DIY History | Transcribe | Nile Kinnick Collection | Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1942

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Nile Kinnick correspondence, January-May 1942

1942-03-29: Page 01

March 29, 1942
Dear S.B.:
Perhaps you have been mindful,  my friend,  that my last piece of correspondence was
mailed to you from Decorah;  and  that was quite a while ago.  I am sorry to have been
so delinquent and trust that I shall be able to avoid hereafter the guilty feeling
that has snapped at my conscience lately.  My excuse is that the evenings have been
largely taken by attention to compiling the annual report of the Reading Room
auditing committee.  The report was finished last week.  My duties on that committee will end with the presentation of the annual report at the meeting next
Monday, but only to be supplanted by others more exacting.    As Mr. Weir very
honestly put it,   "we took a  shot  in the dark on you" at the election which took
place while  I was over in Iowa a month ago,  and  I came home to find myself on the
board.    The  organization meeting of the board  mantled me with the responsibility
of the treasurer's office.    While not seeking nor expecting the posts  I shall try
to do as good a job as  I can.    Obligations thrust upon us sometimes push us  into
doing the things we ought to do.
Before going further, may I acknowledge your card sent to Decorah  (largest hotel  in)
which did not reach me there but was forwarded to Omaha, along with my razor which
I forgot there.   Also, we received on Friday the package containing the pictures
and your bonds.   The later I shall put in the safety box and the former we shall
enjoy each day.    I believe the  portrait to be only a shade below the Harris & Ewing
production that we all think is as fine as could be obtained.    Often we stand and
gaze with prideful smiles at the  three faces  on the wall  in the north room.    Yours
and Ben's couldn't be improved upon,  from our viewpoint, and in a few years we shall
have one of George that will match the others, all taken at about the same age.
One of your last ones stands on the mantle, which makes two nautical men there.
You will remember the newspaper cut of Winnie.  Take away his cigar and both
pictures have the same  look of competence,  confidence and alertness.    Just the
look that we expect in our navy men.    Your first formal picture in uniform is
perfectly satisfying to me.    Your mother will express her own views but I know
what they are.    This week,  Tuesday,  she and George will take one of them back to
grandma.
Your letters have come with comforting regularity and we do appreciate them so
much.     It also is very good that you have had enough time to carry on your correspondence with so many friends.  That certainly is a worth while effort and
will be the source of much pleasure and  satisfaction later on.  The written word
is a wonderful medium of expression and under circumstances like we have now, is
highly satisfactory.   May I here acknowledge the compliment that you paid me some
weeks ago in discussing this subject.  The absence of my epistles in your mail
might indicate that I intended to rest on past laurels, but such is not the case
I assure you. Letters are much more satisfactory when they are on a reciprocal
basis, and I shall try harder to give as well as take. I hope that you will continue to encourage George in developing the scrivener's art.    The faculty  of
self expression in the spoken and written word seems quite essential these days
and the fellow who has failed to develop those faculties surely will find himself at a disadvantage.    The foundation of that whole business is the old
"'dictionary habit",  and well do I remember the period in which you first began
to read with that valuable volume beside you; a custom that stays with you a long
time.    It should be encouraged in all young people.    There are for too many older
people, frequently encountered  in business, who lack the knowledge of how to
express themselves clearly,  correctly and completely in a letter.  What little
faculty  I have in that direction has contributed much to doing a good job in my
post with the FLB, and I know will have a determining influence in the slot I
find myself in when we have the readjustment in the office; which has been on

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March 29, 1942 Dear S.B.: Perhaps you have been mindful, my friend, that my last piece of correspondence was mailed to you from Decorah; and that was quite a while ago. I am sorry to have been so delinquent and trust that I shall be able to avoid hereafter the guilty feeling that has snapped at my conscience lately. My excuse is that the evenings have been largely taken by attention to compiling the annual report of the Reading Room auditing committee. The report was finished last week. My duties on that committee will end with the presentation of the annual report at the meeting next Monday, but only to be supplanted by others more exacting. As Mr. Weir very honestly put it, "we took a shot in the dark on you" at the election which took place while I was over in Iowa a month ago, and I came home to find myself on the board. The organization meeting of the board mantled me with the responsibility of the treasurer's office. While not seeking nor expecting the posts I shall try to do as good a job as I can. Obligations thrust upon us sometimes push us into doing the things we ought to do. Before going further, may I acknowledge your card sent to Decorah (largest hotel in) which did not reach me there but was forwarded to Omaha, along with my razor which I forgot there. Also, we received on Friday the package containing the pictures and your bonds. The later I shall put in the safety box and the former we shall enjoy each day. I believe the portrait to be only a shade below the Harris & Ewing production that we all think is as fine as could be obtained. Often we stand and gaze with prideful smiles at the three faces on the wall in the north room. Yours and Ben's couldn't be improved upon, from our viewpoint, and in a few years we shall have one of George that will match the others, all taken at about the same age. One of your last ones stands on the mantle, which makes two nautical men there. You will remember the newspaper cut of Winnie. Take away his cigar and both pictures have the same look of competence, confidence and alertness. Just the look that we expect in our navy men. Your first formal picture in uniform is perfectly satisfying to me. Your mother will express her own views but I know what they are. This week, Tuesday, she and George will take one of them back to grandma. Your letters have come with comforting regularity and we do appreciate them so much. It also is very good that you have had enough time to carry on your correspondence with so many friends. That certainly is a worth while effort and will be the source of much pleasure and satisfaction later on. The written word is a wonderful medium of expression and under circumstances like we have now, is highly satisfactory. May I here acknowledge the compliment that you paid me some weeks ago in discussing this subject. The absence of my epistles in your mail might indicate that I intended to rest on past laurels, but such is not the case I assure you. Letters are much more satisfactory when they are on a reciprocal basis, and I shall try harder to give as well as take. I hope that you will continue to encourage George in developing the scrivener's art. The faculty of self expression in the spoken and written word seems quite essential these days and the fellow who has failed to develop those faculties surely will find himself at a disadvantage. The foundation of that whole business is the old "'dictionary habit", and well do I remember the period in which you first began to read with that valuable volume beside you; a custom that stays with you a long time. It should be encouraged in all young people. There are for too many older people, frequently encountered in business, who lack the knowledge of how to express themselves clearly, correctly and completely in a letter. What little faculty I have in that direction has contributed much to doing a good job in my post with the FLB, and I know will have a determining influence in the slot I find myself in when we have the readjustment in the office; which has been on