Tuesday, 8:30 A.M. (Chicago Time)
Dearest Larry,
I'm all alone, here in Doris' apartment, hoping I can find my way to the various places I'm going to go to before I leave on an afternoon train. I wish I had some vague idea of where places were in this city. I found Doris' without any difficulty, but now I'll have to do a little guesswork etc. If I could be that extravagant I'd take a cab,-- but I can't,-- so -- I'll just keep my fingers crossed. I'm going somewhere on Jackson St. (wherever that is) to see about registering with a teacher's agency (commercial). One of Doris' roommates told me a personal interview would be a good idea. Then before I go there I'll have to check my bag and Crosby's tennis racket (which I acquired last night) some place. I'll also have to eat lunch someplace. I've never been alone in this city before, and I've decided I don't like it.
That train you put me on was all right after all. -- it was an express and didn't make a stop until the 63rd St. station, -- the trip only took 45 minutes. With my usual luck I found most of the seats occupied by darkies, with a few nuns and other miscellaneous people. (No young people) I was wondering which one I'd pick out to sit with when I saw an apparently vacant seat far forward. When I reached it I found that some one else's bags were there first and was thinking I'd have to retrace my steps when a very nice appearing man came up and asked me if I would like to sit there and removed his bags. Then he went to the smoking car. I was very grateful. -- but of course I wasn't alone long. An old lady soon joined me and began to tell me all about herself and her trip etc. The train was air-conditioned, so Chicago seemed very hot when I got off.
When I arrived here I left a message for Doris as I couldn't reach her by phone and I called Crosby. He was on a case and had to cut me off and ask me to call back later.
I walked out to 63rd, wondering how I would kill time, and discovered a little local movie that was air-conditioned, so I went in. Doris got back before I did and called Crosby to find out if I'd gone there. He was very worried, thinking that he had cut me off abruptly, and finding out I was alone, which he hadn't realized. I called him, to reassure him, as soon as I got back.
Last evening, then, Doris and I walked over to Lying In and waited for Crosby until he was free (it took telepage an hour to locate him) and then we went up to his room and talked and had cokes until he had his next call about an hour later. He gave us explicit instructions as to how to get back here on the most brightly-lit streets, -- which seemed unnecessary to me. But even on them I discovered a few things. It was only about 10:30 but we met several lurching drunks (one just missed bumping smack into me) and several men who tried to get our attention. I learned to follow Doris' example and apparently not notice them, walking steadily along and not looking at them. But I don't think I like this town. The sight of all those dirty roof tops and the noise is depressing, too, especially after where I've just been with you.
I felt so lonely after the girls had left this morning, wondering how I'd get around and feeling lost etc., but I'm allright now, -- Doris called and gave me a list of el trains I could take and told me when to get off the I.C. etc. I guess this is a bad place to be alone when you don't know the city.
Crosby loaned me his tennis racket without an argument, -- said he didn't use it enough to play. Aren't you glad?
I must go now, -- I'll write after I get back to Madison to let you know that I arrived safely, but you can't expect me to write that close together ordinarily, can you?
Heaps of love,
Ellen
That racket has a larger grip than I like but it's a good racket. Has a zipper case with a handle, so it won't be hard to carry.
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