Rev. Dr. William M. Nesbit
230 Portsea StreetNaugatuck, Conn.
New Haven, Conn.Jan. 18, 1941.
Dear little Girl,
I have cooked the breakfast and syphoned the "Bug's" tank - and am so completely exhausted - I am sitting down - and taking my pen in hand. I don't overdo in any way - just sit or lie right down. Mr. Noyes is back in bed with a relapse - Mrs. Umlauf was back in bed. The Radio just broad cast for Conn. The epidemic is light - seventy thousand cases in Conn. Ten thousand children sick in Hartford alone - Papa is taking quinine and aspirin. John Donovan has it - all the infirmary is full. Jane Wyatt hasn't had it - but said the infirmary is full - and they have had to make other rooms into more infirmaries.
The weather here is overcast - and the side-walks are clear - on this side of the way - but on the other side - thick ice. The "gutterman" came and emptied the ashes - and will bring us a new burner - for the garden some day net week (that is if he remembers it) Papa notified him two weeks ago - the ash cans were full, and he has been too busy to take them until to-day. The ice was so bad in New York and Brooklyn during the ice-storm that there were over 1000 hospital or rather ambulance calls - for people who had fallen and almost as many in Brooklyn. One of the five trains from New Haven was stuck on Hell Gate Bridge - due to overweighting the wires with ice - for 3 hours - and they sat in the train and could see the lights in New York City. They had no heat - so the train-men - hand to get them hot coffee. This cold wave also struck Europe and the British Isles and one of the commentators from London - said that the weather was bitter but that he wasn't allowed to give the thermometer reading - He also said that - the apartment that he lives in - is warmed by a central heating plant which can no longer be used - (to conserve coal) and he said he was glad to get down into the shelter from which he broadcasts - as it was warm down there. You know the building from which they broadcast - was totally destroyed, - five of the men who were broad casting were killed.
Before I forget, Papa's slippers came O.K. and they are fine and warm and just the right size. It is so nice when you give something to have it so satisfactory. Papa is going out to post this and get some eats for to-morrow but he won't linger in the melting snow. We cannot use our car - as the ice is so thick - on the driveway - LeRoy couldn't break it - so the car is in the Garage - safe and sound. I keep leaving out letters - it is quite an effort to write and if that don't sound silly - but it isn't.
[change to Papa's handwriting]
Those slippers certainly feel nice on the paternal pedes - warm and fit just right. So when I put them on I have comfy thoughts concerning my A1 glamour girl.
On Mon. evening I arrayed myself in tuxedo etc. and went to the Stamp Dinner at Chase Country Club. Had a flat, of course, but finally got there with Mr. Carpenter. I talked on "Stamps Produced by War" (covering the period prior to the World War.) Had good eats.
Wed. evening Dan took me to a special affair of the Seymour Stamp Club. My friend DeGroat, of the New Haven Club talked on "Architecture on Stamps." 'Twas very good. Dan's brother went along, and drove the car (which I think was Mr. Stattuck's).
Thurs. and Fri. we have been snowed, iced, and sleeted, in. I am now going out to sample the slush.
With multitudinous lotions,
Vestri adorantes.
Parentes.