Oct. 22, 1957

Dear Tom,

See here now!  By your own testimony you have convicted yourself.  Rock and Roll is a form  of
art, of sound in time, which expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the
elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and color.  Your efforts to "avoid insulting my intelligence"
by showing me how  R.&R. violates everyone of these ideas merely seems an attempt on your part to get out of a difficult argument which could prove your undoing.  Remember you said that
R.& R. violates every one of the above mentioned principles.  to begin with R.& R. is a form of
sound in time.  It has a very basic rhythm to it, sort of a "thump-thump-thump all the way through
each song.  It cerainly expresses emotions though they be very basic ones.  These two points are the most obvious ones which you claimed R.& R. does not possess.  I feel certain that I could take my dictionary and look up the definition of each point you mentioned in your
definition of music and show you that R.& R. in some way fulfills each requirement.  However
I just realized who I was arguing with - -  a master of double-entendre, persiflage, beating-
around-the-bush, attacking-wrong-end-of-argument-while-leading-opponent-to-believe-you-are-
both-talking-about-the-same-thing, changing the.subject, and avoiding the question.

In all of our arguments either I have agreed with you or else the question was never resolved.
This is not an attack on your character but rather an exasperated admission that I never
yet have been able to change your mind on any subject.  There is no point in my attempting
anything of that nature at this stage of the game.

I feel reasonable sure that your next letter will contain a calculated though irrational attack
on Rock and Roll as a form of music, as a threat to society, as a menace to the Catholic
Church, and as a seducer of young America.  You will employ every tricky phrase at your
disposal ignoring every point I have made - -  few though they be.  I don't expect a reply on
the subject.  I would have to employ a battery of logicians to keep up with your arguments.
I know enough to quit when I'm behind.

I'm glad to see that the good old Indians have bee so victorious on the gridiron (why do
they call it a gridiron?)

I hope you will be able to beat the Boys from the Yard next week.

The Sandwich Concession is coming along fine.  I expect a big take next Saturday.  G is
helping me now.  He is a diligent worker, but what I like best about employing him is that
he plows his salary back into the business - - that is to say he takes his salary in food, a
good portion of it anyway.  As I said before, I like a diligent worker.

That's all for now.  Keep relaxing that kidney.

Bob

I may send you s Scholastic, I've got a few extras.