Thursday
Dear Stell –
If the boys are late in calling for me this will be a long letter. We are going to the Hanna to see “The Fool” and I am waiting for a couple of the boys to come for me.
I intended to stay down town after work, but I was anxious to receive a letter from you. I called the house and my suite landlady informed me that there was a letter for me from Cincinnati, so I hurried home.
I am sorry that I wrote as I did last nite, dear. After re reading your letter this morning I found that my imagination must have been playing tricks on me last night. You see I was anticipating all day and when I did finally get to read the long looked for letter it seemed so cold ((due to haste) (pardon)) in comparison with what I was expecting. I couldn’t adjust myself to the sudden formality.
However, your Tuesday letter has relieved my mind to some extent. It is more like your former ones, but still, honey, there seems to be something strained. Estelle, if I have said or done anything that has hurt you or caused you to doubt I will expect you to tell me. I may be an idiot to feel this way, but since reading your last two letters I can’t drive away the feeling that there has been something said or done that has been misunderstood. Do be frank with me, dear, as those things on fester and cause further trouble if they are not dragged out into the open and discussed. –
Tell me, Stell – is something in doubt, – of is it just my dumb imagination?
I am having a lot of fun trying to write some “dope” for our office sales paper. We used to our “Froth” material dope because it usually put both the editors and the subscribers to sleep. – I have a lot of things I could write about that should be of importance to the salesman in his relations with our tiny department but there are so many details that should be included that I am having a dickens of a time boiling it down to the size where it will be readable and also will be read. I think I shall have to run it in serial form.
Listen, girl, for the last time – if you don’t stop belittling your ability to write letters I shall feel like – oh I don’t know what. And further more you know very well that I am not attempting to flatter you when I tell you how I cherish them. I have been accused of many things, but among them was not the charge of flattery. How can I tell you of how I love you and miss you – if you are going to wink with a knowing smile and say – “It sounds nice but he’s only flattering!” – Nuff said.
Oh, sweetheart, I am digging up a lot of things in these few minutes and you will soon think me to be very much of a bear. But when you permit a person, especially a stubborn one like I am, to fall in love with you – you must expect eruptions occasionally. I do miss you so that at times it seems a real injustice that we should have to be separated so. It is two weeks since I have seen you and it seems months. The last time was when we lunched on squab at the hospital. How I have remembered each moment of that visit!
(The boys are outside, darling, sorry I must leave. Would much rather spend the time with you, than at a silly show.)
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12:30
Just returned from the show and am a trifle disappointed. Have you read the story? It deals with a young idealist who is inspired to live a life as Christ did. He has a private fortunate that he gives away to the poor and needy; – he is the head of a large congregation in New York all of which he is forced to give up because of socialistic preachings. He gives up everything that he may live a life of service. His friends make allowances at first but they gradually drift away one by one as they come to look at him as the Fool. He seems at his lowest at the close of the first act when his fiancee breaks their engagement because she can not sacrifice the luxuries of life to humor his so called eccentricities.
The Fool becomes involved in the turmoil of the social struggles and constantly keeps his ideals as his mainstay. His fortunes dwindle away; – his former friends scorn him and attempt to prove him mentally incompetent; – he has but mediocre success in the social hall he has established; – those that he befriends wink behind his back and consider him to be a nut; – and he is actually accused of keeping his refuge home as a blind for ensnaring girls. All in all he has a pleasant time, but still keeps his faith and is happy.
He is involved with the father-in law of his former fiancee, and attempts to show this millionaire the benefits of labor reforms to capital. He also is given the opportunity of contrasting his life of service with the selfish money grubbing life of the rich. Of course his former fiancee can not stand her husband’s dispositions and comes to the Fool. He however loves her too much to receive her and sends her back with faith to stick by her husband. (I questioned his decision, being in love myself)
Well, it is all terrible melodramatic. The faith of the Fool finally wins a few friends to his side. The last few minutes of the action brings the millionaire and son to the Fool’s humble room. The son is suffering from locomotor ataxia but as he leaves the room limping he laughs and chides the Fool on the failure he has made of his life sacrifice. The father follows and at last he begins to realize, and as he steps out the door he softly says “I wonder whose life has been the failure.”
I don’t know whether I really enjoyed the show or not. It is an old theme and very theatrically staged. I am undecided whether it is even worth while thinking about. However it is a much talked of production so I am glad that I went.
Well, dearest, I hope I haven’t bored you. I didn’t mean to write so much.
I am happy that you are stronger and able to enjoy the company you have looked forward to. You will get soon, and, honey we will hope that it won’t be so many weeks before you can return to Cleveland. I want you.
Love
Leon
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