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The Springfield Republican
Established in 1824 by Samuel Bowles
Daily - - - Sunday - - - Weekly

Springfield, Mass.

January 16, 1934

Dearest Mother:

Please forgive my long delay in writing to thank you for my Christmas box. Right after Christmas I came down with a bad cold, in spite of the inoculations I had been having, and I have felt dreadfully tired and depressed ever since; haven't wanted to see any one or do anything. At times all the details of life seem too hard to difficult. Then the news of Uncle Jack's death added to the general sense of depression; for it is part of that useless waste and tragedy which so often makes life horrible to the sensitive soul.

I am enclosing some clippings which you may wish to have. Mr Brooks, one of our editorial writers, had this file about Uncle Jack and added to it the articles from the current papers. He thought that the family might care for them.

There is really nothing to say, of course, except that death is the best thing for every one concerned. To be forced to say that when a life comes to an end seems to me so dreadful; for it means that life has never found itself. To have to add that it would have been better if he had died long ago seems so heartless and unfeeling; yet to the outside observer what else is evident? The years of worry and anguish that his family have had to go through seem scarcely compensated by what work he did. And yet it is tragic to see talent and sensitiveness go through life so blindly and so insanely. I feel as if I were lacking in something not to feel anything more than relief. Yet I am glad that you will not have to suffer for this reason again. At least you have nothing to reproach yourself with; for I know that you have always met your responsibilities as they came. A life starts so long before it is born that there is no use in thinking of how it might have been otherwise. Tragically, too, it goes on for a long time after it is dead. I shudder to think of the two boys whose childhood must have left indelible marks on them. I wish I could sound more consoling or say the conventional things; they do not seem worth saying at the cost of honesty.

Don't think it frivolous or flippant of me to go on to utter the thanks I should have written several weeks ago. I did love my box and all the gay wrappings and appreciated the loving thought that had gone into them. Jigger liked his presents too, ate up the salmon quickly, but still chases the mouse like mad. The useful gifts, the hankies and bloomers, I was glad to have; and the little glass golfer joined four glass kitties I got for Christmas. Some day I hope to have a very formal party and use the cocktail napkins; at present I am leading a very quiet life, having been back