It was a long hike from City Hall to Harvey and Pulaski Sts Germantown. I am not as tired as I thought I would be though. "Side by side."* Bob's car was welcome though when we reached Gtn. I have won again! The hardest fight you have ever had. To lose would set you "simply crazy." Oh! But you won't lose. You are too strong. I, too, could have sat there all night long with you in front of me. Pretty hands and "Pretty Life"? God, may my hands do and my lips say only those things that make them beautiful!  

*New song in 1927 sung by Cliff Edwards, which was made made popular again in the 50s and 60s with versions by Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Paul Anka, Dean Martin, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, and more. 

PHRASES OFTEN MET - IV:
chef-d'oeuve (Fr.) - masterpiece.  comme il faut (Fr.) - as it should be. coup d'etat (Fr.) - stroke of state, sudden and decisive blow, measures taken by a government when a state is thought to be in danger. coup de grace (Fr.) - stroke of mercy, the finishing stroke. debut (Fr.) - first appearance, the beginning of an enterprise. 

Poem clipped from the newspaper, stuck in these pages:

One Bright Hour
This one bright hour shall be to me
Banner and shield in one
For it will shed its radiance
After my life is done.

So much within it shone afar
Night cannot be so drear
Nor tears so bitter ever again
Pain, nor grief nor fear.

So warm the  happiness I find
A happiness you give.
Its comfort will go with me always
All the years I live

And I shall raise it in the wind
When I go out at last
Its strength shall keep my courage firm
My faith, secure, steadfast.

George Elliston

I fell sound asleep on the couch while listening to the softly gently falling rain and dreamed of you. "There is sweet music here that softer falls than petals from blown roses on the grass, or night-dews on still waters between walls of granite in a gleaming pass. Music that gentler on the spirit lies than tired eyelids on tired eyes. Music that bring sweet sleep down from the blessed skies." *

*Slightly misquoted from Tennyson's "Song of the Lotus Eaters." 

Coincidences. I cancelled my engagement with Va. Bates. Would not make a date with George because of it. John said he could not go. Went to Ave. with Mother. Stopped in drug story to escape rain. George and Paul! Oh what sent you in, John? What a strange meeting, George, Paul, John, Mother, and I. Three fine boys. The bitterest pills to swallow was coming home with Paul and having John there. Still, better be Paul than George – with the car! How you have insisted that I tell Daddy of our hike. I admire you for it! Mother’s advice is not to tell him until it is over.

PHRASES OFTEN MET – III:

bourgeois (Fr.) – a citizen of the trading class. carte blanche (Fr.) – unconditional terms. cat’s paw – the tool of another, medium for dirty work. chapeau (Fr.) – hat. causa sine qua non (Lat.) – an indispensable cause. 

What an evening we had last night. Alice said I was bullying you because the match would not burn to its end. I will never have to, thank God! You would not fight so for Alice. We are very different, you say. But at heart we are not so different, John!

Elizabeth and I certainly do enjoy each other’s company. You are another example of a perfect friend, Elizabeth. 

I think I have more respect for you now than I have ever had. You have to fight hard, darn hard, fight every moment to keep my respect. But it is worth it, John. After all, it takes a stronger man to be good when he is tempted than if he has no temptation. Therefore, science tries to tell us (as well Fred does) that our love cannot last. To a certain extent it does lie in the flesh, but God knows we do have a heart and soul. John it took a big man to talk to me as you have tonight. Most persons would have been too small. Fred's right - time alone will tell! It will tell him that it is going to last forever. Already it has been several years. 

Our walk with "Aubury" was lovely in the cool of twilight.

PHRASES OFTEN MET - II: 
au revoir (Fr.) - good bye, farewell. begging the question - to assume without proof - in controversies. billet-doux (Fr.) - love letter. bona fide (Lat.) - pronounced bo-na fi-de - in good faith. bon mot (Fr.) - a witty saying. bons vivants (Fr.) - good fellows, jolly companions,  high livers. Book of books - the Bible. 

Would that I could know your thoughts when you are away from me. Are they of me? Ever? Often? Oh to know exactly what you think of me! Eva coaxed me to go on a triple date tonight with a senior. George called and wanted Friday. 

I have been thinking all day of you and of things you have said to me. Did I realize that as you held my hand, you could have crushed every bone in it? And being so much larger than I (at least physically) you held me as close in your arms as you held my hand, even knowing that I could not squeeze your hand enough to hurt it. I did not try to draw mine away from you. My heart you hold as tight and could crush more easily. But nothing could make you do it. Even though I was at your mercy. 

PHRASES OFTEN MET - I:
in statu quo ante bellum (Lat.) - in the same condition as before the war. par - level or average. aide-de-camp (Fr.) - assistant to the general. a la mode (Fr.) - according to the custom, in fashion. alma mater (Lat.) - "a gentle or benign mother" - used by students of their universities. 

Why did you go to church this morning? To be near me. "Beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God." Even in his own house I did not concentrate on the service. Selfishly - my heart said little more than "God bless John." Vain repetition!! How about the prayer book? Oh God, what makes me so small that that I applied one of your hymns of praise to a mortal man. "This growing weight of precious earthly Love, / Binds down the spirit that would soar to God."*

Sonnet by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Fred down again. John “broke” poor soul. Bridge and a little walk. Anyone who would write a letter like that should not be allowed to leave their employ – said your former president. I am proud of you John. When I pushed my loose ring to the end of my finger you put it back on again. “My devoted slave!” I don’t want you for a slave. I want you for my pal. Yes my hands were cold and resting close to your heart. I could feel every beat – for me. What were you referring to when Fred said time will tell and you were so positive that he was wrong?

HOW PICTURES ARE MADE BY WIRE AND RADIO: The apparatus consists of a constant speed motor, a glass cylinder with the picture attached to it. The photo electric device causes the radio impulses sent out to vary in intensity with the lights and shadows of the picture as they are successively picked up. 

I have learned so much (in gossip) today. Walt says I am fickle; I am innocent looking and shocked Sue when I smoked a cigarette! Ed Schister is “crazy” about me and comes to our department to see me not the boys (so says Walt). Walt is jealous of me. Heaven knows why, I don’t. George wants another date. Such gossip. “What is social company but a babbling summer stream?”* The thought of John makes me think “Thought is deeper than all speech. Feeling deeper than all thought.”* You have called. I knew you could not forget. 


*Lines from the poem "Thought" by Christopher Pearse Cranch