1929-05-27.001 MRL to Peg shock

Please send Howensteins address—and did Dr. Unger get a letter from me mailed from Panama?

THE A W A CLUB-HOUSE 353 WEST 57 STREET NEW YORK CITY

May 27th

Peggy Darling,

This is mostly business. Needless to say your letter was a peach—they always are when they come. But something simply has to be done about these long silences. It's bad enough having the lapse of time in between letters that exists due to the mails but when weeks are added on top of that! I know its an old story, and that your daughter at least ought to understand—well, she does— or you would have had about ten telegrams—collect—as it is you'll never know how many you nearly had. The point is this— that this time I'm not coming back in a few weeks—or even a few months. And if we are going to keep up any sort of intimacy— such as I know we both want— there are no two ways about it. When you don't write for ages— no matter how long a volume you write, you cannot possibly touch more than just the highlights—and although that's lots more than nothing—its the very little things that count most. You have no idea what a how much like a cold plunge such a silence is—to such intimacies as I have tried to put into my letters. I know things

must have been terrific with you— G'pa, Martha, Unk's problems—and my room mess. And I do understand— but I want you to see my side of it too. And actually, darling, you know your non-writing habit-is mostly a mental hasard [sic: hazard] with you. Do tackle it somehow please!

As for my room, I know it was a messy job. And I'm damn sorry. Yet I think you exaggerate a bit—its significance. Granted there were umpteen hats gloves shoes & whatnot, but none that I remember (except that particular pair of Arche shoes which I thought I might possible work in after all & so didn't send them back until it was too late to get a refund & I didn't want to order any of these in exchange— and so—that I admit is from negligence— and I don't know what to tell you about them except that I might someday be able to wear them!)— none of those other things had seen less than a season's wear, and were hung onto for possible further use. The reason it looks like so much is that when you can't wear a thing you give it away—while I hoarded them as old friends. And as it happens, several things that I have kept that way have come back into style after two or three years—for further use. And—as for having spent a lot of money all at once. As it happens I had been waiting to bring things until ready to leave—and I'm damn glad I did. It's much nicer to have things fresh when you start off. And I've had just as much use out of the old things I've brought along as the new. And

[Letterhead] [front of letter) THE A W A CLUB-HOUSE 353 WEST 57 STREET NEW YORK CITY

do you realize that that pink dress which I had dyed blue and my pinkish suit—are both left from my last trip East? And I've given both extremely hard wear. So please reconsider— I simply must stick up for myself.

I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean by "lacking this realization of the influences one can leave behind you do not always get the full worth of your experiences." Can you elaborate a bit more?

As for accounts—the hundred you deposited for me & a ck from Aunt Mini for some am't—(Please don't tell her how I used it—She probably

[back of letter) wouldn't appreciate it—but it is one of the best presents she could give me—a contribution to sailing with a clear conscience—and I can consider that it also contributed to my trip by paying for several suits! ) (So please deposit also.) Those 2 cks will cover Bullocks. I've already pd $200.00 on account. I'm enclosing the bills in case you need reference— but I've checked over them completely. There were two mistakes which balanced each other—& which I called to their attention Mar 12—1 coat—20.00, credited at 25.00 A mistake in accounting in which they charge me $5.00 too much—So that is negligible.

But also—There should have been two sanitary belts returned & credited amounting to 1.50 +.75—What happened to them? And did you find those four colored handkerchiefs at $.50 each?

I was going to send you my ch. book but on second thought—I'll keep it and if you'll make those deposits for me & send me the next Bullock's bill—I can take care of it.

About going through my desk— the key for the upper part is in the draw. Why not put some by hack in it and leave it? Even if it looks in disorder it isn't, much—because that was one thing I did want to leave straightened out—I mean—my bills and account.

But there is one thing I wish you would do for me. I stupidly forgot to copy off several addresses into my book and which are only to be found on some letters written me—Maurice Horwitz is one—I have Leela's & Grace's—(and I remembered Margaret Beris' finally & got in touch with her) - in fact Maury's is the only one I can think of now— Would you see if you can find it. I'd almost like to tell you to burn all my letters—but I haven't quite the nerve—But please whatever you do don't just chuck everything pel mel in a box. There is a pile of letters marked answered and there is a pile of John's—and there is another cubby hole with all my bank statements, monthlies and stubs—and it would be a Hell of a Mess if they were all mixed up to-gether. My system may not be yours but I have got a system.

This doesn't begin to answer your letter—or be newsy or anything— but it's just as well to put all the dirty work in one letter—There'll be at least another coming before I leave! Bushels of love— Your own Marjie

[front of Envelope]

[postal cancellations New York May 29, 1929 8:30 PM on two U.S Mail airmail, red and blue "Plane and Beacon" 5 cent stamps, and one additional 5 cent stamp.]

[upside down purple rubber stamp] "DUE 5 CENTS, Night Air Mail"

[Markings written at a slant in blue ink to the left of the address:] Bullocks a/c-& other a/c notations

Mrs. Girard C. Battelle 325 So Lucerne Blvd Los Angeles California

[pencil annotation] Telegram on leaving N.Y. answered