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Love,

Bill

A-r-t-h-u-r-M-u-r-r-a-y: name of the founder of a dance-studio chain.

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[27 November 1942]

Dear Mom—

Well — here we are — another envelop of bills — see how they come.

Neil and I stayed in town Sunday night — saw Native Son—liked it a great deal; finally got a bus up after the show — but it was worth it. Gee, he is some guy, isn’t he?! It was some mess but worked out fine I guess.

Last evening Camilla Sewell (the girl whom John had down to the Yale game) had a lovely and very formal tea dance — you know, butlers in tails etc. — but nice!

Tonight same bunch — I say bunch — of opera players are doing Carmen down in Boston — we may go down, I don’t know. I can’t figure whether it would be better to see it done poorly than not at all — we’ll see—

Have some psyc. to catch up on—

Love

Bill

Native Son: Richard Wright’s 1940 novel was adapted for the stage the following year.

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[3 December 1942]

Dear Mom—

Just a note — have to study for exam tomorrow — in English A. — And so angry now am about to fly — my section man recommended a book to me he said was an exposition of the theory of history’s repeating itself etc. — I got it and turns out to be history of Communism and Socialism — Marxism — enough to make me actively ill — so don’t care about mark in this test but am going to tell him what I think of his lousy piggish socialism &c — sometimes I think he’s turned that way — he recommends many such books — so I’m going to tell him how stinking I think it is and not worry about an E.

Have got Christmas cards—50—do you know where that plate I had for engraving is? It must be perhaps in my desk or somewhere — I’d like to have them done and mailed from here if possible — would appreciate it if you should run across it to send it up.—

Can hardly wait for Christmas — it will probably be the last “home from college” Christmas and I hope it will turn out well. We’re having a house formal here Saturday night but think I will abstain — the Christmas recess is more important. Quite a few of the fellows are going to be in town and will probably see them then and be in New York a good part of the time—

Well it isn’t long now—

Must get back to work—

Love

Bill

P.S. — Have gotten a couple of W. Saroyan’s books—wonderful—but G Stein is still a little beyond!

E: Harvard’s failing grade.

W. Saroyan: William Saroyan (1908–81), American short-story writer, novelist, and playwright, at the peak of his fame in 1942.

G Stein: Gertrude Stein (1874–1946), American writer and art patron.

To Edith Gaddis

Eliot House

11 January [1943]

Dear Mom—

Everything is fine and thanks for the check.

The work has been rather lax recently but only because the finals are coming up—@!!/* brother — then we get it! My first exam is next Monday — English I — my last one Monday the 25th in psychology. I think I shall be home Monday (25th) evening — OK? And say, how do you think the $ situation will be about then — I’d like to try to erase that mess I made of Christmas week if it’s possible and try to see some shows — plan ahead I mean and work it out like you have always said — […]

Charles Gardiner is going to be in town over the weekend too, and wants me to see a show or two with him — more complications. He is just 18 but mature—well read etc. — good mind etc. — remembers Dead End — Winterset etc. Quite a guy.

Got a card from Francis this AM — he’s gone for good I guess — I am to send his last box out to him—‘end of an era!—’

Say, I hear you’re having gasoline trouble!! How are you coming out with the coupons? I suppose we did unnecessary driving, but I think it came out the same as if I hadn’t come home at all — and hadn’t got the 4 ‘A’ trickets from Granga.

We have been living quite a life this past week but now everyone is going into seclusion for midyear preparation — me too — it now being 1 AM and am starting She Stoops to Conquer for Eng I — wonderful course.

Love

Bill

P.S. — Tue AM — just got inductment papers — to report here the 14th — Thursday — so my next letter I’ll either be 4F or in His Majesty’s Army!

Charles Gardiner: unidentified.

Dead End — Winterset: movies that came out in 1937 and 1936, respectively.

She Stoops to Conquer: classic comedy by Oliver Goldsmith (1773).

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[16 January 1943]

Dear Mom—

Tried to get into Merchant Marine — couldn’t because of albumin; had draft board changed to Cambridge — will probably be inducted in early February but think I shan’t be drafted.

Thanks for Sak’s letter — since it looks like I’ll be here and do need a suit — well what do you think? I need it and they have my measurements — couldn’t they send it up?

Well everything under control, and except for owing Weidner library a small fortune and wanting to get a newspaper job immediately, having just seen Cary Grant in Once Upon a Honeymoon, I guess things will stay under control—

Love

Bill

Once Upon a Honeymoon: 1942 film in which Grant plays a radio correspondent in Europe during World War II.

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[11 February 1943]

Dear Mom—

Just about able to sit up and write after my first fencing — first physical ed. I’ve had in years — and it was wild! Exercises I never knew existed. My right leg is sore from them and practicing lunges etc. I do hope I can stay with it. It is some sport.

Thanks for the watch — it’s good to have it again — and the gloves are beautiful thanks so much for both — and the checks. I paid 22.75 on the Coop’s bill and got $8 change — now I can charge until March 10th. That bill is right I guess and will check up some more. Now I can pay Callahan — and get a ticket to the ballet — the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo is going to be up here next week—Scherherezade Thursday night — the Afternoon of a Faun Saturday night — I don’t know which — those are the ones I want to see—

Last evening my roommate and I and some others (one fellow from India, one from Puerto Rico, — Afghanistan etc.) were invited to dinner at Mr. Finlay’s — the house master’s — quarters — quite an affair — beautiful furniture, silver service etc. — an Australian flier was here and did a great deal of talking but otherwise it was quite an event—

Right now it’s time to stop — Stanley Gould just came over — from ‘Watch Hill’ in Conncticut — who practiced drums for 6 years — and my room mate — and a record named Chasin’ with Chase are all going at once — so — I’d better get to work