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foreigner of some sort and was engaged in the poultry-buying business. He sort of attached himself to me in the station and I couldn't politely detach myself until we reached Syracuse and I got a Pullman seat. I became more and more disappointed in him as the miles slipped under us (for I at first made an honest effort to find him interesting). His talk savored too much of women and he finally, seeing me interested in pictures in the "Times" Book Review, brought out a copy of "Artists and Models" for my inspection. The pictures were the damnedest collection of nudes and semi-nudes I have ever seen. How in the devil a magazine like that can be published in the name of Art, I don't know. Its purpose is so apparent. And so I got into the Pullman in Syracuse somewhat disgusted. Meanwhile, I had my five-minutes visit with Mother. There wasn't time to say much. It was just good to see each other and I was mighty sorry I couldn't stay longer but it seemed best to arrive in Erie in time to look up a room this afternoon. 

I arrived in Erie in due course after delighting at the great field of ice and snow, steel-blue and cream, that is Lake Erie at this period of the year. And I was also much impressed by the miles upon miles of vineyards hereabouts; it was positively amazing! Erie at once pleased me. I went to the "Y" where I got a room for $1.25, and later went out to the Schryvers in Lawrence Park to see about the room Parker had recommended. I looked the Schryvers up in the directory first, and upon finding he is a toolmaker, my silly, high-hat self momentarily balked but I squashed such a foolish idea in a hurry and was rewarded for my good sense and right attitude, by getting the room, a peach, and finding the Schryvers a very pleasant, kind young couple, just as Parker had told me they were. My room is convenient to the works, the country, the city, the lake, and a good boarding house, and is very, very pleasant in itself. My room and laundry come to $4.00 per week and my board to $6.00, so I have visions of really saving some money if I can ever get settled down again. How mighty fortunate I am! I shall always marvel at it. I went down and spent the night at the "Y", moving in tomorrow. And on my way down, I was thinking over the toolmaker episode that took place, unknown to all but me, in the halls of my mind. And I said aloud as I walked along in the chill night, "Why, Jesus was a carpenter!" 

Erie, Pa., 
Monday, January 11, 1926.

Went out to the plant this morning and made arrangements for starting work tomorrow. I had an idea from what I'd heard, that Metzner was a rather forbidding person but I found him quite otherwise and I liked him a lot. Spent the day in transferring my goods to my room, getting settled, shopping and looking around. The result of the latter was to decide that Erie impresses me most