June 3, 1933 - Saturday

George’s birthday isn’t until tomorrow but we celebrated tonight. I took him to the hotel to a swell plank stake dinner. We came back to the house and I gave him the handkerchiefs then we went to a show.

George's letter home:

June 3, 1933

Dear Family,

Here it is nigh onto the time when I will be at the bewitching age of twenty-one. One would think that I would feel quite grown up, but the tragic fact is that I still feel like a kid. Thank you both so much for your lovely letters; I enjoyed them so much. You are the richest possessions that I have; you both have done so much for me throughout all the years. I hope I may repay you in some measure one of these days.

I received birthday cards from both Grandma and Aunt Lid with a little bit of gold enclosed in each. I wish there was someway of putting a stop to Grandma’s presents, but I guess there is not a way. I will write both of them just as soon as I finish this letter.

June the first was June’s birthday, and Mrs. Powell gave her a little dinner at the Eugene Hotel. After dinner we went to the Armory to dance to Ted Fiorito’s orchestra. It was just about the best music that has ever hit this town, and all the natives turned out in force to listen to it. They must have thought this one corn fed town, for no one danced.  They all stood around the orchestra and listened with their mouths hanging open. While we were still at the Hotel, a long distance call came for Mrs. Powell from Pasadena. Eleanor was to have a Mastoid operation the next morning, and Mrs. Powell left that evening. The operation was a success, so there is nothing to worry about.

Thursday, Ann and I went out in the country on our little picnic. It was a wonderful day, and we had our supper with us. She kept pestering me to know what this big secret was that I have been hanging over her head for so long, and I finally had to give in. I made her lie down on the blanket on her back and close her eyes, and then I pinned my little sweetheart badge on her. I guess it was a tremendous surprise, for she started to cry the minute she saw it. I don’t understand the emotional makeup of girls, but at least I know that I could not have done anything more wonderful for her. Everyone on the campus comes up to us and congratulates us, just as though we had been slinging the rice around the streets.

Tonight, Ann is taking me to dinner at the Hotel and to a show afterwards. That is our way, or rather hers, of celebrating my arrival at the voting age. Now that I am a cog in the machinery of my government, I guess she thinks it proper to start me off right. My, but I love her. She is the most wonderful girl in the world.

Tomorrow, being Sunday, I am having her over to dinner at the Old Chi Psi Lodge for her last time in college. It will certainly be a lonesome place around here without her next year. I hope the next three years go fast, so that I may get into the old law profession as soon as possible.

I received your very short and pointed letter this morning, Mother and I am sorry that I had to have so much money. This is an itemized account of it though:

House bill $20.35

Florist $  1.50  (corsage for Junior Prom)

McMorrans $  3.89  (shirt, shaving lotion, talc)

Bill Russell $  7.00  (borrowed for badge)

Dentist $  2.50  (he nearly killed me)

Cleaning $  3.00  (ties, flannels, blue suit, and cords)

______

Total $38.24

All of those items are now paid and there is still eight dollars left, counting my birthday money. That means that I will not have to ask you for any money all summer. The eight dollars will last until about the middle of July, and after that I will have ten dollars from the University. I you will remember, at the beginning of Fall Term, we had to pay a ten dollar deposit with our fees out of which library fines, etc., would be taken. I should get the whole amount back intact, and they are sending it to our homes about the middle of July. That is my financial set up. I am sorry if it is not satisfactory. I shall try to do better.

Thank you again for your birthday presents. I appreciate them more than I can tell. I will see you both on Friday, June ninth.

Love, Brother