April 17, 1913 - Prunes Served

It has been almost a month since my last post and this is the only letter that we have for the month of April 1913. This is the first typed letter that he wrote to Helen. I have added the transcription below because some may find that easier to read.

April 17,1913,

My dear Helen:

I suppose that you think I have forgotten all about "Cyrano de B—" for Saturday at the University.

The fact is that we were so busy, not only with our regular work, but had the moving of our offices on our hands (figuratively speaking), in addition to a big rush of lodge and other 'sich' matters.

But, glory be (as 'tis said) we are finally located, and the boat is sailing smoothly along on the placid seas.

While I happened to be in New York last Saturday, it was late in the afternoon when I arrived, and returned on the early train again. Our Degree Team had a large Class to initiate in New Haven, and I had to be on the job (slang) inasmuch as I am Chairman of it.

I was supposed to be in New York this afternoon, but was occupied in Court, and my brother is there now (N.Y.). I shall not be able to get to the Big Town on Saturday morning as early as usual, in fact I do not see now how I can leave at all Saturday morning. Not only that but I have a hearing to attend at 3 P.M. that day that is very urgent. I have therefore been endeavoring to plan to leave here on a train about 5 or 5:30 P.M. so as to get to New York about 6:30 or 7. I believe that will be ample time, don't you?

Of course, things might so shape themselves that I shall be able to leave here much sooner, but I would not care to wager anything worth more than a brass penny on such a proposition just at present. Of this I may know more definitely tomorrow afternoon, and if the unforeseen does occur I'll write.

You will pardon my writing on the typewriter, but I do that for three reasons:
First because then I am certain that my writing is legible,
Second because this is anothertypewriter we have added to our collection, and I want to see how it works,
Third because I have given you two good reasons already,

I am under the impression that the play or whatever you call it starts about 8:15, and if I cannot do any better, I have allowed a little over an hour to get there after I arrive in New York.

Now smile. Only last night Henry Saltman was speaking about you, and asked whether I had heard from you, saying that he had not. Just about then we almost knocked a telegraph pole over and between the auto and a muddy pavement, our attention drifted away to more or less of other topics. We had a nice little skid, but no harm was done, only we kept a sharp lookout for mushy spots in the road after that and had quite a pleasant trip after all.

Robert Mantell* played here in four real good Shakespearean dramas, Macbeth, Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, and King Lear; but everything crowded in so fast that I did not even get a chance to read the newspaper review, what do you think of that?

But as you say in New York, ‘I should worry’.

Aida is sung in New York Friday night, and I am an optimist, even tho there is not the slightest ray of hope just now of my getting to the City even early on Saturday.

But, how much of your valuable time I have been wasting with this letter.

Hubbard says that the best time to stop talking is just before you tell all you know. Believing that I should have ceased before I started to begin to open the commencement. However, now is a good time to take his suggestion.
Sincerely,
Joe

P. S.  My address now is  Suite 312 Meigs Building.
       That P.S. is the abbrev.  for Prunes Served.

* Here is a poster I found in the Library of Congress archives in researching Robert Mantell. My assumption is that Robert B. Mantell was starring in "Cyrano de B ---" at a University in New York City.

 

I will post photographs soon because the next letter is not until May 29, 1913.