[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]
MORE PRICES DROP, OTHERS TO FOLLOW
Sugar Down to 13 Cents a Pound Wholesale for Granulated. SHIRTS AND COLLARS FALL Lumber Quotations Cited to Prove There Is No Combine on Building Material.
BASEBALL INQUIRY WILL GO THROUGH TO END, SAYS JUDGE
Declares Law Covers Crime Adequately and That Guilty Players Will Be Punished. PROMISES TO CLEAN GAME Asserts Jury Can Go Back for Eighteen Months and Will Sift Every Incriminating Fact. SOX LOSS PUT AT $500,000 Comiskey's Attorney Contends Eight Players Were Worth $200,000, Drawing Power of Team $300,000.
October 1, 1920.
Friday PM.
Dear mother and all.
My last class for to-day was over at one and now I am going over to sign up for tennis.
Your letter came this AM and I'll try and get this in so I can have one more. I've written Sun., Wed. and Fri. and heard from you Tues. Wed., Fri.
What were you tearing at at Cousin R’s for? I told the girls that what you said about the “high busted” cake. I don't see why a Larkin order should interfere with the seniors. Who is the J pres? I'm glad they've got some psy. It's too bad the juniors don't have the paper because they are really the ones that should. Now it can never be changed without some class missing out. Mrs. Lewis asked you about “L”. What's that? Sore about what? I don't get it. Explain. Glad Miss Port is married, just to show Mr Rex! That's alright, don't worry about the boxes. How much settled are you? Wed night “we” (the F girls and us) got so hungry that at 9:15 I put on my winter coat -no dress-and went down to the store next door and got waivers and Fig Newtons. We made hot chocolate over their electric plate and had a swell time. Last night, the Y. W. girls were selling wedding cake, which proved to be big bars of fudge downstairs. We had that and hot chocolate again before we went to bed. I'm getting my wo
rks fixed now so I don't have so much to do and have my letters “all up” except one to Aunt Bess.
Yesterday afternoon I went to Y. W. as Classen spoke. Do you remember that address he gave, somewhere on the strategy of Foch about a battle can't be lost until you quit fighting, when you're facing defeat is the time to advance and Foch’s famed telegram? Maybe you didn't hear it, but anyway, he gave the same thing and it was wonderful. I am going there to church Sunday.
The Juniors in the hall have sent out the cleverest invitation. In right hand corner little people like this
[diagram of a stick figure]. one in blue, J color and a small one in green. In the lower left corner, the downtown sign post. Stop! Go! It says “Step out with the Juniors on Sat. night, and let them see that you “turn to the Right.” It is the play for “Go to the R.” at the Empire. Tell F.[rank] to write and tell me all about the J.s [juniors in high school?] and his work also Louise. They have lots of time. I always did––n’t.
Lots of love,
Betty
Editor's notes
Ferdinand Foch, referenced above in a speech by Mr. Classen (I think he may be the pastor at the church Betty attends) was a French General and Supreme Military Commander during WW1. I'ts worth noting how close this family is to WW1. The Times headlines often reflect that the situation in Europe continues to be unstable.
https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/ferdinand-foch
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