Viewing page 46 of 113
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
38 Bob told me that he didn't know whether to go from Schenectady back to Erie on test or to Boston to get a job there and decided finally in the railroad station that whichever train came first he'd take. The Boston train happened to be fifteen minutes late so the Buffalo train came first and he took it. Now he's firmly entrenched in the GE in the work he likes best--railroading. I told him the story of the chain of circumstances that carried me to the same destination and we both agreed that there [[underlined]] is [[/underlined]] a destiny that marks out our course. This evening Bob and I went to the Metropolitan concert and heard Bori, Swarthout, Donninelli, Frigerio, Tedesco, Pasero and the orchestra. Frigerio, a young baritone, looks like a real comer to me. He sang the duet from the second act of "La Traviata" with Bori and it brought down the house. And Swarthout and Donnielli sang a soprano-contralto duet that was heavenly--"Viens Mallika" from "Lakme" by Delibes. The harmony was so wonderful that I think even old Eric would have enjoyed it. They sang two numbers from Bizet's opera "The Pearl Fishers" that were beautiful. From what I've heard of it, it must be a magnificent opera--don't understand why it isn't in the repertoire. New York, N.Y., November 17, 1930. Spent the day at Kingsland Shops working with Chris on Loco. #3501. Our two traction motors are back from Erie and we are getting ready to put 2501 back into service again. These Lackawanna days will be memorable ones because they have been full of many things and many experiences bad and good. Railroad men, Eric, Chris, James, Louis (Strackbine), John Sexton, Paddy Murray, Tutlow, Root, Wall, Jimmie Purcell, Joe Kron, George, Mike Lenihan, Charlie Williams--the romance of railroading and the reality of it too; New York; liquor; beer parties; friendships, music, the river, the sea, the great activity of the greatest city in the world. The "kiddie kar," the "ohms and M's," the "iron wagon," "Hamlet," " chicken dinner," "serious," "pants up," "pants down," and a hundred other words and phrases to remind me of the gang. Today a clerk at Kingsland said "awdah" (order) and I thought of Doris. She said things that way too. Tonight Bob and I heard "Don Giovanni"--a marvelous cast and beautiful production but most of the music didn't appeal greatly. Ponselle, Mueller, Fleischer, Gigli, Pinsa, Rothier. New York, N.Y., November 18, 1930. Bob and I took Chris to dinner tonight after Chris and I had worked at Kingsland and Jersey City all day till about 7 pm. The talk got rather loose and I slid along, compromising with
