Monday, July 14
Dear Andrew and John,
We have had a fairly quiet week - not as hot as the nineties until yesterday and today. The rains of last Monday and Tuesday deposited over 7 1/2 in. in the two days. The record was set on Monday when 5.9 in. fell in a 24 hour period. I don't have to tell you I'm glad to say we didn't have to show the house on those days.
Cousin Claire dropped in during the day, on Wednesday if I recall rightly, on her way to Ellicott City for part of her vacation, and left a cute pinafore dress for Kathy.
I had to work out the Doctor's all day Wednesday and about 4:15 he asked me to pick up the Mrs. at the beauty shop on Greenmount Avenue. She was a bit startled to see me and when she got in the front seat and I was preparing to start off, said: "You know, Charles, it has always been my policy not to take chances or try to save a few seconds when you get there just the same by taking it easy." I assured her I seldom played speed demon and took her hone at a steady 25 miles an hour. The reason I mentioned this, the rest of the time she repeated the story that the maintenance man, a fellow named Richard at the farm, had it direct from the woman now in our house out there, that if Mrs. Burton wanted them to get out so badly they would do so. I could tell that Ann was on pins and needles to see if any progress was being made so I suggested she see about her eyes on Saturday and we take a few sandwiches and drive out to the country. So I got an appointment with the same eye Doctor for 9:30 Saturday morning and we took the picnic basket (2nd time it had been used) ful1 of sandwiches and potato chips plus the thermos jug of ice cubes and some Pepsis, together with the kids and Arlene's girl friend Mary Margaret Tucker. There is still is still nothing serious with Ann's eyes but a slight astigmatism in one but the doc thought a change in prescription necessary to the tune of $23.50 and that with the cheapest lenses; but it's good to know there is nothing serious. We headed out Loch Raven Blvd. and beyond, passing to the east of Towson and skirted Loch Raven itself to the other side where there is a fair-sized bridge and a stretch of pines with picnic facilities. We were the only ones there for the next hour while we ate end let the kids run around a little. Ann went to the water and dragged back a 50 lb. hunk of drift wood we brought back in the rear of the car which she intends to use for something or other. We then found the roads directly to Hyde (I received a letter from the farm this week and this times it was postmarked with Hydes) were closed and we had to detour around Glen Arm Road and then over Long Green Pike. We rode past the house to the church, turned around and back again. I could see nothing changed from the last time we were out that way maybe two months ago but Ann, with her woman's intuition, says everything is OK and she just feels it that moving is in process. She'll have to explain that to you herself. They didn't want to go home but suggested Otter Point, that is, down on the river by Edgewood; so we got there about 1:30. The river was beautiful and while the kids had no bathing suits and didn't go in, they got a kick out of standing on the pier that runs out for about fifty feet where the lawn ends 100 ft. in front of the house. The river there, as I may have told you before, is about a mile across. We left there at 3:00 and came back by way of the Joppa Road across Towson and by Emerson Farms and the Hilltop Theatre and home by 5:00. Ann finally got her ironing and baths out of the way so we sat down at ten to watch a little TV. The Oriole baseball game was just going off way ahead of time and the Gunther movie is not scheduled till 10:30. For the half hour in between they put on Snader Shorts of songs by Theresa Brewer, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Ginnie Simms and some colored gal whose named escapes me... We also enjoyed the movie, back to an English-made "The Counterfiters" with an English cast and then one of those things, all by itself, "Presenting Lon Chaney, Jr.". It was well made and well acted; the only fault I guess you could find was that the entire locale was supposed to be Los Angeles and they ran out of gangsters and bit parts without American accents. Sunday we sat around as it was very warm and Ann wanted to keep the little ones quiet. We saw Philco present "A Letter to Mr. Priest" which is another repeat from last year or the year before. Looking over the TV program I saw where we missed Joan Crawford in "Rain" which was on at 6:00 p.m.
A bit over a week ago Arlene wrote you a two sided letter on a 8 1/2 x 14 sheet of mimeograph paper which she gave me to mail. After looking it over, we don't see how she got out of the 8th grade and Ann made her take it back to do over which I see hasn't been done as yet. Last week's injuries to the babies was confined to a spider biting Stevie in several places on his ankle which merged and turned into a messy sore which took four days to get the half inch diameter scab it has on it now. Mike was bitten on the upper lip and under the right eye by something on Friday which had his face all out of proportion in swelling and redness. This time Ann got Stevie a complete-whiffle which I'd like to capture on film but probably wont. I'm enclosing a couple of prints on which Pavelle did a little better job than Ritz. The one of Kathy is anything but flattering, especially the dirty shirt, but it gives you an idea.
Today's news by Ann at my noontime call was that we received an announcement of Sally's wedding on Saturday, July 12. No doubt you have, also been sent one and it will arrive about the time of this unless it went by regular mail. Ann didn't, have it handy so I don't know the name of the fellow but we are going to send a congratulation card in care of Mrs. Hauge.
As for neighborhood news, there's not much. The filling station across the street is again open under new management, having closed down two weeks ago. I have been parking the car in the back yard and the birds and plum tree have been giving it a work-out. Ed and Marie Pierpoint are looking for a place; they can't stand Mrs. P's nagging and general attitude any longer. Ann is still mad at Milka and May Smith. Milka greeted her one day with "Why Mrs. Conner, my you've grown fat". And after Ann, had taken off a few pounds. And May called her over one day and very confidentially said, "We've decided not to raise your rent". Ann begged her pardon and she repeated it. Ann said she was sure she had the wrong party and May said, "You're Mrs. Batchelor, aren't you?" We drove by the radar set up at Rolling Road and the new Highway and it's a mess. A dozen tar paper shacks, a few big guns, and trash everywhere. The headquarters company stationed at old St. Timothy's has, as I told you, surfaced half the lot on Ingleside with stone for a parking place and has made a soft ball diamond out of the rest with the usual results.
END OF LETTER
Editor's Notes:
Charles works for Dr. and Mrs. Burton who have promised him the use of a larger house near their farms.
Ann has a cousin with a house at Otter Point on Bush River east of Baltimore County.
LINKS
Next Posting: July 21, 1952
Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner
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