Letter from one of my grandfather's rivals January 14, 1924

                                                                                                                 Cleveland, O. Jan. 14, 1924

Dear Helen:

      On the speedy wings of the U.S. mail I received your kind letter and on the same unfailing messenger flies this answer. How's that for an engineer? To come down to facts though, you don't know how glad I was to hear from you soon. It is pretty soon considering what you have been doing all. Nevertheless I was just preparing to send you a little reminder -- that there was a little ink due me from you. I was composing a very severe letter but now that your letter arrived why I had to throw all my material away and start all over in a much nicer mood. Glad to know that you think I still exist.

     Certainly was glad to hear you had such a fine time during the holidays. Everything sounds fine, except that the swimming part sounds somewhat far fetched. As far as I can make out there are only two ways you could have gone swimming at this time of the year -- that is either in somebody's indoor private pool or else the ice gave way in the lake -- and you took a forced swim. I think you ought to be a little more explicit in exploring such apparent anachronism (don't know whether that is the right word or not but it sounds good, so I put it in). However I am led to believe that you swam in someone's indoor pool as you mention nothing about falling thru the ice, on the contrary you say that since you have not even lost your equilibrium on the ice. (You are certainly a lot better than yours truly). I tried skating at noon to-day and never lost my equilibrium either, except that I skated on both hands + feet every once in a while. How do you like skating, it's pretty hot isn't it? Nothing like it. By the way as you have never taken a sudden sitting position on the frozen H2O (see I know some claim) , please let me know when you do it, as you no doubt will, everybody does, so that I can check & see whether you had the same sensations as I did.

Your reprimand cut me to the very bone & I may have to have my nose cut off. I wrote Inany Louise explaining why it was that she did not see me at the depot. I had a date + could not let her know before she would have left El Paso, so had to let it go. All those words you thought up to call me had a great effect, if you try that again I'll feel so cheap anybody can love me for a penny split in two.

How are the young Amherst gentlemen treating you these days? Are they pretty rough or then I [illegible]. I know this is prying into personal matters but one gets curious you know. I was in hopes you were going to spend the holidays in Cincinnati & that I would have a chance to drive down + see you if you would have allowed me to, but as you did not write I naturally supposed you had made other plans.

Your exams starting on the 28th has nothing on us. Ours start a week from Wednesday. Ours are really very amusing, so many grades that am only average.  [illegible] thinking about them so terribly thrilling. I certainly hope you will get thru and I am pulling for you strong. however, I really do not believe I need to do much pulling as you will get them all right. The trouble is you're scared of them like everybody else, however I am sure you will pull thru O.K. Would not [illegible] seeing you in the least, but not under the circumstances. 

If there was a radio set here I would be hearing bed-time stories for the grown-ups, so will cease [illegible]  letter does not injure so much that you will not be able to answer before you graduate.

Your hand skating Civil Engineer

Fred.