DIY History | Transcribe | World War II Diaries and Letters | Helen Fox Angell letters to Bess Peebles Fox, October-December 1943

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Helen Fox Angell letters to Bess Peebles Fox, October-December 1943

1943-12-23 Page 1

Dec 23, 1943
Thursday evening
Dear Mother,
This morning I went over to the Y.W. across the street and rented a sewing machine for a half hour (15c) and made a red jersey lining to put in my havelock if it is cold. The havelock [note in margin: Note - It blew overboard from Aquitania on way to Scotland] is a black oiled silk hat cover with sides like tent sides which snap under the chin. The red won't show, but how nice & snug it makes it. Very original of me, wasn't it?
This afternoon I went out to American University and copied the music for the Virginia Reel from a book they have. Then back, found a notice for a package & went for it. It turned out to be Mary's gift-and very nice it is, too. I'll write her. It is a tube of Bath sponges in Schiaparelli "Salut." She gave me some in "Shocking" once before & I enjoyed them a lot. They make grand sachets before you use them.
I got a whale of a lot of mail today. Let's see if I can recall it. I'll stick in the suitcase what I think will interest you. A nice letter from Eva, with a picture in it which I'll send, a letter from Alice Whitney, one from Bea Gray, one from Hattie, a card from Helen Crum notifying me of her APO number (New York), a nice card from Mrs. McKay, one from Amy, and your note & enclosures.
I am not Mrs. Eastman!  You may not know it but every letter & pkg. you have sent me in Washington has gone through exactly the same channels to reach me, no matter how addressed. It's the Red Cross part that makes it do that. I thought maybe we could skip that & send it right to the hotel, but decided not to.

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Dec 23, 1943 Thursday evening Dear Mother, This morning I went over to the Y.W. across the street and rented a sewing machine for a half hour (15c) and made a red jersey lining to put in my havelock if it is cold. The havelock [note in margin: Note - It blew overboard from Aquitania on way to Scotland] is a black oiled silk hat cover with sides like tent sides which snap under the chin. The red won't show, but how nice & snug it makes it. Very original of me, wasn't it? This afternoon I went out to American University and copied the music for the Virginia Reel from a book they have. Then back, found a notice for a package & went for it. It turned out to be Mary's gift-and very nice it is, too. I'll write her. It is a tube of Bath sponges in Schiaparelli "Salut." She gave me some in "Shocking" once before & I enjoyed them a lot. They make grand sachets before you use them. I got a whale of a lot of mail today. Let's see if I can recall it. I'll stick in the suitcase what I think will interest you. A nice letter from Eva, with a picture in it which I'll send, a letter from Alice Whitney, one from Bea Gray, one from Hattie, a card from Helen Crum notifying me of her APO number (New York), a nice card from Mrs. McKay, one from Amy, and your note & enclosures. I am not Mrs. Eastman! You may not know it but every letter & pkg. you have sent me in Washington has gone through exactly the same channels to reach me, no matter how addressed. It's the Red Cross part that makes it do that. I thought maybe we could skip that & send it right to the hotel, but decided not to.