DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick correspondence, December 1942-March 1943

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Nile Kinnick correspondence, December 1942-March 1943

1943-01-07: Page 01

Thursday afternoon
January 7, 1943
Dear SB:
Your first letter written at Quonset arrived at noon, and mother and I read It, together with, one from Ben, as we sat on the davenport basking in a rare warm sun. The
recital of your trip from Norfolk, especially the experiences in New York, was highly
interesting.  In the sort of life that you are leading, probably the high moment in
most any day is to meet an old acquaintance, or even a friend of a friend.  Interesting
to note that you seem to make it on shipboard just before the deadline. Buck Miller
would be the Beta from Ames who joined the circle on the curb at 48th St. Ben will be
much interested in reading that item. Mother and I saw the movie of "Life with Father"
and enjoyed it hugely.  Stage shows seem like a lot of fun after seeing movies as steady
diet for so long. When last I was in Cedar Rapids Clarke told me of seeing some shows
whenn he and Mary were in Chicago last fall. The one that he talked most about was
"Junior Miss", which he classified as rare indeed. You knew that Clarke started his
term as 1st Reader last Sunday. We thought of himas we sat listening to our own service.
Your comment that you await the coming of the squadron mail with constant eagerness, is
an emotion that is shared here, and doubtless is the common situation in most of the
homes in this land. This morning I was at home to do some checking on the church books
before the auditors came. Once I came up stairs to learn if the mail had come; but no.
About noon mother called down, "Mail 's here", whereupon I joined her on the sunny side
for the welcome visit with both you and Ben which these days seems to be what we look
for most.  Usually it is the subject of my  first enquiry when I come home from the office
and I have an idea that mother can detect the postman's footsteps rounding the corner of
the block. Therefore it takes no imagination to understand the eagerness with which you
reach into the bax for mail from this end.  I hope that the volume and content have not
left you with an empty feeling too often. This aft I am sticking around to lend any help
to the auditors that may expedite their chores. Two bookkeeping ladies have taken time
off from their offices to perform the task, and I am on "annual leave" with the same excuse.
It does seem very aggreable to have an easy day for a change. Not that the days are
arduous; but means leaving home long before dawn, with war daylight-savings in effect,
and it barely smacks of dawn by  the time we reach down town. But such a small contribution to make to the nation's war effort. Absolutely no complaint. The easy hours of the old schedule, off at 4 PM, were very easy to take, and I really shall miss the Saturday
afternoons that formerly permitted s bit of home loafing and an opportunity to do a few
chores around the ranch. That seems past now, as Saturday is just like another day,
from 8:15 to 5:00, with 45 minutes for lunch.
Agreeable with your request I have ordered the books, Story of Reconstruction and
Story of Confederacy. Doubtless they will be along in a week or two. Deliveries of
all sorts are on the delayed basis these days.  It now appears most certain that the
civilian needs of almost every kind will run on somewhat the schedule of those trains
you have been riding; slow, with delays. Old Bi11 Daduciner, our favorite grocer,is
his own delivery boy part of the time now.  Last night on the way home from church we
stopped for ice cream and were told that Reed's do not make commercial grade any longer,
and their volume of homemade is restricted as is the range of flavors. It looks like a 
lot of retailers are going to be out of a job during the next few months. And the 
farmers will make some money if they are willing to do the job with about 2/3 of their
usual help.  It has been evident for a year that too many of the farm lads were being
drafted, and tho the mistake is now recognized it seems unlikely that the situation can
be remedied to an appreciable extent. Cliff's boys will be left on the farm I am pretty
sure. The News carried an item about Harold's marriage, and I know that he was waiting
for definite information about his draft possibilities before leaping into the sea
matrimony. Therefore I deduct that he is frozen on the farm, as is Lowell.
About the only suggestion I can make about your savings accounts, and the checking account
at Iowa City, is that you inform the Iowa City bank of your wishes that I be recognized
as your agent with authority to withdraw those funds in case it seems smart to use them

Saving...

Thursday afternoon January 7, 1943 Dear SB: Your first letter written at Quonset arrived at noon, and mother and I read It, together with, one from Ben, as we sat on the davenport basking in a rare warm sun. The recital of your trip from Norfolk, especially the experiences in New York, was highly interesting. In the sort of life that you are leading, probably the high moment in most any day is to meet an old acquaintance, or even a friend of a friend. Interesting to note that you seem to make it on shipboard just before the deadline. Buck Miller would be the Beta from Ames who joined the circle on the curb at 48th St. Ben will be much interested in reading that item. Mother and I saw the movie of "Life with Father" and enjoyed it hugely. Stage shows seem like a lot of fun after seeing movies as steady diet for so long. When last I was in Cedar Rapids Clarke told me of seeing some shows whenn he and Mary were in Chicago last fall. The one that he talked most about was "Junior Miss", which he classified as rare indeed. You knew that Clarke started his term as 1st Reader last Sunday. We thought of himas we sat listening to our own service. Your comment that you await the coming of the squadron mail with constant eagerness, is an emotion that is shared here, and doubtless is the common situation in most of the homes in this land. This morning I was at home to do some checking on the church books before the auditors came. Once I came up stairs to learn if the mail had come; but no. About noon mother called down, "Mail 's here", whereupon I joined her on the sunny side for the welcome visit with both you and Ben which these days seems to be what we look for most. Usually it is the subject of my first enquiry when I come home from the office and I have an idea that mother can detect the postman's footsteps rounding the corner of the block. Therefore it takes no imagination to understand the eagerness with which you reach into the bax for mail from this end. I hope that the volume and content have not left you with an empty feeling too often. This aft I am sticking around to lend any help to the auditors that may expedite their chores. Two bookkeeping ladies have taken time off from their offices to perform the task, and I am on "annual leave" with the same excuse. It does seem very aggreable to have an easy day for a change. Not that the days are arduous; but means leaving home long before dawn, with war daylight-savings in effect, and it barely smacks of dawn by the time we reach down town. But such a small contribution to make to the nation's war effort. Absolutely no complaint. The easy hours of the old schedule, off at 4 PM, were very easy to take, and I really shall miss the Saturday afternoons that formerly permitted s bit of home loafing and an opportunity to do a few chores around the ranch. That seems past now, as Saturday is just like another day, from 8:15 to 5:00, with 45 minutes for lunch. Agreeable with your request I have ordered the books, Story of Reconstruction and Story of Confederacy. Doubtless they will be along in a week or two. Deliveries of all sorts are on the delayed basis these days. It now appears most certain that the civilian needs of almost every kind will run on somewhat the schedule of those trains you have been riding; slow, with delays. Old Bi11 Daduciner, our favorite grocer,is his own delivery boy part of the time now. Last night on the way home from church we stopped for ice cream and were told that Reed's do not make commercial grade any longer, and their volume of homemade is restricted as is the range of flavors. It looks like a lot of retailers are going to be out of a job during the next few months. And the farmers will make some money if they are willing to do the job with about 2/3 of their usual help. It has been evident for a year that too many of the farm lads were being drafted, and tho the mistake is now recognized it seems unlikely that the situation can be remedied to an appreciable extent. Cliff's boys will be left on the farm I am pretty sure. The News carried an item about Harold's marriage, and I know that he was waiting for definite information about his draft possibilities before leaping into the sea matrimony. Therefore I deduct that he is frozen on the farm, as is Lowell. About the only suggestion I can make about your savings accounts, and the checking account at Iowa City, is that you inform the Iowa City bank of your wishes that I be recognized as your agent with authority to withdraw those funds in case it seems smart to use them