Anna And Rosie: 24 - Anna And Rosie
...I do wish I had a regular guy though. You know up to this time I never cared about having one, only just to get to things and places. Now I would like to have one I’d think enough of to want to keep...
Jean Day, by means of chatty letters between sisters, recreates a sense of what life was like for young women making their way in the world in the early decades of the Twentieth Century in America's Mid-West.
Eldridge
Sunday, 8.30
February 1925
Dear Rose
Since my coming to Eldridge I enjoy myself most when I’m writing letters.
This has seemed like a long long day to me. School days and Saturdays aren’t so bad but the Sundays are intolerably long. I slept this morning until almost ten not because I was sleepy but because there was nothing else to do.
We have dinner here at 12, same as usual – so that makes the afternoons long too. I stick up in my room most of the time. There’s no one downstairs but the landlady and she revels so in saying horrid things about everyone in general I don’t enjoy her company very much.
The hired girl is kind of a fish. The old lady can’t keep a girl with any amount of intelligence. She’s too darn crabby. Poor Clara runs around like a chicken with her head chopped off most of the time.
The depot agent’s wife came over and we walked up town and back again. She is a dandy good little scout. Has two youngsters, but is certainly a happy go lucky.
Listen my dear, I feel selfish now to think I asked you to make a dress for me, when you’ve been struggling with that coat and have your own youngsters and Ceal to look after and sew for. So we’ll just forget about it now. I’ll soon get a check (two more weeks) and then I’ll possibly be able to get something and then later on if you have the time and care to I’ll be glad to have you make it. I don’t care about the color – tan or anything just so it won’t be too light – long sleeves I believe would be best.
Mrs. didn’t think much of the hat you suggested you’d make– said that Leona had possibly best wear her cap anyway. She said something about a cute hat in a catalogue for $2 but she didn’t think it would be very good for that.
“Gee,” I said, “I think that is a good enough price for a little kid's hat.” It gets my goat because she doesn’t think any price low enough for Mary’s things but nothing is good enough for her own daughter.
I do wish I had a regular guy though. You know up to this time I never cared about having one, only just to get to things and places. Now I would like to have one I’d think enough of to want to keep.
There’s a fellow who works nights at the depot here. He has a car and I’ve been out with him a couple of times but he’s so darn homely I sure wouldn’t want to keep him. I don’t like him very well anyway.
This Madame I teach with is the berries – I don’t like her. She told me she’s always associated with the upper class in Jamestown. She thinks she is the cat’s pants with her BS degree. She paints her lips, if you please, old hen. She’s about 50 or more. I’d die out right if I had to room with her.
Write soon,
Love to all Ann
