William Gaddis - The Letters of William Gaddis

Say, I hear you’re having gasoline trouble!! How are you coming out with the coupons? I suppose we did unnecessary driving, but I think it came out the same as if I hadn’t come home at all — and hadn’t got the 4 ‘A’ trickets from Granga.

We have been living quite a life this past week but now everyone is going into seclusion for midyear preparation — me too — it now being 1 AM and am starting She Stoops to Conquer for Eng I — wonderful course.

Love

Bill

P.S. — Tue AM — just got inductment papers — to report here the 14th — Thursday — so my next letter I’ll either be 4F or in His Majesty’s Army!

Charles Gardiner: unidentified.

Dead End — Winterset: movies that came out in 1937 and 1936, respectively.

She Stoops to Conquer : classic comedy by Oliver Goldsmith (1773).

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[16 January 1943]

Dear Mom—

Tried to get into Merchant Marine — couldn’t because of albumin; had draft board changed to Cambridge — will probably be inducted in early February but think I shan’t be drafted.

Thanks for Sak’s letter — since it looks like I’ll be here and do need a suit — well what do you think? I need it and they have my measurements — couldn’t they send it up?

Well everything under control, and except for owing Weidner library a small fortune and wanting to get a newspaper job immediately , having just seen Cary Grant in Once Upon a Honeymoon , I guess things will stay under control—

Love

Bill

Once Upon a Honeymoon : 1942 film in which Grant plays a radio correspondent in Europe during World War II.

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[11 February 1943]

Dear Mom—

Just about able to sit up and write after my first fencing — first physical ed. I’ve had in years — and it was wild! Exercises I never knew existed. My right leg is sore from them and practicing lunges etc. I do hope I can stay with it. It is some sport.

Thanks for the watch — it’s good to have it again — and the gloves are beautiful thanks so much for both — and the checks. I paid 22.75 on the Coop’s bill and got $8 change — now I can charge until March 10 th. That bill is right I guess and will check up some more. Now I can pay Callahan — and get a ticket to the ballet — the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo is going to be up here next week— Scherherezade Thursday night — the Afternoon of a Faun Saturday night — I don’t know which — those are the ones I want to see—

Last evening my roommate and I and some others (one fellow from India, one from Puerto Rico, — Afghanistan etc.) were invited to dinner at Mr. Finlay’s — the house master’s — quarters — quite an affair — beautiful furniture, silver service etc. — an Australian flier was here and did a great deal of talking but otherwise it was quite an event—

Right now it’s time to stop — Stanley Gould just came over — from ‘Watch Hill’ in Conncticut — who practiced drums for 6 years — and my room mate — and a record named Chasin’ with Chase are all going at once — so — I’d better get to work

Love

Bill

Stanley Gould: (1926–85), later became a well-known Greenwich Village hipster/junkie in the ’40s and ’50s. He was the model for Anatole Broyard’s “Portrait of a Hipster” ( Partisan Review , June 1948) and for Ross Wallenstein in Kerouac’s novel The Subterraneans (1958, in which WG appears as Harold Sand).

“Chasin’ with Chase”: a jazz tune recorded by vibraphonist Lionel Hampton.

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[19 February 1943]

Dear Mom—

We did see the ballet last night and it was beautiful — we had wonderful seats — middle of back, orchestra circle, 1st row, Scheherazad e was — well just — — don’t have the right words. We’re going again tomorrow night— Afternoon of a Faun (Callahan cashed a check!).

I have been quite busy all week, and waiting around for George, who I thot might show up. He set out the 17 thand I wanted him to stop here on his way down — then looked at the map and saw how far out of his way it is, so I’m really not surprised not seeing him. I hope I do before he goes, tho.

Red and I have furnished the room some what — an easy chair, lamp, and pillows for the couch, and now it is quite liveable — strange how much these little things do. It runs into $ but certainly is worth it.

We haven’t been asked for any ration books up here — they just feed us tripe and that is that. However I see no reason for not getting my number 2 book, as we can’t tell how long I’ll be here.

I’m quite busy — an hour exam in psyc. next week, 5000 words (which is quite a lot when you stop to count them up) on the short story form in the New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly etc. — I had a talk with Mr. Elman — he is quite all right — in fact I gave him a story I wrote for him to look at and criticize — which he probably will!

John is taking a secretarial course in Washington — and not exceedingly happy with it — but it will clear up I guess.

And by now (when you get this letter) you will probably know all about it — tho it may not happen — but Charley Socarides is coming soon to try to get into some medical school in NY — plans to stay at the Biltmore and may look up Mrs. Garrett! So — it’s out of my hands — I’d like to have come down with him, but $ and work and I guess it’s best I’m not — a good long weekend.

The news about J — Osborne quite astounding — but keep me posted — I don’t know if I’ll be down in April — no Easter vacation—

Love

B—

ration books: issued in World War II to control consumption of high-demand products. Book 2 was issued in January 1943.

Mr. Elman: unidentified.

Charley Socarides: Charles W. Socarides (1922–2005), American psychiatrist and author, known for his belief that homosexuality was a curable illness. He graduated from Harvard in 1945.

J — Osborne: Jim Osborne, apparently a high-school friend.

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[27 February 1943]

Dear Mom—

Thanks so much for the check — and now if I can collect from my roommate I can see Sylvia Sidney in Pygmalion this weekend too! I suppose that it was extravagant to go to the Ballet Russe — twice — and good seats, but can never regret it; the first night was better than the second, but the latter was worth seeing just for the Afternoon of a Faun which they did beautifully. Of course it was quite short but delightful all the same.