3/3/39 Camden, NJ
Precious:
I just walked in from work and saw my Darling smiling at me, and then I read her letter, and now I do feel pretty good and awfully well-satisfied with myself. I only wish she could get used to the new set-up, although only temporarily, so that it wouldn’t be so hard for her.
Congrats on the new job. It means a lot of plugging, but if they didn’t think you had the mental and physical equipment to handle it, they wouldn’t have even considered you for it. That puts us both on the spot. If we’re willing to work hard enough and intelligently enough, and perhaps swallow a little dirt now and then, we will go places in style. Tell Andy that if they don’t get a new girl, I demand half of what they save on the wages deal. If it wasn’t for my leaving town, they wouldn’t have been able to handle it that way.
The books came today. Thank Bill for them. It was really his responsibility to get them mailed and I’m glad he took it. The logbook is a thing of the future and needn’t be worried over.
I’m glad you and the folks are hitting it off so well. I imagine we have solved that problem better than most young married couples. You know, everyplace I go, I feel so strongly that you are with me that I almost talk to you. This seems especially true in eating. I almost always think out the things I would say to you if you were sitting opposite me in reality.
I’m glad JH raised hell with you, not because I want you to get hell, but because it shows where he stands. He would politely ignore it, and completely ignore you from now on if he didn’t think a lot of you. I believe I am correct in saying that you and I are about the only two people out of his family whom he has ever thought enough of to criticize violently. Well, let’s forget it.
The best thing you can do about the battle-ax* is to treat it like you advised me to treat mg, just don’t answer. What you don’t say can’t be used against you, especially if you don’t write it. (I’m a fine one to be giving this advice, hi).
That makes two of us who are counting days. Now I’m awfully glad that we aren’t together just now. With both of us mutually reminding us, it would be unbearable. It just has to go through without a hitch or I’ll go nertz.
Possibly not the best thing to write, but I’m certain that we’re closer at a thousand miles than you and Bill ever were when together.
Your little boy has been stepping out lately. I went over to Philly to the IRE** meeting and heard a talk by G.C. Southworth of Bell Labs. It was a continuation of a talk he gave in Chicago just a year ago, and was excellent. Tell Bill to read it carefully if it comes out in the proceedings. It was on radiation of the Ho type of wave-glide transmission. It ties in with some work of Barrows and others and should be most useful. If I had had this information a year ago, I might yet be working for Purdue Research Foundation, for it would have given the project a new lease on life.
When I got home, I found a telegram here from John saying he would meet me Saturday in NYC. There was also a phone call from Al Howell, the fellow I met over in Philadelphia. I imagine he will call this evening. Then there was a letter from Dr. Aiken asking me to spend the week-end of the 11th with he and his wife. He outlined a little hiking, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted me to do either extra time work for him, or make a break towards college. It seems that there are several excellent schools nearby and I could do a reasonable amount of work. If I went to school Saturday mornings, I could take four hours of work. This would finish my college work in four semesters or two years. I might take a year that way and take five months off to finish the other semester at full time. This is all guess-work, and I shall know more after I have seen Aiken. I shall find out train times so that he can meet me and write to him either tomorrow or Monday. I shall arrive about noon Saturday and come back here Sunday night.
The man with whom I am working seems to be well satisfied with my work to date. He is a most quiet sort, Selby, and easy for me to get along with. It is amazing how quiet I can be when I am busy. This is probably a new thought even to you, who knows me better than anyone else, but it has been most apparent to me in the last couple of years. If I don’t watch myself, I shall probably land up in a corner and never open my mouth from one year to the next! (Note—fat chance).
After I got home last night, I finished reading about Helen of Troy.
It is a darned good book, and I shall probably take it to NY with me and shove it down JH’s throat. I rather imagine he will enjoy it. It brings out a lot of ideas that young people would do well to investigate—in their minds only. Its background in authentic Greek mythology gives I an air of respectability. I neither approve nor disapprove of the opinions of any of the characters, but they frequently seem to be most sensible. I am quoting some of those which seemed exceptionally good, although not necessarily appropriate to either you or I other than generally:
“In marriage, if anywhere, you need the courage of your convictions, at least in the beginning.
I want a lover I can settle down with and be true to, I’m going to have an orderly home.
In love, there’s a natural enchantment of passion to draw us on, and when the enchantment dies as it must, there remains behind it either a disillusion, or a beautiful reality, a friendship, a comradeship, a harmony.
Do your best, and if it’s a mistake, hide nothing and be glad to suffer for it. (P.S.—only if it doesn’t involve making someone else the goat).
They shouldn’t be prudent so early. (Referring to young people—especially 3 years ago).
Those who have it never grow old, I think, never lose courage, nor lose interest: They may suffer, but their world remains beautiful. (Speaking of true love).
They are afraid of life, afraid they won’t succeed, or won’t get married, or something. When their fears are removed they are so relieved that they settle down and never take a risk again. That’s the only way I can explain most people.
Jealousy is one form of insanity which is dishonest. It begins in a willful perversion of the facts.
…some one to be her mate, not her slave (works for him and her).
I shouldn’t think better of the insult for know it was spontaneous.
People who can command love are not left behind.
…no man ever quite knows why a woman loves him… and how!
…if you begin now to hide your thoughts and your feelings, and to cringe before the opinions of other people, you’ll be lost forever… (said to a young girl).
It’s nature’s fine way of saying at the moment we want him very much (of passion)
Nothing in this world is stable…unless we ourselves are so.
I want you to choose the man to whom it will be easiest in the long run for you to be loyal…
…not to justify your life after it is lived.
Without sharp edges, life is a smooth habit, and meaningless.
Insincerity becomes a screen between life and our souls.”
Telephone—scuse me.
For goodness sakes. It’s an hour later. Al called I am going to see The Women
with him this evening. After he called I got into a bull-session with Mrs. Brooks. She is most happy about your picture.
I shall quote a few more and then I must quit and get going. I have to wash and dress and eat, and I’m starved.
Snope—can’t find any more underlined.
It’s probably been mean making you wade through all of these, but they are the things I would read out loud to you had we been in the sort of situation we shall be in some day.
Baby girl, I miss you tremendously, but I’m so darned happy to think that at least we seem to be definitely in line for each other. It has been an awfully hard struggle and a painful one for both of us. We have probably made more mistakes than most, but I believe we shall be better people for it. I know I would have been an awful snob if I hadn’t gotten knocked around a bit and seen what most people have to endure without a chance of doing anything about it. At least, Darling, we have that chance and the desire to make it good.
Sleep tight, tonight, lil girl. If you get it Saturday, I shall probably be in New York when you get it, but my darned old heart is still with you. Say hello to my in-laws at 506 and my other family at 327 Brandon.
I really must scram to supper. It’s nearly seven and I have to meet Al at 8 in Philly!
Love to my baby, Cy
*Refers to Marty’s estranged husband, William Kennedy.
** From Wikipedia: The Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) was a professional organization which existed from 1912 until December 31, 1962. On January 1, 1963 it merged with the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) to form the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).[1]