Royal's Letter to Martha May 1937

This is the last of the letters I have from before Royal & Martha were married. There is a big gap. This must have been written in early May 1937. So we have a big gap. We don't know what happened except from what we remember from Martha's stories at Christmas time and then there is a gap up to this letter in May. I assume they continued to write but for some reason Martha did not keep those letters or they were lost or maybe they were to personal to pass on. I have a few cards Royal sent I will scan those and include them later. Note their Honeymoon consists of stopping at his sister's in Kansas, then to his Mother's for a few days then off to summer school and a day in the mountains. This was the summer he finished his masters degree. Martha typed his thesis five carbon copies.

Anyway I must get on to other things. Tom sent me links to some pictures on a Kodak web site that shows the "Big" culvert in the Big Sur property. They just put it in and now can go all the way up to the top of their property. The pictures show them gluing special rubber matting down to keep rocks from ripping the culvert up. They also show views from various points on the hill overlooking their valley. I don't know how to down load them so if anyone wants to see them e-mail me and I will send you the link.

Next I will try to put together pictures of the horse barn from dirt to finish.

RLR

Dearest,

I don't know about the trip to Illinois. What do licenses cost there? Would there be a saving?

I planned to spend some time at my sisters taking adjustments. I do feel much better now. In fact I am on the go about sixteen hours per day. I don't know at all that I can come, but I'll enclose a calendar. You check and see if this could meet with your desires. If it is not correct sent it back. I don't know just how long it will take to straighten up here before I leave. You know a good superintendent must leave things in good order.

Now of course if the cost to get hooked is more then maybe we can take up a silver offering.

The senior play is scheduled for tonight. People are getting the first things. I know someone will walk in and want to know if I'm busy. Will I am.

The last three weeks has been stormy. A group of kids went to a music contest and put on a beer party. I believe everything is straight, but I'm not sure.

Write me what you think of the schedule!

Yours with love,
Royal

These are the attachments:

1st

ACTIVITIES

Junior-Senior Banquet ------------- May 10
Baccalaureate ---------------------- May 16
Rev. Young, Baptist Church
Class Night H. S. ------------------- May 18
8th Grade Commencement -------- May 19
H. S. Commencement -------------- May 20

2nd Hand written

Leave Wellington June 3.
Arrive Ambia June 4.
Marriage Ceremony June 8.
Leave Ambia June 8.
Arrive Wellington June 9.
Leave for Springfield June 11.
Leave for Greeley June 14.
Leave for Mts. June 16
Return to Greeley June 17
Registration College June 18
Enter School June 21.

Royal's Letter to Martha #36

This is the last letter I have for 1936. Some how I have it out of place. It should be placed in October 1936, based upon the contents. He talks about the election, which was Nov 3 and the fact that he doesn't have a car yet. I don't know how I missed these when I tried to arrange the letters in order.

Anyway he is off to spend Chrismas with Martha. given his tendency to pun I'm supprised he didn't say, "I want Moore, I want Moore.

I hope everyone has great holidays. It is nice to know that now the days will start to get longer.

RLR

Dearest Martha,

Your letter certainly came in well today. I sat in a poorly lighted room for about an hour this morning and I did not feel so well along about noon. Well, I guess I don’t bang doors only when I’m mad, but you and I must not get mad at least not both at the same time.

Mr. Lewis and I are hitching quite well on most things. I really think we are quite like minded – maybe he just gives in. Mr. Austin, the grade school principal is also a fine fellow to work with.
Our football team beat Eads by the one-sided score of 65 – 0. We play Lamar this Friday evening. This will be a good game – Lamar have the advantage as our boys play under the lights. We have a chance, but not fifty-fifty.

Yes, I love to walk when I have companionable people to walk with. I believe you and I have walked several places, have we not my dear?

I don’t know just as if I’ll come Christmas if I am going to have to beat all the carpet form you. But really I think anything I did for you would be a pleasure. Anyway let’s use a vacuum cleaner!

The preacher here insists that people can let a few things go. He says, "After all what business can compare in importance with the Lord’s"? I believe in God and church, but not in same way as some.

The inner office is small, and I had the door taken down so there is not a partition between the offices. The Board suggests we wait until after the election for the desk. It is their idea that we may be able to get plenty of desks from government offices that are being discontinued.
You have probably guessed that I am following your letter and answering your writing. I had rather start in June on less than wait a year and start on more. Life is too short to put our marriage off another year.

Say dear, none are so helpless as those that refuse to learn. It may even be possible for a woman to have knowledge about home making that makes them very unpractical. Our Home EC. Teacher has ideas that could not be put in use in N.Y. City or London.

9:40 pm.
Mr. Lewis and I have just returned from Lodge. It certainly was fine to see all the brothers again. You will be eligible for Eastern Star by June of 1937. That will be a good way for you to get started with some of the women here – Go into Eastern Star – maybe you have already. Excuse mw if I have made an error, but the Monsonic Lodge is an organization of high ideal – even if the revivalist does think it a work of the devil. It will [be] grand to really live instead of just existing.

It is raining a little here tonight.

Here is a joke told in the lodge tonight. A man appeared on a stage, and he noticed that his audience was composed largely of expectant mothers waiting for their children to arrive.
I feel tonight as if I should rather see you, look into your eyes, kiss you, feel your head on my arm, look and see you beside me than all else in the world. But all things come to those who wait. I sometimes feel as if we will have to almost get acquainted again – it has been so long.

I have not been to a show since we went in Denver. When I get a car I must go and take Mr. Lewis and four of the women teachers. They have been quite nice to us. We played bridge with them for a while one evening and we were guests at dinner another. Sweetheart don’t you ever worry, because you are my sweetheart, and anything I do shall be solely to meet my social obligations. We can meet these obligations much better when we get established next year. We can really live.

Your last letter seem to indicate that you had become a bit better settled. All the trouble with both of us can most probably be traced to the age-old ailment called LOVE. Ever hear of it? I have and am experiencing it. Really, it [is] kinda fun if one lives through it. Please don’t get on some "Slicker" and leave me out.

I had to buy a Gladstone bag the other day. I am planning a trip, starting Wednesday morning December 23, and lasting until about Jan. 3. I plan to visit a very dear friend, and wife to be in the state of Indiana perhaps you have heard of her, a certain Martha Moore. Could be called postscript – she makes a fellow want more. Tell her I shall be there with bells on.

I’m afraid I can’t bring a ring, but maybe I can stop at a near by town and give her a ring – Original Scotchman. I always take the wife’s false teeth when I leave so she won’t eat between meals.

I must cut this rambling and tell you what I wanted to write you about. There is a little matter that concerns us both, and that I have intended breaking to you for some time. Failure on my part to have done this, neglect of this, or failure to perform this little chore might change the entire course of our natural or unnatural existence together. The information is not that Mutt is taller than Jeff, but that I Royal F Rutherford being in sound mind, and of perfect health do Love one Martha Moore.

More, & more.

Yours,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha assumed Dec 8, 1936

Tuesday Evening

Dearest Martha,

I wrote you a small note of which I was quite ashamed this morning. I was busy, tired and did not get to write before I left for school and I wrote there. Mr. Lewis and Mr. White the janitor stood over and supervised. I like to write you in the privacy of my own room so I may feel free to write as near as I feel free to write as near as I feel as my vocabulary permits me. At the best my expression is very inadequate when I consider what a wonderful you [? Young] lady, sweetheart and friend you are. It may seem as if we are almost married or maybe have been for some time as I have already started making excuses. Maybe if I were perfectly honest and did no rationalizing I would say that I failed to arise in time.

Tomorrow will be another red-letter day. Big Celebration here. Seems to me as if we had enough for the rest of my life, but never the less tomorrow we have another sponsored by the American Legion. The school enters two floats and marches in the parade at ten. In the afternoon we play our last league football game and after the football game comes the carnival. After the carnival comes a big dance in the evening. Being Superintendent I shall most probably not go.

We are having the most interest in ping-pong at present. There just don’t seem to be enough time and tables on which to play. Maybe some of the enthusiasm will wane before long. Come see me and I’ll play you a game between hugs!

Wed Morning

I’m either getting lazy or else losing my "pep". It is awful hard for me to get up before seven. I always make it to bed by 11:30.

It is an ideal day for the celebration – sunshine, warm etc. Will be a lot of things happen before night. Gallons of army stew will be served in the public square before evening. I must sign off and get to school. No matter what happens I love you more and more everyday.

Yours,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha early December

Two more letters to go. I was in LA all week and got back with a slight case of the flu. We bought a tree last weekend and it is sitting bare in the living room. Getting presents wrapped and mailed has taken over the priorities.

Note Royal talks about joking. Martha must have warned him about her father who was a great practical joker and loved to tease. He was known to tease to the point that he would make the girls cry. When Royal did arrive Bill had put up signs in several places along the country roads saying, "This way to Martha's".

You might also note Royal uses a rather risque quote from Mae West, "come up and see me sometime". It was underlined in the letter.

RLR


Dear Martha,

I guess I don’t tell you everything. I have not been in the play for some time. I shifted my part, as it did not fit in well with my other work. The name of the play is "Go Easy Mabel". It will be given as a matinee Friday afternoon, and as a night performance Friday Evening. It’s quite a modern play. I sure don’t know just how well it will go over.

I thought Gretchen’s birthday was the same day as yours? I am sorry the glass was broken. I shall buy you another frame if you will wait until I come. It was not an expensive frame but it did look very nice. That picture was taken two years ago. It does not show all of my gray hairs. Nor my wrinkles. I did think it very good.

As soon as I know when I shall come I shall write you more definitely. I am sure to have one or more passengers. I don’t know how many or who they will be.

It snowed a light snow last night. We have had some grand weather, with the temperature just below freezing even at night.

I can take all the jokes if your folks will just give me the daughter. I don’t mind jokes. I am quite a joker myself. Sometimes they rebound rather uncomfortably in my case.

I know the names of our mules at home, but cows change to often to have names. I hope Martha got better.

I got a lot of work done at the office last night. I am secretary for the Baca Co Ed Assn. I put my time trying to get all the books up to date.

I have a new heater on the car. It surely does warm up. With this and my trusty Coneco Touraide I am sure I shall come right to your arms. That is if you have your arms at Ambia, and don’t have someone else occupying them at the time. If so I’ll just drive around the block and wait my turn, Or maybe I’ll decide I shall see your sister? Of course I love you and I am living only to "come up and see you sometimes", but I could not help but think what would I do gracefully, if such thing did happen.

The pay for the picture? Will, I guess I get one in return. I agree to present said picture and keep same in good repair for a similar article of the said Martha Moore.

Gotta go to school. I love Martha

yours,

Royal.

Royal's letter to Martha assumed written 11-27-1936

It's Martha's birthday but I don't think Royal has been able to find out her actual birthday. He is carrying a map (touraide) and has been pouring over it and planning his trip which is to start in less than four weeks. He is looking for company on the trip partly to share costs and partly so he is not alone for the long trip. He seems to be good at games. Notice he wins at "Big Business" which must have been something like Monopoly.

I have only a few more letters left and hopefully I will get him to Indiana before Christmas.

RLR

Friday Morning

Dearest Martha,

Thanksgiving and turkey are over. We are at my sister Lydia’s. It was a lovely dinner with turkey and the fixin’s. I ate so much I had indigestion all afternoon. We played "Big Business" during the afternoon. I finally cleaned up with all the money and all the states. I took my touraide from the Conoco Oil Co. and showed them the trip I am taking at Xmas time. Maybe you have heard tell of the same.

When is your school out? Certain things might cause me to start before the 22nd but I think not before that time. I’m angling for passengers all time. I may not have to come alone after all.

I thought a lot about you yesterday. I suppose the Thanksgiving dinner will fall our lot next year. A lot of things can be planned when I see you Xmas. None of my plans for coming are definite yet, but will have to be changed to suit what passengers I may get.

I am back in Springfield this morning ready to start work. As a matter of fact I got up before it was light this morning. I want to work on my thesis do some bookkeeping, and work with the fish and flowers. Mr. Lewis went with the football team yesterday. He will go home to see his family today (50 miles). The score of the game was 6 – 6. Referee was plenty dirty I guess.

I’ll write again tomorrow. I guess you’ll get there when you get back from the vacation.

Yours with Love,
Royal.