February 24, 1945 Bonnie's Turning 25, The Black Market, Enjoying Fish, The Reception and The American Crayon Company

US Office of Price Administration poster

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Thanks a lot for the money.  I'll probably buy a slip with it.  I've been needing a black one.  It doesn't seem like I ought to be 25.  At least I don't feel that old.  Thanks for the stamps, too.  We haven't been using many lately because meat has become scarce here.  There is usually some meat at one of the stores but not fit to eat.  We've been having fish--frozen cod filets and it's real good.  We can still get chicken too but Conn. growers have been having a time about black markets.  They have caught several men taking poultry to N.Y. black markets.  Eggs are down to .51 now for the extra large ones so I've been making the eggs fly.  I guess that sounds high to you but it's cheap to us.
      

 Sully and Bea came down Tuesday afternoon and stayed all night.  They took us out to dinner and then we just visited the rest of the evening.  They had to catch a 7:00 train Wednesday morning because Bea had to teach.  She wasn't having a vacation.  My vacation started Wednesday afternoon and I've read almost constantly.  We have a list to choose from but they are all old--like Scott's Ivanhoe.  It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so long.  Most of them have fine print and are about 500 pages long.

We went to the reception Wed. evening and it was the most elegant party I ever saw.  A doorman met us and sent us upstairs with our coats.  There was a maid in each bedroom to take our coats and then we went down to shake hands with the bride and groom.  They stood by the fireplace and as soon as we shook hands a butler handed us a napkin and a waiter put a plate of food in our hands.  There were so many guests (about 200) that we had to stand up because they had to take out all extra furniture to make room.  To eat we had creamed chicken in a pastry cup, a molded vegetable salad and a hot roll for the first course.  There were four waiters and every time you turned around they were offering you something different to eat.  They had big plates of tiny sandwiches (little biscuits, brown bread sandwiches, rolled ones and all kinds).  Then we had an orange punch and for dessert we had ice cream and tiny French pastries.  After this we had demitasse and B says, "the holes out of doughnuts".  I never saw so much to eat.  They had a caterer to fix the food.  After everyone had shaken hands with the couple she cut the wedding cake which was gorgeous.  It was a large tiered fruit cake with white icing.  The icing was shaped in roses all over the cake.  They put the pieces in little waxed paper bags and everyone took a piece home with them.  We all waited until the bride & groom left on their wedding trip and then came home.  She wore a black tailored suit and hat and the only color was an orchid corsage.  She certainly looked happy.  For the reception she wore a long sheer coral dress and it looked very pretty with her white hair.  She carried her wedding bouquet.  it was an orchid, sweet peas and tiny rosebuds.  There were some long dresses and more short ones.  I wore my black wool that is trimmed in sequins and instead of a hat I wore a wide black velvet ribbon with sequins across the top of my head.

I think I told you they bought a new home and had it all done over.  There were so many people you couldn't see much of it except the master bedroom where the women put their coats.  It had been two rooms but they made one of it.  It was all in blue and white and very lovely.  They had the wedding presents laid out there.  Her silver was entirely plain.  I don't think I've left anything out.  It was some party!

Some time ago B wrote to the American Crayon Co. in Ohio to see if they could give him any information for his dissertation.  He got the nicest letter from the Editor (of their magazine) and some free material.  The man offered to meet him in N.Y. and talk over some of the problems so B is planing to do that some of these days.

Be sure and read the article about the Lamar editor in this week's Life we're sending. It's awfully funny.

I guess I had better stop and finish cleaning the bathroom.  It's half done."

                    Lots of love,

                            B & Bonnie  

NOTE from Ann:  For brief, interesting information about the American Crayon Co., use the following link:  http://sanduskyhistory.blogspot.com/2009/04/american-crayon-company.html