DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick's correspondence with his family, January-June 1939

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Nile Kinnick's correspondence with his family, January-June 1939

1939-02-12: Page 01

February 12, 1939
Dear SB:
Reference is to your letters of "Thursday" and "Sunday".    May I
ask that you give the full date to your letters and that you write on one
side of the paper only, if your sense of economy will permit.    If not,
please turn your sheets tumble fashion, as you have done in the last two
typwritten letters.    That will permit filing in an accessible manner.    It
wouldn't hurt your machine to clean tho type abit.    Tho your penmanship is
perfectly legible and represents one of the better hands in the family,  I
am glad that you are using the typewriter again.    It will be good practice
for you, and here again I make a suggestion,  that you improve the form
of your letters, paragraphing, punctuation, etc.    Something that one does
not pay sufficient attention to in casual correspondence.
Your second semester subjects look very interesting and I hope that
you will not wander too much from your present class room opportunities in
favor of the newspapers, hoping to gain from the later a sound basis for
your education.    Your rather abrupt decline in semester average must bring
your total overuse somewhat below 3.5, doesn't it?   Better make the most of
the educational opportunities while you are down there.    The other system
that you speak of can be developed after you are out of college.
I an interested in your reaction to Anderson and pleased that you
find so much In common and believe that your experience under him will be
good.    As you say, there is no reason why your talents should not blend
for the benefit of all concerned.  You, of course, know your own abilities
and principles. Be helpful in so far as you can, as long as you are out for
the sport.   Never be in the position that appears to require coaxing. You
will remember my speaking on that topic before.    Either be in or out and
then stay put; like you have done on the basketball this year.    I fancy
you have not regretted your decision there.
Very glad to hear that you are to contact the International
Machines representative, and will be interested in learning of your impressions, also his. Quite a few of those machines are used in the FLB,
and they are miraculous machines.   As you were told, they generally rented
and cost like the crown jewels.    I know nothing about the company but
would think that it might be a healthy concern to be attached to as the
equipment is a labor and cost saver in big business, of which we have a
few in this country.
In regard to your activities next summer, mother and I both believe
you would be much better off to go back to Bill's camp in preference to
a Hy Com appointment around Adel.    In the first place mother doubts if
Grandma could take you in for the summer as it would mean taking care
of some of your meals; also she does not sleep well when she knows someone is coming in later, which you would be most of the time.    I know of
no other place where you could expect to be taken in, and if you have to
pay board and room all summer, there would be little left.    Also,  it is
a practical certainty that you wouldn't get a lot of extra reading done
when there would be such opportunities to practice ball and visit with
Bob and King.    Not to disparage those opportunities, cf course.    Yon would
enjoy one more summer at Plum Lake, I should imagine.    Bill should raise
the ante, and perhaps you can wrangle a couple of youngsters from here to
earn a conmmission.    Thses are only suggestions because you have asked for
them, and you will make your own decision when you have given it more
thought.
I am going over to Ames for a couple of days, Monday and Tuesday,
for Farm and Home week programs.   Tom Oldham will be my companion.

Saving...

February 12, 1939 Dear SB: Reference is to your letters of "Thursday" and "Sunday". May I ask that you give the full date to your letters and that you write on one side of the paper only, if your sense of economy will permit. If not, please turn your sheets tumble fashion, as you have done in the last two typwritten letters. That will permit filing in an accessible manner. It wouldn't hurt your machine to clean tho type abit. Tho your penmanship is perfectly legible and represents one of the better hands in the family, I am glad that you are using the typewriter again. It will be good practice for you, and here again I make a suggestion, that you improve the form of your letters, paragraphing, punctuation, etc. Something that one does not pay sufficient attention to in casual correspondence. Your second semester subjects look very interesting and I hope that you will not wander too much from your present class room opportunities in favor of the newspapers, hoping to gain from the later a sound basis for your education. Your rather abrupt decline in semester average must bring your total overuse somewhat below 3.5, doesn't it? Better make the most of the educational opportunities while you are down there. The other system that you speak of can be developed after you are out of college. I an interested in your reaction to Anderson and pleased that you find so much In common and believe that your experience under him will be good. As you say, there is no reason why your talents should not blend for the benefit of all concerned. You, of course, know your own abilities and principles. Be helpful in so far as you can, as long as you are out for the sport. Never be in the position that appears to require coaxing. You will remember my speaking on that topic before. Either be in or out and then stay put; like you have done on the basketball this year. I fancy you have not regretted your decision there. Very glad to hear that you are to contact the International Machines representative, and will be interested in learning of your impressions, also his. Quite a few of those machines are used in the FLB, and they are miraculous machines. As you were told, they generally rented and cost like the crown jewels. I know nothing about the company but would think that it might be a healthy concern to be attached to as the equipment is a labor and cost saver in big business, of which we have a few in this country. In regard to your activities next summer, mother and I both believe you would be much better off to go back to Bill's camp in preference to a Hy Com appointment around Adel. In the first place mother doubts if Grandma could take you in for the summer as it would mean taking care of some of your meals; also she does not sleep well when she knows someone is coming in later, which you would be most of the time. I know of no other place where you could expect to be taken in, and if you have to pay board and room all summer, there would be little left. Also, it is a practical certainty that you wouldn't get a lot of extra reading done when there would be such opportunities to practice ball and visit with Bob and King. Not to disparage those opportunities, cf course. Yon would enjoy one more summer at Plum Lake, I should imagine. Bill should raise the ante, and perhaps you can wrangle a couple of youngsters from here to earn a conmmission. Thses are only suggestions because you have asked for them, and you will make your own decision when you have given it more thought. I am going over to Ames for a couple of days, Monday and Tuesday, for Farm and Home week programs. Tom Oldham will be my companion.