This week has been wasted. It has been unprecedentedly cold; the water in the pipes and faucets of the little wash-place we have downstairs was frozen this morning. I had to eat my breakfast unwashed and bring my toilet tools over the lab. Now it is still freezing and icy, and the visions of Billy’s fire as attractive.
Jack wanted me to go to theatre with him tonight, but for two reasons I shall not. First, for three weeks he was very “gentil” which was an unnatural condition; he didn’t drink or go absent without leave or anything. Last week after pay day he did, and while I recognize that it is one of the things in him that must be either accepted or dispensed with along with his friendship, there were other circumstances that are not so savory. He owes a lot of money and knows it; he has spent his pay and is penniless.
Secondly, if we went to town we should be home after 11:30 and it is a very dreary walk in the cold and wind from the subway to my bed; the cars don’t run at night. Si I shall probably end by lending Jack some money and going over to Billy’s fire. You don’t like Jack after all this account of his evildoings, do you? I do.
Fred Eldridge has moved out into the field. He is with the 80th division. Do you know I think he has a notion that he can manage to go home with them and that it will be before we go? I happen to know also that he’s wrong on several counts. The 80th will probably go up to Germany, and he’ll be called back here to go home with us. Clarence will be back here, I imagine, before long. I have seen pictures of him and have heard from him recently. He has grown old and is nervous to the point of dementia. He would make a very good exhibit A if you were interested in psychological experiments on the effect of a shell that passes too close. It happened on the first day of the Argonne drive and he never stops talking about it. Unless he’s got better since the last time he was in here, I fear for his mind. Instead of going away now, it seems to prey on him. Hope he’s better when he comes in.
Next post February 9.
Letters from Sidney Friend During The Great War 