Viewing page 34 of 154

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

12

[[underline]] To Mother, September 3, 1924: [[/underline]] It's a shame that Helen (Baird) hasn't married someone, for I think she would make a mighty nice little wife. It certainly does seem queer to think of Betty (Bump) getting married, and Virginia White. I guess I'll be an old bachelor from the appearance of things now.

[[underline]] To Mother, September 4, 1924: [[/underline]] Del (Quammen) told me last week that he disliked the smell in the Atlantic coast towns, meaning the fishy odor, and I replied that I just loved that atmosphere because it meant that there were boats around and the ocean was near. So last night he handed me a cigar box and asked me if that smelled like the ocean to me. I opened it, took a whiff, and nearly fell over. He had the box full of shells and old parts of crabs and shellfish which he had picked up along some beach down in Maine. He and Jim nearly died laughing at me when I took that breath, and Jim swears that if Del's landlady ever finds that box, she will throw him out, it smells so awful. Del said, "Well, that's the way the ocean smells to me." He ought to visit Shoals.

[[underline]] To Mother, September 5, 1924: [[/underline]] Your letter was so full of interesting things including "Mitten." [[underline]] You [[/underline]] certainly must be faithful to Pedro. I feel sorry for him. Give him my regards. ...... You missed the "Owl" because I had never been there when you were there and didn't know how good it is. We ate there again this evening. At the table, we got into a discussion of the "Test" Course, particularly the night shift. It seems there is one big test in Bldg. 11 where all they do is take readings every half hour. Immediately after a reading, they all lie down and go to sleep, one man staying awake, and when the half hour is up, he wakes everyone up for another reading. Pretty soft! They also told us about a fellow who went to sleep under a big turbine bearing and while he was asleep, the crane came along and carried the bearing away, leaving him asleep in the middle of the floor. ...... You remember the Mr. Mattocks who is the time clerk in our office although an MIT man. I found out more about him the other day. He is an electrical engineer and has been with the Company twenty-five years, but during the war, was induced to do some clerical work and has stuck to it ever since. He is a bachelor, has plenty of money, drives a Packard car, and evidently holds down this job just to have something to do. Just the same, I can't understand it. He can't have much ambition. No doubt he gets a huge bonus. ...... How are Pete and Mitten getting along together. Is Pete jealous of him?

[[underline]] To Willie, September 17, 1924: [[/underline]] I walk to and from the plant every day, the distance being about two and a half miles. In the morning, Jim Hollyer and I go down together at 6:15, get breakfast at the "Waldorf" (a rather famous Eastern institution) and then go on to the Works. The "Century" still helps us to determine whether or not we are on time and one of us usually