and I have furnished the room some what—an easy chair, lamp, and pillows for the couch, and now it is quite liveable—strange how much these little things do. It runs into $ but certainly is worth it.
We haven’t been asked for any ration books up here—they just feed us tripe and that is that. However I see no reason for not getting my number 2 book, as we can’t tell how long I’ll be here.
I’m quite busy—an hour exam in psyc. next week, 5000 words (which is quite a lot when you stop to count them up) on the short story form in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly etc.—I had a talk with Mr. Elman—he is quite all right—in fact I gave him a story I wrote for him to look at and criticize—which he probably will!
John is taking a secretarial course in Washington—and not exceedingly happy with it—but it will clear up I guess.
And by now (when you get this letter) you will probably know all about it—tho it may not happen—but Charley Socarides is coming soon to try to get into some medical school in NY—plans to stay at the Biltmore and may look up Mrs. Garrett! So—it’s out of my hands—I’d like to have come down with him, but $ and work and I guess it’s best I’m not—a good long weekend.
The news about J—Osborne quite astounding—but keep me posted—I don’t know if I’ll be down in April—no Easter vacation—
Love
B—
ration books: issued in World War II to control consumption of high-demand products. Book 2 was issued in January 1943.
Mr. Elman: unidentified.
Charley Socarides: Charles W. Socarides (1922–2005), American psychiatrist and author, known for his belief that homosexuality was a curable illness. He graduated from Harvard in 1945.
J—Osborne: Jim Osborne, apparently a high-school friend.
To Edith Gaddis
Cambridge, Massachusetts
[27 February 1943]
Dear Mom—
Thanks so much for the check—and now if I can collect from my roommate I can see Sylvia Sidney in Pygmalion this weekend too! I suppose that it was extravagant to go to the Ballet Russe—twice—and good seats, but can never regret it; the first night was better than the second, but the latter was worth seeing just for the Afternoon of a Faun which they did beautifully. Of course it was quite short but delightful all the same.
And now the best news: I have gotten out of that time wasting french class—I was really getting nothing out of it that [I] hadn’t had already, and the only reason for taking it was language requirement for a degree. So, after much trouble, I got admitted to English 3b, the ‘form of the drama, from Lope de Vega to Odets,’ and am effervescent with delight! It is quite late to be starting a course (they all started when I came back—1st of feb), it is essentially an upperclass course, and there is a rule that no freshman may take more than two courses on the same subject, but I made it; now to try to get through it. I have had to get new books for it, and charged them at the Coop, and so dont know what this next bill will be, but it isn’t necessary to pay it; I have got all I need there and it can go until convenient. And so here I am, three English courses and one in psychology! Perfect. And what with the room furnished I enjoy staying at home and studying such stuff instead of going off as last half. However we do have fun; a new game called ‘International Spy,’ (sound like 4 year-olds?); we have two rival spy rings, Charlie S—and myself, and the other is Gardiner and Callahan; we try to outwit each other at any opportunity. A few nights ago they locked us in their bathroom, and we had to climb out the window and in someone else’s bathroom window (only 2nd floor) to escape. So now we call them ‘junior spys’ (Callahan is 190 lbs, Gardiner 180) and they do not like it. And so we go!
Say before I forget, please send me a sheet or two; I only had three and two of them have worn through and torn. Mrs Trask (our biddie) told me to be sure to see about it.
Tell Jim that I wish him luck—he certainly did get it in the neck! And that I hope any arrangement works out.
Well, back to reading ‘dramas,’ and an hour exam in psyc friday, and a three thousand word paper for english A, and a conclusion to compose (about 700 words) for Coleridges (assinine) poem ‘Christabel.’
Love
Bill
I forgot to tell you about the best bargain. there is a book i have been wanting—poetic drama is the name of it, a $5 book—beautiful thing, poetic drama from the greeks to edna st v—millay. i went to a book store where it had been marked down, gave them my french texts, and got the book for $1! isnt that grand?!
written Thursday—now am mailing it Saturday—have been busy—Jim Osborne showed up—will write again—
Sylvia Sidney in Pygmalion: American film and stage actress (1910–99); Pygmalion (1913) is one of George Bernard Shaw’s most popular plays.
‘Christabel’: a Gothic ballad composed 1797–1800, but not published until 1816.
poetic drama: Poetic Drama: An Anthology of Plays in Verse from the Ancient Greek to Modern American, ed. Alfred Kreymborg (Modern Age Books, 1941). edna st v—millay: American poet and dramatist (1892–1950).
To Edith Gaddis
Cambridge, Massachusetts
[17 March 1943]
Dear Mother.
Just a letter between plays—what a race this is. Hour exams this past week, and just out of Stillman. What work—enough to have to make up the regular work for the exams—but this English course—just reading play after play day and night. I am in the Restoration drama and the class doing Chekov! The exam is Thursday. I can’t get any of the notes from the lectures; I have missed just half the course!—between getting in late and then the measles just did it. The man who gives the course is Theodore Spenser! Really a person—and a grand one too. I don’t know how I’ll come out in the exam and the course, but I’m enjoying it immensely and he is really a top man as you know. His lectures are wonderful and I regret having missed the ones I have. But we’re getting into modern work now which is really going to be interesting.
I am going to have to write 4000 words and chose O’Neill when we study him in a week or two. Would it be too much to ask for you to send my copies up? I would appreciate it.
There is one book I need—Masters of the Drama—Gassner—for this course and would have helped in the exam but couldn’t get it at that @!?// Coop—they could ‘order’ it for me—a week later—but Gardiner hasn’t had a check recently!—and I owe him $5 anyhow—oh I got the shoes—$3 but handsome—practically new.
Also thanks for the ration
