace made of strands of tiny little white beads like those I made at home. I bought it & then discovered that it was threaded on the thinnest thread & it broke even when I was looking at it (5 & 10!) so I threaded it all over again. White earrings to match of tiny white beads threaded, & put in the shape of a bow.
Dottie A chatelaine & earrings to match – pretty I thought- of silver with turquoise blue stones. The earrings are in the shape of a flower & the chatelaine is two bigger flower things, attached to each other with a chain, to wear on the lapel of a suit or on a dress like this
Also 1 tablet soap.
Peter A toy called a “Quirrly “– it’s like a spring & does things like walking downstairs. Also two little cotton sweaters with round necks & short sleeves – one pale yellow and one pale blue.
Bar A pair of stockings (rayon)
Geraldine A set of plastic toy knives & forks.
Ruth A compact. Do you remember how thrilled she was with the lovely one Monie sent me last year? Well I tried to get her one like that, but they cost a dreadful price, so I got her this one – square, gold-coloured, with two flowers on the front. It was quite expensive, so I hope she likes it. I enclosed a cake of soap for Amy.
Peter & Christopher Allan A box of candy.
Irene An organdie apron- white with red spots – very “cute”! Also a piece of soap for Mrs. Scott.
Mary Egan A set of plastic measuring spoons – different colours – also a plastic dish for the baby.
Miss Lefroy A perfumed flower (paper) to put in her hankies.
Mrs Allan A box of toilet soap like red roses, & a coloured tea towel.
Anne Chapman A pair of nylon stockings.
Jessie Fisher A pearl brooch – it was so pretty that I nearly sent it to you instead of her! It was shaped like a crescent with pearls and a little brilliant.
Lillian A box of “pancake” make up that she wanted.
Pam Hapgood (she has written to me quite a bit) A pair of gold earrings (5 & 10!)
Ivy Pagecroft A “date kit”! A box of Pond’s cream, powder etc.
Jessie Hall & Zinnia – I have presents for them but I haven’t sent them as I still have had no word from Jessie since I left England. No thank you for Zinnia’s parcel – not even anything about the new baby & I don’t even know her address. I have a pair of stockings for her & a little handbag & some flower hairslides for Zinnia, but I’m not going to send them, although it’s a shame Zinnia should suffer for her mother’s shortcomings.
I just got my American presents yesterday, & this is what I got-
Aunt Muriel A white woolen cardigan. I thought she might like something warm, & white is worn over here a lot & would go with anything.
Aunt Ettie A pair of service weight silk stockings.
Mona A pair of pigskin gloves.
Margs A paisley-patterned wool square.
Mil A box of Elizabeth Arden talcum & toilet water.
Hugh & Mona A funny record of “Old Macdonald had a Farm” with all the animal noises- Mil won a “record player” when I was there in the summer.
Alan A cute little tiny drum with candy in & I’ll get him some other little toy.
Three white linen hankies for U. Artie, Bill & Ford.
Til A pair of black suede gloves & two pretty embroidered hankies
Lois A red lizard belt & two blue hankies
Ruth A white linen hankie
David & Mary L. A record like Hugh’s
Altogether I think I spent about as much on my few American presents as I did on all my English presents, but of course I knew that any little thing I sent home would be useful & a novelty, but over here, everyone seems to have everything & it’s much more difficult. Also everyone I’m giving presents to here is being very kind to me. I forgot to tell you, I got A. Phine two hankies too, but they’re cheap ones!
Love from
Cyn
P. S. I somehow don’t suppose any of my parcels will arrive for Christmas. I think the U.S. P.O. and the English Customs are two of the most disgusting institutions!
This is my letter to give you details of all my doings, that you heard of in passing in my a.m. letters. Since I wrote my last letter to you at the weekend answering your letters I’ve had another one from you posted on ? But I’m not going to answer that now. ^By now I’ve had lots! 17th Nov.
I’m going ‘way ‘way back to 11th Oct. which was Til’s birthday. I had arranged with Vida and Fraser McCartney, who have the flower shop, to send some flowers to Til on her birthday, and I paid them for them. Unfortunately they came on the evening before- 10th- but it didn’t really matter as I was in & when Til came in later I gave them to her. They were in a great big box (not cellophane, I was sorry to see) and tied with ribbon & inside a sheet of red roses & little button chrysanthemums – they call him just “mums” here which tickles me! Til was delighted with them and we arranged them in two vases, and they lasted quite a nice long time. On her birthday I gave her a card & Lois gave her a very smart black suit, & Bill sent an electric blanket. We couldn’t celebrate that day because Til was rehearsing every night for a concert, so Lois & I went to see Ginger Rogers in “Heartbeat” while Til was rehearsing. 12th Oct. was Saturday so I slept quite late & then went into town to shop. I know I must have bought something but I don’t remember what, so I don’t think it can have been very important! One thing was a pink cotton blouse, I remember now – it was very cheap and plain with an ordinary shirt neck, but I can wear it with my navy suit and with my brown pinafore for work. I had lunch in town & then went to the pictures by myself to see Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart in “The Long Sleep” which was quite a good murder-mystery type.
13th Oct. Til had a Children’s Concert to play in, in the afternoon, but straight afterwards she & Lois & I drove to Lois’s sister Ruth’s. Ruth was going giving a birthday party for Til, & besides us there was Ruth & her husband Ernie (a lawyer) the two children David & Mary L. (short for Lois) and Lois’ other sister Mary with her husband Bob. They live in Indianapolis & were with Ruth for a little vacation, so it was the first time I’d met them, but I’d heard a lot about them. Apparently about 12 years ago Lois’ father was alive & Mary had been going about with Bob & they wanted to get married, but the father objected because he was about 15 years older than her, was divorced & drank. So Mary quarrelled with her Father & left home & Lois went with her & they went to live with Til. After a while Mary & Bob got married & they are a very devoted pair (no children). Bob joined “Alcoholics Anonymous” & gave up drinking, & now helps other people to do the same. Last spring they went down to Florida for a vacation, & while they were there Mary was filling Bob’s cigarette lighter with lighter fuel in the bedroom & somehow the fluid got alight & exploded the bottle & her legs got most terribly badly burned. She was very seriously ill, & Lois went down to Florida & stayed there for a month while she was in the hospital when Bob had to go back to work, & then Lois brought Mary up to Ohio on a stretcher by train to a hospital up here, & she was in the hospital from March to August before she could go home. They thought she wouldn’t be able to walk again, but she is fine, although not very strong & her legs are like the worst “fire-burnt” parts of yours all over. She is a dark, slim pretty girl – not like Lois yes blonde – & I liked her, but Bob is a big handsome man over 6 ft., a bit conceited and facetious and jokey for my taste! Ruth is tiny & dark – even smaller than me – & I like her very much & her husband seems nice too. The dinner was lovely – roast chicken & all sorts of things to go with it, and afterwards “Angel Food Cake” with ice cream. We all washed up the dishes, & Til had a great pile of presents from all the others- soap, a compact, a blouse, pyjamas etc.!
14th Oct. Til was rehearsing again, so as Lois was working at the Airport by herself during the evening, I went with her & she taught me to work the adding machine & I had great fun punching figures for her.
15th Oct. was the day of Til’s concert. She belongs to a Society called the Friends of Music which give concerts during the winter. They have a conductor from Chicago to train them etc. & they are all chosen musicians, but have other jobs too. Til is the 1st violin & everyone says she is very good. There are about 50 people in the orchestra, half women, & all the women had just had dresses made alike- fine black stuff – long, gathered skirts, bishop sleeves, and peter pan collars- Til hated hers & it did make them all look sort of fat, & very plain & black. I tried to console her by telling her that all the others looked just as bad! With Lois & I at the concert, were Elsie (the girl with the paralyzed face) & her Mother, & it was held in the concert hall of a convent- (a big hall too) & up in one corner were a few nuns sitting listening to the music & enjoying themselves! The concert was very good, but the music was a bit deep for me – however I enjoyed it.
16th Oct. I stayed after school & talked to the Senior Friendship Club about England! They were quite sweet & interested & I stayed about an hour.
17th Oct. I had a nice, quiet night at home. I forgot to tell you, that on the 16th I had a date for dinner & a movie with Joyce Cole – the girl from Texas. Then I got a letter from a teacher on the faculty (staff) of a Teacher’s College in Bowling Green- a place outside Toledo – asking me to go & speak at a faculty meeting. So I wrote & said I couldn’t go & then Joyce rang up & asked if I would mind cancelling the date!! That wasn’t all though – since then, the same Bowling Green woman has written & asked me to speak at their Annual Banquet – the most important function of the year she says!- on 15th Jan. & I’ve had to refuse again as I have that date booked too! The funny thing is I have just have “Talk” written down for the date & I have no idea to whom or where, but I know it’s something!
18th Oct. Til & Lois & I drove to Ruth’s. Til had a bottle of champagne given to her for her birthday so she took it along, but besides Mary & Ruth (the husbands were away on a hunting trip) quite a few of Ruth’s friends were in, so we had to wait till some of them went before we could even share it round! Ruth’s friends belonged to a Garden Club & there was a big Flower Show in Toledo, & all the Clubs were sending in hats decorated with flowers, berries etc. so they were doing theirs & of course I had lots of fun helping. It was a plain straw hat with a brim & we covered the brim with waxed autumn leaves & made a huge wreath to go round of corn, cranberries (red) acorns, bittersweet (orange) & all sorts of things, & put a few other leaves across the crown & it looked lovely. Lois took me in for a very rapid glimpse of the Flower show next night- it was crowded with people so we only rushed in & rushed out, but we saw the hats & ours was definitely the 2nd best. The very best was cut out of a dark & pale green melon & was a sort of toque with cascades of green & purple grapes! After we had finished the hat we all sat around the kitchen table & drank champagne & were quite hilarious on about 1/2 a glass! When we came away Til said I’d been a great hit with the Club ladies & that it didn’t do any harm to use my charm once in a while! That charm again!
19th Oct. I shopped at our local stores in the morning & in the afternoon Til & Lois decided that we would have a little party to ourselves that evening. So we dressed up & they took me out to dinner at a very nice place in town that I hadn’t been to before & then we went to a movie “Rage in Heaven”. Afterwards both Til & I confessed that we’d seen it before, but it was ages ago & neither of us realized until we saw the beginning. However we didn’t mind & we had quite a lot of fun.
I forgot to tell you when I was talking about Til’s dress for the concert, she took me with her to when she went to have it tried on one day, & the dressmaker’s name was Mrs. Niggermeyer!! I met Mr. N. & Mrs. N. & Son N. & they were all fat & Pop & Momma very talkative & intrigued with me as they’d never seen my ilk before! Son was fat & podgy & 28 & had been in the Navy & had been to College before & was an engineer. When Til went back later to get her dress Mrs N. asked her whether I would go out with her son, as he’d been so taken with me & wanted to call me up & have a date with me! Til nearly exploded as we’d both said how dull & awful he looked & said I how busy I was etc. & I’ve never heard anymore of it!
20th Oct. was the day I went to Church with Mr. & Mrs. Hawkins, & in the afternoon I finally met Joyce Cole & we went around the Museum together & had tea afterwards. She is a nice girl but I never seem to get any further with her – she is sort of calm & placid & she doesn’t laugh heartily at my wisecracks, but smiles politely instead, so I don’t feel that we’ll ever get to be more than passing acquaintances! Anyway it is her turn to call me, if we were to go out together again, so I’ll just leave it at that.
21st Oct. was the night of the P.T.A. at school. Mr. Nauts asked me in the afternoon if I’d “say a few words” at the meeting, so I didn’t bother to think of a thing, but when Lois & I went into the auditorium that evening & I saw all 1500 people sitting there, I nearly had a fit! I told you about speaking & dodging the mike, but I felt pleased because I made them laugh at least twice! I quite enjoyed meeting the parents afterwards but I went on too long!
22nd Oct. I went to see “Caesar and Cleopatra” by myself. The local cinema is just at the bottom of our street, & opens at 7 p.m. & you get in for 35¢. Everyone eats popcorn (except me) & the smell of it is awful!
23rd Oct. Til & I went to the Tea where the man talked about the New York theatres & then later I went to the “Rollercade” where the Home Ec Club was having a skating party. It was very boring really as it was a public rink & the kids just went in & skated round & round. I helped collect the money & pay the affair’s debts at the rink & then was glad to come home.
24th Oct. I went to town after school & bought a new hat & new shoes that I think I told you about – I like them both – especially the shoes. They’re dark brown- high heeled – with a bit across the front & just a heel strap – you can hardly buy a shoe here that has a filled-in heel!
25th Oct. was the day off for the North-Western Teacher’s Convention. It amused me to bits to see notices in all the shops, buses etc. “Welcome Teachers of Ohio “! I didn’t go to any of the big meetings but just to the Home Ec one where I spoke. I was quite scared about it, but when I was there & heard the other speakers, I thought, gosh, if I can’t do better than that I should be shot! In fact the more I hear of other speakers, the less ashamed I am of my own efforts! They were talking on “Home Problems” – one was a buyer in House things in a store – she wasn’t bad; – a housewife, who was ghastly; – a high school girl – the best of the bunch; & a health worker – boring! Then I came on!
Afterwards I met Pam & another teacher from Fostoria & we had a nice afternoon having lunch & shopping & going to see a picture “The Killers” which was good. Then we drove to Fostoria, about 40 miles, across very flat, rather poor farming country. Fostoria is a fair – sized little town & like every little town you see in American pictures! Pam lives with an old, kindly couple, the man semi-invalid, used to be a train driver. They were very nice to me & said I could come anytime. Pam is a nice lass- very open-airish, no make up & a bit puppy-fat looking! She has straight brown hair, my colour & fresh colour – but she has the “Ince” mouth- droopy! We got along fine – she has quite a nice room – not as nice as mine! – with a double bed. I inspected all her photos & she showed me all her clothes & we talked! Then we went out to dinner & to see Walt Disney’s “Make Mine Music”. Next day we slept late, then got ready & went to see the town. We went in nearly every shop & it was great fun & I bought my nice red shoes there. After lunch we went back to the house & by then I was foot-sore & weary, but Pam dragged me out again to go & see the Dean of Girls at her school, who is sister to a teacher at DeV. It was she who was burning leaves & Pam helped but there was no rake for me & I stood & froze while they gaily chattered, & you know how unhappy I get when I’m cold! I’m sure the lady thought I was a nasty bored individual, & so I am when I’m cold!
After dinner, I was to get the Greyhound Bus back to Toledo, but it was ages late & Pam & I waited & waited outside her house for it. We tried to stop a truck once thinking it was the bus, & a man offered me a lift & when I just gawped at him, he drove around the block & came back & asked me again! I said no thank you, I was waiting for the bus! When I did get the bus, we wooshed along & it was very comfortable & but all the lights were dimmed so you couldn’t read. It was nearly 11 when I got into Toledo, so I treated myself to a taxi home, & Lois & Til were so pleased to see me, that it was lovely getting back. They admired my new red shoes & I took Til a tiny baby cactus in a wee little pot from the 5 &10¢ store & she was most tickled!
27th Oct. I had a lovely quiet day doing my washing & writing letters.
28th Oct. was the day that Lois and I sat at home and spent the evening making pumpkin lanterns for Hallowe’en. I made mine like this – very happy & rather drunken looking with one tooth, and Lois made hers like this-very prim and disapproving looking! When Til came in we had the candles in and lit, and the lights out, & we told her to say who had made which, & she said that I must have made the prim one as she’d never seen a pumpkin looking like that before – it must be the English style! I told you that we’d made popcorn & drank cider – the cider is sort of home made, although you buy it at farm stalls & is in big jars & is non-alcoholic. But we left the jar in the little back porch & two nights later I heard a great bang & thought Lois had fallen out of bed or something. However, I didn’t hear anything else, so I went to sleep again but next morning we found the cider jar had exploded & there was a cider and glass all over the porch!
29th Oct we went to see Elsie & took her the pumpkins. Since the night she was at Til’s concert with us she had taken ill, and she has got worse if anything since then – weaker & attacks of nausea & headaches. She is convinced it is a brain tumor, and the nurse who nursed her before came to look after her & they made an appointment at the hospital in Boston where the specialist is, and just tonight they have got a compartment on the train & the nurse is taking her to the hospital. She seems to be desperately ill and Lois and she wondered if she’d ever come back.
30th Oct. I went to see Bob Hope in “Monsieur Beaucaire“.
31st Oct. was Hallowe’en and I went to the Pun’kin Prance at school & I think I told you how bored I was! How the teachers can bear to go and sit there and chaperone I don’t know – if I ever did it again I take a book, except that you’re stuck away in the darkest corner!
1st Nov. was the night Til & Lois & I were supposed to go to Bowling Green to see a “Water Pageant”, but it was pouring with rain & looked foggy too, so instead we all decided to go to the pictures & we saw Ingna Bergman in “Notorious” and it was lovely –a murder!
2nd Nov. I Christmas shopped & had lunch in town. It was crowded & rainy, but I got quite a lot of things & came home for tea. I shall enclose a list of what I sent to people so that you will know all the things I got. I wrapped up 11 parcels, & sent them off on Wednesday, so I hope they get there in time for Christmas. The parcels looked so pretty when I sent them – I hope they won’t get too battered & torn up.
3rd Nov. I went to tea with Davida Bailey & her Father, and they were both very nice & kind. He reminded me so much of Uncle John or one of those, with his Belfast accent, but she is a queer looking thin woman about 40, with glasses & a long thin red nose! The English wives that were there seemed quite nice, but I don’t know if I’ll see them again.
4th Nov. I went down to the YWCA & spoke to one of their clubs – the World Fellowship Interest Group. I think I told you about teaching them a song, & talking about Guy Fawkes. Some of the kids had made a Guy but he wasn’t a bit like our kind, – a sort of frame of pieces of wood & covered with newspaper. However we went out & burnt it in an open air grate in the “yard”, but they aren’t allowed to have fireworks or anything, so it was really wasn’t at all like Guy Fawkes.
6th Nov. was the night of the Faculty Turkey Supper & I think I told you most about that. There was nothing very exciting happened – I wore my red wool dress with the short sleeves.
7th Nov. I went to speak at Mrs. Nauts’ sorority. It was rather funny because Mr. Nauts said I must come to dinner with them beforehand & then Mrs. Nauts came & arranged the time to collect me & never mentioned dinner, & then later Mr. Nauts said something about when would I be ready & he was horrified that Mrs. Nauts hadn’t asked me to dinner, but he couldn’t get in touch with her then as she was out! So I had dinner at home! I wore my blue, long sleeved woollen dress, & I think I’m getting fat or something because it’s getting awfully tight, but everyone is very complimentary about it. It is also beginning to wear a bit at the seams at the back of the armholes, so I’m afraid it’s not going last very much longer. I’m sorry because I like that dress, but I shall try to patch it up and make it last. I talked about N/C & Cambridge that night, & told about the Roman Wall & Wallsend, & the Castle & the Cathedral & the docks & everything I could think of in N/C & then about Cambridge & the Colleges & the river & Grandchester & so on & they all seemed to enjoy it very much.
8th Nov. was Saturday – goody! – & I went & shopped again. I didn’t have many things to buy but it took me quite a while & I had lunch in town. Do you know Sat. mornings in town I do miss so much not having a friend to meet for coffee or even for lunch – it was such a nice pleasant friendly time, & I sat & had lunch by myself & quite felt quite forlorn at not knowing anyone just to chat too. Eventually an oldish dame came & sat at my table, so I talked to her but she wasn’t a very thrilling companion! That evening Lois & Til & I went to see “Cloak & Dagger” & it was quite good.
10th Nov. I washed my clothes & spent all afternoon packing parcels! In the evening I told you about going to speak at the Young People’s Club at the Church & how sweet they were about giving me a corsage etc. & taking me there & back. Then during the week I got a little letter from the Secretary thanking me.
11th Nov. I went to the dinner at the Hillcrest Hotel for the Pi Lamda Theta. It is quite a high class joint!, so I dressed up & wore my new black dress & washed my hair & Til said I looked very nice – & my fur coat on top. Then they gave me a white corsage with white ribbons so it quite completed my ensemble! I didn’t have to make a speech, so that was a change!
12th & 13th Nov. were lovely days – or rather evenings! I just sat at home & wrote letters & thoroughly enjoyed myself!
14th Nov. Mr. Nauts had mentioned something about going to Ann Arbor, Michigan State University, & so I went & asked him again & finally he couldn’t go, but Miss Pasch & Mr. Brown took me & it was really fun- getting a day off too! It was beautifully sunny & the drive was lovely & I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wore my new coat & hat to match!
15th Nov. I went to a tea & talk given by the Consumers Group of the Association of University Women. I only had to eat and listen, so it was quite fun & it was in a lady’s home & very informal which was nice. I wore my old tweed suit, which is very much admired over here – everyone calls it my “lovely English tweed”!
16th Nov. I was invited to go a motor ride with three of the DeV. teachers, a Miss Jacobs – big & tall, but a face rather like Miss Bullen’s, but not quite so nice – a Miss Warner- rather sappy- & a Miss Berwick – very gushy- none of them at all my type. In addition to that it was pouring with rain, so it wasn’t a very lively party! However they were very kind to take me & it was most interesting. I got home about 6, & Til & Lois & I went out for dinner & to a movie to see “Holiday in Mexico” which was nice & light & musical & in technicolor. There was a draw for 12 pairs of nylons, but we didn’t win any!
17th Nov. is today! I washed my hair, washed my clothes, took down the screens outside my bedroom windows all today! Then this afternoon I went to the Y.W.C.A. tea I told you about. I wore my blue wooly dress, new coat (without the fur) my fur hat & my new brown shoes, & Til & others admired my hat immensely. A nice man was there who is on the Board of Education & he was very complimentary & said how much he admired my little speech & that he thought I was a credit to my country! I’m always so pleased when people say that!!
I came home- Kathryn Meyers gave me a lift – just as Til came back from a Children’s Concert she’d been giving, & Lois came in with Ruth & her family from an Ice Skating Show they’ve been at, so we all went out to dinner.
I think I shall have to send this by sea, so I shall finish now, but I’ll enclose a picture of “Dearborn” the Inn we had lunch at yesterday & also a list of the Christmas presents. I shall try & write a letter, thanking you for all of yours, during the week, but this is going to be a busy week I think- three talks!
I do hope that everything goes well, honey & that you’re all well –
I am feeling very guilty because I haven’t written you a long letter to yourself for 2 weeks, and although you say not to bother because you know I’m busy, I like to keep up to date with my gossip with you. I certainly am busy, honey – I don’t think your daughter will ever have worked as hard in her life that she’s going to work these next few weeks, which will be quite a nice change for me, won’t it?! I never realized I was coming to America to TOIL! Last night I spent 2 1/2 hours marking papers for my classes, tonight I have just written 4 business letters (2 of them I had to write out twice because of mistakes! Loud curses!) and during the next 5 weeks, I have 11 social engagements, at 8 of which I have to speak! Besides that I am being asked to talk to some of the English classes in school, & that means double work, because they give me a list of subjects ranging from Chaucer, the Shakespeare Memorial Theater, G.B. Shaw, British Bird Life to English wild flowers, & although I can babble happily about flowers, I have to go to the library & read up some facts on Chaucer etc.! Then I have to leave my Home Ec class some work to do when I go to the English class, and then mark the work afterwards! I still haven’t finished my list of tasks though – two of the school social clubs – the Home Ec club & the Junior Friendship Club have asked me to be their Advisor (partly politeness – partly because I look young & giddy I think!) which entails going to some of their after school meetings– the Junior Party Committee have asked me to be a Chaperone(!!) at the “Pum’kin Prance”, their Halloween dance, and to crown it all Miss Sanger (the supervisor) has asked me to write a 900 word article for a Home Ec magazine on English Domestic Science – AND– the last straw! the girl at the British Embassy in Washington has written asking me if I will be one of about 1/2 a dozen teachers they are asking to keep an account of how their money lasts in the U.S.A. & how it compares with U.S. salaries – so that means I have to keep a record of every penny I spend & send a monthly account to Washington. Can you imagine! Why did they pick on me? They must know that I used to keep an account in Cambridge & think I’m used to it! So you can see I am busy – but don’t worry – it’s not really bothering me at all, and I am sure I shall manage all right, but I just like people to know the full extent of my activities!!!
I got another lovely long A.M. letter from you today posted 14th October I think – so it was most wonderfully quick. You were answering one of my A.M. letters, and saying you couldn’t realize that it was telling you of things I’d done just a few days ago, and I feel exactly the same way. It seems nearly impossible to today- Thursday- I should know all about your talking to Irene & seeing Denis & Winnie last Sunday! Ain’t life amazing! Talking of your A.M. letters, I have never had to pay extra postage on them, but I noticed Nan had to put 2/6 on her last letter. In the U.S. they send a letter back to you if it is overweight & I’ve had 1 or 2 returned to me for extra postage to be stuck on, so now I am more careful. Etta, Til’s sister in law, who comes and cleans the house on Fridays, is a dear, fat soul, a bit like an older Mrs. Scott, & she has brought me a little old rusty letter scales that she had at home, but it will be useful to me if I am doubtful, even though I don’t suppose it’s very accurate. Do you remember my ever telling you about how amused I was when Hugh said York was a “priddy ciddy” for “pretty city”? Well I was under the impression for weeks that Etta was Edda, & just to confirm it asked Til one day & overcame her with shame, she said! Since then Til always says E tt tt a with about 10 Ts, most distinctly!
Saturday 2nd Nov. 10 p.m.
Dearest Mummy – I said at the beginning of this letter that I feel guilty – now I feel downright ashamed of myself. But all the work I was telling you about seemed to catch up with me, and I just didn’t seem to have a moment to write any letters at all. I haven’t been naughty and been reading books either – I’ve been really busy! I think another thing too, it has been wonderful weather for the past few weeks, but so hot that I think it made me sort of tired, and when I tried to write to you in bed as I used to in Cambridge I just drooped & gave it up & went to sleep! I have decided now that I will send this A.M. and as I have far too much to say if I answer your letter & tell you the news too, I am going to answer your letters in this & then write a screed of my past doings & send it by sea. I think that is best, because you know the facts of my doings by my weekly A.M.s to you & Pop, so it doesn’t matter if the details are a bit late in arriving.
I didn’t get your letter this week yet – perhaps the air line pilot strikes or whatever it is, has delayed it a little, but I have here letters from you dated 20th S: 28 & 30th S: 11th O.: 21 O: so I will be kept busy answering all those! Before I begin on them though I must tell you that I heard from Jacob not long ago & he is well & happy in Amsterdam; & I had a letter from Anne & she & Tadek are engaged & she has the ring & everything! I sent her a cable today & wrote to her as well. They are very sad though because Tadek has been sent back to the Army in Scotland & cannot finish taking his degree in Cambridge, so I am going to see if I can do anything over here to help him get across. Anne also told me that Jessie Hall is going to London with the children (I haven’t heard a word from her since I came over) and Jessie F. is having a dreadful time finding a place to live- and that the late murderer Heath was Ralph Fisher’s (Jessie’s brother) best friend when they were in the R.A.F. & that letters from Heath to Ralph were in all the papers! Did you see any of them? Jessie kept it very dark until it came out in the papers apparently. I had a letter from Jessie herself – very short though – enclosing a letter from- who do you think? – Alastair Fraser! I laughed & laughed! He apologized for not writing sooner, but said he had hoped to come & see me in Cambridge but as soon as he was demobbed they slipped him home & he was writing on board ship! Wasn’t it a good job he didn’t go to Cambridge? He gave me his address & asked me to write again! Wasn’t that funny? I heard from U. Artie too this week – a letter to tell me about the postage to England being reduced – wasn’t that sweet of him? And he also said that Aunt Ettie and Aunt Muriel had arrived safely in New York after flying from the W.I.! Aren’t they having fun?!
Now, at long last for your letters – the first one you enclosed the Pearl cheque, which I have signed & am returning, & also Ken Grundy’s letter to you- thank you for both. I wrote to Ken & also wrote to Carl a little while ago, just to say hello, but I haven’t had any reply. I must write to François sometimes – I asked Hugh about him, but he hadn’t heard anything about him recently. I was most interested to hear all about the American girl, Miss Johnson, you met at Mary Nutley’s – I am so glad that you got a chance to meet her at & liked her & that you saw her again. I feel awfully pleased that you & all the girls are meeting the Americans in N/C & inviting them to bees & things because as far as I can make out Marie isn’t getting very many invitations in Cambridge & I think it is lovely to go to informal friendly parties rather than the big, professional functions that I have to go to here. In that way you can make real friends & that is what I do miss here – getting to know other girls my own age & tastes & having them just to go out with to a picture or something in the evening. That is why I think it’s just grand that Mary has become friendly with Miss J. & I think it will be lovely for them both. Anne said that she had heard from Mary, & so I hope that they all managed to meet Anne & Marie & they that they had fun. I wrote a letter to Mary not long ago, & enclosed a note to Bunty with best wishes for the baby! I am looking forward to hearing how Irene’s Anglo-American Bee went, & what you all thought of the Wallsend exchange teacher. I have discovered that there is another English teacher in Michigan not far away so I thought of getting in touch with her too.
You ask in one of your letters about the Lake here, & whether it is built up etc – I don’t remember if I told you or not, but I have never even seen the Lake yet except from the plane that time. Til & Lois are so busy that they don’t have the time to drive me around much, & that is where I miss having a friend who would do things with me. Also, I am so busy at weekends, I have so many other jobs to do that I don’t get around to jaunting & over here, you know what it’s like, if you don’t have a car, you are so handicapped and going anywhere take such a long time. However Pam Holbrow & I are planning some trips together, so maybe I will be able to tell you all about the lake soon. Toledo, by the way, is a city a bit bigger than N/C, but very “sprawly” about the outskirts. To W. Toledo, where I live, there is a street car (tram to us) which takes 30 to 45 mins. to go into town, but the centre of the town is quite compact. There are quite a lot of nice stores- Lamson’s and Lasalle’s are the 2 big good ones & lots of other cheap little shops of course. The Municipal Buildings are new & very imposing, but the middle of the town is crowded & dirty just like any other city!
I was glad that you had seen Katie & Edgar, & that Katie was looking well – I must send them a P.C. sometime. I sent P.C.s to Maud, Bella & Mrs. Johnson the other day & I wrote to Winnie & Dennis for Bobby’s birthday- today. I hope she got it all right. You were asking about all these functions – where they were “hen” or mixed – most of them are females only, but when the men teachers are there it doesn’t make much difference because they are all old & dull & like men teachers I’ve met anywhere! I don’t think I’ve spoken to a nice, unattached young man since I came to Toledo- barring a truck driver I met went Til went to get her driver’s license & he wanted to make a date with me! Oh – I forgot the pilot at Lois’ airfield, but he is just friendly & not at all interested in me & of course Til’s son Bill has been home twice but he’s married anyway & I never did more than speak 2 words to him when we were having breakfast! In fact Toledo reminds me very much of N/C with the MAN situation! I must see what I can do elsewhere! Of course, the thing is too, that all the teachers I am in contact with are so much older & not interested in men & don’t ever seem to ever go out with them or anything.
I had a letter from Irene the other day thanking me for some magazines I sent & telling me of how much she had got for selling my clothes! I think it is a wonderful idea, & nice to have some money to come back to! They (Irene and Bill) seem to have got the wedding all settled now, & I do hope that the house is ready & that everything goes well for them. I think it should be very nice, & you must be sure to go looking your most dashing! Have you worn your red hat yet?! I wonder if Irene has got her parcel yet – I don’t know if I told you, I finally sent two sets towels for the wedding present & a length of pretty cloth for tea towels & a pr. of pure silk stockings! I do hope she gets it all right. You know since I’ve been here I’ve sent 11 parcels, & I haven’t heard of any of them arriving yet – I’ll be mad if they don’t! You’ll be wondering what the 11 are, so here goes: –
Dottie- birthday – groceries & candy & lipstick
Anne & Tadek- candy (Tadek’s birthday)
Coleridge staff- candy
Mary Egan- stockings & a bib for Anne
Zinnia- birthday- cotton sunsuit (red) & a little blue cotton dress for the baby
Irene- parcel- I told you about
Jessie’s H & F.’s birthdays together so I sent them 2 prs. Earrings & 2 bottles nail varnish to split between them. The earring were cute- 1 pr. was little silver daggers & the other little gold hearts with arrows through.
Peter Burton- birthday- candy
Mrs Allen- Food parcel
Mrs Ewing- Food parcel
Mrs G. (Ludwik’s mother)- Food parcel
I sent the latter latter just about two weeks ago & I do hope you & Maud get them safely. I can hardly remember all the funny things I put in, but in Maud’s I put one or two little things for Winnie & Bella & in yours I put a little tin for Mrs. J- and in Maud’s there were some biscuits for the Bee too. I got coffee & cocoa & soap & candy for Mrs. G. and packed it well, but I wonder if the poor old lady will ever get it. I was just horrified when I took the parcels to the P.O. to post them, because apart from the cost of the things inside they cost $3 (15/) for postage alone! I nearly collapsed! I am being very good over birthdays etc. & send cards to everyone- I sent one to Miss Lefroy amongst other people & am sending off Peter B’s, Anne Eagan’s & Geraldine Kerr’s this weekend. I get such a kick out of buying all the pretty cards! I tried to get Anne a congratulations on engagement card today, but I couldn’t find one, so I made up a little verse and sent it with a perfume flower made of paper instead.
You were asking about my classes & they are getting on as usual- this weekend the teachers are “grading”- that is giving each student in their classes a mark A B C D or F, which is fail. They get this done 4 times in a year & the grade goes on their “grade card” which is like a report & is shown to the parent & then kept at school as a record. I have a whole pile of grade cards to fill out & a mountain of “booklets” to mark. We have been doing “Breakfasts” & besides talking about them and cooking them, the kids have been writing about them & illustrating the papers with pictures & making booklets. Some of them are just beautiful with wonderful drawings & covers & cut out pictures & even little cellophane packets of coffee etc. stuck in, to show the different beverages! But the time it takes to mark them – oh my! My bad boys in my home room go on as usual – but they are really so funny that they make me laugh! There’s no wickedness in them at all, but they’re just full of wisecracks & chatter & after all, after being quelled by a very strict old maid (not Miss Stoll) that they had as their H. room teacher before me, I don’t wonder! However, when it’s necessary I can keep them quiet but when there is nothing definite to do, I let them talk. I still have my lovely boys in my cookery classes, but they are getting on all right & don’t seem to mind & they’re nice too & never give me any bother. It amuses me to see them there, though!
You ask in one of your letters about my new coat, & I can’t remember if I told you about it before or not. Anyway I’ll tell you now. It is what they call “smoke white” in colour – that is a pale greyish beige – it is very thick with a padded lining & it has a little grey musquash tie at the neck which is detachable. The sleeves are big & balloonish which is apparently fashionable & as it is such an undecided colour it is very useful because I can wear it with black, or brown or anything. Last weekend I got a pair of brown shoes (high-heeled!) and a hat to match the coat. It is a sort of furry felt in a beret shape with a gold ornament on one side & sits on the back of my head. I also got a very cheap cotton brown dress – or rather, it’s a skirt with a little short sleeved jacket – as I was very short of thin things to wear at school & it was so hot. You asked about my salary, but I don’t actually have it sent to me here – all I do is go to a Bank with my Letter of Credit & draw out what I need. I find things pretty expensive of course, & with my coat I seemed to spend a lot, but taking out £50 pounds for my fare back, I divided the remaining money in 4, & for the 1st 3 months I had just spent about a 1/4 of my money, including the coat, so I thought it wasn’t so bad. I now pay Til $12 a week (£3) which includes room (& cleaning of it) also use of everything in the house- breakfast & dinner, whether we go out or stay in– and my afternoon cup of tea! That leaves me with lunches to buy in the school cafeteria, & it usually costs from 40¢- 50¢ even at the cheapest, & as we only have toast & marmalade & coffee & sometimes fruit for breakfast, I am always hungry! All of the teachers get more salary than I do – I don’t mean just more salary than I do, but more than the £500 I have for the year. – And they are threatening to strike because they are so underpaid. Some of the wages you hear of are terrific – some of the pilots at the airport get $400 a month! And don’t seem to be able to keep out of debt on that even. It is a shame really that prices should be so high & us so restricted when we are here, because it does make you so money-conscious & I’m always feeling I must be careful when I choose a meal, & don’t like to buy a dress when I see one I like just in case my money won’t do. It would be lovely if I could really buy & send all the lovely things I see, too. I think I told you that I got paid $10 for my talk last week- & I went right out and bought a nice pair of dark red shoes this time! (This is the first time I ever got paid for talking.) I only hope that someone else gets the bright idea of paying me for speaking!
I am glad that you & Dottie had a nice time together in town – I owe her two letters, so I must write to her tomorrow. I don’t wonder that she is fed up, poor Dottie – it is horrible for her, I think, & of course everyone moving around & doing things makes it worse for her. I am glad that Michael & Mary are going to Manchester, by the way – or rather, glad that Michael has a job, even though it is Manchester. I didn’t know Marjorie Barton was moving to Leeds – it will be an improvement on W. Hartlepool I should think! Don’t you worry about what Dottie says about me & Hugh Mummy – Dottie wrote as much to me herself, & I’m not worried, because I know that it just isn’t so. Dottie has quite a bee in her bonnet about Lee, but I am quite convinced that Lee hasn’t a bother in the world about Hugh & me, & she & I got quite matey & she even told me how difficult Hugh was to get on with at times etc. etc. in a very wifely way! Also, she didn’t mind a scrap about J.P. liking me- she told me herself & laughed about it – I can imagine Dottie being jealous over Peter- not that I can visualize Peter being attached to anyone older, but J.P. is an affectionate little boy & when Jim Wallerstein is there he adores Jim, & the same with other visitors & the same with me. And I am quite sure that Hugh’s Father and Mother wouldn’t have been so kind & sweet to me if they thought I was doing any harm, nor they nor Lee herself invited me back. Not that I’m certain I will go back- one reason I’d like to, is that they were all so kind to me & that I get a chance of seeing another type of home & life in this country, but I won’t go if they don’t make a point of really asking me again. Since I’ve been here I’ve written once to thank Lee & Hugh for having me & I got a reply from Hugh about 2 weeks ago, so I don’t think that I’m having a disturbing influence on the Brown family. I honestly do think that Dottie is making a mountain out of a molehill & giving it an importance it doesn’t deserve – so don’t you worry about your erring daughter honey – I am really very sensible!
I was so amused at Mrs. Johnny’s nearly laughing herself silly over my Persian love affair! I’m sorry I have no more thrilling episodes to tell her! I promised the poor little man I’d write you know, and I kept putting it off & putting it off, but I felt that I simply had to keep my word for the honour of England! So last week I wrote a very short note & told him I hadn’t written before as I hoped he would forget me – that the whole thing was impossible & that it was better if we didn’t begin a correspondence!
You were talking about my “pals” the Atkinsons in one of your letters, & last week they asked Til to tell me that they were going up to Windsor in Canada today & would I like to come too. Well, of course I’d loved to have gone, but I just felt that I couldn’t stand driving all that way with them, so I said I was sorry, I was busy! I was too, because I did a lot of my Christmas shopping today, but I’ll tell you more about that in my next letter. Anyway Pam H. & I are thinking of going to Detroit & Windsor one weekend ( there’s just a river between the two) so I’ll see it in more congenial company! The Atkinsons haven’t any family at all.
I was awfully sorry to hear about the Scotts having to have poor little Goldie put down – I know how much they’ll all miss her – she was such a pet. I am sure that they’ll have plenty to do with the wedding plans just now, so they won’t have so much time to think about it. I am most intrigued to hear about all the liquor Mr. Scott has for the wedding – you go ahead and have fun! Do you remember you and me going to Brenda’s Arthur’s party at Blyth & coming giggling home afterwards!! By the way, I was so glad to hear that the family had met Jane & Bill & were charmed with Janie. I am pleased that you heard from Janie herself too but I expect that she is finding it rather strange even though she is enjoying it. I was awfully sorry to hear about Billo’s trouble, but I do hope that it is nothing serious & that it will soon clear up, but it is a shame, & also about the Trinidad Oil people not keeping his job for him. I do hope that they get settled soon, because I expect it is all being quite a strain on them both, but maybe once Bill gets to work things will be better.
I was glad that you saw little Mrs. White & heard all the news about Mary. I hope that she gets some place to live soon too, because their married life has been a series of moves, poor dears, & they must be longing to get more settled down. I am glad that Olwen & her baby are well too, but did she tell you if Noel had got a job yet, or what was happening? Imagine Mrs. White turning down a chance of coming to America free! Of course, I suppose she isn’t well, poor little woman, & doesn’t want to leave Gerard or Mary or the baby, but maybe the trip would do her good, as well as being a lot of fun. I was interested to hear about your meeting Norman Luke’s wife too & that she is actually nice- poor girl!
I was so surprised about A. Trix saying she thought I might hate it here & be very unhappy – it just shows how little she knows me! I can’t imagine myself settling down to be unhappy just because I was in a strange place – certainly it’s not what I imagined, but I never even dimly visualized being miserable!
I loved hearing about the Mannequin Parade & the Goldwyn Girls – it must have been lovely. It sounds really pre-war to have such things again, doesn’t it? I’d love to see the cutting if you send it. I was sorry to hear that you don’t think Nan & Dottie had a very exciting time at the Lakes – it is such a shame that they had to take Peter too, because it is such a tie, & other people’s children all the time are a bit wearing! I do hope that your conjectures about Nan & Dick aren’t really true – not that I was wild about Dick as you know, but I should hate to have Nan miserable about it. Do let me know if you find out any more. Imagine Maud pulling your leg about going out – as Daddy says she is the one that’s always gadding about! And why shouldn’t you go out too, I’d like to know. Regarding the gas ovens by the way – you can tell Denis that they are not only gas, but they’re old-fashioned models too & that I’d much prefer electricity if he could arrange it! Til and Lois have a most beautiful modern gas stove though – it is a dream of white enamel & all the burners & oven light themselves & it is all covered in & beautiful. The oven has a glass door & lights up as you open it & can be regulated to the minute- it’s really lovely.
You asked about the English girl, Vida McCartney – she is the one, married to a man, Fraser, who has begun a nurseries and flower shop with his brother. One of the other English teachers, Dorothy Lake (she was in my cabin) is a great friend of Vida’s & visited her in Toledo & left a message for me at the Y.W. giving me her address. So I phoned her that very first week & went out with her & Fraser & liked them both quite well – but neither of them actually “my type”! Vita is very clever I think- was with the B.B.C. & met Fraser before the war when he was studying horticulture at Kew. The dumb English girl at the Atkinson’s I’ve never seen since – thank goodness!
I forgot that I had never told you much about Bill, Til’s son – actually I haven’t much to tell as I’ve hardly seen him, as I told you earlier in this letter. But he’s tall & nice looking & is quite jolly & full of wisecracks like Til. Til told me once that it wasn’t his wife’s fault that the marriage went to bits, but another time she told me about the girl & she seems to have been the laziest little slut you ever heard of! Til used to go over every day & clean the house & wash the nappies or they would never have been done, & she just lay on the couch all day & sometimes did didn’t even wash her face or comb her hair all day, although she was very pretty. She was a spoiled Southern girl apparently & went on being that way. She looks pretty in her picture, but the two little boys look podgy! Bill didn’t leave the States during the war- he was a navigating instructor & has just become a pilot since.
I must stop now as my arm is just about dropping off & goodness knows how much this letter weighs! I’m glad that Pop is keeping more cheerful – does he bother to read my long A.M.’s & does he make any comments? Take care of yourself- My love to all the girls- old & young! And lots of love for you from
Cyn
When I sorted and organized these letters a dozen years ago, I left a note on this one: ‘Sometimes you realize she was only 31.’ The mother I knew would have been more knowledgeable about how busy her friend Jessie would have been with a toddler and a newborn- but this Cynthia obviously wasn’t. Also, I suppose, not much was known in those days about postpartum depression, and if Bill’s poor wife met with no sympathy, it’s no wonder the marriage broke up.
A Family History in Letters 