Name/Title
Spalsbury: #117 Letters From Kathleen R. Morrow Apr 20, 1943Entry/Object ID
2021.2.361A-EScope and Content
Letter from Kathleen R. Morrow, 2311 Francis St, St. Joseph, Missouri to Pvt. Robert C. Spalsbury, Btry.
C-57th A. A. Training Base, 4th Platoon, Camp Callen, California. Postmarked APR 20, 1943, 12-M, St. Joseph, MO., 3¢ stamp.
This is the first letter in the Letters from Kathleen Morrow collection. It is on light blue stationary with her name and return address at the top of the pages and on the upper back of the flap of the envelope.Context
Monday, 1943
Dear Bob, alias Pvt Spalsbury,
Well, now that I have your card, I suppose I'm obliged to write you a nice long letter to keep up with my other competition, though you haven't been as faithful as my other customers, even Sewell, and esp. Snuffer, which reminds me that its wonderful you two are so close together; if you see him, tell him I'll write him soon but that I've owed you longer. (Do you know I haven't answered Leland's letter of March 4th yet?)
To get down to business, the deer ole C.P.L. is still functioning, but vaguely, and if it weren't for Bob's nice personality I'm afraid I'd be terribly tired of his big ears. I think you did the library a good dead by joining the Army, form I've noticed that I'm never balled = bawled out for talking to the other page. Incidentally, don't mention this, but Schneider may not keep his job since it doesn't pay enuf. You no doubt heard about "Polkie" having the breakdown, and Mrs. Miller taking over her job ^for the present. Honestly it's bad enuf having all those morons and crackpots (Grinny came back on a furlough last week!) without having the staff we do. (Have Gleason, Polk, Ray & even xxxxxxxx ←censored) but you know what I mean. That ole Jewish guy who grins & is nearsighted. (the one you imitated so well) still haunts the place, and deer lil Freeland Penney was in tonight, but didn't approach me, (I must be losing my grip) I now work on Mr tel. and F. nights for the duration of Polkies illness. Lawlor & I have a pavie & we invariably wind up talking about you with her saying, "Well, now that I know where he is I'll write him". Does she? I'll wander back to this subject later.
Kathleen Lard has won some slat of a scholarship for next year, & her mother is quite logically proud of her.
Little Hawman is applying for my job at the C. P. L. but I think Janet Priebe will get it.
Penny Whistles is going to press soon now and I'll have to story in I think and possibly a sketch or some essay. If I ever find time to write it. We got some hilariously funny material this year from unexpected quarters like Margie Davidson, Leo Wertzel & Mimi Burton. Then peeped like Betty Lammard, Norma Jean Still & Ella Mary Hawman have written awfully good stuff.
My pet, of late I am beautiful, having just acquired a navy blue suit, lemon yellow hat with veil (glamorous) & gloves, and navy cordette purse. In fact, Mr. King, my little love, did not at first recognize me Sunday when I went in to show it off. But really as I looked at me in the mirror yesterday, I caught myself humming "You Were Never Lovelier" (meaning me of course.)
I hope Mary Margaret Walter's profile of me gets in Penny Whistles because its terribly funny; I never knew I was so funny before.
We've been having quite a whirl with some lieutenants lately. Lovey Bob James calls up the News-Press & Alda Lyon to ask her if shy knows of a nice girl for another losey. - (It seems he always calls the society editor wherever he is and gets his dates that way) She called me and then they came up to the library & we looked each other over. (That was fun, especially with my new ^slimming exercise & description of which will follow later) They talked about all the lonely looeys, and I told of all, the broken hearted damsels at J. C. "ah!" exclaimed one," why not put the two together?" and so we did. I got Bailey , Lynch, Ashcroft, and Natalie and we went to the officers bawl. The fellow I was with mostly was Alf Berger, Yale graduate of 1936, who toured Europe at 14 (he lived there six years when younger); he'd also taken several cruises to the Bahamas, & to Bermuda. We drove around in his "42" Ford Convertible. Incidentally, he's a civilian who works for this airplane company employed by the government. Oh gee, is he a - smooth, suave, sophisticated dancer. But still I prefer buck privates who've graduated from J. C. & who incidentally are in the upper ten of the graduating class if you know who I mean...I think Allie & her looey might get quite serious for he's quite attractive, and was an ex pro-tennis player (He's kinda of a wolf tho) Sunday ^last nite when we went to the Edgewood,Natalie won$19 playing bridge and insists she's going to take us all to dinner.
Natalie is painting my portrait, but keeps exclaiming all the time, "Gosh this looks like Vera!" Now what good does that do I ask you.
Shipps sends you his love and kisses too, though he regrets to say he hasn't any lipstick on to leave prints with.
The paper^is coming out ^& addresses this Thursday contains names of as many E. R. C's as they know, but I didn't know yours in time to hand it in. I'll try to send the paper to you.
What would you like for your birthday? I might send you stationary to fill in, since your mother & I can think of nothing else. I was going to send you a little hand soap carved elephant but Miss Andrews still has my soap sculpturing books.
Gosh we have the silliest times in that class, and I can hardly wait to go on our field trips. Last night Bob Cleveland, Maura Shoppe & Johnston came out, and we taught Cleveland to dance and only broke records, "Valse Triste", & "You'd be so nice to Come Home To." Thursday night we were over at Maura's and I must say the girl has technique. (I'm taking lesson. On your furlough, you'll find me a changed woman, woo-woo)
Hugh Barrett has never asked me for a date yet. He's either still tied up or I get mor4e repulsive as every day passes (The later is true, my little inner voice whispered.)
Friday, I had our car & lots of gas, at school and since my afternoon was off, JUne H., Natalie, & I had a gay time. First we went to the Bucket Shop, where we boldly strided in amidst 25 bums & ordered one beef burger (and a cheese sandwich for me.) Then we went down across from the depot & bought some second hand records for a dime and just had the most wonderful time because we knew June was a half hour late for her music lesson. We tore back and Natalie & I kept breezing up Francis St. the wrong way while we waited for June ti finish her lesson. And no lie we almost bumped into a telephone pole while our eyes bugged out looking at state troopers who we fancied were on our trail. (By that time they were) we picked up June & took her down to the river where we had planned to throw her in, but she screamed so, we couldn't. The river is terribly swollen, and our port officials have ^been pretty anxious over the situation, but the danger seems abated now.
Life at J.C. is still the same, but really we do all miss you, an awful lot. It's just the funny cracks the kids make that show it, but sometimes maybe (though it couldn't be the same) maybe people'll go back to the old things they did, and see the people they saw before, and feel horribly happy, for after all it's the old things you love best, like Pat, & the library & zoo.
Oh yes the services. Ann came over Fri after I got off work and while she told me what to do, I exercised. For three days ow I've done them, so maybe I'll have the lumps off pretty soon, because some of them ^(the exercises) are terribly strenuous, and I can literally feel the fat rolling off. As soon as I get all beautiful, for you handsome, (in uniform). (just a photograph unless you're with the others). Ann also does the exercises.
I swallowed a prune seed the other day, and I think I'm going to have an operation, cause sometimes I hurt.
Now Bob, if you don't write me soon and long ^after all you don't have to buy stamps I'll take to answering my back letters. I talked to your mother tonite, and I like her alot; she seems pretty tickled & proud of you. (why, nobody nos.)
Love & Kisses, xxxxxxxxxxx
^
(see what a wolf I really am)
P.S. What are the V.O.C.'s Kathleen (Rose Morrow
the O.C. S's in case you've
Mon said hello forgotten)
(Upside down message with a drawing of a guy with curly hair & glasses)
The C.P.L's prize moron
(M Lawlor says that he has
really been in the state hosp.)Lexicon
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Kathleen R. Morrow