Letter

Feb. 23, 1947

My very dear, very good-looking Family!

Papa and I went out in 16 above zero weather with bitter wind, last night to see and hear the delightful musical comedy “Blue Skies" with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Joan Caulfield.  I certainly longed for my 2 sons to hear Bing Crosby sing “The guy that used to be my captain is working for me now! I pay him 50 per-which is only half enough-to hear him call me Sir! My Captain is working for me now!” He also sang “White Christmas” with so much feeling, while the spotlight moved over the faces of sweating soldiers, with khaki shirts unbuttoned. The features of each were different but the longing, wistful expression in the eyes were alike in all!  Fred Astaire danced like a supple jack, and the girls wore the most beautiful costumes I have seen in my life, so Lollie must certainly see this movie when she can.

Today we had Laymen’s Sunday and Hon. Carl V. Weygandt, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, of Ohio, made a masterly address, and every word of It would have interested my sons. He said we taught men to kill in this war and then when they were discharged from the Army we are surprised that there is a crime wave. His son was in the Air Corps and received a letter from pal in Germany saying he was "witnessing civilization in reverse." He quoted Cicero "Silent leges inter arms”, “Laws are silent during war”.

Tuesday I motored to Chardon with Papa for my semi-annual dental appointment and returned by bus. While waiting in Cook’s Drug Store, a customer remarked that she had never heard the song, ”Open the Door, Richard” The girl clerk seized her by the arm, led her to the juke box, made her deposit a nickel and played it for her. Then spent the rest of the morning telling everyone who came along that there had been one woman in the world who had never heard "Open the Door, Richard,” until this morning! That penguin certainty advertised Admiral Byrd with more people than his exploration has.

Bakery displayed George Washington Cakes Friday. White cake with chocolate icing rolled up to resemble a log and icing roughened. Then 2 cherries, with green stems and green leaves were laid on it, and also a small hatchet, covered with silver paper, and on end was stamped “Japan”. A woman asked, “Why are you selling those now, when George Washington's Birthday was on Feb .12th?"  Why, indeed!

I had 5 children before I had been married 10 years, and now Carrie has 5 children before she has been married 10 years so equals my record. I hope hers will succeed as well as mine have and know they will. I have decided that If Anna Bob has a son and wishes him to have a name not already appropriated by his boy cousins he will have to be Xenophon Vernon Zacharias and he will never be able to buy handkerchiefs already initialed with such odd letters. I once had a friend named Irene Olga Quentelle end her initials were so odd she could never find them for sale.

Best incident I have heard this past week is this one. During a terrific thunderstorm a mother tiptoed up to her little boy’s room to see whether he was frightened. A flash of lightning showed him standing by a window. The thunder cracked and the little boy raised his voice unto the Lord. "Make it louder, God!" he cried. As if in direct answer there came a tremendous crash. The boy threw up a hand and shouted, "Atta boy, God!” The mother decided that even God liked to hear commendation of someone saying "Atta boy, God!” to him sometimes.

Aunt Lollie sent me the nicest check to buy stockings to wear to Princeton, W.Va. just what I needed, and will so enjoy, and do thank her so much, so another Birthday Present before March 26th.

My cousin, Jamie Gleaves, of Cripple Creek, Va. had surgical operation for removal of kidney, at age of 69. Aunt Lollie made all arrangements for him, and Aunt Lollie had his sisters to meals, when they visited him. So good of both of them, and just what my father would have done for them, if he was still living, so they are carrying on his good deeds.

Beth sent me perfectly exquisite birthday card, picture of afghan, such interesting clipping on D.A.R. I will preserve it in my scrapbook, as I knew Miss Mary Desha, one of the founders of D.A.R. who lived to be quite old.  Also a perfectly lovely letter which I will share with A. Bob.

A.Bob has written another thrilling chapter on Dr. Todd and Thelma, whose romance has entertained me all this winter weather. The Sampselles called on the Sterretts. Caroline announced impressively that­ - Mrs. Gordon Todd, Sr. had called on her! George Ross, Jr. (Thelma’s son) attends Staunton Military Academy, which had big dance during weekend. His sister Helen, his mother, and stepfather came for the affair. Helen said they would call Saturday afternoon. So Caroline had baby, and parents, well dressed, and house in perfect order, but they did not arrive. Then Sunday morning, when Caroline and Doug were still In bathrobes bathing the baby, and house in a mess, Mrs. Todd, Helen and George Ross arrived. Thelma was DRIPPING In Furs, which Doug said must have set Dr. Todd back a plenty. They were chauffeured by Skeesick, who had driven the first Mrs. Todd.  Thelma talked mostly of her sister, Mattie, who married Lee Barbee, Jr. of Bluefield, VA. He committed suicide last summer, and soon afterward, Mattie, and 3 children, the youngest, a small baby came to live with her sister, Myrtle, and Denny Shuff. Another sister, Helen and her husband came and took the two smallest children and will adopt them legally. The oldest child is with a brother in the coal fields, (probably Billy.) Mattie was sick, went to hospital, and they diagnosed her trouble as tuberculosis. She is now in a sanatorium, with Dr. Todd, Sr. and Denny Shuff paying the bills. That Bolling family certainly do love each other and do everything for each other.

Dr. Gordon Todd, Jr. and family live in former Nurses' Home, have removed partitions and it is very nice. Dr. Gordon Todd, Sr., and Thelma, live in apartment in Hospital. Before they were married, Thelma had interior decorator come from New York to decorate it. It is perfectly beautiful, like something out of Hollywood, very lovely, but so impractical.  She has pale blue rug with ivory satin couch. They gave party for the Doctors, who were so afraid they would mar the furniture that none of them would sit down and each carried an ashtray all evening for fear he would drop ashes on the floor! In the bedroom one entire wall is a mirror. It really must be something!

When A. Bob sees Mrs. McNutt she plans to ask her how high they are in the Social Blue Book, if they had callers on Sunday morning? Caroline said, that without a doubt, it was the worst time for anyone to call that she had ever heard of in her life!

Tuesday, Feb.18th, when I went to Chardon, was the first time I have been in Papa’s automobile since Thanksgiving, as we prefer to go to the movies on streetcar, and we walk to Church. We sent Jr. and Sara25 new magazines by Bud Corey, of Chardon, that we hope they will enjoy as we did. Why Jr. plans to go to O.S.U. when such brilliant men as Audre Cook, Jr. and Jim Russell flunked in one semester, I do not know as I doubt whether he will study until 2 A.M. as they did! However this GI Bill of Rights is certainly gravy for the colleges all the money they are getting from it.

I suppose all of you are watching the snow falling as I am, and I hope each one has a warm, comfortable home, with plenty of fuel as we do.

Dearest love to each one,    Aff.,  Mama and sister.