Dec 2-5, 1935

As usual, Ruth is trying to get work. She answered an ad that turns out to be the same employer which a nurse had disappeared from the week before.

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December 2, 1935

464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.

Hello Honey,

Gee, I have had a whole week of vacation from writing. The last letter I wrote you was a week ago tonight.

I met Loretta down street and we went to pick out our proofs. Most of mine turned out pretty good considering.  There were six proofs to choose from. I hope you like the one I picked out. Loretta didn’t like any of hers so she hasn’t decided whether she is going to have any done off or not.  I didn’t think they were bad but I guess she expects them to flatter her.  The photographer told her she had one eye larger than the other and we decided her mouth was plenty large.

I called the Exchange today and they said the references were o.k. so now I am on register with only twenty-six nurses ahead of me.  I bet even at that they will call me before the school will.

Gee, but I was lonesome after you left yesterday.  I knew there was something I should have done when you were here but I didn’t think of it when you asked me.  I should have tried to collect my five dollars.

I answered an advertisement last night for a child’s nurse in last night’s paper. When I called the lady up, I found out she expected me to do the housework too besides take care of a baby a year and a half old.  I looked the number up in the telephone book after I called, and I found out it is the place where that nurse mysteriously disappeared from last week.¹

Ed and Loretta were over last night.  You should hear Ed talk about Dicky.  He says he has spoiled him plenty and he is proud of it.  If you ask me, Loretta doesn’t stand a chance.  If she ever marries Ed, I bet she will have fun trying to get along with Dicky.  I told Ed what he needed was to be one of a half dozen.

Clifford and I nearly came to blows a few minutes ago.  He asked me how to spell prize and when I told him, he said it was spelled with an “s”.  He wouldn’t look it up because he was afraid I was right.

Seems like the only thing I ever hear over the radio lately is “Red Sails in the Sunset”.  I hope it isn’t the most popular song this week.

Loretta expects to be on her case until after Christmas.  She says she wants me to relieve her Christmas day.  I told her if I was without work until then, I would be darned if I would work Christmas day.  Mrs. Hewitt said she didn’t blame me at all.  Gee, if I don’t get some work before long, I don’t know what I’m going to do about some clothes.  I never looked so in my life.

When you come up Sunday stop at Lydia’s and get our masterpiece.  I mean our pillow top.  I thought I had it, but I only had the thread.

Well, my Darling, I guess I’ll have to end this as it is nearly time for the mail to go, so if you get this tomorrow, I’ll have to hurry.

There are four more endless days before I see you again, dear, so be sure and write.

Lots of love,

Your Little “Delphinium”

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December 3, 1935

Middleburg, N.Y.

My Dear Ruth,

I suppose this is rather mean making you wait until Thursday for this letter.  On the other hand it didn’t seem quite necessary to see you one day and then write the same night.  Not that I don’t love you enough to do it, but I wouldn’t have been able to say anything but that.

We got back in P.H. about two o’clock and I shoved the board bill up another notch by staying for dinner.  Sometimes I am ashamed of myself for eating there so much but it does seem more like home to me than this does and I always feel so much closer to you.

This morning I got up enough ambition to set up a stove here in the dining room.  The way things worked I think I was fully justified in swearing a little but I didn’t even let one little damn slip out.  I was still occupied in putting a coat of blacking on it when Fran came rolling in with Salisbury’s car.  He said he had read in the paper that they were starting a school and post office in Catskill and wanted to go down and see about work.  We went but that is about all the good it did.  Actual work hasn’t started yet and the only information I could get was at the employment office.  They gave us the same old line of bunk there about using local help but they let us fill out cards which are no doubt in the waste basket by now.  I’ve had one down in Schoharie for two years and that is all the good it has done.  I think I’ll go down there some day this week and refresh their memory again.

One of your boyfriends in P.H. passed out this afternoon.  Harvey Wood.²  He was out sawing wood when Fran came up here and by the time we got back he was dead.  If everyone went out like that, you wouldn’t stand any show of getting work at all.

How did you make out by calling the Exchange?  They will probably give you at least one case as soon as possible to try you out and get their money.  You might be lucky enough to pull a long one.

This week will probably seem awfully long after being with you so much last week.  I wish tomorrow was Sunday.

Mom just asked me to take her down to Lula’s so I’ll sign off and trot out the flivver.³  I have even been locking it at night since you made me go out in the cold morning air and do it.

Goodbye, my sweet.

All my love to you,

Dave

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December 5, 1935

464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.

Dear Dave,

For the last hour I have been trying to dope out whether I should write tonight or not.  There is really nothing to say and besides that I got ambitious this afternoon and stamped that blue silk for the cushion cover and I’m anxious to start working it.  However, since this is your birthday, I’ll do my best which isn’t much.  Speaking of birthdays, don’t think just because you are out of reach that you are exempt from a paddling.  I’m like an elephant, I never forget.  Maybe I should add, along that line, I plan to equip myself with a good, sturdy paddle for Sunday and please refrain from the use of shingles in the seat of your trousers.  Me thinks you have about twenty-seven good wallops coming.  Of course if I should be feeling the least bit weak, I will have to double the dose in order to get even with you for what I took last August.  Seems like I burn yet.

Oh me, wouldn’t that guy have to go and mess things all up.  I wish now I hadn’t called ‘cause it put you to a lot of bother.  I hope you don’t bother your sister with the darned things.  They aren’t worth all the trouble they have caused now.  I’m always pulling something smart like that anyway.

It was nice to talk to you on your birthday ‘cause I never did it before.  I didn’t bother repeating the message because when I asked that guy if he knew what I wanted, he seemed so sure of himself.  I knew he didn’t know what it was all about.  He nearly hung up on me as it was.  Nuff sed.

How many times did you try getting me before you succeeded?  I had just been talking with Zelma for about a half hour before you called.

I have a swell head cold.  I guess I’ll go around and make everyone get sick then I’ll cure myself quick and I might get some work.

I haven’t heard from Loretta today.  Maybe she has her new coat and isn’t speaking with me any more.

Did you read in the paper what happened to the nurse I was telling you about?  Probably you didn’t ‘cause they don’t put news in the Schenectady paper from such distant places.

That was too bad about Harvey Wood.  It must have been an awful shock to Salisburys.  I didn’t see him at all when I was down to Preston Hollow last time.

How is Fluffy?  I can picture her as strongly resembling an alley cat instead of being the sophisticated little thing that she is by birth.

Does your sister still think I have given you the gate?  That was cute.  She should have known that if I had, you would be out having a celebration for yourself.

I wish you and Fran could get work in Catskill but I suppose there isn’t much chance.  However, you were lucky last summer for not having a steady job.

I guess you needn’t feel bad about being at Sprague’s so much.  I think they like to have you there.  Fran even offered to let us have the two rooms they don’t use once.  Of course I would probably have to promise not to kiss him.

Seems like I have rambled on about long enough so me thinks I’ll put on my coat and go out to face the tropical breeze so I can mail this.

Oh yes, I nearly forgot to remark about the lovely weather we have been enjoying of late.

Good night, my sweet.

Oodles of love,

“Me”

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[No date or address]

Hello Hon,

I’m in a terrific hurry as I have to send this down street by Ed and Loretta.  Just thought I’d let you know the Exchange just called for a case down in Altamont.  It is a stroke case (a lady patient).  I will have to stay out there but they told me to be sure and have it understood that I get time off.  I’ll leave word here at the house where to find me if I can.  I have no way of knowing if I’ll be there Sunday or not.  You had better come here to the house early Sunday evening and call me from here.  The name is Alfred Fredericks (35 F 21 Altamont). The case is out in the country.  Goodness knows where.

I’ll be seeing you Sunday, darling, so until then be good and wish me luck.

Oodles of love,

Ruth

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Footnotes

1. There had been numerous newspaper articles about this missing nurse, who very sadly seemed to have committed suicide. It was originally thought that she had run off to marry, since she had sent a telegram to her family saying that she was on a wedding trip to California. However, her employer who Ruth referred to, the Radin family, later found a note from her that is detailed in the Albany Times Union newspaper article.
2. From old newspaper entries, there was a Harvey Wood from Preston Hollow who was a bee keeper and farmer. This may have been Harvey Wood Sr, who died in 1911. The Harvey Wood that Dave referred to here was born in 1858 and was married to Izora Kelsey (1856-1927). Their daughter, Mary (1889-1960) was married to Alfred Salisbury (1881-1961) and are likely the Salisbury’s that have been mentioned on occasion. They are all buried in the Brookside Cemetery in Preston Hollow, NY.
3. Slang term for a cheap car.