LEAGUE OF PROFESSIONAL GROUPS FOR FOSTER AND FORD

ALGONQUIN 4-2215

35 EAST 12 STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y.

Dearest Bill, So you think I ought to be careful with this comrade business.
Well, you're a bit late with your advice old dear. Yes he is a young revolution
ary--far far too young alas. In fact I ought to be spanked. He is only 26, and
wouldn't believe I was past thirty-five!! Thought I was thirty! The sweet child
But he is a brilliant boy, and knows so much more than I do about literature etc.
that I could listen to him talk for hours--as I pretty much do! ( We have art
before breakfast ) And I'll see just about enough of him and not too much which
is an important point. Also we are suited to one another in other ways--mood and
etc. But I'm not taking it too seriously. NEVER AGAIN. I've finished my roman-
tic phase. Don't laugh. I have. I burnt the whole thing all out of my system.

He's going on the hunger march to Washington, so I'll be deserted and anxious
for a long time, I'm afraid. And eventually, if not soon, there'll be some young
lady to step in and take him away. But that will happen when it happens.

He had light blue eyes, perfectly clear, and he looks at one so intently. His
lashes are long but not thick--delicate rather. And he looks such a baby, you
would think he was eighteen. People on the street will think I'm his mother! There
isn't quite so much laugh in that last sentence as I pretend!

He's like me, English, Scotch and Irish, and comes from Michigan.

We've just had news that the Scotsborough boys are to have a new trial.
Much jubilation. It's an important thing.

Guess may be I'll be a not so young revolutionary next thing I know!!

By the way he plays the piano--Bach etc. Not well--I mean as an amateur
but it's nice.

Is this a terribly silly letter? I'm sorry. I don't feel silly.

Love,

Me.

The League of Professional Groups for Foster and Ford is composed of writers, artists, teachers, engineers, physicians, architects, social workers, lawyers, journalists and other professional workers who are supporting the Communist ticket this year. With rare exceptions they are not members of the Communist Party. The organization further represents an attempt to clarify and define the position of the professional worker with relation to the deepening crisis of the capitalist world, and to the forces which are working to build a new social order. Our membership includes:

SHERWOOD ANDERSON MALCOLM COWLEY WALDO FRANK WINIFRED CHAPPELL ADOLPH DEHN

H. W. L. DANA EDMUND WILSON SIDNEY HOOK JOHN DOS PASSOS THEODORE DREISER

COUNTEE CULLEN LANGSTON HUGHES SIDNEY HOWARD LINCOLN STEFFENS LEWIS COREY

400

42 Bret Harte Rd.
Berkeley, Cal.

Dear Bill,

The pictures aren't very clear, but they are unusually good for the kind of camera I have. The one of the mountain is characteristic of the Southwest. I took it last spring on the way out here. These/ are the mountains O'Keefe paints, but I think she makes a mistake when she gives them a knife-edge against the sky. It is true they look exactly that way in certain lights, but it isn't TRUE.

I hope to go back to the Southwest again some time and stay a while. Perhaps I can go with my lovely friend Ruth. Perhaps. Because from now on I'm going to be a working girl---if there is any work. I'm going to try Moss and Kamin. May be I could sell books and read proofs etc etc for next to nothing a week. But what a time ± choose for going off on roller skates (and practically naked, too) !

I hope this catches you before you leave for your vacation---and I hope you have a delightful time. Is it true you have the Hermann -Herbst house? Or are you going to make more sphinxes for Richard's edification ? He's an imaginative little cuss isn't he ? And what's happened to the July PAGANY ? he wrote to ask where to send it, and be sure to write him my opinion etc. etc, but as yet no magazine. (I'm trying to interest the California publications room of the library --that's sort of mixed but you get the idea---in taking PAGA NY. Wouldn't that be something? )

Last night I read the February number of POETRY there. Your poem is lovely. It's out of the PRIMAVERA isn't it? Any way it is very nice. It was so cold in the library I didn't get very far into Zukofsky's exposition. That will do for a reason. I really was shivering, and would be tonight if it weren't for my fire in the fire-place.

There's a lot of desert, mountains and grass between me and my friends in New York and New Jersey (you're the only one in New Jersey) but I'll soon be starting across them. And all that distance hasn't stopped me from thinking of you ---nor whatever new happiness I have found. So my best wishes for a good rest---and more poems.