a little bird told me…

To Sadie by Christmas

Volume Nineteen

Vol. 19, No. 1 [Dan]

November 30, 1945

Dear Lal and All;

“To Sadie by Christmas” sounds to me like a very worthy and very likely event. In fact at the rate the chain is now traveling it should be several stations past Sadie by Christmas.

Whether prospective or retroactive, let me add the D.F. O’Connor and family wishes that you all have a most pleasant and peaceful Xmas day and a most prosperous and happy New Year.

As Shan has stated, the most critical current topic is the labor scene. Ordinarily, I would be opposed to a sit down strike by industry but I believe the present one is entirely necessary and justified. G.M. has called a spade a spade in saying that this is more involved than just a 30% wage increase demand—it is an effort to force management to abdicate its time honored perogative of handling its own finances. The Unions are demanding the right to help determine how much should be set aside for reserve, for reinvestment, for distribution to stockholders, and what prices should be charged. Furthermore, if the Union should succeed in forcing the 30% increase it could only be done by increasing prices and we would be well on the way to ruinous inflation. As the Pres. of Du Pont Co. recently said “You can’t have just a little bit of inflation; a little bit of inflations is like a little bit of liquor.”

Most of you were pretty close on guessing the “who said it” quotation. For correct answers see the attached.

Would you all like to have some fun and can you take it? If so, each of you write to me separately and include two columns. The first to be a list of the names of every member of the chain. Opposite each name, in the second column, write on complimentary adjective which in your opinion most nearly describes each person. For example, if Aunt Ella were the one described, one might say she was “jolly.” I will compile all the submissions and attach them to the next round without mentioning the names of the authors. Remember, no brick bats!

My latest from Rose, this week, is that she is on her feet again but under strict doctor’s orders to do nothing in the way of exertion.

We shall all be pleased to read the F.F. Voss-in-law contribution to the chain. Eloise enjoyed putting her “two bit” worth and I think she wrote an interesting letter.

The “Rump Chain” sounds alright to me, Shan. All they have to do is start.

The D.F. clan is heading for Tulsa Dec. 14 for a two week vacation. Carolyn and Nan are in the East now and plan to visit us next week. Life is getting purty exciting.

Love— Dan

Nan’s society paper is very good!

Go to Alaska

Vol. 18, No. 9 [Rose — letter missing]

Vol. 18, No. 10 [Shan]

11-22-45

Dear Family:

This round is delightful. We all have read it several times. Speaking for myself, and me only, there seems to be a lack of the controversy that has heretofore prevailed. It is my belief that controversy will bring out more character than too sober expression.

Gee: Dan will remember my advice to him when he came out of Columbia an embryo lawyer. “Go to Alaska.” The advice was good then and it is good now. You will make no mistake in encouraging your fine boys: 1st—To get all the education they can. 2nd—Go to Alaska.

One of the most pleasant experiences we O’Connors of Columbus have enjoyed recently was the visit paid us by the Messr. Larry, Jr., Joe, Dave and Dan Voss for the weekend and Purdue-Ohio game. Ohio’s only loss to date but those Indiana Vosses were perfect gentlemen about it.

Howard: Your pinch-hit note for Rosie was appreciated but too modest. Dan’s suggestion that we begin to “de-emphasize” the family and include the in-laws and progeny is excellent. I would expand the movement to permit any of them to chip in any time they please.

Last eve, while having our pre dinner cocktails Nan and I played with the idea of a “Rump Chain” between the several cousins/ It is an idea! Does it have any encouragement?

Don is currently located at:
0-1593144 — 697 Air Material Sq. —
455th Air Service Gp. —Sedial A.A. Field
Warrensburg, Mo.

We had a Thanksgiving phone call from him within the hour. He does not anticipate a discharge for some months. Possibly not before late 1946, but he is engaged in very interesting work, has intervals for play and seems quite contented.

Following thru on suggestion to comment on current topic: Today’s of course, is the G.M. strike. I profess no particular admiration for “Higgins of New Orleans” but I do believe the sort of medicine he gave the Union, will, if followed by other employers, go a long way towards curing their belly-ache.

Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Year’s greetings to all of you from all of us.

Love
Shan

A New Frontier

Gee mentions an ad she had seen for Alaska. It is strange to think that Alaska was not yet a state when these letters were penned. In fact, it would be another 14 years before Alaska joined these United States. With the lack of general travel during these times, Alaska must have been a great mystery!

Vol. 18, No. 8 [Gee]

Nov. 11 — 1945

Dear Family,

Thought you might be interested in knowing that I have unearthed another family with a chain letter. A dear friend of mine happened to mention that, following her Mother’s death four years ago, their family of ten children decided to start a chain letter. Isn’t that a coincidence? They have been quite faithful in moving it along, although it doesn’t make the rounds as often as ours. She gave me several of the letters to read and they could have been part of our own chain. In return, I gave this round to read (without delaying it, understand—I received it Nov. 6). She was completely charmed with it. The thing that struck here most forcibly was, and I quote “the command of English and the ability to express their thoughts, each and every letter displayed.” Julia wanted to know if we were all educated at the same place. I said “Yes”—insofar as we all had the same parents—a common denominator any family would be proud to claim.

Have a couple of sick pigeons this week so my letter will be shorter that I planned. Larry, Jr. and Joe have the “Flu” in a big way and there is a lot of nursing to do. Larry is better today, but Joe still has a fever. The rest of us are well and always a little too busy.

There were no pictures this round. I’ll enclose a few to start things.

At this writing I am awaiting the official information that A/C Dick Voss is now Mister Dick Voss. LaLa put a P.S. on a letter saying he was leaving Arizona for home, last Monday, but she failed to say if it was a furlough, or for keeps. You all know how I want to interpret it.

Let’s get a timely topic going. That is definitely a fine thing for all of us and, as Shan says, for those kids of our to read some 20 years hence. I don’t know whose turn it is but let’s go! For instance: “What is the most unusual or new post war article, editorial or advertisement you have read.” The following “ad” struck my fancy:

Alaska Facts
At last you can have the actual facts about Alaska as a new Frontier—
“How can I get a job in Alaska?”
“What are homestead possibilities?”
“Is Alaska really a place to get rich quick?”

Maybe Sean, Jamie, David H., Ronnie or the Hackley heir apparent will have the answers some day.
What have you read that is new and different?

Merry Christmas, Sadie—
Love to all of you— Gee

in the present day…
I have been waiting for Spring...the warm weather, blue skies, trees with tiny little buds of new leaves, green grass. Except it brings the reality of having to MOW the grass. I love the way my yard looks when the grass is freshly mowed. I love the way it smells. And I HATE to mow it. HATE, HATE, HATE it. I had put it off for a week (it really needed to be mowed last weekend). It doesn't help that my neighbor has mowed his lawn a THOUSAND times already this year (OK, he has only mowed five times—but he has mowed FIVE times....freak). I have accepted that my lawn is never going to keep up with the neighbors. I tried to mow last night and lo and behold, I was out of gasoline for the mower. Darn. Well, an arm and a leg for gas later, I was armed with a can of gas tonight. I actually found myself hoping that is wouldn't start. Because that would be a REAL shame if I had to put it off a few more days to get the mower tuned up. But it started. Darn. So I mowed the grass. It looks pretty, but I am exhausted.

I used a professional service last summer, but it was really expensive and I decided I needed the exercise. There has got to be a kid in the neighborhood that needs to earn a few bucks...

Let's Don't Buy em...

Vol. 18, No. 7 [Kay]

Monday
November 5, 1945

Dear Gee, and family

Gee you seem to be the only one of these birds who really read my letter. And it is reassuring to know what I said was not only stated clearly, but also nice to know that you agreed with me. Well, we ain’t the majority. I still think it was a good point. Dan, I can’t understand why you couldn’t dope it out.

Your restatement of the previously made remarks was clever. As I remember, they were by the following: (1) Sarah, (2) Lal, (3) Shan, (4) Dan, (5) Gee, (6) Pawya, (7) Irene, (8) Rose, (9) Gee, (10) Sarah.

Gee, your suggestion is really swell. Timely and sprightly El.

I just finished “Cass Timberlane.” Have any of you read it? It is a story of husbands and wives, by Sinclair Lewis. If you like Lewis’ style, you will enjoy it, otherwise you may not. It is an interesting, if sometimes crude, character sketch of quite a variety of husbands and wives, and a facile character study of his, i.e., Cass T. and his wife. “They do say” it is his own life.

P. and I had 2 bountiful feasts over the weekend. R. and H. had us over Sat. eve for a beef roast dinner, and yesterday Loretta Kelly and her husband had us up for a turkey! Not only did we feast on it, they gave us slabs of white meat to bring home. The Hackleys have a turkey ordered from Capon Springs for Thanksgiving and we ordered one for Xmas, which we will all share. Rose and I were discussing whether we would rather have sables, minks, or white fox furs and saying how expensive sables were, are—David was busy playing, but apparently taking in every word—he piped up, “Well, Let’s don’t buy ‘em—they’re too a pensive.” He is really entertaining.

Washington is getting some good shows as usual. I finally saw “Oklahoma” and can understand all the raving about it now. It is not overrated, and truly the best musical comedy you can imagine. Saw Spencer Tracy in “Rugged Path,” Fay Bainter, in “The Next Half Hour” and this week have tickets for “State of the Union” with Ralph Bellamy and Rush Hussey. It opened in Philadelphia last week and the Sunday papers here carried excellent press notices—by Lindsay and Crouse, same collaborators as “Life with Father.”

Before the chain arrives here again it will be 1946. I think Sadie’s suggestion that it reach here by Xmas is a good one. She sees the family less often than the rest of us, and it can serve as a Xmas visit from us.

Love to all
K.

in the present day…
New TV shows are back! Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother. The Tivo is full again! Back to being a couch potato.

An Enviable Record

Vol. 18, No. 5 [Gene — letter missing]

Vol. 18, No. 6 [Pauline]

Washington, D.C.
November 4, 1945

Dear Gee and Family:

I have just reread all your letters (a custom which seems to be unanimous) and hereby challenge anyone to cite a larger chain with stronger links. Do you all realize this is the 18th round, entering a fourth year? And were I a politician, I might add, “an enviable record.”

From time to time, the suggestions to have contributions from in-laws and our junior misses and misters has had a strong appeal, and I am delighted with yours Eloise. From one who has been fortunate enough to know you well, even before you braved taking on our large family, the letter is “you.” With your approval
Dan, I cast my vote to have these extra letters incorporated in the annuals. Let’s have an opinion on this from each of you,

After having jaunted to Ohio last summer and experiencing the thrill of assembly five members of the family in one place, there are times when I think I shall burst just from longing to get on a train and make the rounds. Now that it is almost a certainty that Dick and Don will be solid civilians by next summer, I think we should again give serious consideration to formulating plans for a reunion in 1946.

I like the “Who Said It” and my guess is: 1. Sadie, 2. Lala, 3. Shan, 4. Dan, 5. Gee, 6 (I remember well the day I said it), 7. Irene, 8. Rose, 9. Dan, 10. Lala.

Even though it has been almost three months since we’ve had the chain, it was a swell idea sending it to
Aunt Elllie and has set me to reminiscing. My fondest recollection of her visits to our house is the taffy she always made for us. It was the highlight of her stay. At Easter, she would send us some fresh country butter molded into the shape of a lamb. She is a living example of an Irishman surrounded by Germans (some of whom still speak very broken English), and leading a very peaceful existence.

Our life here seems to go on in what, at times, seems to me too routine, although we do manage to sandwich in some fun occasionally. My chief concern now is what, if any, contribution I can make to the chain when the time comes for me to attach a letter from a descendant. I ain’t got any!

We are counting the days with Rose and in about two months from now there should be an announcement.
All she asks now is to hold out until after Christmas.

With so many boys I know returning from service, Washington business places are beginning to look normal again. As Eloise said, it is a relief which somehow does not quite seem real, and I wonder if anyone will ever arrive at a formula for keeping peace on earth. I was at Capon Springs when V-J Day arrived and my first reaction was one of great pity for those whose boys are not coming back.

My love to each of you,

Affectionately,
Paulie

Chaotic Peace

Vol. 18, No. 4 [Sadie]

Oct. 23, 1945

Dear Gene and All:

Surely this round of the chain embraces a period of time which is a turning point, not only in history, but in civilization. When I wrote last, the war was going strong; now we are in a state of chaotic peace! I wonder where it all will end?

In looking back over the general trend of the letters this time, it rather strikes me that we are wasting precious space trying to decide what to put in the letters instead of just writing them. As Dan says, “let nature take its course.“ From the quotations listed in “Who Said It,” (a very clever idea, Dan) it appears that “from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” best. (I think Helen hit the authors right)

The events that the passing of time records for each individual member and their dear ones, is always the most interesting item in the letter for me. Especially since it is the only means of communication for some of us.

Gee’s suggestion about the supplemental letters is splendid, and Eloise’s contribution most interesting and welcome. Let’s keep that up, and when my turn comes, if Aunt Ellie is still living, I shall ask her to write. Helen says she is not so well, lately. In the meantime, let’s all write to her, for we may not have her too long.

We are having a Teachers’ Institute here at our Cathedral High School, for 300 Sisters and Priests of the Lansing Diocese, next Friday (Oct. 26.). The problem arising about the training and molding of the youth of today into the leaders of tomorrow will be the general theme of the Institute. The League of Catholic Women are sponsoring the luncheon, which will be served in our Parish Hall.

It is impossible to comment on each letter in the space left. Suffice it to say that each one was intensely interesting to me, and the reading of them is next best to a visit with each of you. I enjoyed seeing some of our scattered family this summer. Gee’s boys are really “going to town.” I had a lovely visit in Anderson, and a short but very pleasant one in Troy and Columbus. I hope the next one will be East.

Don’s return seems to be the big news this round. I hope that Christmas will find both him and Dick back home for good. Let’s get the chain around to me again by Christmas. That will be on schedule time, for a change. Love and prayers to all.

Sadie

in the present day…
Earthquake!!!!!!!! Yes, we had an earthquake (5.2) here in the Midwest this morning. Actually two earthquakes! One about 5:30 this morning—which I slept through. ;) And another one (4.5) around 11:30 this morning—that one I felt!

Shasta Daisies

Vol. 18, No. 3 [Irene]

Oct. 20, 1945

My dear Sadie and All,

It is now 8:15 AM. Janice and Jerry are still asleep. J. does not have to work every Saturday. Frank just left for a business trip by Navy Station wagon, and speaking of that, a young boy here has just purchased an Army Jeep for $100.00. We are going to try and get one, for marketing, Janice, etc., until we can feel secure in buying a car.

It was a joy to see Gee and Larry again. Although their time with us was all too short, and right now, it seems like a dream that they were here. Gee is so much like Mother, that I found myself first glad and then sad as I sat talking with her. And while I am on the subject of Gee, I like her idea of having some member of each family enclose a page. Just once on every round cannot possibly disturb the “Sanctity of the Chain.” I think that the enclosed from Eloise proves that it was a “happy thought.”

Dan, I like the “quotations” from all the letters, and as nearly as I remember, Helen has each one well placed. Shan, I was very happy to know that you sent the chain to our Aunt Ellie. We all can, well nigh, endure a worthy delay.

Aunt Ellie, when Gee was here, I told her “there is one person I am downright homesick to see and that is Aunt Ellie,” and I meant that, sincerely. Am wondering how much of your painting you are still able to do and if you still care for your flowers. It seems an eternity since I was there and you showed my your lovely “Shasta Daisies,” etc. I thought of you especially a couple of nights ago, when Judge Stephens and his wife, of California, were here for dinner, and they were both in love with my spinning wheel. I told them all about you and how you had secured several of them for the family.

When Jerry looked at Sadie’s pictures he said: “Gee, she looks like all of you mixed up together.” Sadie, you and “Our Lady” photograph well together.

Let’s not forget to keep in mind our reunion someday, and I do hope that all the grown children can be with us. It would be grand for them all to really get acquainted.

Am glad that you mentioned the Xmas gifts, Dan. It gives us a little time to select just the right thing.

Love to you all,
Irene

in the present day…
I am in the process of planning a little vacation to visit my Aunt Roberta. She is the daughter of John and Imogene in these letters. She was only 7 when these letters were penned. Bless her heart, she is 70 now. I have not seen her in a few years, but I email and speak with her on the phone on a regular basis. I spoke with her on the phone last night. She is soooooo cute! She is having her home repainted and is purchasing custom blinds in anticipation of my visit. Maybe I need to invite some relatives to visit so I can justify custom blinds..... ;-)

The Clock is Down

Vol. 18, No 2 [Helen]

Oct. 8, ‘45 Dayton, Ohio

Dear Irene and Family—

When Gee and Larry returned to Ohio last week, they reported a wondrous time in Washington, Capon Springs and Wilmington, and it was good to hear that you are all well and happy.

I have been guilty of holding up this eighteenth volume. Forgive please, I am aware that when I did not find time to write, I should have sent it on, but I was anxious to add my bit of chatter. Far be it from me to be the missing link.

As you all know we have once more changed our abode and now have an apartment in Dayton. It is small but cozy and comfortable. Soon after we moved in, Dick came home, a delay en route and brought Ann with him. They were here for a week and we had a gay time.

Their plans are to be married in December, when Dick was to have been commissioned, have been postponed. Dick refused to sign up for a three year Post War career and was thereby eliminated from the Air Force, “for the convenience of the Government;” however, in a letter today, he reports they have been restored to Cadet status. He has been assigned to Office duties in Chandler, Arizona, for the present and hopes to be released by March as a peace-time Cadet. He is anxious to return to civilian life and to resume his college work.

Ann is a lovely, charming girl and will be an interesting addition to the family. She is teaching High School in Stoughton, Wisc., having received her degree at University of Madison last June.

Being the restless type, I decided to launch on a new career in Dayton. As you all probably know, Aunt Rose is Manager of Corpus Christi School Cafeteria and I am assisting her, taking over the cashiering. It is a pleasant pastime, involving four hour’s work per day, operating the cash register, figuring the cost and making reports to the Parent Teacher Association, who sponsor the project, and to the Government, who contribute a percentage of the cost. It is most interesting and the contact with the children warms my heart.

The ability to hold the job creates a feeling of self-confidence. Being on the shady side of fifty has a tendency to make one start reaching for the shelf, but that I refuse to do, so help me.

I think Gee’s suggestion is splendid. Eloise’s letter lends a dash of color and really polished up the chain.
Dan, it was clever of you to copy a few classic sentences from the letters of the last two years. They brought back tender memories. I think I can identify the majority of them. 1-Sadie. 2-Lala. 3-Shan. 4-Dan. 5-Rose. 6-Pauly. 7-Irene. 8-Day. 9-Pauly. 10-John.

We had the pleasure of seeing Don a few weeks ago. He is the same sweet, darling boy and looks wonderfully well. Shan Carolyn and Nan were basking in the sunlight of his visit home and here’s hoping he may soon return to stay.

As little Ronnie says “The clock is down.” The hour is late and I must leave you now until another day.

Goodnight, sweet dreams and my dearest love to each of you.

Lala

in the present day…
I constantly have to remind myself that my problems are miniscule compared to others. I have been cranky all day about having to write checks to the federal and state government for taxes. I get cranky because A:) I feel the government wastes our tax dollars and B:) I could have spent that money in so many other ways. But then, this evening I got a reality check. A friend of mine called and she has experienced a terrible loss in the last couple of days. Unfortunately it involved an incident that has played out on the front page of our local paper in the last two days. I don't know the parties involved, but she did and not only does she feel the loss of a friend, but she is dealing with inaccurate or incomplete reporting in the press. And I am ashamed to say that I jumped to the same conclusions that everyone else did around the watercooler and was all too willing to believe what was printed in the paper. Now...what were MY problems again? Can't really remember.

The Irish are Wonderful

Dan's wife Eloise was the first in-law to contribute to the chain. I guess it is a little bit like guest-blogging! Her letter is the first one that speaks of the aftermath of the war. She is too timid to ask for two of anything. I guess all Americans got that out of their system pretty quickly!

Who Said It?
1. May each link in the chain that binds us grow stronger each year, until it finally unites all of us, never to be separated again. [Sadie]
2. Our family is still intact, but the apron strings are about to be severed, and so are a thousand heart strings. [Helen]
3. I believe we can agree that it is possible to be adversaries without being enemies. [Shan]
4. There are certain things in life I value highly. Among them are intellectual honesty, freedom from prejudice and pressure, opportunity to display initiative and enterprise, and to be rewarded for them. There are certain things I loathe. Among them are high pressure salesmanship, arrogance and deception, disregard for established principles and laws, indispensable humans, moral codes based on expediency, and government by indirection. [Dan]
5. Have you seen the sign in the gentlemen’s room? “We aim to please. You aim, too, please.” [Gee]
6. If Hades is any hotter than this place I hereby resolve to mend my ways on earth. My clothes feel like scotch tape and stick to me like a brother. [Pauline]
7. I, of course, have not told him that, lest he sit upon his laurels and wither them. [Irene]
8. As for the materialistic side of it, I think it is high time we returned to simplicity in our celebration, and I’m sure this year will prove we can well content with the company of our families, a moderately bountiful feast, and a nip here and there. [Rose]
9. I told Carolyn that whenever I basked in the warmth of her hospitality and observed her gracious manner, I am ready to tackle my next job with greater enthusiasm and courage than I did before. I salute a valiant lady. [Gee]
10. I shall never know a more memorable thought for today or tomorrow than the words John spoke and repeated with great strength through his very weakness. “We live, and we build,—no hate–no hard feelings—always truth.” [Sadie]

Vol. 18, No. 1-A [Eloise]

September 25, 1945

Dear O’Connors:

Dan brought me out of a deep and delicious nap, stuck a pen in my hand, and said “Write.” When I protested that my brain was still asleep he assured me that I would be in top form. The wretch—so here goes.

Sometimes, in looking at pictures of the O’Connors, I think you all look exactly alike. Certain facial characteristics, such as your nose, your mouth, and the roundness of your eyes, are so striking that I think you must have been made with a biscuit cutter. (The present, excellent front-view picture of Sadie looked so much like Shan, to me). But from here on all resemblances seems purely coincidental, for what a family of individualists your letters prove you to be. It is the revelation of your personalities that has made the chain so interesting to me. And from my “worm’s-eye-view” as an “in-law” I have had some rare chuckles, and have come to know you surprisingly well.

Isn’t it wonderful to have Peace again? And almost incredible in small things. The pleasure of finding a long-forgotten item in the grocery, and in having a clerk say thank-you. I find myself almost too timid to ask for two of anything yet. I just can’t believe it.

“What did you think about when you heard the official announcement of Peace?” someone asked me last week. Beyond the first personal thoughts of thankfulness that it was over, that Dan wouldn’t be going, and that certain members of my family were safe, my own thoughts went to two friends, one a widow, whose only son will not return, and another whose brother has been a Jap prisoner since Corregidor. And I remember the curious experience the night of Pearl Harbor—we went to the Metropolitan Opera—the orchestra suddenly began with the national anthem, and the audience sang it with fervor.

Aside from the war potentialities, does it give you an odd sensation to know that with one atom bomb, you witnessed civilization turning a corner?

I always remember what Einstein wrote for the Time Capsule (to be buried for 5,000 years) at the World’s Fair. “The tragedy of this generation is: it has the knowledge, but doesn’t know how to use it.”

We, the moving O’Connors, have our feet under the table again, and are finding it pleasant, after living two years in the woods, to step out a bit. When Pauline was here we saw “Oklahoma”; and we have had a nice weekend in N.Y. (We like yours too, Rose!) You should have seen Sean’s eyes as we went through the Holland Tunnel!—and his first remark as we drove out was: “Look at dat big building!” And now as of October, I am taking a weaving class, at the Wilmington Art Center once a week—just for fun, and as a break in my career of washing, ironing and feeding small fry.

We have had some good visits with some of you—can’t the rest make it? We will be glad to have you, and the babes will wake you up early!

Long live the O’Connors, and I think the Irish are wonderful!

Eloise

Who Said It?

Can you believe it—they had a meme in the chain letter! I swear I am not making this up.

They also started the idea of asking a spouse/child—someone other than one of the original brothers and sisters to contribute a letter to the chain. Dan's wife Eloise was first. I will post her letter tomorrow.

Volume Eighteen

Vol. 18, No. 1 [Dan]

September 25, 1945

Dear chain gang:

We will excuse the chain being delayed 3 weeks this time as no one can gainsay that the cause was a worthy one. But it’s time to get rolling again and keep rolling.

Kate, your exposition on the business of selecting a topic completely baffles me. Maybe someone else can dope it out, but all I can see is that somewhere in the shuffle the topic development scheme has gone astray—and there is an urge to take on some new program. The best innovation that I can think of now— so far as our individual contributions are concerned—is none at all. I agree with Rose that we should let nature take it’s course for awhile and let’s just be ourselves and write letters. Of course there should be a real effort to make the letters interesting.

However, I believe Gee really has a worthwhile idea on inviting the kin folk to tea, and I propose we adopt the suggestion for at least one complete round of in-laws. Being the baby of the family (grey hair, 32, stoop shouldered and senile) I will exercise the prerogative and ask Eloise to start the project by attaching a letter to this. After the chain has made one complete round, then Helen shall have the right to include Fred, Dick or David, then another, then Irene etc.

The snapshots of you, Sadie, are very fine—makes us feel a sense of security—as if the Rock of Gibraltar were backing us all up. Was amused at your surmise that our present home is a “sylvan paradise.” All the rustle are not leaves. We’d move tomorrow if we could find a decent place.

Glad the attempt to name Rose’s baby failed, as I knew it would. And just as pleased with “Ann Francis.”
Well, Lal, I kinda’ have left you out of this letter so far, but I know your cup overfloweth these days even if your little boy has been grounded and has received a blow to his pride. That wound will quickly heal—and is a slight casualty indeed compared to the hearts which might have been forever broken.

Just for fun I am attaching to this letter a few classic sentences which I have taken from past chapters of the chain. Can you identify the authors? Most of them carry definite personality traits—and should indicate the value of collecting these letters. Some day they will be bound and circulated so you all can enjoy the family annuals. Shan gets first prize for having sent me all of his back letters. Others of you are stinkers.

Love
Dan

P.S. It’s about time to be looking around for those Christmas gifts. Remember the rules. No less than $5.00 nor more than 10.