616 Columbia Street,
Elmira, New York,
March 31, 1925.
Dear Cousins:
Undoubtedly all who have left their letters until these last few days of March are wishing they had taken time by the forelock1 and written a few days earlier - during the sunshiny weather. Then, perhaps, Nature's smiles might have inspired something worthy of a place in the C.C.C. But on the other hand, I, at least, need the cold, grey weather as an excuse for the hurried, prosy letter which mine is.
When I read the letters written by some of the preceding generation I find myself wondering if more than their share of literary ability was not given them, leaving us without any. Then I turn to a letter, written by one of my contemporaries, full of interest, and so ably written, that I decide the art of composition must be an individual gift, and that the fairy with this particular gift was not present at my christening. Nevertheless, I am just as glad of an opportunity to contribute my bit as though this letter embodied the essence of description, news, and interesting events as do some of the cousins!
You must know that the life of a school teacher is not made up of particularly startling things, unless you count the answers ones gets from children with original ideas. These very often are surprising enough.
Since my last letter I have neither been engaged nor married, neither have I had any operations or illnesses; and while single blessedness and excellent health may be gifts from the gods, they are really accepted facts which need little elaboration here.
I might tell you of my sisters' respective families; but that subject will, I am sure, be amply, if not overwhelmingly, covered by doting grandmother and [great-]aunt, to say nothing of their fond mothers.
Last summer I went to the Cortland Summer School of Physical Education, Cortland, New York, where I was fortunate enough to finish the course prescribed by the State Department.
1. A "forelock" is the lock of hair that may fall over someone's forehead. Isabelle is personifying "time" as someone to be controlled, as a teacher might do back then, by grabbing his hair and marching him to the front (or back) of the classroom to stand in a corner or perch on a high stool. When my mother did that with her students in K - 3, instead of grabbing hair, she would grab an unruly student by the ear and twist it while marching them to their destination.
As summer school attendance is no longer compulsory for me, I am planning to spend my vacation rusticating with Betty and Jess. As each has a flivver2, I expect to take the exercise which I usually get in work driving Henrys3.
Mother has been with me very little this year, due to my grandmother's illness, but I am expecting her home for Easter. We are planning to go to Binghamton at that time where we hope to have a reunion of our immediate family.
Hoping this will be the best issue of the C.C.C. to date, I am
Cordially yours,
2. "Flivver" originally was used to refer to Model-T Fords. But by 1925 it was used for any small, inexpensive car.
3. The common nicknames for Model-T's were "Tin Lizzie" and "Leapin' Lena." But here, Isabelle apparently is using "Henry" to refer to any of Henry Ford's car models.
Utilizing Sandy Buck Garrett's 2012 transcription.
Copyright © 2013 William B. Thompson. Commercial use prohibited.