Monday, March 11, 2024

Alf M. Landon to Hamilton Chase: 1957 to 1961 Letters

 From Alf Landon

National Bank of Topeka Building

Topeka, Kansas


To Mr. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane

Kansas City 3, Kansas


March 25, 1957


Dear Mr. Chase,


I am glad you wrote me.  I am most happy to write the letter to the President of the Board of Education, copy of which I am enclosing.


It is interesting that after all these years that editorial of your father’s, of some 26 or 27 years ago, about the new high school comes to mind.  I wrote him a letter at the time in appreciation.


I admired your father greatly for his always keen sense of responsibility to his community and his state.


With kindest regards,

Alf Landon



____________________________________

From Alf Landon

National Bank of Topeka Building

Topeka, Kansas


To Robert Schendel, President

Board of Education

Topeka, Kansas


March 25, 1957


Dear Mr. Schendel


I believe it would be most appropriate for the School Board of Topeka to name one of its new buildings after the late Harold T. Chase, who, for many years as editor of the Topeka Daily Capital, was one of the foremost champions of our city school system.


At the time our high school was completed, there was some criticism of the money spent on the building.  I remember an editorial by Mr. Chase saying that “beauty has its place in the construction of public buildings.”


Topeka and the state of Kansas owe much to Harold Chase and his articulate expression of a lofty sense of civic consciousness.


With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely,

Alf Landon

____________________________________

From Philip C. Gault, Esq.

342 New England Building

Topeka, Kansas


To Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane

Kansas City 3, Kansas


April 2, 1957


Dear Ham,


Glad to know you and Mike got together.  The boy has really been around, hasn’t he?


I understand the Board of Education (we voted on three of them today) has the say on naming schools.  I see Alf Landon has already made the suggestion – see the clipping from today’s Capital.


It might be well to write Wendell R. Goodwin, Superintendent of Schools, 415 West 8th, although he is a comparative newcomer and might not know your father.  The same applies to the present members of the School Board.  The only one I’m sure might help is George W. (Bill)

Snyder Jr.  He was recently appointed and, of course, George Sr. and your father were good

friends.


My best to you and Lieuween.

Sincerely,

Phil

____________________________________

From Alf Landon

National Bank of Topeka Building

Topeka, Kansas


To Mr. Hamilton Chase

Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.

324 East 11th Street

Kansas City, Missouri


April 4, 1957


Dear Mr. Chase,


I have mentioned the naming of the high school building after your father to several of the 

older newspaper men in town.  I haven’t been able to think of anyone else.  I will continue to work on it.


You may be interested in a story of the 1932 election.


The opening meeting was at Abilene.  At Independence, I had finished the preparation of my speech.  It was aimed at Governor Woodring.  When I reached headquarters for the first time after the party council, I said, “We have made a terrible mistake.  Our fight is with Brinkley, not Woodring.”


“What makes you think so?” I was asked.  “You know we asked everyone at the party council and they all reported the fight was with Woodring.  You have been getting your business straightened up and haven’t seen many since then.”


“I know, “ I replied, “But I have a hunch that something has changed the sentiment.  It is too late now to change my opening speech, but from now on we are going to shoot at Mr. Brinkley.”


That night, which was Saturday, I dropped over to the Capital and visited your father, Charlie

Sessions and Tom McNeal about the campaign.  Finally your father suggested, “Why don’t you get the Pink Rag to go after Brinkley.  Charlie Trap has a vitriolic pen and can say things that the Capital can’t.  A big paper going after Brinkley makes a martyr of him.”


I passed it over and we continued discussing the campaign.  Finally, Tom McNeal said, “I think

Harold has something.”  We discussed using the Pink Rag.  I still wasn’t sold on it.

Finally, Charlie Sessions said, “Haven’t you got a good county committee where you can try it out for a week or two and see what the results are?”  


I couldn’t think of anything else so decided to try it out.  Headquarters ordered 1500 extra copies of the Pink Rag for two weeks.  We put them into Dickinson County.  After the two weeks, we knew we had the answer to Brinkely and flooded the state every week with Pink Rags.


I have always given your father credit for the suggestion that really turned the tide in that campaign against Brinkley.  In the last two weeks of the campaign, we then had to turn and fight Woodring.


With all good wishes,

Alf Landon



_________________________________________

From Alf Landon

National Bank of Topeka Building

Topeka, Kansas


To Mr. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane

Kansas City 3, Kansas


May 6, 1957


Dear Mr. Chase,


Thank you for your note with the enclosure from Milton Tabor’s column.  You didn’t make me late to my appointment.  I was only sorry that it prevented us from having a longer visit.


Incidentally, I mentioned the name of the school after your father to Art Carruth this morning and he said he had noticed my letter to the school board and would only be too glad to give it a boost in his “Willow Page” in the State Journal.


With kindest regards,

Alf Landon

________________________________________

From Alf Landon

National Bank of Topeka Building

Topeka, Kansas


To Mr. Hamilton Chase

Southwestern Bell Telephone Co.

324 East 11th Street

Kansas City 6, Missouri


May 24, 1957


Dear Hamilton Chase,


The sentiment of the school board seems to be to get away from naming any buildings after individuals because in the past it has stirred up so much controversy and criticism.

I think it is a mistake.  So does Mrs. Landon, who was appointed on the advisory committee to recommend to the school board a name for the new high school.  

But nevertheless, I think that is what they are going to do.


With kindest regards,

Alf Landon

_____________________________________

From Alf Landon

1001 Fillmore Street

Topeka, Kansas


To Mr. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane

Shawnee Mission, Kansas


December 22, 1961


Dear Hamilton,


Thank you for your apt comments on my position in support of the President’s tariff policies.


I am ashamed and chagrined that I have not yet run across your father’s manuscript.  I don’t know where it possibly could be, as I’ve looked for it repeatedly.  I know how much it means to you and I feel terrible for having lost it – and I still hope to find it.


With all good wishes for a Merry Christmas and a real Healthy – and therefore Happy – New Year.


Sincerely,

Alf Landon


____________________________________

From Alf Landon

1001 Fillmore Street

Topeka, Kansas


To Mr. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane

Shawnee Mission, Kansas


April 16, 1962


Dear Hamilton,


Happy to have your letter of the 14th – and that the advice of old Doc Landon is working out 

so well.


With every good wish,

Alf Landon

___________________________________



Friday, February 9, 2024

Frances Chase Courtsal letters 1959 to present

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

December 21, 1958


Dear Mother and Dad,


Somewhere between Kansas City and Greenbush, someone in the Post Office Department did his damndest to undo all your Christmas work, Mother – but I don’t think he succeeded.  That is what I am writing to find out.  The day the box arrived, Don was handed a box which held: 


a silver cup, a silver spoon with a note, 2 grapefruit, 6 packages plus a collection of bows, bells, candy canes and cards.


We had quite a guessing session, matching bows with packages, successfully I think, as Christmas Day will prove.  The Postmaster, Mr. Waite, said the whole collection arrived in a pouch – good luck which was the result of the box being sent “Special Handling” (was it the only box going from K.C. to Greenbush that particular day ?).  Mr. Waite had sorted it all out and put it in a good box for us.  He reported that the box was received in damaged condition so we can put in a claim if we find on Christmas Day that anything was broken.  He asked me to ask you if there was anything else sent that didn’t arrive.  He will send a check-up about it, if there is, to see if it can be found.


Don said the wrappings looked sturdy enough;  Mr. Waite said certainly something unusual had happened to the box.  But thanks to “special handling” and Mr. Waite, there doesn’t seem to have been any major loss.  But that will be confirmed on Christmas Day and by a note from you about what was sent.


Lyle’s special package came through unscathed, complete with snowman.


We are having Christmas our own way this year – D. and I, that’s it.

After all the baking, traveling (with baby things) and general hullabaloo of Thanksgiving, we were much in favor of a quiet holiday.  And also we realized this is probably the last year we will be free to do what we please without doing things the way children want.  So it’s going to be casual and simple!


But every year there seems to be someone around for whom our hospitality would be something special.  This year it is a couple newly in the U.S. – he is from Czechoslovakia and she is from Germany, plus their 8 month-old daughter.  They are living at the present with an older couple nearby who run a virtual way-station for Hungarian refugees and the like.  They will have a fine Christmas there but we thought Christmas Eve might be lonesome so we are asking them for eggnog.  It’ll be fun to talk to them about our holiday ways because he is a citizen (escaped from Czechoslovakia and joined the U.S. army and so, got his citizenship) and she will be eligible to apply in six months.


Also the Healds asked us over for Christmas afternoon but I don’t know yet if we’ll go.


New Year’s Eve we are gathering 3 other couples here for hot toddies and then taking them to the dance at the North River Community Club.


Lyle is fine – except that he has his first cold (caught from the 2 little Healds).  He’s sort of cranky, wakes up once or twice in the night for nose drops, but he eats quite well and is lively.  These days, he bangs his hand flat on everything, reaches for any and all things and trys to put them all in his mouth to chew.  He dribbles and splutters constantly but there is only the tiniest swollen spot on his lower gum.  He says didididi or babababa, etc – very talkative.

At the moment, he is in his chair – table eating – or messing in – a teething biscuit, which he adores and so does the dog.  In the play news, he rolls over on his tummy and then scrambles ferociously to reach various toys but so far, crawling consists of pivoting on his stomach.  The one outstanding feature of his development is his length – 27 ½ inches, which puts him in the 90th percentile.  Weight is 19 lb (75th percentile).  

Another roll of film is almost finished.


Merry Christmas !

Love, 

Fras

___________________________________________________

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

January 16, 1959


Dear Folks,


The contents of those handsome (restored) packages were equal to their appearance….

Thanks for sending the list of contents of the packages so promptly.


Don has already told you, but I shall underline, that he is very pleased with his cumberbund and tie…And Lyle’s presents also are being much enjoyed…The piggy toy is a scream!  He just sits in the play pen and swats at it and bangs it now and then, but when someone lines them all up in front of him,...he is utterly absorbed.  And when you bring it near, he wiggles all over and shrieks in anticipation.  It’s utterly different from anything else he has.  


And candy! …


Other things I got for Christmas were a second-hand voltage regulator, four pieces of fruit (actually 2 decoy packages from D. that concealed an extended hunt for clues to the real present, a full-length mirror in a corner of the attic)...


We were sorry to miss your Christmas call.  Some other time ?


We nearly fainted away when a present arrived from the Nethercots!  We send them a card every year but I never thought of a present.  Do you exchange presents with Marianne and Ross Heald?  If so, who started it and when ?


New pictures of L.D.C. are enclosed.  I am pleased to announce he has 2 teeth – lower center incisors, as you would guess.  One appeared last weekend (D. found it) and one this weekend.  

He is showing awareness of words (knows his name, Up, Spray, etc.) and of exchanging sounds with people.  His legs are getting heavier but are nowhere near equal to supporting his weight.


But April is another thing!  He wore out his welcome in Connecticut in five days (at least with Pop Courtsal)  and I hope he doesn’t with you before our week is up.   Certainly I think it will be advantageous for us all to keep two things in mind – that the days should be simple and regular at first so he can get acquainted with the new place and people, and that some room (basement, sitting area?) should be arranged so he can examine (touch and handle) three quarters of everything in it (straight out of Dr. Spock).  Here at home, given adequate outlets for his energy and curiosity, he is a very pleasant baby.  He is amenable to variations in his schedule, doesn’t get upset by strangers, has never given the kind of trouble described by others with teething, weaning to bottle or cup (only in progress) feeding, meeting strangers, etc.

He’s very playful and gay too.  Still he’s a baby and needs his sleep, outlets, security, and so forth.


As for dates, how about March 29 week?  Depending on details of schedules, I would arrive sometime early Sunday the 29th so you could have some time with him, Dad, and start back here late Thursday or during the day Friday – again depending on schedules, OK ?


We were very disappointed to hear we missed a call from Mrs. Heckler and again can’t figure how it happened.  We went rock climbing in Cohasset that afternoon (Sunday, Oct. 19) and to the movies in the evening but there was a babysitter here all that time.  Saturday, the 18th, the three of us went to Needham to shop and to Wayland for a brief look-in on Nancy and Emerson’s new boy;  could that have been the day?  Too bad she didn’t try again.

If we had advance notice, even a day or part of a day, we could get some oysters or something else for a simple dinner – or even have some tea.  Very disappointing!


There’s more to say, but no more time – and it’s not so urgent it can’t wait!  (Nothing in particular)


Love,
Frances

__________________________________________________

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

February 16, 1959


Have a Grand Birthday!

Many happy returns too – with love from

Fras and Don



Present will be along shortly – a jardiniere – couldn’t get out until today because of ice and then snow.


Lost power for 1.5 hours Tuesday – just before I started feeding the baby.  So I gave him a biscuit and got out the sterno stove.  Wonderful!

You’d think, thought, that along with the hot water, heat, refrigerator, stove, laundry, etc. my heart was powered by electricity;  it really stopped!

But after the heat had dropped 5 degrees – power!

F.


____________________________________________________

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

March 2, 1959


Dear Folks,


Here we go – to tie up a few details about the coming visit.


D. is ordering tickets today for me to go about 2 on Saturday, March 29 and come back about noon on Friday…I’ll send details of flights and such when I get them.


It is very nice of Mrs. Trudeau to offer to have tea or coffee, but who would come?  

Karleen works (or is that by chance a school vacation?), I don’t send Christmas cards to Mary Lou Stevens or Pat Sparling anymore, they don’t know the Mitchells, and those are the only people my age I can remember that I’ve had the smallest contact with in 10 years.  Since this is such a disparate group and since I haven’t had anything to do with most of them for so long, I think it would be sort of embarrassing.  I would like to see Karleen though – and the others too, I suppose.  Will Bebe be home ?


Diaper service would be very nice.  We still have it so otherwise I would buy some regular diapers…As for a bath, he’s outgrown his bathtub so I use the kitchen sink….I plan to get a so-called Baby Anchor so why don’t I just get it in K.C. and we can wash him in the tub then.   

I plan to send a box of things ahead anyway and I can send that back with those things.


After reading Dr. Spock and such, I plan to put off toilet training until he’s a year and a half – so diapers will do.

I’ll bring all the bottles we’ll need.  Have to use them on the trip.


First interruption – Lyle is awake and needs a change.  Sure will be nice to have 3 people to answer his beck and call!  See you tomorrow at nap time.


Thursday, March 5


Some week!  Town meeting every night so far which means not only is free time in evenings gone but also nap time for Lyle is nap time for Fras.  But Lyle chose today to take no nap!

And D. called Tuesday afternoon to say he had to go on builder’s trial for the big tanker Wednesday (67 thousand ton displacement – Princess Sophia – the largest built so far in the U.S.) – leaving here at 4:30 am and returning at 9 – to compound the confusion.  But all is past now, except that he may or may not be going on the final trials next week up near Rockland, Maine.  If so, he will leave early Monday morning, return late Thursday and may have to be off right away for a meeting in N.Y.C. on Friday.  And next week is the first one of League meetings on water – 3 per week – for which I am responsible for the discussion – Whew!


But on with the list:

I assume the “baby bed” is a crib and a “pen” is a play pen.  Both are needed.

The only other big thing I can think of that we will need is something to feed him in – a high chair or feeding table.  Oh yes, and a stroller is a big help for keeping him “put” in various places…Isn’t there someone among your acquaintances who is not using such things at the moment?  It’s a pity to think you have to rent these things…I don’t know how to get around the feeding arrangement.  He wiggles every waking hour.


I plan to bring a car seat for him to sit in on the plane.

And I’ll bring Desitin for his bottom.  We use regular “baby” soap - I guess it is castile.  I’ll bring some.  Could you get some mineral oil?  Just a small amount.  I found out going to Connecticut that it is important to travel with.  


As for food, he will eat rice cereal, pears, applesauce, peaches, sweet potatoes, squash, meat and vegetable soup (as jars of “junior foods” and “baby foods.”)   I always buy Gerbers or Beech-nut – they provide a good variety and he likes them.  He drinks about a quart of regular whole milk a day (pasteurized with most of the cream poured off).  

Also during the day teething biscuits, a piece of carrot or of apple are appreciated…


The only thing that really bothers me now is where he will sleep.  At the Courtsals, he was in the next room and that was invaluable because everytime he woke up, he hollered – realized he was in a strange place and needed reassurance, it seemed.  We have taken him to various places where he had to nap in the afternoon…but no manner of crib, pacifier, shades pulled etc. could convince him all was well.  He just hollered.

We were awfully squeamish when we moved him from the big room to the little room, but no trouble!  He was in the same crib, of course, and we arranged the room so the wall was on the same side of him – left.  Well, I just don’t know what would be best…Maybe we should be in the same room, but I would expect we would each disturb the other.  As I say, this one I can’t figure out.


One more favor to ask – don’t tempt me, please, with great quantities of goodies.  I weigh too much (6 lbs) thanks to excessive enjoyment of goodies after that long, long session of dieting.

I don’t expect to go on a diet in K.C. (some goodies are a must!) but it would be awful if I gained any more – and my will power is useless in this matter.


Time’s up.

Love, Fras


P.S.  

Flight reservation on March 28

TWA Flight #17 leaves Boston at 2:45 pm and arrives in K.C. at 9:45 pm


Flight home on April 3

TWA Flight #30 leaves K.C. at 12:45 and arrives in Boston at 8:30 pm


Thanks for the comments from Nancy Jane.  I met Mrs. Dunlap at previous Wellesley Club meetings – very pleasant and very active in the club.  May even be President now.  I haven’t been for nearly 2 years.  Frances Gray is encouraging in her comments about recent meetings.  

Oh yes, D. knows Mr. Dunlap at Bethlehem.  He is Chief Planner in Hull construction for the entire shipyard (not in C.T.D.)


Would you ask Dr. Cochrane for a recommendation for a pediatrician?  An interesting old lady

here knows one in Prairie Village named Latham, but this is no real recommendation.  He and his wife lived in an apartment she owns in Boston when he was in medical school.

F.

______________________________________________



To Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Quincy, Massachusetts (postcard)

March 20, 1959


L’s schedule:

Up at 7:30, fed by 8, changed, dressed, nap at 10 for about a half hour, fed at 11:30,

Changed, nap at 1:30 or 2 for one or two hours, bath every other day at 4

fed at 4:30, changed and into P.J.s

To bed at 6:30


Love, F.

______________________________________________________




To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase 5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97, Greenbush, Massachusetts April 11, 1959 Dear Folks, We arrived in Boston safe and sound and only ½ hour late (rain storm in N.Y.C. just when we were supposed to take off) and D. was there ready – came on the plane to help me bundle up Lyle and carry all the things off. And I found a bottle of champagne in the refrig. at home! All the way to New York, L. and I had to share one seat. Everything went OK but it was a bit hectic and made L. cranky. But he only cried 3 times and then only for a couple of minutes. To feed him, I put him in the car seat and I sat on the floor. Then I bundled up all the dirty dishes, spoon, car seat, etc. got all settled to hold him for the bottle and the seat belt sign came on and we went bumping through a storm. What if that had been just 10 minutes earlier!! Another stroke of good fortune (very good fortune) was our seat-mate from Chicago – a girl getting her Master’s degree in City Planning at M.I.T. That is the sister department to Architecture and their secretary, Dulcie, came to our house for Christmas once. It was wonderful to talk to her and get the news. Also she is very interesting – had a Fulbright to study in Australia for a year, then spent 5 months in Asia, mostly in India, and a month in Europe. When she finishes in June she will marry an Italian, also in City Planning at Tech, and go to Italy permanently. Her home is N.Y.C. She also got along very well with the baby and was not at all bothered by my changing him, etc. Thanks to your helping me to the airport and onto the plane, and D. being there to get off, the shoulder was no problem and hasn’t been since. The boxes all arrived. Thanks for sending the second one. Thanks for the lunches, too. So great was your bounty – and so limited the circumstances on the plane – that some sandwiches and candy supplemented our lunch here the next day. Lyle is not at all spoiled, at least no more than he ever was. As a matter of fact, he was less trouble than usual the first few days – so glad to see his daddy and familiar surroundings, and his old toys. He’s had a bad time of it in one way. He had the opposite elimination problem and for awhile the doctor thought he would adjust OK but finally he had to put him on kaopectate. Five b.ms a day and liquid – awful. And needless to say his bottom is terribly raw, so he is very uncomfortable sitting up. Very sad and very unpleasant. But temporary, I guess, though now it seems it will never end. He’s different ever since he got home – scrambles all the time, trying to crawl, says da - da to Don sometimes, plays patty cake (haltingly) and drinks from a cup by himself. This last also has reservations; he can pick up the cup, get it to his mouth and drink out of it (water or milk) but when he’s had enough, he tries the opposite side or just drops it. This afternoon, D is going with me to get a dress for me. I got desperate (!) because tonight there is a bridge gathering, tomorrow symphony and Monday, Vanessa. Had the League Go-See Tour for water resources Thursday. Very successful and very interesting. That’s all for now because Lyle is awake, and Don took Spray to the rabies clinic. Thanks for a nice visit! Love, F.


Hamilton and Lieuween Chase with Frances and Lyle Courtsal
April 1959, Kansas City, MO

Frances Chase Courtsal with Lyle Courtsal
April 1959, Tahoe Lane, Kansas City, MO
__________________________________________________

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

July 21, 1959


Dear Folks,


Details now.  First, a report on the baby.  A couple of Sundays ago while we were eating

dinner, D. looked over at L. and said with surprise, “He just stood up.”  And better yet, when

he got tired, he sat down, thus saving me from a terrible couple of weeks rescuing him.

It seems generally that he is late about doing things, but when he does them, he does them

well.  Fine with me!


He has ten teeth either in or showing.  And he is getting quite good at feeding himself, that is

if you don’t mind food all over the floor, walls, his hair, hands, face, clothes, etc.  He doesn’t.

He gets a big kick out of doing it himself and is improving rapidly (thank goodness) and is fearfully independent about it.  One day he scooped up a spoonful of cereal, dipped it in the

applesauce and then put the whole wad in his hair.  Inadvertently I gasped and he was so

furious at me that he never ate one bite of his breakfast.  He always takes his bottle, though himself, in the playpen.  He goes to the doctor in August so we’ll find out then how much he 

weighs, etc.  Oh yes, the cup.  He does very well about picking it up himself, only occasionally

drinks out of the wrong side, but generally sets it back down on its side unfortunately.

As a result he only gets water in it so far.  I’ll enclose some of our tries to get his picture.

Also will enclose some camping pictures.


We did go – Sunday June 21 through Wednesday the 24th.  Then we ran out of diapers and the leak in the tent got to D’s sleeping bag and sneakers so we went home.  Actually we’d only expected to stay one more day anyway.  We’ll never go again with a one-year-old because it is too much work.  He was an angel the whole time and seemed to enjoy it but having to prepare the separate food, arrange naps, change diapers, etc was too much on top of the usual work of camping.  Actually we did have a good time.  First thing I met a friend from Wellesley ‘52, now a doctor’s wife, and they were very good company.  There with three girls, 2 ½ to 5 ½ , bird-watching, butterfly-catching, etc.  Our campsite was gorgeous, right by the lovely lake there, quite private, so we shared it with them when they came down to go swimming.  We also visited Chatham with a boy (and wife, etc) who works for D., and one day went up to Provincetown, Highland Light, Race Point, etc.


Did you know there has been a proposal, not yet approved by the Dept. of the Interior but under study, to make the outer beach on the Cape a National Seashore?   It is very much opposed in our Congressional district, which includes the Cape, because so many people own land there and because people generally fear a low-class element, but I’m very enthusiastic and know many people who are and when the issue gets hot I hope to start up petitions favoring it to send to our Congressman.  Two things made us really strong on this, the out-of-state licenses we saw and a book, The House on Nauset Marsh, by Wyman Richardson, the doctor father of a girl I worked with at M.I.T.  It was a best-seller briefly about four years ago.  You might enjoy it, Dad, 

Knowing Chatham.  Really fascinating and a true recreation of the spirit of that part of the Cape (beyond Chatham).


If you can manage to get here within the year we should be able to trip down there.  It 

only takes a couple of hours with the new highway – well, three to get anywhere.  Perhaps

we could stay overnight at a motel.  L. travels very well and now that his schedule is more flexible we could try it.  I’m still concerned about the schedule of visits, though.  I hate to see

him changing so much and you not having a chance to see him.  And I can’t see how visits are going to work out for the next two or three years.  We plan (and of course this is only plan, but that’s all you can ever do) to move into our own house next summer, and then start on the next baby and that means I’ll be good for nothing for a year or so.  And if you come next summer you won’t have seen L. for over a year and then it will be our turn to visit you the year just after the next baby is born (I hope) and traveling with one that age plus another, older, is a big order.

(It’s a wonder I came out to K.C. when I did.  L. was so good then and enjoyed it all and a month later he was independent beyond belief and now he crawls constantly – OK on home territory but impossible to travel with on a plane, etc)   Well, you let us know when your vacation schedule gets worked out and we’ll see what’s what.  You’re still welcome to come in December (though before then is unvarying chaos after September 15).  Or if you come alone, Mother, to go to the opera in April, or just see L. and visit before, that’s fine too.  I guess we’ll figure out the next years as they come though they may not work out as neatly as in the past.  Well, as I said, let us know what the chances are when they show up and we’ll see what we can figure out…


Also our week of vacation included the Annual Meeting of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers at Bethlehem in Quincy…


One couple, Nancy and Peter Kimon …have bought a lot in Hingham and will build before winter, so they’ll be nearby.


Also on our vacation came a beach picnic with the church Couples Club.  May was quite a month for us.  I was asked to be chairman of this area for the Wellesley Club Personal Call Program which I worked on two years ago and which will be done again this fall.  D. and I were asked to be Head Couple for the Couples Club next year and I was asked to be first vice-president of the League of Women Voters.  It was very, very satisfying to have such votes of confidence but after much agonizing generally, we decided that being head of the buildings and grounds committee for the church and chairman of the water resources committee for the League respectively plus raising a boy and building a house were all we cared to take on in one year, so we regretfully declined – all but the Wellesley chore which is half done already – lining up callers.


One other job also came along then, which is finished now.  The League had a Tour of Houses last week and I was asked, and accepted the job, to write up the program describing each house.  A lot more work than I expected…Poor sitter fund!  But it was fun and interesting and satisfying and something I especially like to do.  So it goes!


We’ve seen the Courtsals a couple of times recently.  They came here for a weekend just after the trip to K.C. and two weekends ago, we four went down there.  When they were up here, we went to see David Courtsal in Wrentham, about an hour and a half away in their direction. 

Quite an experience.  Massachusetts spends a lot of tax money on rehabilitation of alcoholics, the mentally disturbed, retarded and dependent children and the like and it was interesting actually to see that in this particular place, the children seem to be well cared for by people who care and are trained.  It shook us all though a good bit to see the children.


Jr. Courtsal (Donald’s brother and the father of David), also spent the night here on one of his trips this way in April.


D. travels a good bit these days – once or twice a month to New York or Washington.  He almost went to Hawaii to sail back to San Francisco but fortunately they found they couldn’t have sent all the people they originally planned to.  Lucky for me because I have always wanted to go to San Francisco.  Or lucky for the budget.


Was Mrs. Trudeau’s present to Lyle a place mat?  I took a long chance and called it that.  It’s awfully cute – leather, I think, white with wiggly stitching in red and blue and his name, an elephant, from Harzfelds.


His yellow overalls are the mainstay of his wardrobe.  All his other corduroys are lined and much too hot, but he needs overalls to protect his knees when he crawls, which is practically every waking hour.  The striped night shirt also is getting much use as a sort of bunting on chilly nights over his light p.j.s.


The embroidered tablecloth from the Courtsals is not a product of her own hand but she is very proud of it.  It was done by the aunt of someone who lives in their vicinity and goes to their church…It was on sale at the church fair and just what she wanted, as she said.


Thank you for all your letters and various enclosures.  Very smart, I think, of Smith and Wellesley to join forces.  The talk about things Oriental sounded very interesting and the whole affair very pleasant.  But the handkerchief – D. can certainly use another but isn’t that one of the three we sent Dad last year ??


The weather for about the last six weeks has been perfectly abominable – but I for one have not been all that unhappy about it.  We couldn’t have played any more on our vacation than we did – too much work camping.  And there has been too much work in the way of house tour, etc. and L. sleeps and eats and has an infinitely better disposition in cool, rainy weather.  But now most of the chores are over and also the sun is showing up almost regularly so we can look forward to making the beach a regular part of our life.  He likes it – likes the activity and the little children that always come to play with him and likes to play in the sand with his pail and shovel.


In August (for three weeks starting the 8th) our friends down the road, Patty and Jimmy Wales, are off to California for their vacation and have asked D. if he would be so kind as to watch over their boat – a 16 ft Hereshoff sloop – since it is hurricane season, etc.  I assure you that no boat in the Harbor will get more attention in those three weeks.  Another sailing friend, with no small children at home now, says we can borrow their small life jacket, approved by the Coast Guard for creatures under 50 lb.


And August 8th we are invited to the Kimon’s in-laws place on Buzzards Bay – for the weekend but we will probably will choose only one day, with the baby etc.   And next Saturday, we are going out to Nancy and Em Hovey’s for a cook-out and tomorrow we are off to Boston and the new, new theater and Twelfth Night with Shibohen McKenna, Zachary Scott , Geoffrey Holder and other luminaries.  And last Saturday we went out to Wellesley to see Streetcar Named Desire – first time I had seen the play and the details left out of the movie are why it didn’t make much sense, we discovered.


Marianne leaves Sunday with the two children to visit Detroit.  We plan to have Ross over for supper some evening while she is gone – eight days there.


And one of my committee members is also a member (past president, I discovered) of the Garden Club and asked me to go as her guest to their big annual thing – because the topic was conservation.  It was delightful – at the Scituate Country Club – festooned with unbelievably handsome arrangements of flowers, etc. – and very interesting.  The speaker lives in Duxbury now, the wife of a Bostonian Life photographer, originally from Indonesia (Dutch) and a professional conservationist before her marriage five years ago, now head of the conservation activities of the Federation of Mass. Garden Clubs.


Well, that’s not all – but all there is time for.  Must mention that the League’s parole committee arranged a visit to the maximum security prison at Walpole – unforgettable and most enlightening.


Best wishes for thirty more anniversaries!


Love, Fras

___________________________________________________

The bottom of a letter (the rest has been torn off)

It was probably sent to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

November 6, 1959


Lyle is just too cute to believe now. He plays Where’s Your Nose, climbs up and sits in the big chairs, says cute things – mostly cookie.  A couple of Sundays ago D. finally put it across to him about walking – we said he could walk but he wouldn’t walk.  D. had him by the elbows somehow and within a half hour he was walking all around the house and he never stopped for the rest of the day.  Unfortunately our last bunch of pictures didn’t turn up with anything good.


Happy Holidays.


Much love, Fras

______________________________________________

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Chase

5528 Tahoe Lane, Kansas City 3, Kansas

From Frances C. Courtsal, Box 97,  Greenbush, Massachusetts

January 12, 1960


Dear Folks,


Lyle just woke, alas.


Please excuse us for delaying so long in writing.  We thought this week the holidays were over and we could catch

up – and they were but more things started to happen.  Happy things, tho.

First I went from one end of the South Shore to the other cashing  in bonds, getting money out of the savings

account, etc. and then, after much complicated telephoning and arranging, we met with the lawyer and signed the

note after buying the land.  Very exciting!  And this morning, after more telephoning and arranging of

appointments, baby sitter, etc, we met the builder at the lot and established where the house will stand and what

trees to save, etc.  Even more exciting!  If the weather warms up for a few days – just to above freezing – the

bulldozing and digging and such can begin before the end of the week.  Anything you’d like to know about the

lot or the house?  Did I tell you we’ll be living in EGYPT!  Like Greenbush, it is a postal zone within Scituate.


And did you know the Healds also will be living in Egypt, less than a mile from us.

Marianne called up around the first of December to say we’ll be neighbors;  they had just bought a house. 

Actually it is just short of a mansion.  Very traditional.  They will move when they sell their present house. 

They will live on Mann Hill Road and we will live on Mary’s Lane (also part, even more so, of Mann Hill).


Well, back to business (Lyle has a coo-kie;  also a ball, a tractor, Teddy Bear, and color pyramid;  please stay in bed, Lyle, till I get done, or till your Daddy comes home – from meeting with a carpenter at the parsonage

about more repairs.)(Now Lyle is saying “hi” and “Hi Mama” in the most engaging way)  Thank you very much

for all the nice presents – all twelve of them…


Constant Comment is always welcome in our house.  We have some ordinary tea and some 

exotic jasmine, but that is our favorite.  I must have told you about our fine tea pot:  have I told you about how

much D. likes tea – Constant Comment, that is.  On just such an afternoon as this, he will stop in the course of the

various activities and suggest a pot of tea.  As I say, it is very welcome;  thank you…


The aprons will be much used.  I enjoy very much the touches of hand work you have put on pot grabbers and

such, even more so since they remind me also of the hand work Mama T. used to do.  I never have time now for

that kind of thing;  only mending.  Some knitting too, since it is easy to put down, doesn’t have lots of pins, etc.

that L. can get into and since it doesn’t take much thinking; it is relaxing instead.  I knit many warm winter things

for L...The aprons also will be used because my trousseau stock is pretty well depleted.


At the moment, the keyrings really fall in the category of presents to L., though we will appropriate them later. 

Very cute.  When I first saw the Evergreen steed, I wondered a bit about it but needlessly so.  He just loves it and is very careful with it. (Hi Lyle; where’s Lyle?  There’s Lyle! – roars of laughter)  He handles it so gently

and sets it carefully down on its feet – though once in a while something else catches his eye and it drops.  And

for some reason that escapes me, he thinks the lamb is just hilarious.  He has some funny looking toys but why

that one particularly tickles him I can’t say;  in any case he certainly likes it.  Nice that it is washable.  And he

likes the little telephone.  I am beginning to see this is a stage for small things.

Actually telephones in any form are fine with him.  He puts the hand piece around his neck and says “Hi”

endlessly.  


I was very glad to see the sleepers…Evidence of their usefulness:  They’ve been through the wash twice already

and are branded with tomato juice.


The toy bag came in very handy too…I like the material and design.


The wrappings made a big hit, too, the kitties especially…The snowman and the pine cone bows from last year

also came in for more use and enjoyment.


We tried to call you last Sunday, about 7 your time, but got no answer.  Dialled direct which was exciting. 

Succeeding evenings we weren’t here or L. was cranky so finally we gave up.  Sorry.


Lyle is up and knitting put away and most doors shut;  he has already strewn around a few toys, pulled out a few

Kleenexes, dumped out the clothes pins.  Ah, yes.


Now that you’ve opened your Christmas packages, let me tell you about the photograph.

Last summer at the Scituate Arts Festival, we admired the work of a local man in the photographic exhibits…

Since he’s also a member of our church we purchased his services.

After he came, I was disappointed to see him set up the usual lights and a place for Lyle to sit and play…But

through his quick action and ability, we got the photo of L. on D’s shoulder.

D. had just started up the top again for L. when he got excited and rolled off the platform. 

D. was right there and got a hand under L’s head before it hit the floor, but L. was scared anyway, of course,

so D. picked him up.  L. didn’t cry but Mr. Arnold got that special picture – just in a wink.


Please give Mrs. Trudeau our apologies for writing so late.  She sent L. a pull toy – very good toy.  And maybe

she will tell you the Teddy bear story I put in the note to her.



(Here is the actual note to Mrs. Trudeau:

January 9, 1960

Dear Mrs. Trudeau,

That pull toy was a fine choice for Lyle at this age when walking itself is fascinating for him.

He runs with it and he walks slowly backward to watch it, and thoroughly enjoys it.  We know just from our

experience how well designed the Playskool toys are – and well made too – and this I think is one of their best

– the essence of motion and color, and the nice wooden sound.

Thank you very much for sending it to him.


Lyle is such fun these days – able to do lots of things, so busy and so full of surprises.  One day

last week, I was running a bath for him and he was getting his bath toys one at a time and throwing them in the

tub.  After a bit, he disappeared and I figured something new had distracted him.  But instead he’d gone to his

room and gotten his Teddy Bear out of bed.

I intercepted him just in time to save Teddy from a bath!


I hope the 1960’s will be very happy ones for you and all of your family.

Sincerely yours,

Frances Courtsal)


We had a wonderful time over the holidays – Christmas here, which I was thankful for because the excitement

was more than enough for L.  We were invited to D’s brother’s but they were having, in addition to their four

children, his parents and her three aunts...we took L. and the two older Heald children to see the Christmas lights. 

Christmas Day we went to the Healds about 5 for a chat.  New Year’s Eve we spent at the North River Community

Club again with our friends the Kimons;  one of the best celebrations I can remember – real fun.  The Wales had

us over for D’s birthday (which incidentally is the 30th and not the 27th)...and in November we joined a singing

group (L. just brought me a piece of cork;  somehow he got the tile trivet and took all the backing off it) of

members of the North River Community Club and sang some nice old English carols and met some interesting

people and the group was asked to sing at a couple of big parties, which was fun.


We liked your Christmas card this year very much – out of the ordinary and imaginative and yet not striving to be

so, and also appropriate to the season and the message.


It is Monday now, the effort having been abandoned last Saturday afternoon.  But things are about as wild so all I

can manage is to finish this up and get it in an envelope.


Much love,

Fras

_________________________________________________