Transcription
AIR MAIL April 9, 1948
Mrs Milton W Harrison
56 Highland Circle
Bronxville, New York
Dearest Irene:
Ginny has arrived and is planning to stay for several weeks. After she had an opportunity to appraise the situation, she and Harriet and I got together and all agreed that with Mrs Dailey’s health in the status that it is, there is every probability that it will be quite a few months before she can be expected to function as the housekeeper of Stan Hywet. Such being the case, we also agreed that we cannot expect to hold things together at Stan Hywet much longer on the present catch-as-catch-can basis, with constant shifting of general managers and periods of no general manager at all, which makes the operation something in the nature of a household nightmare.
Mrs Myers, with her complex for wanting to dominate the situation, is an increasing counter-irritant and in due course is going to reach the end of her own or somebody else’s rope. So it is imperative that we abandon the policy of temporizing and set about the serious task of finding a permanent housekeeper and general manager of Stan Hywet, at least until such time as it is positively certain that Mrs Dailey is capable of so serving, if at that time she would want to do so.
It is not at all certain that such is the case, because there have been increasing evidence of mounting friction between her and both the help and the nurse, as well as dissatisfaction on her part with the status of things under a reduced expense of operation program.
Frederick told me last night in connection with the discussion I had with him relative to a proposal to transfer him back to Washington for the purpose of reopening our government sales office there, that Mrs Dailey told him that if she had to live alone in Stan Hywet with only Father and the help in residence that she would want to leave, as it would be too lonely for her.
Before her illness descended she demonstrated increasing signs of desire for some sociability with members of the family and people in the community, the end result of which could not help but be increased entertainment and cost of operation at Stan Hywet. I think it was this desire for wanting increased social life that lay behind her determination to obtain a first-class cook, irrespective of the excessive wages involved. Also, I think the same idea was evidenced in her determination to engage in extensive cleaning and expensive cleaning operations throughout the house.
There There is no doubt whatever but that Mrs Dailey is “to the manner born” in the best Kentucky tradition; that she loves genteel and elegant living, and last but not least, a considerable degree of social life.
I noticed that when I discussed with her the necessity for cutting down and tightening up on expense, that while she was not uncooperative, it did not prove too appealing to her. I think that in all the hours she has been lying in bed, she has had an opportunity to resolve all these matters in her mind, and were it not for her precarious health and financial condition that she would have announced some time ago her intention to depart elsewhere.
She was operated on last Tuesday and has had pretty rough going. Undoubtedly her period of recuperation will last at least another month after her return from the hospital, and then she should go away for a complete rest. Dr Bliss is quite positive on that score.
Such being the case, I feel that the decision to go to work on procuring a new permanent or semi-permanent housekeeper is unquestionably the proper one. Ginny has already located, thru Mr Houston, a 65-year-old woman of similar status to Mrs Dailey. Interestingly enough, she is also a resident of Kentucky and knows Mrs Dailey. She has in the past operated inns in Kentucky involving the management of as high as 35 employees. Her last inn burned down recently and she is living on a farm near Lexington with one of her children.
Ginny talked with her Long Distance and said she has a very soft, cultured speaking voice, seemed bright and intelligent, knew something of Stan Hywet because her daughter some years ago, who played with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, visited it when the orchestra was in Akron and told her all about meeting Mother and Father, and her impressions of Stan Hywet. She told Ginny that she wanted to think over the proposal for 24 hours and discuss it with her children and then if it seemed the thing for her to consider doing, she would like to come up here and meet the family and look over the layout before endeavoring to reach any decision.
There is also the possibility that Lila Pierson (Bob Pierson’s wife) might be willing to tackle the job. She is a good and efficient manager and a very pleasant personality. Her worst points are that she is a bosom friend of Henrietta and a terrible talker; furthermore, as a long-time resident of Akron she would probably want to utilize Stan Hywet for her own social purposes; but at least she is someone to keep in mind. At all events, we are proceeding on the theory that we must find a new permanent housekeeper and general manager in the absence of the ability of either one of you two girls to come on, settle down, and take over.
With reference to your own pressing problems – I want you to know that I have been pressing Father on the matter and doing all that I can to expedite a practical decision on his part that at least would serve to alleviate the uncertainties of your present situation, and do so in a semi-permanent manner.
Progress has been slow and at times discouraging, but at last I believe that I have finally succeeded in thoroly [sic] impressing upon his mind that your situation cannot continue much longer without some relief of a practical nature. I still have hopes that I can persuade him to place Milton on the payroll of the Midland Continental Railroad at a salary figure that will enable you to live, and complete the education of your children.
I want you to know of this so that your mind may partially be relieved of the intense anxiety that naturally fills it at the present time. Just because you do not hear from me frequently on the matter, please do not assume that it is not uppermost in my mind and that I am not doing everything that can be done to find a satisfactory, practical solution at the earliest possible date.
With much love –
Sincerely
Pen
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