A Letter written on Mar 7, 1920

Sunday, March 7

Dear Margaret:

I hope the tail-end of the blizz didn't put the skids under the show, because it was embalmed in type today anyway, whether it was given or not. Here's the clipping, and it got preferred position, in the social and women's activity section I fondly trust you won't feel moved to do a handspring of horror at the augmentation of the comedy phases of it. [The clipping is no longer with the letter.]

I am getting my Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Goldfish pretty well organized. Got a new vice-president yesterday and expect to make a fair showing when the Society, in conjunction with the Providence Goldfish Association, holds its annual bench show next month. Chief trouble now is the officers are quarrelling [sic] over the color of ribbons to be awarded as premiums. Some say the regulation blue ribbon isn't adapted to the chromatic beauties of a goldfish, and we ought to make it pink.

Got the bulk of the new house organ writing for the bank done the other day, and the advertising firm handling it seemed fairly enthusiastic. The chief triumph has been in forcing the bank to accept the coined name we wished onto it, and the resulting debates. The retail store project is now in process of being advertised by mail, the first letters having gone out last week. And it's about time to begin the May Ad-route. So that I manage to keep several lines of interest to amuse me. In addition to which, next Sunday is auto show issue, in consequence of which I shall have to do most of the make-up routine. Alas!

Tell me frankly if you think I overdid the faculty show thing. You see I'm interested in knowing the reaction of those who are about to be advertised. That's quite a factor just now in the bank work.

Love to you,
Walter [Walter Savage Ball, Margaret's brother]

BY THE way - Today's Boston Advertiser used in its bulldog edition Mount Holyoke publicity yarn on declining birth rate, and headed it: "Smith college -- etc" Your pub. manager ought to file a protest. The name Mount Holyoke was used several times in the text, so it was an inexcusable slip.