October 4, 1956

Dear Bob,

I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, but being in college yourself, you know how it is.  I was
very glad to receive your correspondence, for you know what a nice feeling it is to
receive mail from "home".

This letter is accompanied by the second of the series, "Life on the American Scene".
Note the conventional (green) shutters, the brick wall, the climbing ivy, the unopened
Blatz bottle and the opened Hamm's can.  This is probably the most common sight
I see here.  Notice the bottle is on the outside of the window.  This is not to keep the
the amber liquid out of the reach of reveling roommates.  As you may know, it sometimes
gets rather chilly up here and the temperature is usually sufficiently low to keep the life
blood of the school at a thirst-quenching temperature.  (Know of any other school in which
each room is provided with an ice box?)  Don't get the wrong idea!  The school authorities
don't encourage drinking, they even prohibit it---------between 1 & 10 in the morning.  Most
guys have to go to bed early and sleep late or go crazy. it really isn't that bad though, and
I've only had one can of beer since I've been here.

As you may or may not have read our football team (we have one) beat
U. of N.H. 13 - 0.  We 60s had to build a monstrous bonfire Friday evening.  It
was conical-shaped, 40' in diam. and 35' high.  The flames were 100' high and
the fire didn't go out completely until late Sat. morning.  Incidentally we built it
right in the middle of the college green.  There was no sacking of the town or
attacking of elderly women.

I also experienced the forced mass rallies you talk about.  On the Freshman Outing
we were marched out of our cabins at 1 in the morn. and make to stand outside (one
guy had on only a supporter) and sing school songs.

There aren't many girls in town;  in fact there's only one good-looking one I know of.
On the weekends, though, especially football weekends, those who can afford it
usually have girls up here.  (that "have" can be taken in its usually used meaning and
also in the Aldous Huxley "Brave New World" connotation.)

Saturday night I'm going to Smith college, 100 miles distant, to a mixer.  I'll report later.

I've joined the paper here too, but I haven't received any assignments.

I'll be anxiously awaiting a letter from you, so write soon.

Tom



P.S.  My move is King's Pawn to King 4.  Buy yourself a dictionary or stop typing
your letters.