The Clarence Darrow Letters

Chicago, #6036 Jefferson AV. Flat 2.

Tuesday, 12th September.

2.40 p.m.

Dear Ruby:

This is my eighteenth letter, and probably my last typewritten one, thus the last decipherable. A thunder storm is raging outside, and in order to indicate the frequency of claps, I shall mark down each one as it comes by a . I cannot but enjoy the imagination of Aunt Mary;s feelings, 8 miles from home and right in the think of it. judge that at present she is making the tour of the primary rooms consoling the first-grade pupils. She has done it often before. In a thunderstorm on the night of the lst and 2d, the school-building was struck by lightning and a few bricks at one- corner knocked off. Mrs. Moreman, -- that is the new girl -- has been scurrying around in the back yard, taking in the clothes. As she is in the front bedroom now, making the bed, and I am in the parlor of Aunt Mary's flat writing on her typewriter. That was a big one that time! Well, I was saying that I hardly dare to write anything now, as she might read my thoughts by telepathy. Therefore wait till the end of the letter.

The chief articles which might be xx observed in Flat 1, #6036 Jefferson AV., are excelsior and a vacuum. Nature abhors a vacuum. So do I. That is why we are all boarding here now. The van came to-day , The men had an interesting time getting the larger articles of furniture out of the doors. To get the desk of my room through the bedroom door, they had to take the door off its hinges. Do you recollect that rock that I and a boy brought home from the Pk. last fall? I was afraid that the poor thing would receive ill treatment , so -- (now, don't you breathe a word of this) I put it in a nice warm place in the pantry.

Uncle Hube started for Arizona to Uncle Chan's on the C.R.I.& P. Thursday evening, and got there Sunday morning. Telegrams say that he is enjoying it -- we have not had time to get any letters from Arizona yet, although we have received two mailed at wayside stations. The porter was tipped to aid and take care of Uncle Hube, but he broke his arm on the way and uncle had to shift for himself.

Pa says to inform you that he will get started Thursday night, and get to Kinsman Friday night or Saturday morning. He will not write again, so just see to what importance our correspondence has attained. Incidentally, Beulah was kind enough to let me read your letter to her. If you keep on warning her, she'll give up walking with me entirely. She actually refused a record-breaker last Sun. because it had rained and was so damp! There's spirit for you -- nit. Beulah, Mrs. Gerner, and I played euchre till 9.30 p.m. on Friday eve. Afterwards I told part of Beulah's fortune with the cards in a way that I learned from the encyclopedia. I did not have much time, but ascertained by the aid of astrology and the occult arts that she was fated to die Jan. 13, 1925. I also hit the day of her birth within two days! she will confirm it if you ask her. What do you think of that? I also ascertained that she was fated to marry in 1907 and have two children, besides a few other facts of less import. Tomorrow evening I expect to have another inning, and ascertain more facts by the aid of powerful geomantic charms.

Mamma and I will sail in 2 weeks from date. So will Pa -- I omitted him. Write again Sunday. I shall write early next week, but shall probably be on the train Tuesday. As we stop over at Niagara Falls, in all probability I will write from there. Then I will write from Boston, and next from Liverpool. Ma and I will go by the L.S.& M.S. and pass through Ashtabula, where Pa will join us on the train. Please come up and see me once more.

Yours, mit freundship,

Karl K. Darrow.