Transcription
Thurs, Oct 9th
[1913]
Dear Irene,---
After your fine long letter, I feel ashamed to be just answering it now—I’ve only written two letters home since I left—but these first weeks of college are always so unsettled and there are always so many things to do before one gets into the routine of the new year, that I’m not surprised I’ve neglected my correspondence. But by the end of this week things ought to be running pretty smoothly; all my preceptorials [sic] and class hours will be definitely fixed, so I can make out my schedule of time for the first term and start off the week with a clean sheet. One thing that goes down on my schedule is one hour daily for reading. Sunday I’m going to start “Les Miserables” and hope to finish it by Thanksgiving. Between then and Christmas I ought to be able to read one of Dickens shorter novels and next the 2nd term I’ll start off with Vanity Fair and George Elliot’s Adam Bede. The three books mentioned by title all are masterpieces, and just in themselves would make up a good years reading for me, but if possible I’m going to stick to my hour a day for reading, which will enable me to read lots more than just those three.
Our trip to New York on Uncle Henry’s invitation was a dandy, being practically a renewal of the house party. I was especially delighted with the trip because of the opportunity it gave me of becoming better acquainted with Kaddy. She certainly is a winner, and won’t be long on the marriage market, but as to how wisely she’ll choose her husband, I can’t say. I still think she has a good many mannerisms that are affected, but for as pretty and feminine a girl as Kaddy to pass through the age of 17 + 18 without any affectation or self-consciousness would be rather unusual. I hope the deuce Miss Bennett’s won’t get a lot of frivolous, New York Society nonsense into her head. Uncle Henry took us to Louie Martins for supp dinner and to while still at the table the question came up as to where we would go after the theater. With the exception of Kats, we had all seen Chl Chanleys, Churchills, Murrays, and several of the other respectable cafes, so Mandy suggested we go to Bustanoby’s which she had heard so much about. Ab and I were the only ones who had been there—maybe Uncle Henry had been there some years ago—but the time I was there I saw sights that might not have affected Mandy much, but they would have been a horrible shock to innocent little unsophisticated Kaddy. I said “nothing doing on Bustanoby’s” but Mandy poo-hooed [sic] the idea that the place was too speedy, told me on the side that Aunt Kit wanted Kats to see a little N.Y. “life” so that she would be the wiser for it, but I stood my ground, which brought Uncle Henry around to saying we’d go someplace else. Aunt Mame + Aunt Kit would have been willing to take the chance I believe. This idea of putting a girl on her feet, setting her down on rock bottom, making her “wise” as the saying goes, by letting her see, with her own eyes, some of the wit and sin in the world, in fast society, doesn’t appeal to me. I do think it is good for a fellow to bump into the coarse side of the world, know what it is and what it means, and see enough of it so that he is disgusted with it, but why a girl has to have her sweet, refined and sensitive nature sullied by such sordid and repulsive sights and experiences is a thing I can’t understand.
What you said about Fred apply’s [sic] to my last letter too. He seemed cheerful and more optomistic [sic] about his condition than ever before since his breakdown. He’s got that determination and bet to direct his whole time and thought toward building up again his health, a plan which Papa, for some unknown reason, is not in sympathy with. Papa thinks that all that is necessary is for Fred to find something in business to hold his whole attention and energy, and that in the the mental exercise and inspiration he will get from his work he will grow sound in body again.
I’d like to write more, but mustn’t. Before closing, I’d like to say that I’ll try to remember the [written along left edge of page] talk we are going to have, the one we missed on my 21st birthday, and remind you of Oh it Christmas time.
With lots of love
Your brother Willard
P.S. Do you want duplicates of all the house party pictures, or will my set do for the both of us.Transcriber
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English
