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Want.

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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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Norman Reedus

Photo by Jackie Saad Robinson

Brandon Flowers - Only The Young

Hinman Bigelow Letters: The Real Facts (Jan 1919)

This letter was written by Mercersburg Academy Headmaster, Dr. William Mann Irvine on 18 January 1919 to Hinman Bigelow's mother, Anna Colston Bigelow. She had just notified the school that her 18-year-old son was shopping at the school's supply store and having the cost of the items added to his tuition without her permission, as well as skipping classes to spend time with a girl named Marguerite Armstrong.

January
18--1919

Mrs. George A. Bigelow
Atlantic City, N.J.

My dear Mrs. Bigelow:

I thank you heartily for your kind letter of recent date which you wrote to Mr. Colson. I am glad that you have told us the real facts in this case. I had a good talk with your boy today and I tried to show him how foolish he has been. I told him to have good friends among the girls but always to pick out the right kind of girl. I assured him that a girl who is foolish enough to let a boy neglect his duty is not the right kind of a girl for him to associate with. I am not sure that he caught my point but I tried to impress it upon him very earnestly.

This lad ought to do good work and if he were to be earnest and faithful in his classroom work he would very quickly become a leader in the school. He has some ability as a high jumper and that would naturally bring him into prominence. He ought, however, to accomplish much in classroom work so that he can have the full respect of the faculty as well as of the boys, I hope that he will take to heart the advice which I gave him today. He must be more earnest and more ambitious. A boy of his age ought to accomplish a very great deal.

Again thanking you, I am, with kindest regards,

Most cordially yours,

William Mann Irvine

---

Jan. 20, 1919

Mrs. Anna C. Bigelow
Atlantic City, N.J.

My dear Mrs. Bigelow:

Your letter of recent date has been received. Your boy was completely upset when he reached Mercersburg. We have straightened him out. He will make up the classes which he missed and in that way will remove all guard and all demerits. I told him to settle down to faithful effort so that he will accomplish the right kind of work in his classroom studies. He has a lot to gain by remaining in Mercersburg and doing his duty. He has everything to lose by leaving Mercerburg under the circumstances which you mention.

Trusting that everything will now move on smoothly, and again thanking you for your letter, I am,

Most cordially yours,

William Mann Irvine

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