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I love it when Will talks about cats.
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624 Rockmont Dr., N.E.,
Atlanta, Georgia.
October 23, 1941
Dear Alma,
To resolve the suspense from Eva’s letter, as we were seated in the living room after supper, Daniel came in and walked over to the fire place, planted himself with his hind feet on the hearth and his fore feet on the basket grate. I thought I would let him sniff around and satisfy his curiosity. But after a little sniffing, he leaped up into the chimney landing, out of sight, on a kind of ledge. The place was absolutely black and sooty from burning soft coal in the basket grate. I was afraid he might take a notion to kepp on going up and come out on the roof, which is pretty steep. However, I got him to go after a pencil which I moved on the hearth in my most entertaining manner. Then we had a time giving him a partial bath with soap and finishing up with corn meal. I think we should have reversed the order. The first time he was bathed, he gave me a little bite as a threat, and came back with a light nip on the nose, as a threat. Last night he again gave me a little bite, but as my hands were occupied holding his feet, I could not snip him. However, he did not do any more biting. I think I spoke to him quite sternly about it. I think his conscience must have hurt him about it, because after he was pretty well cleaned up, he jumped up onto my lap. I had remarked earlier in the day that I had never known him to jump into any one’s lap, and that other cats always did so.
I think Eva forgot that Daniel made a second attempt to jump out of the window of the car, after I had closed the window still farther. He got his head and forelegs out this time, before I could grab him by the loose skin at his mid-ribs and pull him back in.
We got an interesting letter from K this afternoon, telling of your visit, and also that Emily is to be married Monday night. Of course that upsets their living plans. Emily is going to take over their apartment, while K and Betty are going to a new one in a regular apartment building nearby on Washington Place. K did not give her new address. They will have an elevator! Betty said that the way she and K are having to move about makes her think that they are being punished for something they had done in a previous existence, such as breaking a long-term lease.
I expected to get this finished in time for the evening mail, But I was diverted (?) by a man who came to measure up for putting in some additional lights; in the basement, in 5 closets, and in the attic. By the time he had finished, I found to my surprise that it was too late for the mail, also too late for a show. We had been considering a low comedy, Abbott and Costello. Bill in an apologetic manner said he had found them funny, though their gags were old.
Eva has no will powers where Daniel is concerned. This morning he wanted to go to the basement (where the coal bin is) although I had carried him around in it enough for him to see the layout. Eva thought he smelt mice and let him go down. The next thing she knew of it, he was asleep on her bed grimy and decorated with cobwebs.
I think Eva forgot to tell you that we were here about five days before the gas was turned on. I wrote to the Water Works and the Gas Co. on cards that should have reached here the morning of the day we arrived. The water was turned on O.K. but the Gas Co. said they had no record of the card and besides they were swamped with orders for the gas to be turned on in houses that used it for heating. I bravely took cold showers, but Eva compromised with a sponge bath.
With lots of love, (also to to Alma G. and Fred)
Will
Atlanta, Georgia.
October 23, 1941
Dear Alma,
To resolve the suspense from Eva’s letter, as we were seated in the living room after supper, Daniel came in and walked over to the fire place, planted himself with his hind feet on the hearth and his fore feet on the basket grate. I thought I would let him sniff around and satisfy his curiosity. But after a little sniffing, he leaped up into the chimney landing, out of sight, on a kind of ledge. The place was absolutely black and sooty from burning soft coal in the basket grate. I was afraid he might take a notion to kepp on going up and come out on the roof, which is pretty steep. However, I got him to go after a pencil which I moved on the hearth in my most entertaining manner. Then we had a time giving him a partial bath with soap and finishing up with corn meal. I think we should have reversed the order. The first time he was bathed, he gave me a little bite as a threat, and came back with a light nip on the nose, as a threat. Last night he again gave me a little bite, but as my hands were occupied holding his feet, I could not snip him. However, he did not do any more biting. I think I spoke to him quite sternly about it. I think his conscience must have hurt him about it, because after he was pretty well cleaned up, he jumped up onto my lap. I had remarked earlier in the day that I had never known him to jump into any one’s lap, and that other cats always did so.
I think Eva forgot that Daniel made a second attempt to jump out of the window of the car, after I had closed the window still farther. He got his head and forelegs out this time, before I could grab him by the loose skin at his mid-ribs and pull him back in.
We got an interesting letter from K this afternoon, telling of your visit, and also that Emily is to be married Monday night. Of course that upsets their living plans. Emily is going to take over their apartment, while K and Betty are going to a new one in a regular apartment building nearby on Washington Place. K did not give her new address. They will have an elevator! Betty said that the way she and K are having to move about makes her think that they are being punished for something they had done in a previous existence, such as breaking a long-term lease.
I expected to get this finished in time for the evening mail, But I was diverted (?) by a man who came to measure up for putting in some additional lights; in the basement, in 5 closets, and in the attic. By the time he had finished, I found to my surprise that it was too late for the mail, also too late for a show. We had been considering a low comedy, Abbott and Costello. Bill in an apologetic manner said he had found them funny, though their gags were old.
Eva has no will powers where Daniel is concerned. This morning he wanted to go to the basement (where the coal bin is) although I had carried him around in it enough for him to see the layout. Eva thought he smelt mice and let him go down. The next thing she knew of it, he was asleep on her bed grimy and decorated with cobwebs.
I think Eva forgot to tell you that we were here about five days before the gas was turned on. I wrote to the Water Works and the Gas Co. on cards that should have reached here the morning of the day we arrived. The water was turned on O.K. but the Gas Co. said they had no record of the card and besides they were swamped with orders for the gas to be turned on in houses that used it for heating. I bravely took cold showers, but Eva compromised with a sponge bath.
With lots of love, (also to to Alma G. and Fred)
Will
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As I understand it, AG first came across the name Daniel in a cat that Will had, and she loved the name, which is why she named her second son Daniel. So apparently the cat Daniel in this letter is the cat that my cousin Dan was named for. As for where Daniel the cat got his name…I think Will had some Biblically named cats, like Obadiah and Joel. As for why Will had Biblically named cats...I don't know. There was also a Shakespearically named cat, Juliet, named after the balcony scene, because Juliet had a Romeo. Many decades later, I named a cat of mine Juliet. In fact, her full name was Juliet Stokey II because of my grandfather's cat Juliet, so I guess Will was an influential namer of cats.
I think Eva forgot to tell you that we were here about five days before the gas was turned on.
I figure Will had spent a good deal of the summer at Fernbank, and it was when he and Eva came home to Atlanta from that sojourn that they had trouble with the Gas Co.
We had been considering a low comedy, Abbott and Costello. Bill in an apologetic manner said he had found them funny, though their gags were old.
I imagine this was Will's son Bill, formerly Billy, age 24.
I think Eva forgot to tell you that we were here about five days before the gas was turned on.
I figure Will had spent a good deal of the summer at Fernbank, and it was when he and Eva came home to Atlanta from that sojourn that they had trouble with the Gas Co.
We had been considering a low comedy, Abbott and Costello. Bill in an apologetic manner said he had found them funny, though their gags were old.
I imagine this was Will's son Bill, formerly Billy, age 24.
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