William Gaddis: The Letters of William Gaddis

Will write tomorrow and let you know about the job — in the mean time don’t worry — I’m not.

Love

Bill

[ on back of envelope: ] P.S. When does Harvard June session start?

Otto: the name of a major character in R, who likewise went to Harvard and eventually “cracked up.” But see also notes to 29 October 1950.

Carlsbad Caverns: a popular tourist attraction in New Mexico.

Gerald Haggerty: unidentified.

De Mills: apparently another doctor WG consulted

To Edith Gaddis

Water Tower Station

2102 East Grand

St. Louis — Mo.

U.S. Quarterboat #1

Tuesday afternoon [21 April 1942]

Dear Mom—

Started work last nite at 4 P.M.; am on the 4–12 shift working eight hours a day. It is some job. I live with about seventy other fellows on the quarter boat — a big boat tied up here on the Mississippi east bank across from St. Louis.

I am getting 55 cents an hour, and after paying board here on the boat it comes out to about $21 a week. I think that after a couple of weeks I’ll have enough to go back to Tucson. Or perhaps I’ll work longer if I like it, tho I doubt this. You see Ross plans to get an old car and we might drive east together about the end of May, taking a week and a half or two I suppose. Then I might go to sea from New York, if it could be worked out, or get work in the east somewhere — perhaps on a dude ranch — or even come back west.

But then of course if you think it would be good to enter Harvard in June, that would change everything. I might come east from here, or get Ross to drive east early.

And so please send me the date for entry in June; it was probably in that Accelerated Programmer book, but I think I sent it back with that bag I shipped. So please tell me which you think would be best — Harvard in June, or a little more working around, until fall.

I seem to be in good physical condition; I had a physical exam and the doctor wrote ‘good’; the work is pretty hard (building a pipeline for a dredge in big hip boots etc!) and I’ll watch myself and if anything looks like it’s going wrong will go to the doc — however I think this work will build me up— if anything will, and it is an experience. The boys here are a ripping bunch, and the food good and plenty (4 meals a day). And they all think I’m an Arizona cowboy! We do have fun!

Love

Bill

To Edith Gaddis

St Louis, Missouri

[26 May 1942]

Dear Mom—

I know you had a hard time getting the birth certificate — and as for shipping out of New Orleans — I wouldn’t do that even if I did get down there — and I don’t expect to do that now — unless I’m fired and it should work out that way conveniently.

However I am planning on coming home in June — very definately unless something radical should happen — then we’ll plan from there — and at least have time to talk over the sea before I go, if I should.

We paint and scrape daily and pretty hard too, down below deck, but Frank (the captain) doesn’t seem to think we’re fast enough — so I may leave (by request!) any day! And say tell Granga I expect to be leaving this town about the eighth — she said she might come out here and I’d like seeing her. I expect to work thru the weekend of the 7 th—then leave and come home slowly — stop in Chicago — Indiana — Ohio — but of course the job may move or end before then, so I can’t be sure.

We go out once in a while but not often — I haven’t had a day off since I started so can’t do much and work next day. The time passes fast enough on the job it is rather monotonous and so this evening I went down to some 2 ndhand book stores — saw a beautiful copy of Omar Khayam’s Rubaiyat —leatherbound — I’ve read it and like it a great deal — but it was $6 so I left with a copy of Ibsen’s plays to help pass the time—

Love

Bill

Omar Khayam’s Rubaiyat : twelfth-century collection of Persian poems, especially popular in Edward FitzGerald’s nineteenth-century translation.

Ibsen’s plays: his Peer Gynt (1867) plays an important role in R.

To Edith Gaddis

Saint Louis, Missouri

[1 June 1942]

Dear Mom—

Well everything still under control — and June 9 thdrawing closer every day! Boy it’s going to be good.

Still painting down in the hold, tho today I worked out on the shore line.

I think I’ll have enough money when I leave here to start home — I get paid Friday the 5 thand and have some debts to collect so think it will turn out all right

Am quite sure I won’t be home by next week-end — right now I expect to work through Saturday — then off 8 hours, go back out at midnite ’til 8 Sunday morning — then plan to drive down to Cape Gerardo about 135 miles south, with some of the boys with whom I work here on the boat. They’re a swell bunch and have been wanting me to go down for some time — so we’ll go Sunday morning — and back Monday afternoon; then perhaps see Granga Monday or Tuesday nite — (preferably Monday evening) and leave next day for Chicago. So if you’ll see what her hotel will be so I can look her up Monday nite (or Tuesday nite if this isn’t possible) it will work out fine.

Well it won’t be too long now — I expect to stay in Chicago — and around in Indiana and perhaps Sandusky Ohio — however that trip is uncertain — and say is Henry driving a school bus?? George said so.

Love

Bill

Cape Gerardo: i.e., Cape Girardeau.

Sandusky Ohio: WG’s journal indicates he met (or intended to meet) a Carole Potter there on 16 June.

To Edith Gaddis

The Mark Twain Hotel

Eighth and Pine Streets

Saint Louis

[7 June 1942]

Dear Mom—

Well can you believe it?! Free at last! And in a hotel room with bed! and tub! and easy chair! And tonite I go out and sink my teeth into a thick juicy red steak — haven’t had any red meat since I started!

And say but these dress pants feel good after a month and a half of those heavy work pants!

I heard from Gram and planned to meet her the 13 thin Indianapolis — but now is changed to Keokuk, Iowa the 9 th—so I’ll see her there and then wander on east thru Chicago and Indianapolis etc. and home — I don’t know when but probably around the end of the week of the fourteenth. But will let you know when I’m definately headed for New York.

And say, I forgot to mention — but you might write Dr. Gumere or some such — Mr Garrett’s friend; he’s the dean of admissions at Harvard and probably the boy who’d know.

Well I’ll write and keep you posted — and you’ll probably get a letter from Gram soon telling you I look ragged or something — but I haven’t changed a bit — my watch still fits just like it did and pants etc — I’ve hit a ‘bottle neck’ and my regular life ab’d the boat apparently hasn’t helped — or done bad — I guess I’m lucky—