Hinman Bigelow Letters: Consider it Seriously (11 Feb 1919)

This letter was written on 11 February 1919. Dear Hinman Bigelow's mother, Why aren't you sending your son all your money?! "Gee, it seems to be just one expense after another."

Feb 11th, 1919

Dear Mother,

I received your letter and the check for nine dollars. Thanks for sending me that investment sheet, I read it, but what do you want me to do with it?

On one condition will I stay here Easter vacation and only one, that is that you write me a check for $55 payable to me. My reasons are, first, I would like to tutor some conditions off if I get any which I am sure to do. Also it is like a prison here if you never get back to civilization and all the fellows except a few foreigners go home and I would be lonesome, but for $55 I will do it! That will be saving about $25 and also I will be getting my conditions off. But unless you send me the $55 why I will be home the first chance I get. So consider it seriously!

I have a condition in English this term which must be removed before March 5th. Therefore about February 17th, please send me $10 to tutor it off.

Gee, it seems to be just one expense after another, but I don't see how I can help it.

I think if I come back next year I will work my way through as that is about $400 cheaper and I would have that much more to spend upon necessary things.

Can't you please let me have a little extra before the debate about Feb 20th. because that debate comes off the night of the 22nd and I want to get my suit pressed and cleaned also I might be asked downtown for supper and would want to have some money on hand and also for society stunts.

I am going to work this summer either at Wanamakers or as I hope to get a chauffeur's job with Miss Parsons.

Don't you think I could get a cheap car say my Ford racer costing $400, insured and everything, you know you would like it and if I work my board money alone would easily pay the expense of the car.

So think it over. Well write soon.

Your loving son
Ted Bigelow

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Thom Yorke

Thom Yorke
Stippling
January 2010

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Sarcasm (5 Feb 1919)

This letter was written on 5 February 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes to his mother for, you guessed it, more money! I've included a photograph of Hinman with his track team.

Feb 5th.

Dear Mother,

I received your letter, the check for school, and my own $3 check but not the one for the indoor shoes. Now mother I must have those shoes for track and must have them immediately, so by return mail you send me a check for the shoes.

Now you might as well leave out your sarcasm about my age and etc. because the shoes fitts both of us. Especially what you said about the Armstrong's and I am keeping that letter for future use if necessary.

I have cut the smoking as I said so don't you think you help me toward that car I want?

Well I am practising hard for both track and swimming.

What will you give me to stay here during Easter vacation? My railroad fare would mount to $20. My board $18 and my other expenses $25. Send me a check for $55 and I will stay here in Mercersburg for over vacation. Pretty little sacrifice but I will do it you send me the $55. Consider the matter! It would save both time and money.

Is Miss Parsons going to be in Atlantic City in March about the 15th? Ask her for me will you please.

There is going to be a dance here soon and the debate the 22nd so couldn't you add a little for these occassions because I need my suits pressed and also the debate night for stunts. So please send me a little extra.

Well don't forget the $6 for the track shoes and the rest.

Give my best to Miss Parsons and Marguerite Armstrong, the Milburns, Mrs. Ivyville and the rest.

Sincerely,
Ted Bigelow

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Michel Gondry

Photo by Aurélie Cenno

Watermelons

You're probably wondering why I've gathered you all here today.

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Miss Parsons (29 Jan 1919)

This letter was written on 29 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes to family friend, Miss Parsons, asking for help to purchase his little Ford Racer. Unfortunately for Hinman, instead of helping him, she forwarded his letter to his mother.

Jan 29th
Morning

Dear Miss Parsons,

I received the box of caramels and liked them very much, thanks to you! I am now enjoying them with several of the fellows.

Am enclosing several of my drawings of the Ford racer I wish to get. I will get it too if I have to sell everything I ever owned. It only costs $400 but I am finding it hard to get that much together but I will do so. Won't you help me some? It means everything to me and think of the good times I will have during the summer.

I am 19 years old this April 29th and you can get a license in Penn. at the age of 16 so I can easily procure that little article.

I know where I can get $100 of the $400 but unless Sister [Jane Ashley Bigelow] and Aunt Hattie [Colson] help me some and you help me to an extent I don't know how I will get it but hope for the best. The old saying is, "where there is a will there's a way." Well tell Mother I said this and will get the car. I have a watch that will bring $20, a rug = $20, and some penants worth $10 also several other little items worth about $25, so you see I have prospects of succeeding if only you will help me. Won't you please Miss Parsons? You don't realize what it would mean to me.

Thanking you again for the candy and hoping to hear from you soon!

Your friend,
Ted Bigelow

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Toki Nantucket

Photos by CatAtelier

Tinie Tempah - Written In The Stars (feat. Eric Turner)

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Track Shoes (28 Jan 1919)

This letter was written on 28 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes his mother again about the Ford Racer as well as the track shoes he needs for school. Hey, wait a minute! Weren't the track shoes $5 in his last letter?

Jan 28th.

Mrs. Bigelow,

I received your letter also the check, I got the make up slips and have made 2 classes up already and will make 2 more tomorrow if everything goes right.

You forgot the track shoes which are an absolute necessity for me so please send the $6 dollars necessary to get the shoes.

You said nothing about my quitting cigarettes for awhile although I mentioned the fact in my last letter.

As for a car that is all settled that I am going to get one and I expect you to help me to the extent of $75. You say license in every state well a Penn license costs $5 with visiting privilege in most every state except for Florida and lasts a year. Also gasolene for a Ford costs very little and the repairs on a Ford Speeder cost almost nothing. Besides the pleasure I would have running it around town you would be ample and furthermore it is a safe investment as it will sell for even money anytime at all.

Besides the learning to drive and handle the machinery, the man that can drive a car and knows its parts is an awful handy man to have around ask Miss Parsons or any car owner concerning this.

I have not begged a cent from anyone, I asked several people to help me and sincerely hope that they will as it means a lot to me.

Well write soon and send the track shoe money and reconsider the car proposition as you would like to ride in it if I got one.

Your son,
H.A. Bigelow

P.S. Whoever told you I spent 50 cents a week writing to girls was misinformed.

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Help me!

Hugo Cabret

Illustration by Brian Selznick

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Say Yes! (25 Jan 1919)

This letter was written on 25 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes yet another letter to his mother about the little Ford Racer. Nothing's going to stop him!

Jan 25th

Dear Mother,

I received your last letter but not the socks nor the candy. You say in your letter that another dividend has passed, well if you get stuck, help yourself to mine to any extent you feel like. If there is not enough for us both you take mine and I will go to work and try to support myself until your stock gets back on its feet.

Just at present I am conjuring every cent I get that I can spare toward getting a Ford racer. This is a special car not one of those tin affairs like the regular Ford, but a Ford engine in a real chassis. I think by saving I can get it, don't you? It is worth $650 but the fellow who is having it built in his father's factory will sell it to me less than cost at $400. Well mother you know how handy a little car is, it will save you jitney fare and all kinds of trouble such as waits and delays.

Couldn't you help me to the extent of $75, not all at once but gradually, I have until June to get the money and I will get it.

I am going to work this summer the months of July and August leaving the last part of June and September for my vacation. I think I will go to work next fall regularly instead of going back to school if our incomes decrease much more.

Please send me $6.00 to make up those classes. I paid my society dues that left me a dollar and then paid for a hair cut leaving me 50 cents and got my suit costing 75 cts, putting me a quarter in the hole and then you expect me to pay all my store bill besides, well it don't work out.

I need a pair of indoor track shoes. These cost $5 and I would like to have them and then I would be complete as for clothes. Please send this as soon as possible also my allowance as I have been here two weeks and received only one allowance so please send immediately.

Now look this proposition, I ask you, over fairly (1) you would like the car (2) It is cheap running 20 miles on a gallon of gasolene (3) it is worth $650 and would sell any time for $500 so I can't lose. (4) You could save $75 gradually by May at least to help me. This is the biggest thing I ever asked of you, 75 dollars, but I hope you will grant me that much and if you would even consider it a loan I could easily repay it but as you are my mother I should think you would help me to such an extent. Even if you would consider it a loan and if I didn't pay you could take it out of my income as you have control of it, so please do as I ask and I will promise you the best rides you ever had.

The upkeep of a Ford is practically nothing and if I get tired of it, I can sell it for even money or better anytime at all.

Write and tell me what you think of it, now don't say impossible I am spending too much or anything like but get behind me and help me get the car. Just think I am asking you for only $75 and it is up to me to get the other $325 and watch me to do it.

Well please consider this thing and think what it means to you to have a car.

I just got the socks, handkerchiefs and the candy. Thanks ever so much.

Please write soon and say yes!

Your loving,
Hinman

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Orson Welles

Orson Welles
Sharpie pen - February 2011

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, as a young boy and girl fall in love they are moved to run away together. Various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down -- which might not be such a bad thing.

Written by Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola. Directed by Wes Anderson.

Nightmares

Don't look, but I think there's a dolphin at the window.

Don't look. DON'T LOOK!!

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Allowance Scheme (22 Jan 1919)

This letter was written on 22 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes another letter to his mother about the little Ford racer he'd like to purchase.

Dear Mother,

Just received your letter and am answering right away because I have to have those classes made up and he won't change them. I have to pay cash to the instructors so please send the six by return mail! I must have $6.00 or I take the guard and the demerits which I won't do!

I wrote you last night telling of my scheme for saving also the allowance scheme. Won't you please try to put aside a dollar a week or even 50 cts out of your money to give me a birthday present of about $25 to help me with the car?

Please accept Miss Parsons invitation at once and ask if I can do any odd jobs to pick up some cash towards the little racer I want. It costs $400 and I think by saving I can get it, don't you if I really save?

Well Mother I have cut cigarettes for good. I haven't smoked one since I have been back! So don't you think you can help me a little on the car? I could pay you back by degrees or I will pay you interest if the amount is sufficient.

That is kind of Miss Parson to ask us, but it will save money to take her up on the proposition at once. Thank her for me.

Well I promise you I will get down to business now and work.

I received the shoes and rubbers sometime ago but have not received socks, handkerchiefs and candy. Send me $6.00 return mail. If you could save the price of the candy and send it to me I would appreciate it.

Hinman

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Wooden Wayfarer

Want.

Birds Eye Maple Sunglasses by tumbleweedsoddities

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Saving for a Ford (21 Jan 1919)

This letter is from 21 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes his mother about getting out of the school's infirmary and his sudden plan to save up for a car... with her money.

Jan 21

Dear Mother,

I have at last decided to get down to business if I can. I got out of the infirmary today and intend to get to work but I am awfully weak.

How much money ought I be allowed for extras during this and next term that is until June 5th? Well here is my plan, you send me $3.00 allowance every week don't you? That is you are supposed to, well send me two dollars a week every week saving one and on the month you send me the four I have saved and I will send it to Sister [Jane Ashley Bigelow] to put in bank for me towards a Ford which I hope to get this summer.

Well if I save something out of my storebill that is cut down I ought to have that much more towards the car.

Here is the proposition the car I want is a model costing $400 well it sounds like an awfull sum but maybe I could get it by saving don't you think so? If I get good reports in lessons will you help me out towards the car?

My birthday presents will be in cash so that will help. Lets get together on this thing and won't you try to help me out?

Please send me last weeks allowance, the society dues and the $6.00 for the make up classes.

Your loving son
Hinman

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For serious

My brother and I are really, really, ridiculously good looking.

Haha, not really.

Hinman Bigelow Letters: Infirmary (20 Jan 1919)

These letters were written on 20 January 1919. Hinman Bigelow has just seen Mercersburg Headmaster Dr. William Mann Irvine and has written to his mother to let her know about their discussion. The first letter, a postcard, was most likely written during his meeting with Dr. Irvine.

Dear Mother

I changed my mind about resigning since I was in to see Dr. Irvine. He took off the guard and let me make up the classes which I have already covered the work missed. So I will try to make good now that I have decided to stay. Write soon and give me the news.

Your son
"Ted"

---

Jan. 20th

Dear Mother,

Doctor Irvine has allowed me to make up the work at 50 cts a class and I missed twelve classes or $6.00 well you had better send me the $6 to make them up.

I have had some day today, I missed roll call and got up at 9.05 went to chapel, took my correct English exercise and then went out to drill. Well I drilled about half an hour and then I fainted and had to be hauled to my room. I went over to the infirmary and Doc. Nevin gave me some pills and excused me from classes and he is going to look me over and see just what is wrong with me.

My society fee is due and I need two dollars for that. Also my allowance is due yesterday!

Well mother dear I am fairly homesick and am getting more so every day! How are your card parties coming along? Also who is winning all the prizes?

Give my best regards to everyone including the Perisols.

Tell Miss Parsons I thank her very much for that white sweater and will send the picture soon as it is done.

Give my love to Marguerite Armstrong and Miss Milburn!

Well write soon!

Your loving son
"Ted" Bigelow

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