DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1940

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Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1940

1940-03-07: Page 01

Omaha, Nebraska
March 7th, 1940
Dear SB.
It might appear that you and I have been trying to outlast the other in
the matter withholding the pen.  I believe that mother has written to you
several times since you were here early in February; but I confess that for
my part there has been only the intention. Last night seemed to be the
time but I passed it for the honor of squiring your mother to church. We were
late getting home as we waited for BearCat and he has to put out the clock
and wind the cat; in addition to which mother offerd to take home a couple
of folks and one of them lived almost down town.  I then tried to finish a
piece in the Post before taking to the arms of Morph. At eleven 0'clock
WOW put on the record of Thos Dewey's speech given at Lincoln last eve, and
so it was after the witching hour before I laid me. And no letter to SB.
However, about a week ago I happened to pick up Robert on his way to school
and he stated that he had heard from you when you stopped in Chicago on
your way to Evansville. Grandma reported that you had been in Adel and
to-day a letter from Aunty Kate gave more details of that nice visit.  It
seems that some other person reported having heard from you, then last Tuesday
the Codlins from Clarinda were here and gave us the information that you will be
in Corning on the 20th of March. That led us  to believe you would come on
home from there, and your letter of to-day confirms it. Oh yes, it was Ben
who wrote that he had heard from you. So we had snatches of news concening
your movements, and felt certainly that you must be very busy and that
we should heard from you if all was not well. Mother once said that she regretted telling you that you needn't write if you were too busy. Possibly
you appreciate too that letters are the best substitutes for personal visits
and even at some output of effort should be maintained at least as a minor
enterprize. I am not as good as I used to be, I freely admit. My grossest
neglect lately has been the folks on the West coast. Butler wrote me a letter
at Christmas, and a brief note a week ago. Sunday I replied, also briefly,
but contained in my letter was a check for $150 which I surmise he was glad
to see.  It represented his share of a disbursement from the Turin farm
income. Ruth and Betty will be glad to see hers, as I know that Betty will
need it to help her thru the balance of this year.
I am scheduled for Logan next Tuesday where I will appear on the program
of the "association" meeting of the borrowers of the FLB. That evening
I will drive up to Storm Lake to visit a soy bean train sponsored by the
college and the IC Ry. That point is the closest to Omaha that the schedule
bring the train as it covers only the northern part of the state. Then
I expect to come back thru Turin Wednesday afternoon and have a vist with
Bill Hussell and make some plans for the farm.  If 01' Man River stays
away from our door we should have a bit of income from the place, tho I
expect to lay aside enough of the income to accumulate a cushion sufficient
to meet taxes and interest for one year in case of some such event as
another flood.  It seems rather interesting to have a farm to monkey with.
Wish that there were several of the same.
George is changing, First, in stature; and he likes to stand in front of
me and preten that he is as tall, which he soon will be. His school work
seems to be going better and it is a joy to see some real interest in
study and the first flickers of interest in accomplishing something
in a scholastic way. Possibly the most astonishing thing is a sudden

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Omaha, Nebraska March 7th, 1940 Dear SB. It might appear that you and I have been trying to outlast the other in the matter withholding the pen. I believe that mother has written to you several times since you were here early in February; but I confess that for my part there has been only the intention. Last night seemed to be the time but I passed it for the honor of squiring your mother to church. We were late getting home as we waited for BearCat and he has to put out the clock and wind the cat; in addition to which mother offerd to take home a couple of folks and one of them lived almost down town. I then tried to finish a piece in the Post before taking to the arms of Morph. At eleven 0'clock WOW put on the record of Thos Dewey's speech given at Lincoln last eve, and so it was after the witching hour before I laid me. And no letter to SB. However, about a week ago I happened to pick up Robert on his way to school and he stated that he had heard from you when you stopped in Chicago on your way to Evansville. Grandma reported that you had been in Adel and to-day a letter from Aunty Kate gave more details of that nice visit. It seems that some other person reported having heard from you, then last Tuesday the Codlins from Clarinda were here and gave us the information that you will be in Corning on the 20th of March. That led us to believe you would come on home from there, and your letter of to-day confirms it. Oh yes, it was Ben who wrote that he had heard from you. So we had snatches of news concening your movements, and felt certainly that you must be very busy and that we should heard from you if all was not well. Mother once said that she regretted telling you that you needn't write if you were too busy. Possibly you appreciate too that letters are the best substitutes for personal visits and even at some output of effort should be maintained at least as a minor enterprize. I am not as good as I used to be, I freely admit. My grossest neglect lately has been the folks on the West coast. Butler wrote me a letter at Christmas, and a brief note a week ago. Sunday I replied, also briefly, but contained in my letter was a check for $150 which I surmise he was glad to see. It represented his share of a disbursement from the Turin farm income. Ruth and Betty will be glad to see hers, as I know that Betty will need it to help her thru the balance of this year. I am scheduled for Logan next Tuesday where I will appear on the program of the "association" meeting of the borrowers of the FLB. That evening I will drive up to Storm Lake to visit a soy bean train sponsored by the college and the IC Ry. That point is the closest to Omaha that the schedule bring the train as it covers only the northern part of the state. Then I expect to come back thru Turin Wednesday afternoon and have a vist with Bill Hussell and make some plans for the farm. If 01' Man River stays away from our door we should have a bit of income from the place, tho I expect to lay aside enough of the income to accumulate a cushion sufficient to meet taxes and interest for one year in case of some such event as another flood. It seems rather interesting to have a farm to monkey with. Wish that there were several of the same. George is changing, First, in stature; and he likes to stand in front of me and preten that he is as tall, which he soon will be. His school work seems to be going better and it is a joy to see some real interest in study and the first flickers of interest in accomplishing something in a scholastic way. Possibly the most astonishing thing is a sudden