July 19, 1943.Dear Marion,
You're lucky - getting a chance to get up to school. I'd sort of like to go up myself, but it is too far and too expensive. Anyway, with the time going by so quickly, it won't be long. When you go down to Mt. View for those snapshots, I don't doubt that you will have a look-see to determine if any repairs are being made!! The best title I can think of for that place is "Pandemonium" - and I'm so afraid that's what it is going to be. Incidentally, I'm having "titles" for my pictures too, I've been calling them "captions". Seems our minds run in the same track.
If you think it was funny the way Peggy and I cleaned the dishes at 1:A.M., you should have seen us cooking the meal that dirtied the dishes. It was a riot! - yeah, a panic! - Peg and I cooking a meal between fits of laughter. Oh, what a roar! I'll tell you about it sometime.
I sent my Uncle Eddie what I thought were the best snapshots of the year, and the ones that would give him the best idea of what goes on at Mount Holyoke. I sent: one of Pearsons, in the snow; one of the hill by Pratt where we skied with Mandelle in the background, the one of M.L. and I on skiis [sic] at the top of the hill; one of me on my bike; one of the WAVES going around the corner of S.A.H.; and one of M.L. Selma and I with our families - won't he love that? I can't wait until you get it developed, to find out what you think of it.
Speaking of Eddie, we went over to visit the girl he's engaged to last night. She showed us the letters she got from him recently, both dated in June. They were real long ones, in which he told her about all the places he'd been and action he'd been in - it must have been terrific! He told her about the day he'd gone up to the Bulletin Board and was surprised to learn of his promotion to P.F.C. - it was so cute the way he described it. Daddy got a letter from Eddie this past Saturday, July 17, via airmail, written July 9, postmarked late on the 10th. Remember, I told you we thought it went to Sicily, but after a letter written the 9th from Africa, it doesn't seem logical; he would surely have left Africa before then if he were going to Sicily - altho' there is always the chance that the Field Artillery moved in afterwards, when we got some ground captured in Sicily - he'll let us know, in time. That is good time, don't you think, even for air-mail - only a week from Africa to Haddonfield? I'll try to get the envelope for you - it has a censor's stamp on it, but no place where it was opened, since it was censored before being sealed. The same censor always inspects Eddie's letters - he's a 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery that Eddie's in.
I got a letter from Tom this morning. He's having quite a time of it up in New London - what a grind it must be! He gets no leaves for six weeks - and when he does he has to stay within a radius of 15 miles. So goodby, Hartford, goodby! He says however that this is only rumor, so things may really be better - they do those things I know, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was such a restriction.
Last Thursday, I almost had a job! I got a call from an Advertising Co. over in Philadelphia and they wanted me for an office job. So I went all the way over there, only to find out it was a permanent job. The way they got my name was this: I'd spoken to one of my girl friends who has a job in Philly, and she said if she heard of any openings would she let me know. This woman with whom she works had a daughter at this Advertising Co. and when the woman told her of this opening, she gave her my name with the understanding that it was a summer job - and when they called me I though they only wanted me for temporary. I know my girl friend wouldn't recommend me for a permanent job, she goes to Smith and knows I'll go back to M.H. in the fall.
I talked with her that night at a swimming party over at her family's pool. She was surprised to hear it was a steady job. It was a neat party, the refreshments were very good and quite a few girls were there - yes, it was strictly "femme" - gosh, could it be anything else in these times? Anyhow, it was honestly loads of fun.
Must close now. Dig up some more dirt and write to me all about it - soon as possible.
Love, & xxxxxxxxxxxx
Betty