William Gaddis: The Letters of William Gaddis

Merricourt

Oct. 24, 1933

Dear Mother.

I got here safely, but got mixed up because it was dark and didn’t think [it] was Berlin. Carl, Warren, and David were there to meet me and we enjoyed the rest of the Oh-Henry. The darn train stopped up over the bridge to let another one pass it and I was wondering where the station was when we started up and rode by the station (nearly) and the boys had to race with the train. […]

With love Billy

To Edith Gaddis

[ After Merricourt, WG attended public school on Long Island from seventh through twelfth grades. In the summer of 1940, he sailed to the Caribbean on the SS Bacchus , the first of many voyages he would make throughout the Western hemisphere over the next dozen years. ]

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

[24 August 1940]

Dear Mother.

Well everything is coming along fine. I was pretty under the weather the first 2 days out but after that fine. The other passengers are fine especially 4 of the men who are swell. And the crew are too. I have become the bos’n’s “apprentice.” He has taught me to splice rope etc. and is a corker. A good part of the crew are colored but they’re OK too.

As I write this it is 5 AM and we are lying in at Port-au-Price. I slept on the bridge last nite and this morning got up early and am watching the sunrise over the mountains to the east of the town. Last nite 3 of the men (passengers) and I went ashore and saw a little of Haitian nite-life, of which we saw very little. All the stores were closed as they didn’t expect the ship ’til this morning so the town was almost dead. Mr Romondi’s prophecy, however, has come true. There are a good many palm trees on the island and I was under one last nite.

The town is quite beautiful with the mountain behind it and all the white buildings and a flaming cloud to the right and the sun rising to the left.

We go ashore this morning to the souvenir shops etc. Oh boy!

We lift anchor at 10 AM for Aruba or La Guiara — I forget which.

I read Black Majesty —a fellow on the boat has it.

Hope I don’t get stuck in a record store in Port-au-Prince and miss the boat—

Love

Bill

Mr Romondi: unidentified.

La Guiara: on the coast of Venezuela, WG’s next port-of-call.

Black Majesty : a biography of Henri Christophe, king of Haiti (1767–1820), by John W. Vandercook (1928).

Left: WG piloting the SS Bacchus , 1940.

Right: Edith Gaddis, 1941 (Times Wide World).

To Edith Gaddis

[ WG entered Harvard in September 1941, but almost immediately began experiencing medical problems. (Thirty years later he recalled it as mononucleosis.) As a result, he left after the first term and headed west for his health. ]

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[10 September 1941]

Dear Mother.

First the business before I forget and then the news. As you can see a typewriter ribbon will be welcome at the first opportunity, and then there is the problem of the desk lamp. They have nice ones like my room mate’s at the Coop for $5.98, but if you can get one and send it all right; any how I think it must be settled soon as classes start today and they are starting assignments off with a bang. Also I understand that note books seem to be required to some extent in many of the courses, so if you happen on one it will be welcome up here. I have been spending to a fair extent, having gotten all of my books and other little things such as writing paper, joining the Coop, etc., and so the latest contribution was very welcome. And speaking of contributions, have you heard anything from the Christy affair?

I’ve had two classes: in English and French, and you should see the assignments. Boy, they aren’t waiting for anything. The food is good so far, and with classes starting we are beginning to get settled down to a more regular life. Boy it is really some life, and promises to become more so to the nth degree. We are beginning to realize just about what the courses are going to be, how much work connected with them, etc. Although my course is not a stiff one, and the courses aren’t as hard as they are dry, uninteresting, and only requirements, I am looking forward very apprehensively to the Latin course, in which my classes start tomorrow. V (my room mate just did this — for Victory — in the November hour exams I guess).

I guess you got my card asking for the jacket; I was figuring I might take it down to this Max Keezer and get a trade in on that corduroy jacket which I think is going to be the thing to wear to classes.

Well, that’s about all, I guess; I’ll write and let you know how things are when we get really settled.

Love,

Bill

the Christy affair: Christy was a boyhood friend, otherwise reference unknown.

Max Keezer: a menswear shop founded in 1895, located in Harvard Square at the time.

To Edith Gaddis

Mathews Hall — 31

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[19 October 1941]

Dear Mother—

Could it be that Dolly and her ilk are slipping? They seem to be failing us. I don’t know, here it is Saturday afternoon and I’m still flat listening to the Dartmouth game. My temp stays right around 100 tho it’s been down to 99 and up to 101 but I feel like hanging up. Harvard just made a touchdown and the stands are going crazy — me too only for a different reason — because I’m not there. I’ll bet there’ll be a hot time tonite.

Well I’ve decided one thing — they told me that they can’t keep you here if you insist on going so come Tuesday or Wednesday and I’m still the same I’m leaving and see if I’ll get well outside on my own. I’m not getting anywhere here — only disgusted.

The food here is supposed to be good but I think it’s pretty sad and not half as good as Union food.

They’re still making their crazy blood tests which never show a thing — what a bunch of jerks!

Hoping to have better reports soon—

Love

Bill

To Edith Gaddis

Cambridge, Massachusetts

[23 October 1941]

Dear Mom—

I’m feeling a lot better and I think the temp has been dropping a little — not normal yet but someday I suppose. The only effects are my ankles are very weak and I have a pot belly! But I guess exercise will cure both. I’m not up long enough to feel dizzy — not on my treks to the bathroom anyway. […]

The only studying I’ve done is that 100 pages of French outside reading — the exam in it is today so I guess I’ll have to make it up too. Somehow this place isn’t condusive to study and I haven’t felt like it until the last couple of days.

I’m only taking 4 subjects — which is minimum — but 2 (Physics and Eng[lish literature] I) are pretty tough. However there’s no backing down or changing now — I’ll just hang on and hope for the best.