December 22, 1938

Cheerio My Deah,
     Yes, I got to Portland O.K. and had lots of fun on the train.  We read Esquire stories out loud, and played cards - Yippee!!
     I have seen Jane a couple of times now and gave her both yours and Bob's love.  She is having a lot of fun working, too.  I got my job - but woe is I - I have to work until 7:00 and then sometimes till 7:30.  This good old Xmas rush -  And talk about funny people and funny incidents.  Something crazy is always coming up.  And little me, I'm as dumb as they come -
     Darn - I wish I knew about my "A" in Algebra - but wait & see -
     Really - I am having more fun this vacation.  The other night went over to Brainerd's and played "twiddly (spelling) winks in front of the fireplace - and I'm the winnah - In fact was quite good.  I'll play you a little game some time.
     How did you make out in all your classes? -  O.K. I betcha - it seems as if you always do.  At least you never worry much.
     Our tree is finally up - and it's pretty, I think.  Of course we did move it after it was all up and fixed.
     My mind's a blank - blanker than usual - I had a lot to say before i started this epistle - but now it has gone - I can't think of it.
     And so - I wish you and your roommate "Wobert" a very, very Merry Xmas - and hope you have lots of fun New Years.


                                                            Love & kisses (?)
                                                                  Dotty

(Editor note: this next sentence was on the back - probably so it was the first thing he saw when he pulled the letter out of the envelope...):


Don't hold anything I say against me --

August 16, 1938

Bonjour, cheri,

In other words HI--you can't realize how disappointed I was that you didn't get down this last weekend, but then now I still have your coming down to look forward to.  Your vacation sounds like it ought to be a lot of fun, especially getting to go to San Francisco, and Sacramento.  Be sure to tell Betty "hello" for me and give her my love.

Water, water, everywhere, and all the boards did shrink.  Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.  Said she with that wicked gleam in yon eye, "Be gone, and nevery darken your door again."  Alas, my heart is broken, I dropped my eyes, and the populace fell, hurting themselves muchly.  Ah woe is I--have YOU ever felt dramatic.  I do now, so do beware, people think I'm crazy----little do they know (shall I tell them)  Maybe I had best break the news gently.  What news, didn't I tell you.  There isn't any news.  Ah well, such is life.

Your stockings are finis.  Oui, Oui, in three more weeks they will be.  And they really will be beautiful.  Just too too ducky for words.  And they will be warm, too, that is something.  Only I have never dropped so many stitches before in all my life.  They might be a little lacy, do you mind?

I certainly am getting jipped on the swimming this summer.  Have only been in twice and that was on the same day.  But I certainly made the most of it and stayed in just as long as I possibly could.  And----my tan is no more.  I look like a white, fair-haired, damsel, or something.  Anyway, wait till I'm not working anymore.  Every day I will go out into the warming rays of good "Old Sol".

Did I have nightmares last night.  I just found out that I am the Rushing Chairman, and I don't think I like it a little.  It worries me no end, and I will be glad when it is all over.  We are going to have our formal dinner here, Wednesday, Sept. 7th, and would like very much to have you come.  I think you could rush very nicely for us, don't you think, or do you think.  I wouldn't if it hurt too much, after all it is quite a job.  When are you going to be in Portland--this week or next.  Or do you know yet.  Anyway the number where I am now working is Be. 7339, and you can call me most anytime, cause that is about all I do.  Sit and answer the phone when it rings.

Not only do I know how to type on a teletypewriter, but I know how is works at the telephone end.  It really is interesting.  We were up in the telephone office the other evening, and the girl showed it to me.  I will have to tell you about it sometime.

Am I boring you--welll that is just too bad.  I have nothing else to do so I am going right on.  I have to do something to take up time, and this is as good a way as any.  At least when people come into the office, they will think that we are busy around here.

I think it is wonderful about your raise.  It's not often that things like that happen, remember that, and do the same again sometime.

Yes Karl and I went to Jantzen Beach, and we did have lots of fun. The orchestra was swell, I've forgotten which one it was, I think Anson.  Saw Jane and Bob and Bill Pierce and Averill.  It wasn't very crowded, so we had lots of room to dance in.  Karl just called, and I guess we are going again this Thursday.

I wish school would hurry and commence to begin.  I am tired and more tired of vacation.  Maybe tho, when I quit working and start to work on nothing, it won't be so bad.  (Does this make sense, no, well I didn't want it to)  (At least not too much sense, because then you will know what I am talking about, and that would never, never do.  No Sir, not at all.

Too bad about  --I don't know what I started to say, but I do have to go to work now, so goodbye for a while.

     And it is now 4:10 so best i quit and put this in an envelope and mail it.

                                                      Love,

                                                         Dotty

August 1, 1938

                                                                             Sunday

Bill Dear, 

      I am looking forward too.  In fact I shall be very, very happy when you come up.  We ought to have a lot of fun.  Maybe we can celebrate your birthday which you so cleverly didn't mention.  Say - how old are you?  You've never told me you know.  And I will have to know how many candles to put on your cake???

     Brooksie was up last week-end and I actually got to see her for a few minutes.  If I can possibly find a way down to Eugene, I am going, or coming.

     You are certainly lucky to have a place to go in swimming close by.  I haven't been in but twice this summer and that was on the same day.  Sat. afternoon and again Sat. night.  But it was loads of fun.  Only Sunday I was good for nothing.

     Say, if you meet any cute gals in Eugene who are coming to school, will ya kind of give them the bums rush for dear old Alpha Chi.  It looks as if I'm going to be stuck with the biggest part of rushing cause Judy is going to get married.  So I'm going to need a lot of help.

     Marge B. has left me and gone out with all the little campfire girls, for practically the rest of the summer I guess.  I'm lost without her cause I have no place to spend my evenings, and really at times I'm bored no end.

     Your stockings are practically done, or will be as soon as I can get started on them.  I just know you will be terrifically thrilled to get them, and really, they will be beautiful.  At least they had better be. 

     Next week I'll really be busy working.  The boss is coming back and the other girl is going on her vacation.  So not so much fun and more responsibility for little me.  Say - is there much chance of my working again for Mr. Collins?  I would like to very much - and I have to work someplace.  Do you think I should write him or wait until school or just what?

     Guess I'll go in and whip up some fudge - sounds like a good idea doesn't it?  hope it doesn't turn to sugar.  Today has been a very quiet day and I must let off steam some way.  Right now I feel like swimming or running real hard.  Not only do you seem like a darn good golfer but also a very good softball player.  More power to you.  I wish I had something like that to do and I was good in it.  Say - I know I think I'll take up boxing or maybe tightropewalking.  I always did want to be a trapeze artist and wear bright red and purple tights.  But now I'm getting silly - so

                                                                   Love

                                                                      Dotty

 

July 18, 1938

P.S.  I learned how to run the teletypewriter the other day. yesterday. and it is a lot of fun.  Maybe someday I will really send a message by it.

Hello, darlin'.....

      I started a letter yesterday but after reading it over decided that it wasn't worth sending--you would laugh too much and think it was too silly.  Yes, I am working now, and is it a grand and glorious feeling to be actually doing something worthwhile instead of sitting around the house all day and fooling around downtown.  And---I like my job very much.  It is a lumber office, MacDonald and Harrington, Ltd.  The girl in the office is very, very nice, and the boss the same.  In fact, just a little while ago she said that I could do anything I wanted to for a while, so here I am writing, or trying to write this epistle to you.

      I saw Bob (Robert Vaughn) Wednesday, and wow, is his uniform the nattiest one.  Really very beautiful.  Only I was disappointed, he didn't have any little pieces of ice running around loose, and it was a very hot day.  Are you really serious about those socks, cause if you are, I'm just the little girl that can make them.  I shall enclose a sample of the yarn and you can say "aye", yes, or no.  It won't take at all long to make them.

      Guess what! Last Monday I saw my grandmother Barclay for the first time.  It was quite an experience because I never dreamed that she would ever get to Portland, and now she is going to be here all winter.  It really is very nice finding out about one's family.  I have three or four second and third cousins that are now going to Oregon State, but it seems as if I am the only one in the family going to Oregon.  My grandmother herself went to Oregon State for three years.  Sunday we are going on a picnic and one of my cousins will be along.  Oh yes, and also, umph, umph, Prince Campbell, and Susan Campbell, and my third cousins. Both of them direct.  Some stuff, eh what.

      But enough of the above.  I did get nice and tan, but now it is all fading again, and I shall look like a little while angel in a couple of days.  Of course I look like an angel now, but not a little while one.

      It is very sweet of you to offer to calsomine my room for me, and I think I shall be very inclined to take you up on it.  Only yet I don't  know which room and I am going to occupy but I am working on Annie to let me have the one I want.  If I do get it, I thought I would try to come down the to the metropolis of Eugene a couple of days early, or something like that.  Tell that person or individual down there that goes by the name of "Brooksie" that she had best write me or I shall be off her like a dirty shirt.  And I don't mean maybe.  I think it is disgraceful the way she is neglecting me, don't you, or do you?

      Well, well, do I wish I were in swimming.  Here it is only about ten bells and a half and hotter than the hinges of Hades.  Of course it would wait until I began to work before it got hot.  Why isn't the Mill Race just outside our door, the drinking fountain is, but that is quite a long way from being the Mill Race.

      I am beginning to think that perhaps I might be quite gifted in culinery (?) skill.  The other day I made a blackberry piee  all by myself.  I am quite proud of myself, considering that it was the first and only one that I have ever attempted and shall have to try it again sometime now.  When I told the neighbor boy about it, he kind of looked at me with a funny expression in his eye and said that he thought that I didn't look like the domestic type.  Can you beat it?

      Am I boring you.  This is getting to be quite a lenthye epistle, but after all there is nothing else to do, so I might just as well practice my typing.  When are you coming down to Portland again.  I think it would be very nice if you could come down soon, and maybe we could go on a picnic or something.

          Ta, Ta, my pet, and write soon?

                                                                Love,

                                                                   Dotty

I bet I did too see this.  (get it?)

(Editor's note:  I left in the few typos that she made, such as "while" instead of "white."  But it is pretty amazing what a good typist she was.  She was always proud of that.  Full 2 page letter and almost no typos!)

         

July 6, 1938

Hi ho, Silver!


Just heard the above on the radio - they have a new song or something about it.  It is kind of cute.
    
I am very glad that you had fun during your sojourn in the Big City, because I had a lot of fun, too.
   
Did you pop a lot of firecrackers over the Fourth!?  We had a very quiet weekend.  No Nothin!  But I am getting used to it and it does seem rather nice not to have to rush here and there.  But - I will be glad to get back to the good old campus.  Already I have my room planned, and I can just see it in my mind's eye.  If it turns out all right, it should be rather classy.  Which brings a thought to my mind.  How are you with a calsomine brush.  I was thinking that perhaps if you felt like it, maybe you could help me calsomine my room.  It shouldn't take very long - Yet - there are two whole months to wait yet.  Till then - anon - what ho - and hidi hi - Yes I do feel like raising thunder or having a wild time.


Oh yes - the conquering hero salutes you - The Barclay backyard campaign has reached a climax and the campaign won.  You should see the tan I have collected in the last two days.


More later!  Hip hip! Yes, and this afternoon the neighbors were mixing Tom Collinses (or something).  I certainly would have liked to join the party - but no - it was not for me.  And besides my aunt was sitting outside too sooo what is a poor little girl like me to do!! Now I ask you?


Have I told you about my public?  Well listen my dear and you shall hear.  All the little girls have quite a time deciding who shall sit by me - (hmph - hmf)  One thought I was 18 and then she thought I should be married when I told her how ancient I was.  And then there is a little boy - next door - he also takes sun baths with me now - Oh its a great world.  We listened to - or started to - Kay Kyser tonight with the radio in the kitchen.  More fun - There is the cutest little Scotty around here.  Only 3 months old and his name is "Penny".  He was over all this aft. and just as darling and as bright as can be.  I haven't ordered any ice yet but am thinking very strongly of it.  That would just complete my thrilling and exciting evenings.


No job as yet, but I'll know the 10th whether I'm working the 15th or not.  If so - I'll be working till school starts, almost, I hope.  Kepp your fingers crossed for me.


Were you surprized to get this letter?  It seems to me that I am always very prompt in answering your epistles.  I guess it must be love or sumpin.  But it seems that each time I get your letters I'm in a very writative mood -


                                         Love & kisses
                                                    Dotty


P.S.  Now you write soon huh!

June 23, 1938

Bill Dear,
     Saturday night is super, super.  I'm so glad that you can come down then instead of Friday.  I shall be waiting for your call at 3 or thereabouts.


     Do you know what we did last night?!  Vee and I went out for a little athletic activity ourselves.  We walked seven - yes, seven - miles and what's more we're not extra tired.  Next time we will make it ten miles, and walk to town.  Whether we do it or not is another story.  More later.


     See you Saturday my chicadee, -
till then - bon jour!
(I mean bon swer(?))
(You can see how much French I learned in my two years)
                                                                                              
                                                                                      Dotty

June 21, 1938

                                                           June 21, 1938

Oh Bill,
     It never rains but it pours.  I have a date for Friday night, and I can't possibly break it - darn it.  It is for some formal over at Vancouver, and the only definite date I've had all summer. Why is it that things have to work out like that?  Woe is I!!  Maybe you could find a ride back Sunday, huh do ya suppose. Then I would get to see you.  - Anyway, call me up Friday.  Something may happen in the meantime.
     I think things are picking up now.  At least I feel better.  I have found me three jobs but none are until July, and then they'll probably all come at once.  But - that is the way it goes.  Also, I'm going out to Venita's tomorrow night, which will be something to do.  I saw her down-town yesterday and she was as tired of doing nothing as I.
Guess what?!  I'm going to be a dude rancher one of these days.  Mr. Oswald - Judy's dad, called up the other day and asked Joyce and I up for the weekend.  Of course we can't go this weekend but maybe they will ask us again.  I think that would be a lot of fun - riding horses and whatnot.
     I'm out in our famous court now - it is a lot cooler and the hose is running nearby, which helps.  However I haven't my sun suit on.
     Your "little organization" or club - or what have you - sounds like loads of fun.  If they don't have a too wicked gleam in their eye - give them my love or something.
     Well, hon, here's looking forward to Friday.


                                                                           Love,
                                                                              Dotty

June 15, 1938

(Note: Sadly, there are no letters from Bill from this period that were saved. We will get to his letters in 1940. Looks like he saved all of Dotty's letters from this time, but she didn't save his.)

Surprise Bill!

     I bet you didn't expect an answer so soon - now did you - but here is is. But this is the way it is - I am in a mood at presesnt - bored to tears - nothing on earth to do - longing for some excitement yet here I sit. I feel like getting up and running around the block - at least it will let off some steam. However all I've done is to read your letter three times within the last two hours. Guess I'll read it again for good measure.

     No - I'm not mad at you for breaking our date Sat. night - only disappointed that I won't get to see you. I had looked forward to it so much. However, I will get to see you next week I hope.

     The more I think about it the more I wish I were in Eugene. All I'm doing here is looking for a job and spending my money on carfare. No executive has yet decided that his business couldn't run without me. However I have several promises for vacation work - which is a little encouraging.  I think next summer I'll find me a job in Eugene and stay there.

     Oh, yes, you might tell the motly crew you eat with "hello" for me - Anyway Ron "Hemingway" Husk.  I don't imagine the others would remember me, altho I have met them once or twice.

     Your gabardine shorts intrigue me - in fact they sound pretty spiffy - if not flashy - and your sun tan!  How I envy it.  Mine has all gone with the shade.  Last Sunday I got very brave, dashed out and lay out in our court (which is in back of 20 apts. or so). However, this only lasted 1/2 hour, as I was scared out. I could imagine everyone remarking what a brazen thing to do, and someone did say something. However Friday morning I'm going to gry it again, cause I've just got to be tan - Darnit.

     Your athletic activities interest me no end.  Especially the softball deal.  I guess I'll just have to come to Eugene so I can watch you play - which don't be surprised if I do.  If I can get a ride up I think I will.  There are two or three places I could stay. In fact - the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.

     Say, what is the name of the ice company Bob works for.  I think I'll take him up sometime on his idea of delivering us some ice or something. Anyhow it's a good idea.

     I got my grades - and ooh my - they weren't so hot.  I guess I'll have to make my three point next term or die in the attempt.

     Is this getting to be an epistle or is it?  Of course I'm writing rather big, too. And believe it or not - have dozed off now and then.  Isn't that terrific!

     Now, hon, I must go - in order to have this in ye olde mail box by 10 bells.  I will get out in the fresh air for ten minutes, I guess.

     Write soon, real soon -

                                                                    Love,

                                                                        Dotty

P.S. Tell all my friend you might see "hello" for me.

June 8, 1938

Hello, Sweet,

Yes, it is rather nice to be in the "big city" only it is awfully quiet and boring. I miss the Side and all the kids, and get terrifically lonesome at times.

I haven't found a job as yet, but the prospects were very good Mon., - only I haven't heard as yet and here it is Thursday. (Guess what - they're playing the Dipsy Doodle on the radio.)

Your apartment sounds all right, and its being on the millrace is all the better.  As yet I haven't been able to get out in the sun and my gorgeous tan (?) is fading.  However, if the sun comes out tomorrow, I think I shall shock the neighbors and go out in the back.  Do you and Larry do your own cooking?  It must be fun - many's the time I wish I had stayed up there. I think I will next summer.  I am getting so domestic.  Twice now I have gotten dinner and it was really edible.  When you come up you'll have to come and have dinner.  I won't guarantee how you'll feel afterwards, but it's a good idea.  Which reminds me - I would love to save the night of June 18 for you.  In fact I shall look forward very much to seeing you.

My little cousin is writing you a little note. I hope you can read it - she is having quite a time making her letters right-side up.

Thanks loads for the pictures and I don't think we look too much like drunkards. I showed them to my aunt and grandmother and they didn't say anything so I guess it's all right. I was a wee bit surprised at seeing you in Newt's Pub - but it was all right.  I was only sort of joking when I told you not to get drunk but then again I guess I really meant it.  Anyhoo I'm glad you didn't. 

Tell Larry "hello" for me and all the rest of the kids. Do you know what Brooksie's address is?  In the last minute shuffle I dashed off and left it.

Well, darlin', write again soon will you and let me know how everything is coming.  I would certainly love to be up there swimming or canoeing on the millrace.

                                                                    Dotty