Sat Oct 2
Dear Peoples,
As I was saying, Margretta Hallock reviewed the Medium for the Gazette because they had no reporters left to do it, and Jim Higgins called t [sic] Bert Smith for suggestions and he suggested Jo Adkinson or M.H. and Jo wasn't around, so they got Margretta. And when she handed in her critique, she said the play scared her so much and she was so absorbed that she drove the wrong way home and almost got lost. What a fat head. Go see the Medium and see if you agree. I as half scared to go to see the darned thing, all I can say is she either saw a different movies [sic] than I did or your Margretta is more unbalanced than I suspected.
Floss and Jack flew to N.C. over the week-end to fish. Just 180 dollars round trip for the plane alone. T'other week-end they flew to Canada to buy a head of lettuce. Floss is taking flying lessons, it requires 8 hours inst. before you can solo and she has 1/2 hour so far.
O, by the bye, I ran into Miss Bortner last night. She [i]s on sick leave from teaching, and is working at the 5 and 10, grand or grants. I talked to her and she spoke nicely of Jane and didn't have Pat in school. But, she [i]s just as vague as ever. So nice, its [sic] a shame she [is] a poor thing. Some one missed the boat - I mimeograph the part of the letter, so that I don't have to repeat the news or miss some of it. Don't bother sending the letters on to each other as most of its [sic] the same.
They have orange-rustish knee length stockings at Wiests. Real nice to have heard from your parents Pats ma visited in person and brot [sic] me the red shoes and Janes ma called and talked to me on the phone. Mase is busy at work inventing something, Refrigeration Piping Connector. (its [sic] a piece of copper pipe that goes around a corner and you can blow into it but nothing comes out cause its [sic] stuffed up). The duct work came for the furnace t'other day. Right now is being delivered the wood for the forms for the retaining wall which will cast 75$, but for that one wall, 3 feet high 20 feet long, doing all the work ourselves. (As in broke.)
Alfred C Bentz is having a 'Spanish Fair' Oct. 3. Guess hes [sic] back from Spain.
Well, I had my hair cut last night at Ena Marias last night for the last time. I've never seen a worse mess, shes [sic] horrible at that. I looked scalped, its [sic] cut above my ears. and no curl thinned to the point of baldness.
Now, I'm working on ivy growing. Got one planned for the house, you grow it around a pole made of wirecloth what has been filled with peat moss and vermiculite etc.
Alice Hoffers moving her shop to right beside Ena Marie, thats [sic] right across from the Y.W. Phillis Hobbes M.D. used to be there and shes [sic] going to build the front like Herb Lees joint. The pilot Club of York is going to sponser [sic] 3 plays by professionals. the first to be O Mistress Mine, which is real soon sometime in October and the other two to be announced.
The little monsters are on an outing. Peggy took them up to the 'Tusk a rorers' I don't know how to spell that or where it is. But, they're gone as of 9;30 this a.m. and won't be back until to-morrow a.m. I don't approve and am most unhappy. They sit and write many letters to you all but none is legible or else they get off until something else. Pat asked for dragons pictures of, and they immediately started drawing like mad. However, I would wait until they hit a good one, or good something, then I'll pass patout it, if thats spelled wrong, the hell with it and send it along. Both of the boys get pretty tired. (Pooh is sick) In fact, Toby comes down for breakfast, then goes right back up to play with Fritz and Suzy, he also closes the door so that his friends won't get out. All morning long he lies on the bed, talking, playing records, looking at books, then he trots off to school at 12;30, comes home and goes to sleep until dinner, wakes eats, plays and goes back to school bed. I asked Pewterbaugh about it and he said that would continue for quite a spell as a child that young isn't used to the strain and he also said that sending a 6 year old all day was too much and if Joby got too tired, keep him home in the p.m. as 6 years is the lowest resistance age for monsters. However as long as they're in bed every nite on time and eat enough, I'm happy enough and so are they, thats [sic] the reason I'm not too hep on this trip they're on now. They are too young and get too tired. Children and animals put up a front and won't stop until they drop. Methinks they can be pushed too far.
Its real humidity full here, everyones dripping, surely its just as hot there? I bought a steel gray corduroy with blue overtones for that sofa bed, but haven't hit on anything for das sofa as yet. Cole is in Marysville with Howie Marshall, something politico and will return this pm. He has the regular 9-5 shift now. Toby has a physical checkup oct 11, I'll let you know his size and weight and height. Sister Betty
[The first page was mimeographed and the second page is not]
Well, I ain't no other paper availble [sic], so I'm getting hell from Mase for using his expensive graph paper that he stole from York Corp. I hope you notice wher[e] it is made. Comments on your letter - for one thing, I don't have to stop and translate any French, I kin read whatever YOU write right off the bat. Real glad you like your school and am sorry you didn't take Ann Finkbinder with you. Have an extra copy of your reading list. Toby [i]s doing fine at school and likes it but has more to do than you. Every damned day he brings home papers to be filled out and returned, P. T. A., magazines, 'the first grade is selling candy for the benefit of the safety patrol', paper collection, pennies for the Red cross, milk money, bank money, diptheria [sic] shot, dental honor roll. Gee, the list just goes on and on. Do you get the York Newspaper? If so, I won't send you any of the clippings or junk from them. Colby is in the play, part of the drunk. Incidentally, the first sheet of my letters I mimeograph, bothe [sic] you Jane and you get the same first page. The second page is for you only. IF I want or need anything sent to each other, I'll specify, such as, will you send the inclosed clipping onto Jane, Pliz.?
Dear child, under separate cover, some time next year, I'm sending along a small pkg. I have it ready, after a fashion. But, it's so difficult for me to get down town to mail it. So, hold your patience and know I've been thinking about you. Also, see if you can tell me - not what it is - but for what it should be used. Also, I just finished painting the piano black. In order to put that paint on that is polka dotted, it must have a flat black base. That I did this afetr [sic] and like it so well I decided not to polka dot the pianer after all. Now, I'm concentrating on child psychology, to get Mase to let me spray that wall that goes up the steps in the polka paint. So far, no luck. Hes [sic] putting in the forms for the wall. Oh yes, your ma told me about your room too, and about your socks, if you can't block them correctly, I'd be glad to try. As for the instructuoins [sic], you'll find that the arglyes [sic] that I'm sending that you saw are made the same as the orange ones you made, the only difference being - yours are longer, and please make no bones about the beige ones, I did the best I could. Off hand, could you tell me if Jane would like a pair? I'd like to make her a pair after I get caught up, I'm still laboring on the cowboy sweater and am working on the back now,. [sic] I must make the boys mittens after that and then have about 3 prs. of argyles to make for friends, also for Xmas Mr. Gerhart wants a tie and socks to match. I would like to know, because every once in a while I see some lovely combinations of yarn (reduced, because theres [sic] only 1 oz. or so) and I am tempted. I am sending Janie a scrapbook. looked all over town and Schmutz was the only place left, and there I got one, he had only two others one at $25 and the other at $35.
For your information, your letters are read thrice, one to the boys, one at the dinner table to Cole and Mase, and one to me to answer. Cole says to say luve and spell it in capitol letters and you'll get the significance and Mase says that goes double for him.
Thats [sic] all the news I got for now, so I'll write again when the scandal piles up. I got to start teaching Sunday School again. They called and asked for me to return, they're short teachers and need good ones and what could I say? Your theatre sounds lousy, however, keep me infor [word ran off the paper] whoops, informed, I like to hear all the junk - takes me back -- too far. Come to think of it that was only 46 -
thats all fathead - love & stuff (mostly the stuff!)
Dotty