Letters of Madlin Wells

 

307 Harrison Ave.
Burlington Iowa
October 12, 1928

Dear Aunt Bertie & All,

    Please don’t think too hard of me for not writing before. I am sure that you have written me two nice letter since I have written to you. I have no plausible excuse except that I have been a procrastinator of the worst kind. I am getting so that I dislike letter writing more and more. I do so like to receive them that I’ll just have to get that out of my noodle.
    I have been putting off writing for the past two or three weeks hoping that I might be able to write something definite as to what we are going to do. But as yet I know nothing. The first week we were here John worked – with the lumber co. at the Burlington R.R. but that was only because they needed extra help – and John was anxious to earn a few dollars – he did not expect it to be a permanent thing when he started there.
    Now he is waiting to hear from the district Manager of the Iowa Southern Utilities Co. John applied for a position a week ago, had an interview with the manager etc. The supt. Of the Gas dept. needs an assistant – but the manager is not sure whether the other officials will be willing to take on another man – so we are waiting patiently to hear from them. John also investigated a job at Keokuk Iowa at the big hydro electric plant on the Mississippi river. The job requires experience in drafting – John has had very little of that – but they were willing to hire him if he wanted the job – it is still open to him. So you see how things stand. Burlington is a very nice little town of about 28,000 inhabitants situated right on the Mississippi. Standing on the bank of the river looking across it one looks into the state of Illinois. If John gets work we will probably rent a furnished apartment until we know how permanent the thing is. The folks in Germantown will store or [our] furniture for us until we know what we want [to] do. It may cost more to ship stuff out here than the furniture is worth, if so we would dispose of most of it. There are some things however that we would want to keep. So you see how our minds are running. If ever we get settled I’ll surely be thankful.
    I had a nice letter from Anne Van Saut Mitchell this week. They are all well. Terry didn’t take his vacation this summer so they are taking it this month and are going to Richmond to visit his family. Helen Van Saut is teaching in Aldan Pa. a suburb of Phila. Catherine is home with her mother & seems perfectly well. Mr. & Mrs. Van Saut were going to visit Anne & Terry this month, too. Anne is quite busy with all her parties etc., she was planning to give two parties two days in succession – she was doing this because she said all her friends were not congenial with each other and she couldn’t invite them all to the same bridge – too bad – isn’t it?
    How are you all? I think about you all so much. Grandpa we received the literature about Al Smith – thanks – don’t worry – we won’t vote for “Al”. Hoover seems to have the upper hand here in Burlington, in fact, in Iowa. I think most people out here think that anyone is better than “Al”.
    I must write to Maurina too. I haven’t heard from home for a long time. How is everyone.
    Please write and tell me all the news. I am still interested in the doings of the old town. My State Register still comes but I think my subscription expires this month. I am not certain. Love to all –

    Your niece & granddaughter
        Madlin
 

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