Tuesday, January 25, 1938
It was a very late night with Ding writing the following day that the was not under his own power and very tired. Ding and Dorothy had a misunderstanding because Dorothy is dating someone else and Ding is envious.
He returned her picture to her.
Dear Dorothy:
I am indebted to you for one letter which right now we will take off the books.
First I thought the party was fun, did you? however there are a few things that I am indeed sorry for and sincerely hope that it will be possible for you to overlook.
Perhaps we imbibed just a little too freely, I did and never am myself when I do,so from here on in I will take it very easy.
I am enclosing a snap shot taken during a very strenous match which of course I won and brought the olimpic cup back to U.S.
I mustered up a lot of ambition today and cleaned my desk, that accounts for the other two, one of which I portray Tarzan the other Hugh Herbert. If you do not have a basket handy throw them out the window, or if you have mice,I am sure they will frighten.
I am not under my own power today, very tired and listless can hardly wait until bed time which I intend to take advantage of very early and not only tonight but it i going to be a habit.
If ever I do come to Jesup, again after Friday night, which of course I hope I do, 12 o’clock will be absolutely the latest for my arrival home.
Mrs. Fox will think that we are night owls, but we really arent and can prove it,we just misunderstood time and reason, I understand today more than I ever had.
I will tell you the big reason for for my being so unreasonabe, I just have expected too much, we used to date a lot on week ends which I did enjoy so much and which I no longer can do as some one else is doing it for me, it really bothered me.
Now tho I realize what it is all about and promise that I will not get so envious again.
I wouldn’t tell you for the world but I wish he was not coming to Jesup, to spend a week end.
The printers called me today to have my picture taken modeling an ice cream cone outfit I guess it was a white over sea’s hat with a white and blue jacket, I tried hard to keep my eyes open but something tells me they will want their money back when they see the picture, what a day to call me for a thing like that, but I thought of you and am sure I will have a slight trace of a very contented smile.
I hope you are not tiredtoday and hope you did not have school so you could rest, you would certainly need it if you feel like I do.
Boy, this is sure some long letter, this,in the event you have not noticed is page 2 and I don’t mind saying I am pretty well down the page.
I am expecting a letter from you real soon and hope you can get a ride over Friday.
As ever
“Ding”
By the way there is one thing more, your picture that I returned last night kindly send it to me in your letter without fail.
Friday, January 28, 1938
Ding made two requests: 1) that Dorothy send her “the picture in question” and 2) that she let him know when he should come to Jesup that week.
Saturday, January 29, 1938
Ding attended an event with Gange, with whom this was a second date. He wrote that he never liked her and if he ever asks her again, he hope someone kicks him in the pants.
He got in very early and felt fine on Sunday.
Saturday, January 29, 1938
Not sure if this is what event Ding went to, but the only president that I could find with a birthday on Jan. 29 was William McKinley, who was assasinated in 1901.
Dear Dorothy:
Received your letter of monday noon and was indeed glad to hear from you, will be more than happy to forgive you for not writing sunday.
There were two things that I requested of you last friday night, First, send me the picture in question.
Second, be sure and tell me when I should come to Jesup, this week, the latter of course you did’nt do which was disappointing as I can think of nothing I would rather do.
However, I wish to thank you very kindly for the picture which I shall keep.
I did attend the president’s birthday, I had two drinks was the soberest guy there, thought sure I would see you and was very capable of seeing and talking to you in the event that I would be forunate enough to find you.
I had my second and last date with Gange, I never did like her and if I ever ask her again I hope someone kicks me in the pants, but I am positive that will not be necessary.
I got in at a very early hour and felt fine sunday,I plan to make a habit of that .
Of course I am interested in your activity and note in your letter to what extent they went to this week end I mean last week end, I really hope you had a very nice time, in fact hope you always do.
If it is becoming embarrassing for you there of course is only one thing to do, forget that I ever existed and I will try hard to do the same, it will be difficult now for me, but will go right to work at it as that apparently is your wish.
I would very much like to see you this week and would call you, but your letter is obvious enough that you would like to call the whole thing off before you get caught and if that is the case I suppose I should step out and let you lean in the direction where things are the stronger, regardless of my opinion.
I just opened an envelope which had the enclosed letter in, I wrote it Jan. 4th. and called you in place of mailing it, but it looks like you want it now.
You ask me in your letter, Don’t you think we had better leave it as it is?
Frankly I don’t, this is entirely your idea there seems nothing I can or should do about it regardless of how I feel about it.
I am sure you know how you feel about it and after all you are the one to make up your mind and it is apparent in your letter that you have, unless I have misconstrued it.
I’ll bet they miss us at the silver slipper are parties are quiet there but fun any way, I am thinking of writing them advising that our theme song has been changed from Josephine to Thanks for the Memories, you don’t mind a little pun right here I hope.
Well Dorothy I am nearing the bottom of the page, mabe this letter is silly I don’t know, but as you say I am silly.
Even tho I may have said it I never thought that you were a two – timer and don’t accuse me of it again or I’ll mo ya down so help me.
If you are interested I have not had a change of heart and glad you have not, even tho-.
I don’t suppose you care to write me again but if you do I would be very glad to hear from you.
As ever
“Ding”
[handwritten] Last minuet that I will not enclose the letter of Jan. 4th.
Dearest Dorothy:
With too much assurance there is no mistake in this heading.
At the approximate hour of 3 I am leaving for the farm via Cedar Falls, Don and I are going ridding, at the exact hour of seven I hope to listen to Charley in Grundy and at 9 or shortly after I will be in bed, brief, compact but my activities for today.
You have not answered my letter yet so there is not a great deal I can say in this, if when you get this you have not penned me a missive you had better get busy.
I was very ill all day saturday I thot for a while I would be unable to go to the dance but I felt better after dinner, I had a bad cold and felt as tho I might be getting the flue, I feel much better today.
It is now 9:20 I have been to the farm and just stopped at the store to finish this letter.
Correction – Don did not go with me, he called and wanted me to go another place after a little verbal conflict I went my way and he went his.
I heard Charley in Grunday at Pat’s Grille, I was home alone exept for Ralph, no date and now going home to bed. don’t you think I’m a pretty good guy today.
Well Dottie, it is late and you owe me a letter so will cut, I should get a letter from you Mon.?
With Love.
“Ding”
… but in east central Iowa, the budding relationship of Ding and Dorothy was just beginning
This blog that is about that relationship, a specific past of two people. A past relationship, a romance spanning more than two years. The romance is preserved via letters. Letters from a man to a woman. In the late 1930s, in rural Iowa. Letters that reveal ups and downs, starts and stops, dances and parties. But we only have one side of the relationship – his side. His letters asking for dates, showing bravado, sharing everyday details.
So what to do with these details? I’m going to see what happens through this blog.
This is what I’m doing so far:
Read the style notes that inform the way the letters are shown.
So, engage with me. Would you like to write Dorothy’s response to the letters? I could start a Fan Fiction category. Would you like to see historical context? I could start a current events category.
Let me know in your comments what piques your curiosity.
