The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-19
A Letter About Henry

The Presidents letter relative to Henry Wallace reminded us somewhat of the sort written by way of introduction from one business associate to another and con- corning someone who is a nice guy. but ''I never did go for him too strong"
 Its content was of the sort that in- ferred that the writer would understand if the subject of the letter didn't get the job because as it is written between the lines. it is known that the poor guy doesn't fit into the general picture. How ever, there is the opening there which implies that if by some chance the job should be given to him then the writer lets it be known that he would be pleas antly surprised - because he is a nice guy"-and too, "he can always be kept out of the main shop where he won't fall into the machinery and gum up the works"
 Of course, if you ever wrote one of those letters to someone you knew here m town, or worse if ever you were the sub- ject of one of them, you know that it is customary for them to be sealed in an envelope within an envelope and the re- cipient usually reads it with the written side well screened from the poor guy that is sitting there, fidgeting. This always puts the addressee in tough spot, for he then has to put the letter down, upon conclusion, and face the party who brought it, doing so with dead-pan face that is utterly devoid of what the contents implied.
 1t is usually customary then for him tO smile and mutter something about the nice things said in the letter, which so pleasantly upsets the poor guy that he IS R..a tn himself from the first spasm Of nervous shock that came with the recipient hav- ing spoken a word.
 Tt is during this two minute interval that the recipient of the letter hurriedly thinks up a suaye and effective refusal. This coming right after that nervous spasm usually has the poor guy so be- wildered that he is out of the office and the numbness doesn't wear off, SO that It hurts, until a full block away.
 That is the customary procedure and it saves immediated embarrassment to all concerned. But that wasn't the way it was done to poor Henry. Lordl The poor guy woke up in the morning, the sun bright and the air promising ol happy day; probably threw few boom erasigs around before breakfast and then sat down at the table and opened the morning paper. Wham There on tne front page is a letter written about nm by his b0ss-and what letter. n,
 First came a pleasant glow rom all the nice things said about him, But on second reading faint hnge Of doupI crept into that glow, and with 1t came 10 mind those fingerlings of worry that ne had known of late and due to creeping wonder the past few weeks that the boss had been awful smiley" and polite when ever they were together That lflp 1 China recently. with all expenses palaY Now came the wonder H that had Deeh too good to be true.
 Yes, the boss said that f he were ln the position he would go to bat for Henry .-BUT- ,,.
 Well, it wasn't a nice way to handle the matter, It makes fellow feel mlgDty ineonspicuOus and not loo important person. It's sort of like telling a fellows best girl that he wears long bDnefWsaI all.yeaF,rOund and drinks sassairas Lea foT chills,