Jane's Notes: I have very few letters from other people but this one I found from my Aunt June who finished high school in the Philippines.
J. Powell (C.H.S.) Jr.
PO Box 691
Manila
P.I.
Dec. 12, 1932
Dearest Annabelle,
I have just been listening to our good old theme song “Among
My Souvenirs”. There’s something about it that just gets me. That awful
loneliness just sometimes won’t let me alone. I has been attacking you a lot
lately hasn’t it? Or do I just imagine your feeling the same way I do. I think
back to Dec. 12. I don’t know why but your letters have it written between the
lines tho’ I don’t think Mom and Papa notice it. I’m glad they don’t. Your
letter about me was pretty true I guess, but it seems like the minute I get
serious about things an avalanche of homesickness sweeps over me. If I study at
home in the afternoon I do it in the empty apartment. Even Sleepy goes home
early. If I play the radio it makes me think of Eugene. It makes studying all
the harder so as a rub I study with out it, when I do persuade myself to study
instead of run out with Marge or Scottie somewhere.
These beautiful sunsets that we watch are simply soothing.
You should see the many destroyers silhouetted against them. Did I tell you
about the nice Lieutenant that has been dragging me lately? He is a southerner,
blonde and real cute. He is on a submarine but he eats and sleeps on the
canopies. He asked me for dinner last Sunday but I was just too sleepy to be
good company.
I feel as if I can never get away from my slovenly habits
although for awhile I thought I was doing well when all of a sudden I go and
loose may own Parker pen as well as Papa’s along with a good purse containing
four fifty of my allowance and Jimmie’s geometry instruments that he lent me.
All hope isn’t lost however. There is one drama left. Yesterday (Sunday) I made
a terrible foul pass. I didn’t go to Mrs. Solmon’s anniversary party of 70
people in Mama & Papa’s honor. Frances stayed home on my account although
she had just very casually mentioned to me that I might come out for the party
if I wanted to go. Instead of being a child my mother should be proud of I
stayed home and Jimmie came over. We played Russian Bank, made fudge and
laughed at each other’s jokes. I told him I was going to the movies with Jon
that night just before he left, and that settled him down a little. He gets
jealous terrible easily but he doesn’t make any objections.
Annabelle why in the world have you been painting pictures
of me to people when you don’t even know me. You only know what I was three
years ago. Maybe I’m not at all what you want me to be and maybe I haven’t
changed much. I know I have retained many habits such as forgetting that would
do me a larger amount of good to overcome. It is time tho’ that I’m making a
big effort and having gradual results. You seemed to forget that I went to
boarding school and lived in a house full of girls and I know just how it feels
to have the room full of inconsiderate people who won’t even allow you to have any
peace in your own room. Tristy and I were pretty much alike on that question.
We almost always wanted our room for just ourselves. People just loved to come
an play the potable (sic) too and so we suffered together.
There are times when I feel actually graceful and full of
poise. I feel that things I’m saying are the correct thing to say and then
again I feel as tho’ I was all hump shouldered stuttering and awkward. I don’t
trust myself to speak and yet I have to cover up my awkwardness. When I usually
say something very queer or tactless. That’s just the way I felt when the
Slawsons visited us. They must of thought me a very queer child or rather an
overgrown dumbbell.
I want to be a credit to my family, but I would prefer to
ease along and let my adolescence take its course rather than try to be the
Hope Wing type when I know I’m not. On the whole I think I appear quite well.
Another thing I try to be as naturally as I can with the older people and not
be too very sweet and conservative. Don’t take that wrong (sometimes it is the
only appropriate way to act). Mama lets me smoke in front of her friend. I mean
she doesn’t restrict me at such times. Tommy Manko says you are very stunning
with no make up. I go in spells. Sometimes my natural color is fine and again I
need rouge dreadfully.
You know it’s the natural thing to go thru a frivolous
stage. Not that it is an excuse for being frivolous. But I enjoy being
frivolous if I can also get the grade I want. I guess your lecture did some
good along that line of studying. If I do work for my grades its not for getting
rushed the first week at college. It seems to me it would be much better to
wait a month like you; so one would know what it was all about and also you
would have the satisfaction of knowing you made lasting impressions and not one
that was made in a week. Chuck talked to me about being cock sure. He said his
brother was too much that way. You know Chuck impressed me as being someone
that was trying desperately hard to be sophisticated or else he was so
embarrassed about being so young it was just a covering. He seemed to hate to
have people know he was just nineteen. His college talk didn’t impress me much.
Maybe my frivolous ideas are non-collegiate but it seems to me these sororities
and fraternities are sort of conventional and prudish. They seem to make it their main point to be
very conventional and to follow customs attend to this or that. I must say I
think a college would be lost without these conventions but they seem so
stilted and superficial.
It’s the funniest thing I have just been writing fast and
furious. I feel just as if I was talking to you. O Lord! The telephone these
interruptions! I’m just in the mood to
say these silly things. I can’t hardly wait to find out what you are like. I
have a feeling tho’ we will disagree on something or maybe it’s just that your
letters are written conventionally. You certainly say very nice things and
write wonderful letters. I’m not ashamed of the fact that I don’t write oftener
tho’. I would be proud should I write as often and as well as you do. Maybe I
will when I’m your age. Maybe I will look back on my present notions as to be
resented. Right now I’m not worrying. Please read this letter charitably and
write me a similar one dealing with the same things if you have time. It won’t
be long now you great big smart dignified almost alum, when the day comes that
I reach such a stage and make the highest marks in my class. I hope my Mommy
and Poppy shall be as proud of me as they are of you.
I’m enclosing a note I just got from Jo. Doesn’t it look
just exactly like a letter from a Naval Officer? Don’t ask me why but it just
seems to. The reference to racing around is the way he dances to fast music
(more fun!). He’s very casual about the date isn’t he?
Much respect and love, Juno
P.S.
One thing I enjoy immensely and that’s being so free in
telling Mom and Pop things. We meet each other half way and some of the things
they used to do at my age! The thing I like is that all my friends think their keen-o
and swell chaperones.
P.P.S. I have
enclosed a few add pictures. Just a part of the stage full of sound and fury
signifying nothing. What Shakespeare play have I been studying?
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