PRESERVATION PHOTOCOPY: ORIGINAL MATERIAL RESTRICTED

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We invaded Lawrence College yesterday and they put their varsity debaters against us. We had an audience vote and it was most encouraging to discover that every single vote was for our side of the question. Inasmuch as I did the one rebuttal on our side I was quite pleased to see how I could persuade an audience over. The worst of it is, that I'm not at all sympathetic with the side on which I am. I favor the Supreme Court for more than early childhood, taught reverence, and yet find myself talking so persuasively on the other side, against it.

I'm pretty tired after this traveling and debating and also a little behind on my school work so I won't drag this out any longer. Write me when you find yourself free and want to, and tell Susan, if she is there, to drop me a line.

375
Box 375

Doylestown, Pa.
Apr 26 36

No. 564

Dear Gordon,

First of all, I must give you a clear idea as to what to expect here this summer; and in order to do this, I must outline the difference between what will happen here, and what did happen that summer at the Portage cottage. That summer at Portage was wholly and entirely devoted to psychological work. Human change and development were the things that I and the group were working for. All other matters were related to this purpose. The "practical" side of the cottage life was also used as a means to the one end. Here, this summer, on the contrary, the main efforts will of necessity be focused on getting this place in shape, doing what is needed to establish and build the physical base of this world. I myself and Marjorie will have our hands full all summer, as we have them full now, attending to the thousand and one matters which arise when one is re-constructing houses and barns, farming, gardening, etc. etc. All who come here will be expected, in their various ways and to the limit of their various abilities, to pitch in and help us make this place a going place, physically. This kind of work and effort will be the thing. And there is and there will be enough of it to keep all of us productively occupied this summer and beyond. However, I being I, it will also inevitably happen that there will be work and experiences of a psychological nature. But whereas at the Portage cottage, the work on the place was subordinated to work on people, here, this summer, work on people will be subordinated to work on the place. This does not mean that you won't encounter spiritual difficulties, together with the reward of overcoming them. You will, most certainly. But they will tend to occur more in the course of the general life, less because I deliberately set the situations for them. In short, this summer is not, and is not designed to be, a repetition or a continuation of what happened at the cottage. Someday I may attempt that here. Someday, in truth, this may be a "school". But not this summer. This summer it is a private home - to be run and managed as such; it is a farm - to be run and managed as such; it is, if you will, a country estate - and the only thing that will make the life here different from the life of neighboring estates, is that we will be living and working here.

Naturally you are interested as to who will be here. Marjorie, myself, Mrs Latimer, a young man of about 23 from New York - Linn Davenport by name, a young woman whose main duty will be to look after Argie, yourself - these will be constant. Then of course there will be people here off and on, and week-end guests, etc.

Clothes? One good suit, and clothes not so good, to work in.

Yes of course. You must see New York. That will be arranged.

By all means keep a written record of your experiences here. It will be good work to do them. Besides, the notes will

JEAN TOOMER COLLECTION

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be interesting and valuable to you later on.

Your idea of having a group of young people next winter in Madison is excellent. I will speak with you more about it when you come on. Meanwhile, I may say this. Your experiences here this summer should prepare you somewhat to form and carry on such a group. Moreover, as a general principle, it is very necessary that what you yourself you pass on to others. The values you derive from the summer should be shared with others. And it may work out that I'll give more or less formal talks about once a week. It will depend upon how much other work I have to do.

Susan is here this week-end. This is the first time she's been down in some time. She is feeling the need - and rather acutely - of having a world of her own, of being a person in her world, and not simply a figure in ours. And thus it is that she will have to go off by herself, make something of her own life in her own way - and only then will she be in a condition to enter, participate in, and profit by what is offered here. In relation to my own parents I myself felt much as she does, when I was her age. I wanted to go "off". So, now, she wants and needs to go off - and she will. Just where she will be this summer I don't yet know, nor does she. Next fall, however, she will probably be in Chicago, as she has been admitted to the university.

You speak of the fear of being thrown off your center by what may happen here. It is a common fear. Most people have it when they are on the verge of venturing into a new life, whatever kind of new life it may be. It runs pretty deep, being linked up with our fear of loss of balance. You cannot uproot the fear; you can, however, overcome it - and overcome it again and again until it no longer troubles you. From the tone of your letter, I am assured that you are making the right kind of effort.

606 N. Francis St.

Madison, Wisconsin

March 21st, 1938.

Dear Jean:

I have hoped and sincerely tried to get through this school year, without further calling upon you for financial assistance. I am still willing to call upon Dad rather than you, but in view of his being out of a job, it seems a bit futile - and would only add to his worries.

I still have my meal job, which is a great help, but rent, which I have had to let slide to take care of other expenses, is getting the better of me. I need about $35 to clear it up - and see no other alternative, than asking you.

This coming summer, as Dad might have told you, I have tentative plans for a job in Washington, D.C. If I get it, we may get a chance to see something of one another, if you are in Doylestown or N.Y.

Dad, in a letter last week-end, said Jim and Sue were going to be in N.Y. for Spring recess. I wish I could be there, myself, for something of a reunion, not only with all of you, but with Dad and T.K. also. However, with Grandmother none to well, it is best I spend what time I have off, in Chicago. Yvonne writes as though she needed stepping up! My good wishes to all of you,

As ever,

Gordon.