Qu'est-ce que c'est?: Hinman Bigelow Letters: Express Your Gratitude (4 Mar 1919)

This letter was written on 4 March 1919. Hinman Bigelow writes a letter about his plans for vacation as he continues to be a jerk to his poor mother.

March 4th,

Dear Mother,

I received your very interesting letter also the $3. But that won't pay my debt and get a pair of "puts" and leave me any allowance, so you send the money I asked for! If I send you some negatives to be taken to Haworths on the Boardwalk do you think you could do it right? Well I will try you out, just take these negatives and say to them that you want one of each printed and then get them, pay for them out of my next allowance and send them to me as soon as done.

Don't take any of them! If you want any of them leave the negatives there afterwards and get the ones you want, but rush the originals.

About this coming vacation, Bob Card, Kemble and myself have decided to stay in Mercersburg and get off all our conditions, and after that to run down to Philadelphia to visit Card for a day or so. Well that will save a week and a half of board at Craig Hall, besides getting my conditioned subjects above grade. Well send me a check for twenty five and I will stay and do this. It is an awful sacrifice to be penned up here, never allowed out at night and down to town only two hours a day. Some prison but I will stand it for it will get me back into the good graces of Dr. Irvine.

Here is my expense outline.

Allowance for week and half
$7.00

(Remember this vacation)

Trip to Phila and back
20.00

Tip to waiter
1.00

" " Bidy
1.00

$30.00

That is running pretty close considering I will have to get my suits pressed out of that. I promise I won't visit anybody in Philadelphia except Aunt Hattie for about half an hour! Bob and his father have a day all planned for me. He is the fellow that lived in Elkins Park, who I was going to see this summer. Bob's folks are very respectable people and I will be perfectly safe in their care. Or maybe if you want I will drop in on you for 1 day?

I must have a little vacation or I'll go wild being penned up like a convict.

Well write soon and express your gratitude for my act.

Your loving son,
Hinman

P.S. If I took the whole vacation, I would be conditioned and would spend at least $25 more dollars for board and clothes and excitement! So consider faithfully!