Dart’s mind is full and his heart is heavy this evening. He’s worried sick about his father who seems to be in a very bad state. Dart describes a 53-year old man who acts older than 70. He doesn’t eat, can’t sleep, sits in a chair all evening, never opening the magazine that rests in his lap. He is quick to anger, slow to laugh. He walks bent over and is exhausted by a 1-hour trip downtown in the car. He is meek a reclusive, rarely speaking to even his closest family. Dart describes him as a “broken man.” Today, I think we would say he was deeply depressed.

In his anger and worry, Dart lashes out at the unnamed culprit whom he blames for causing this terrible state of affairs.  “I think I know what has made him as he is, but it is 12 years too late to correct it. …When I think of Pop whom I left three years ago as a relatively young man, I see the inside at what has befallen him. …Let us guard against the reaction of subservience. Let us not permit others to have such a verbal hold on us that we have no will of our own for fear of incurring the wrath of an abusive, self-centered bigot …who can be one of the world’s 10 nastiest men. …I’m sensitive, as is Pop. But Heaven help me if I’m ever so sensitive as to be emotionally high-strung for days after two hours of abuse from a profane, overbearing, thoughtless person.”

Dart continues, saying he lays the blame directly at the feet of this person. “I don’t believe he realizes it himself, in his arrogance or his self-indulgent ignorance. A  man with a closed mind and an open mouth is a poor sort with whom to associate. May we be delivered from such things ourselves.”

This anonymous villain was most probably Dart’s Uncle Guy – Dart, Sr.’s younger brother, of whom a good word was rarely spoken.

Changing the subject, Dart tells Dot that he has a psych test tomorrow. Although he studied all evening, he doubts the time he put in did much good.

He has also been feeling a great deal of angst about another matter. He is of the belief that he will have to pay the transportation and lodging for any groomsmen he asks to be in their wedding. He is ashamed that he doesn’t have enough money to do that. He could ask his brother to pay his own way to Greenwich and maybe Hal Martin would drive down from Boston to be in the wedding, but Dart sees no way that he could afford to bring his friends from home. He’s also worried that his folks will not be able to afford the train tickets when the time comes, and he’s berating himself that he’s unable to subsidize their trip. He doesn’t know much about making wedding plans, but he hopes that he and Dot will be able to talk the plans over before anything’s put into place. He says he will dissolve into a pool of perspiration and shame if his lack of resources causes the Chamberlain family to have to reduce their plans for the Big Day. He has his war bonds, but those are the only savings he has for a long-term rainy day fund, and he suspects they’ll be more needed down the road than for the wedding.

He responds to her homesick letter of August 7, saying the only thing he can add is that every word she wrote could have been puled from his own heart. He misses her every moment of the day and night, and nothing lessens his aching for her.

He liked the photo she sent of her playground and he comments on the note she included on the back of it. Apparently she mentioned something about trying to get “just any job” at the telephone company when her playground job is up. Dart really likes that idea because she should be able to transfer to a position in Cleveland next June, and he’s heard they are a very good company to work for.

He sends sympathies for little Frankie’s broken arm, and he assures Dot that having Nancy Bristol as an additional chaperone will give his mother assurances about the state of things while he and Dot are at the lake cottage in September.

#          #          #

Wow! Dot is hot under the collar today! She just received Dart’s letter of August 8, and she has plenty to say about it. In fact, she writes him two letters to cover the topic fully. I’ll begin by quoting the content of the first letter, nearly verbatim.

If I had thought you’d be the least bit worried or jealous, I never would have told you about Mr. Pecsok! NO! He wouldn’t put anything over on me! I’m surprised you’d even think of such a thing. Remember, even statistics claim there are a few decent men in the world, and I’m sure he’s one of them.  If visiting Panama and a few other questionable places has made you doubt or suspect the character of every human being, then it would have been much better if you hadn’t been there. And what opinion must you have of me? Don’t you think I know the difference between right and wrong? Honestly, some of your remarks sound just like something said by an old maid.

When I write and tell you everything that happens, I do it because I think you want to know, not because I want to make you jealous or I want you to doubt me. If you prefer, I’ll write only about the routine of my day, and not bore or trouble you with any variety which may enter it. We’ve agreed to tell each other everything, but if you’re going to make a mountain out of a mole hill, and worry about nothing at all, then I think I better keep some things to myself.

After September there will be eight months when we don’t see each other at all. Do you think you can trust me for that long? I love you with all my heart and in every way possible. To me, that means I completely trust you and your actions without question. I thought you felt the same way. Am I wrong? For pity’s sake, don’t you start treating me like a child, too! I’m a big girl now.

Yours always (?)

Dorothy

I think this is one of the most concise and articulate letters ever written. I’m so proud of that young lady for speaking her mind and putting her “old man” fiance in his place. She follows later that day with this:

“This morning I wrote a rather cold and bitter note. As is usually the case after one of those flare-ups, I wish I hadn’t mailed it. You’d be doing be a great favor if you would disregard it entirely. It was stupid of me to write it in the first place and it would be even more stupid to discuss it further.”

“I love you, Dart, and that’s the important thing. Were it not for my love for you I wouldn’t have been so concerned about your letter. Let’s let bygones be bygones and forget the whole thing.”

Always your very own,

Dot