Something tells me this is not one of those letters that Dot re-read frequently – or ever. It is a highly technical explanation of all Dart is studying this week. Perhaps he wrote it as a kind of review of the material he will be tested on.
In short, he must know all the moving parts of a very complex system that operates multiple huge guns aboard ships. One man can sit in a safe capsule somewhere out of view from enemy planes and train his sights on those planes. From there he can operate the aiming and firing of guns all over the ship, each of which is automatically following the plane as a result of this one man’s operation of the fire control system. It’s extremely ingenious and supremely boring to read about. As Dart says, the important thing to know is that the US Navy is winning plenty of sea battles with this amazing technology.
I think I need a nap now.
Dot writes a short letter that includes a political statement in strong support of Dewey. She’s just heard a speech of his on the radio and is sure it will shut down the Roosevelt campaign. Now that she has come out in favor of her candidate, she challenges Dart to tell her his.
I observed something different in this letter. In four places, I found notes written in pencil in Dart’s handwriting. I have a theory that he was too busy to write letters when he got this so he either made the notes to remind himself what he wanted to say, of perhaps he mailed Dot’s letter back to her with the margin notes acting as his response. I’ll let you know what his notations are in italics.
After the political paragraph when she suggested that no one could possibly still be for Roosevelt, but she’d like to hear his opinion anyway, he wrote Don’t let me influence you. Everyone has their own choices.
Dot wrote that she had seen “Going My Way” the night before and thought it was one of the best films she’d ever seen. She wrote that movies like that always make her feel very religious, especially if she sees them alone, as she did this one. Saw it alone, got the same feeling.
She says that for several years she had the ambition to marry a minister. She’s not sure why, unless it was her hope that he could have some influence over her sinful soul. (?) She hasn’t had that ambition for about a year now.
She’s decided she likes working on the first floor better because there are more girls her age and they have lots of fun together. She comments that if the Navy wants to keep moving Dart around they might as well move him to Greenwich. She adds that he will not recognize her the next time he sees her. Why?
And finally, she asks Dart if he has heard the song “I Walk Alone.” She loves it and has come to think of it as her theme song because it suits her situation perfectly.
No letters on the 28th. I’ll meet you back here on the 29th when we’ll hear once again from Dart.
