1939 - Page 7 of 23 - WW II Love Story, Letters from Buddy

1939 April 5 Incomplete Without You

Editor’s note: On April 5, 1939, Nazi Germany makes it mandatory for all children over age 14 to become members of the Hitler Youth.

4/5/39

Dear Little Girl:

You’re a bad girl and you know it. Yes your Father is going to die one of these days, and the house will be full of relatives, and you will be there. But my Father is also going to die one of these days, and there also will be the relatives and you. And, yes, Darling, I may be the feature event in such a procedure. So you see, your dream was marvelously general and might apply to anyone. From this standpoint, let’s forget it.

While I am yet in a nasty mood, let us take up another point. It takes a certain natural congeniality and a continual effort of two people to make a successful married life. We have more than our share of congeniality. We have a rich background of mutual experiences. And we usually have the efforts of two people to keep us together. So let’s outlaw completely the idea of one of us having to someday tell the other that love has died etc. It isn’t at all probable that there is any obstacle which could keep us apart; not after all of those which we have already passed over, and those which we are planning to surmount in the near future. We’re going to be together, it may not be within a few months, but you and I both know that we’re going to make the grade.

But this is all silly, for I’m not the least mad. I know that if I could hold that beautifully formed little body in my arms, and kiss those precious lips, and play with my baby’s fine, silky hair, that I could soon have lots of those swelegant giggles of mine. Looking at your picture, precious and thinking over all that I know of you, I realize that there isn’t but one thing about you that is really extra special. And that one thing is the wonderful loyalty which you have repeatedly shown for all of your friends, and especially for me. This one trait of yours makes me feel that no matter how far down I should get, I shall always have one darling pulling for me, and one very much worthwhile fighting for. Add to this your other fine characteristics, and I truly have something. Your mind functions wonderfully when someone else needs help. Never shall an adoring husband have seen such beauty or experienced such ecstasy as I shall perceive in your features and feel in your warm, young body when we are finally together. And your cheery company is unsurpassed for sheer enjoyment.

If you’ll only continue to believe in me and continue building fires under me, we’ll make the grade in great style.

Delaware River Bridge connecting Philadelphia and Camden, since renamed “The Benjamin Franklin Bridge”

Contemporary night view of the Benjamin Franklin/Delaware River Bridge

I walked across the bridge over the Delaware last night, a good mile over, and I know you walked back with me and looked at that big moon with me. I could look downstream on the dark, solid expanse of the river, and except for occasional lights on the Jersey shore, almost imagine myself off in the wilds. And then I could glance back at the busy life of Philadelphia, at the ferry boats, and at the upstream factories of Jersey, and realize that I was back in the most industrial town of the section. The big, full moon shown down through the suspension cables of the bridge, and the cold wind shrieked past the other lighter members, and I was proud that I was an engineer, and that engineers had built this mile-long expanse of steel and paving which could defy everything but the destructive power of other engineers. All the way back I could feel your arm on mine and sense the fine rhythm of companionship as you kept step with me across the bridge. It didn’t seem strange that you didn’t talk to me, for I knew that you were enjoying the beauty of this scene in the same way that I did. I didn’t have to talk to you, because you knew what I could have said, and I couldn’t have said them as well as I could make you feel them anyhow.

I suppose I should tell you that I am terrifically happy out here and that I can lose my empty feeling in my work and my books. But I don’t feel “complete,” as I did during those enlightening eight months with you.

It is really time for bed, and I am determined to take a bath tonight. So settle down and go to sleep, darling, and I shall be with you in an hour, and try to imagine that I am really there to give you that indescribable joy which we both so fervently desire.

Your husband, Cy.

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1939 April 6 “Parlor Privileges”

4/6/39

Darling! Gee you’re sweet.

I’ve saved your letter for the last so that I won’t have to hurry. I wrote to you last night, and found that I couldn’t mail it because I was out of stamps. I couldn’t get them today because it has been pouring rain—and I mean pouring. I shall try to get them on the way to the office tomorrow. I finally got last night’s letter mailed after supper tonight.

Holy Smoke! Hasn’t Crane’s stuff been sent yet? I wrote to him months ago and said that it has been shipped out just before I got out here. I thought it was going to be picked up along with my trunk. As far as I know, the address you have is the right one. I can’t see any reason for not shipping it on out collect.

Your additions to my plans are swell. I was sort of on the spot. I want you out here badly, but I didn’t think it wise to ask you on a Dutch treat basis. I’m yet funny that way. There is one revision I would like to make. You know, baby girl, it would be terrific rooming in the same place. I wouldn’t be able to leave you alone for long. If last night was any indication, you wouldn’t be safe in the same block with me, even if I did stay home, if you get what I mean! We would have difficulty making the right kind of friends under that sort of set-up. So we would have to room in separate homes. To avoid the old business of roaming the streets, we would have to arrange parlor privileges*, or I would have to get an apartment. The parlor of the place where I now stay is pretty well deserted, and it might work out, but we would have to stick to midnight rules to avoid friction. The other angle, I wouldn’t want you to come out and look for a job, for that is a horrible experience in this section. Get the job first, and then come out. Probably Nana (Mrs. Brooks) would have a fit, and I shouldn’t even mention it after the above, but the front room upstairs here isn’t taken, and probably won’t be unless the door between the two rooms shut to keep up appearances, but it is worth considering. I think Nana could keep us straight if anyone could, for she is a fine old gal. I’ve thought of this so many times that I almost consider the front one as your room!

Your extension of my time was one of the most unselfish things that you have ever done, and I adore you for your proviso of not wanting to spend it away from me. I yet can’t see how the devil I ever got anything so genuinely sweet as my wife. Please return the enclosure. I must get to work on my calculations.

Your little boy, Cy.

*For additional information on dating customs in the early 1900’s please click the link below:

http://www.boundless.org/relationships/2007/a-brief-history-of-courtship-and-dating-in-america-part-1

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1939 April 8 Long distance calling

Editor’s historical note: From April 7-12 Italy invaded Albania in one of the early chess moves of the prelude to WWII. This gave Italy greater control over the shipping lanes and access to the Adriatic sea.

4/8/39

Darling:

Gee, I feel flat today after last night. Sort of like an inner tube with no air in it. But it was glorious while it lasted, wasn’t it?

I suppose I am a rat, but I have been brewing things with Maw Huntoon for at least a couple of weeks, and making silly excuses to you. Honey, I’ll never forget the thrill I got out of hearing your voice. I’ve been waiting for it ever since I got out here. Well baby, we have that to look forward to again in the future, maybe in another six weeks or so.

I had been sitting in the living room gloating over myself when the phone rang. I answered, and it was John! Gee, I wish I had known it, we could have made a three-way conference out of it. He was in Baltimore and is due to arrive here for the rest of the weekend apparently on the 1:20 train. He was awfully disappointed to hear that I had already called, as he thought I might not call until today, or possibly later in the evening.

Well, I’m glad my little girl had a happy birthday. Here’s hoping that it is the last one that we shall spend apart.

I got up this morning at 6 and worked until noon on some work connected with treatment for infantile paralysis. This is strictly on the qt. I’ll explain the connection when I see you. I was permitted to act as a consultant on the engineering end of the device. Looks good, but forget it for a while at least.

If JH stays over tomorrow, we shall go see the Oklahoma Kid, with his consent. Stage has Shirley Ross, somebodyorothers orchestra, and Judy Canova with Annie and Zeke. It should be amusing.

It must be almost Easter, for the weather here is clouding up. Speaking of which, thanks for the sweet card.

Margaret must have a date tonight. Was just interrupted by about a bushel of flowers and a corsage being delivered. Nobody is home but Grampa, and he isn’t so spry.

Darling, if I ever had any doubts, which I didn’t, they would have been completely shattered by your little voice last night. You certainly gave yourself away, hi.

Will write about the week-end later, and write Conk now.

Loads of love, Cy.

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1939 April 10 Philadelphia

4/10/39

Honey Girl:

Thanks for the letter today. By now, you should have two letters from me, one to the house and one to the office.

I’m glad your birthday was such a success. I think Maw Huntoon, was awfully sweet to work it out with us the way she did, and the type of present she gave you sort of puts a lump in my throat.

I’ll bet your ears were scorched over the week-end. JH* and I did little else but talk about you. He arrived about 1:20 P.M. Saturday, and I went over to Philly and met him. Then we came over here for lunch. After talking for a couple of hours, we walked over to Philly again and took in the Bellevue–Stratford Hotel, City Hall, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, and several similar sights.

The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia

The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, interior, Philadelphia

Then we had dinner, and planned on a show. But we finished too late, so we walked all the way back to the ferry, took it across the river, and then walked up to the house. Total walking for the evening must have been between 8 and 10 miles. We talked for about fifteen minutes and then hit the hay.

Sunday, we went out for breakfast, and then came back to the house for more gabfest. Then we walked over to Philly again, took the PRT out to the west end of Philly, and waited two hours until Goodman and Jackson showed up. Then the three of them drove on up to Hartford together. They are both nice fellows, even if two hours late. After leaving JH, I came back and went to the show. Shirley Ross was the nuts, both voice and physique, and was on the stage. Judy Canova and Annie and Zeke were also pretty good. The orchestra was a cross between Alex’s ragtime and jitterbug Joe, and wasn’t too good, although rather torrid and excellent rhythm. I then came home and hit the hay rather early.

Today didn’t go too well, but I’m not worried about it. I expect to get my 10 week’s job finished in 5 weeks. I don’t know what the hurry is, but I like to work that way when I can.

Easter was clear and cold and today was fair. Tonight it is quite warm, almost like a summer night. I can foresee great difficulty in working and studying under such pleasant weather this summer.

JH made a bit hit with the folks here. My tea-room gang thought he was my twin brother!

We’re getting closer, Honey! Yipee! With all my love, Cy.

P.S. John says please don’t send him anything for his birthday, and I know he will feel better if you don’t. I invited him to our house for dinner for the first birthday he has after we get our house, and he says that will be ok. I shall probably see him in NYC the 20^th. Tell Bill.

*Johny Huntoon

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1939 April 12 “Your letter was delicious”

4/12/39

Hi Darling:

I spent most of last evening cleaning the typewriter and installing the new ribbon. I hope this looks a little better. After everything else is done, I shall get a new mill for us, but that will be far in the future.

Your letter was delicious, Darling.

Re your New York office suggestion. Even if there, you would be not much better off. You wouldn’t be able to see me more than once a month, for the expense is terrific. Of course, once a month looks like an awful lot right now. When I realize that we haven’t been apart but six weeks or so, and compare that with the lost feeling I have, I feel that once a month would almost be heaven by comparison.

Before I forget it, tell Bill no soap on the 20^th. I thought it was a Friday, but it is Thursday. Neither JH or I could afford the trip just now for just one evening, and I am sure that neither of us could conveniently get Friday off. We will try to see them on their return home, and tell them to make it on a week-end, hi.

Ok on the beer. Don’t let it worry you, precious, I think it was swell. Just so my darling doesn’t get too much some time and regret that she does. Naturally, I like to be with you whenever there is any chance of you not being in full possession of all of your faculties, but I trust you enough so that I don’t worry over you. I suppose that I should have mentioned it, although I didn’t think enough of it to merit even a passing remark, but most of the bridge games here have been accompanied by a couple of glasses or so per player.

OK on the Easter proceedings. It sort of hurts to see another couple together when we have to be apart, doesn’t it, Darling?

OK on Maw’s Birthday. I shall forward the card later on.

I’m glad you liked the last book. I rather enjoyed it, but not as much as you would. It is essentially for girls.

OK on your suggestion about my tummy-aches. I shall look into the matter a little later on. Remind me of it in a month. I am going to join a hospitalization association that the company sponsors at moderate cost sometime in the next couple of weeks, I shall try to send you a bulletin which will tell the story. It is quite good, and I shall probably have a thorough exam in connection with it. Among other things, I shall have to get my teeth cleaned soon and checked for cavities.

John’s visit sort of knocked hell out of my budget, but nothing serious results. I hope we get paid on Friday, for if we don’t, I shall have to hit the savings again this month.

I have to meet Al Howell over in the Bellevue tonight, and he will no doubt load me down with stories of his Florida trip. I hope he forgets to come, for I don’t feel like staying up until all hours of tomorrow. I shall probably enjoy it anyhow.

I had a little better luck today, and the outfit seems to be satisfied with the results I am turning out, even if I am not.

Maw Huntoon wrote me a nice letter which I received today. She informs me that you’re a sweet girl. I wonder what makes her think that? Tsk, tsk.

One of the fellows spilled the beans about some of my articles in RADIO, so they sent over to the plant library for the issues involved. Now they are absorbing the contents, and I can foresee long hours of razzing ahead. Oh, well, I suppose I can take a little more after what I have already soaked up. “Oil is Well” seems to have made a big hit, so maybe they will let up a little.

The tummy-aches are probably due to a different food and harder work. Most of the stuff I did for Wells was a push-over, whereas this material demands a constant stress of hard brainwork. It won’t be so hard after I learn all ins and outs of the RCA system, but doing the job and learning the red tape at the same time is rather terrific.

I sort of miss my baby. If we can get you clear for my birthday and out for Christmas, I shall be a happy boy, especially if I can keep up my end and get out of debt and school.

The kid, Cy.

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