May 3, 1943 On "Tobacco Road", William Lyon Phelps and Yale Mourns

Photo taken by B

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Here it is May all ready; school will soon be out.  We have been typing all week on B's term papers.  One went in yesterday and one has to go in tomorrow.  We don't know what B will do this summer but there are lots of jobs so he can find something to do.

Last night we saw "Tobacco Road".  It is certainly a good play.  It's awful to think that people really live like they did.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034297/plotsummary

This morning we went to chapel.  The speaker was Wm. Lyon Phelps.  He is about 80 years old but is a wonderful speaker.  You have probably read about him because he's quite famous.  He's a former Yale professor.  http://phelpsfamilyhistory.com/bios/william_lyon_phelps.asp

The whole university is in mourning for Father Riggs, the Catholic chaplain.  He died last week and was only about 50.  Sully said he was a wonderful person, but I never saw him.  He is going to be buried in the Catholic chapel of the university.  He helped found the chapel years ago.
http://stm.yale.edu/CatholicismatYale.php

It is still pretty cold here but the sun shines more often.  There are as many fur coats on the street as spring coats.

There isn't any news so I had better help B type or he never will get this paper finished."

                                                     Lots & lots of love,

                                                                   B & Bonnie

NOTE from Ann:  William Lyon Phelps died in August, 1943 and it was a thrill for B and Bonnie to have heard him speak.  He is especially well-known for his essay, "The Pleasure of Books".  If interested, see the essay here:http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/phelps.htm