Levack Mine, Sudbury, September 22nd 1929

My Dear Bennie,

I got your two letters yesterday or was it the day before? But i didn't feel like writing straight away. Forgive me, please - these non writing moods of mine are very powerful when present.

Bennie, do you know what I'd like to do? ......to take a long sharp steel spike, wrote one it "you can never {annoy, molest, irritate} me, my dear Bennie, and a taking a 16lb sledge-hammer, drive the aforementioned spike through your cranium! Rather too emphatic, you will say; there may be possible some other more gentle means of elucidating this all-important fact, but then there is no trace of  half-heartedness in my little suggestion, is there?

Now we are coming to the fact that you do not seem to be very clear on. I love writing to you and never, never consider it either a troublesome duty, or a tedious obligation. How could it be, if it is writing to about the best pal I've got! But this the point you must realize: that a life-long habit of not writing to anybody for months cannot be done away with at a stroke! I am getting over it, thanks to you, my dear Bennie, steadily, but slowly, and I am very moody.

It is absolutely impossible for anybody to love not to want to want that love returned. Human beings are made that way; have it in the same way as a pair of eyes with a nose between them! The "Bridge of Sam Luis Ray" brings that out most vividly: Donna Maria loved her daughter most madly and her daughter's coldness and indifference caused her a terrible amount of suffering. If there were no suffering, or jealously, there would be no real love.

Dear fellow, I feel positively proud and happy that you tried to "take it out" on me! That's fine! Everytime you feel peeved or huffy and "out of sorts" in anyway, just take a piece of paper, a pen (machine is better!!!) and give me hell. Then I'll answer and pull you to pieces! It will do us both a lot of good.

I don't know what Venette's address will be. I have written to uncle three times but never got any reply. So I'll wait until I hear from him.

The letter from Lelek was very nice. In fact, so sweet that I would blush if I started to translate it to you. It was to the effect that he remembers Krasnoyarsk and our home with great pleasure and is sorry that we are so far away that we can't be together - don't you know! Thanks very much for your translation though. I must write to him. What does the "n Met" stand for? as in "Nove Mesto n Met???"

I am very glad to hear that your mother is better. It is rotten to be ill. I was sorry, too that i didn't have your mother and Auntie Lydia to doctor me up! The would have fixed me quick enough, I bet! Now I am O.K. except for a little bit of huskiness in the throat!

My roommate is gone for good. He was a good sort, rather rough and hard, but cheerful and find (under the "hide") and with a keen sense of humour. He is a student of Toronto University. I have heard that I have have a Jewish salesman in my room pretty soon and I await the dreadful ordeal with trembling! I can't get a small room to myself - they are all taken up.

The mornings and evenings are getting very cold and in a couple of weeks we'll get frosts. there may be snow in October. I shall ski (first of all I must learn how!). Otherwise, my life here is interesting only to me....we have been building a new shute and I helped mostly by keeping out of the way.

Well Bennie, these are about all the words I need scribble to keep your interest. What might have followed would make you yawn, dear. so, give my best love to mother and Auntie Lydia; to Devon, Freda, and all my friends. You, my pal, I hug most heartily - but with restraint!

 
Your Loving Gui Gui

P.S. No, I would not advise and restraint on your part. I think you're got a lot of it. But I do think that you are a bit nervous though you keep it under control pretty well!

No time, No date

My dear Bennie,

If it wasn't for you, I would forget how to write letters- really! I admit, this time I was very very bad - pretty hopeless, in fact, but what could I write about, I ask you?

Same old thing every day, except for a few incidents which are worth relating only if a collection of them is obtained - and that takes time. Oh, Bennie..........................!

I have received a lot of papers from your mother but haven't answered yet. Time seems to fly; eight hours underground seem like three, a day seems like a shift and a week is as short as a week-end! Before I know what's happening , it's happened!

A week ago I changed my job from that of a machine-helper to that of a sampler. I now work with an English fellow - my student room-mate, and it is sure an improvement on working with bo-hunky. It is also a much easier and cleaner job.

Lately however I am not getting my share of sleep - only about six hours - which I am going to put to an end at once - after I finish this letter. You see with the work and studying,  we do not get to bed till about 11 pm - and we have get up at 5:30 am, which is no good.

Your girl-friend is very nice-looking allright; how did you like her acting?

We'll I tried to keep off the subject but my curiosity is a thing that is a mighty passion, so I wonder how old are you, Bennie? Many happy returns of the day, Bennie dear, and I do hope that you are not angry at me for my carelessness. Last Sunday my pal Jim and I went for a geological trip there in the bush for a half a dozen miles. We had a very pleasant day and returned feeling tired and hungry.

How are things your way? I am getting on well, but owing to the fact that I didn't get much sleep for the last week - I feel a little sleepy.

Last week, my pal and I went to Sudbury and saw a good film "Vikings", also did some shopping. Got four grammaphone records for George - the mine-boss with whom I board. For jazz, they are beautiful. I do not know if you even know the names of dance music pieces you ever hear but they are: "I want to meander in the Meadow" - a beauty; "Piece of mind" - very catchy; "Am I blue" - "Love", "Gay Love". All splendid songs - very beautiful. "Good Morning, Good Evening, Good night", "My Song of the Nile" - very sweet. Do you know any one of them?

In the evenings occasionally I play bridge with my friends here and most of the times I win (my partner and  I, that is!). It's a good game. Checkers are quite a bit of recreation, too.

Well Bennie, this letter took me two days to write - shame on me so I must hurry up and send it over. I shall write to Mrs. Stinchfield to-morrow without fail.

Meanwhile good-bye.

Your very loving,

Guigui

Levack Mine Sudbury Ont September 12 1929

My dear Ben,

Just about a couple of hours ago, I sent off the telegram to you. I guess you shall have received it long before this letter.

No, my dear pal, I am all right except for the fact that I have here a nasty cold and my tummy seems a bit out of order. But my friend the doctor here gave me some pills and medicine for both ailments and now I feel as though the recovery is in sight!

The exhibition was the goods! I knew that it was the greatest yearly exhibition is the world, but the realization sure cleaned up the expectation. What a lot to see! Cars, aeroplanes, agricultural halls, art galleries - all the industries were well represented. We watched the three mile race and the excitement of Ross's victory over Pritchard was too much for the crowd! Also listened to some nice music. And didn't we have fun with all the competitions, or, rather, games of skill and chance! And Irene was most lucky. She got two large boxes of chocolate and some smaller ones of caramel. I was singularly unlucky. But I enjoyed myself just as much!

Dear Bennie, I do hope you are not jealous because I was happy with someone else! You know perfectly well that of all my men friends you stand supreme. there are no other fellows that I can love as much as I love you. But with girls it is on a different plane altogether. If you would fall in love and be happy I would be ever so happy for you, although is you got another boy-friend, I would turn sickly olive colour with jealousy! You understand me well, don't you, my dear fellow!?

I received a letter from you mother yesterday and read it in the mine - on the 7th level to be exact! Yes, it does seem to me that since I left Farmington, all sorts of nasty things happened. I am awfully sorry about it: I guess I would be a lucky mascot for Farmington! I bet you are absolutely all in and looking forward to having a rest in New York. Poor Bennie, I would love to be with you to help along, if I could, and if you let me!

My work is getting on splendidly and i have heard through my roommate that the manager, Mr. Sharp, is going to promote me - to the machine work - I should imagine. It is beginning to dawn on my that I like my work very much! It wasn't as difficult to get down to it after the fine time I had in Toronto.

Thank you very much for the papers Bennie. They are always very welcome to me because they contain a lot of such interesting stuff, which I snap up with pleasure.

Well, goodbye Bennie. Give my love to mother and Auntie Lydia.

Your always loving Guigui

Levack Mine Sudbury Ont. Friday, August 30th 1929

Sweet Bennie,

You dear fellow! You still seem to thing there is a chance of me not liking your letters 100%! Hasn't the fact taht I have so often written to yo, succeeded to prove definitely how I appreciate your letters! Bear in mind Bennie, that every letter I receive from you is so much joy to me - gladness to hear from you all the news of your household, happiness to feel your dear, warm friendship. Oh Bennie, dear, I am so happy to be your friend!

I have received your book and papers. Thank you ever so much, Bennie. The book made me feel rather sad - you understand well don't you? But it is a fine book - it made me me think, as well as feel. I have recognised many people in the book - I mean I know some people that are just like the characters in it. The book was finished in something like four hours - nothing missed out - so that you can imagine how interest I was. The papers also provided the reading for the whole morning, and I have read the article about Dr. Cromwell.  The part of the paper on book-reviews is certainly interesting. Also the article on the building of the Panama Canal. That must have been wonderful! I have thought about it yesterday when I was picking and shovelling a ditch about thirty yards long, and felt sorry for the poor hundred odd cranes and dredges employed! They must have stained their coal-burning tummies, bless their mild-steel hearts.

A friend of mine has written a post card to me to tell me that I have passed Physics.  Another friend told me that I have passed Geology. And I know I have passed the rest. So that is a bit of worry off my shoulders - Rah!

I am now working underground where the work is very much harder than in the rock house. But I practice the Big Three and all goes well. I think a lit of you Bennie and remember our talks, and all that has been said.

Well, I have only half an hour to write a letter to your mother so I must stop. Love and kisses to mother and Auntie Lydia.

Your Loving Guigui

Levack Mine, Sudbury, Ont. August 25 1929

My Dear Bennie,

It seems years since I have written to you - it is disgraceful. Just a lapse though, my dear Bennie, because I love writing to you and I love receiving your letters. They make me feel so happy.

At last I have received your "second letter" with the snaps and yesterday I got your last letter with more snaps. They are simply marvelous! I love them, Bennie.

When I read your letters (the "second" and the last) I couldn't help thinking of that bit of poetry you copied for me. I admit I got quite "oily" around the eyes! I suppose anytime I shall happen to turn up at your home, I shall find the door open to retrieve me and your mother and Auntie Lyddia and yourself ready to welcome me? Gee, life is worth living with friends like this in it!

I have just written a long letter to Nenette (I received one from her the other day) and I told her during the two weeks with you not an angry thought or feeling of annoyance got into me; how my life was all smiles! Of course, I left out the stalling of cars on slopes........*@!!! Her address is c/o Mr. V. R. Hope
I can decipher your letters easily - well, not too easily but eventually every word is made out. Of course, the machine is far more efficient in this respect. You go ahead and do it exactly the way you want to. I heard you say that it is quicker on the machine. Well, use the machine. It doesn't seem a bit cold or formal - it was your fingers that pressed the keys, not a secretary's!

Owen has helped you a lot I see. Varnishing floors and fixing up stoves. You naughty fellow; you have never let me do anything for you by the way of helping you when I was over there! Except pick bugs! There, I admit, I felt satisfied when the job was over: they (bugs) were loathsome!

I am glad that you think that I have summed up Owen's personality fairly accurately. I am not much good at that sort of thing so this is a booster. Nothing like contemplating other people to make you forget your little petty annoyances and worries. You know whom I am thinking about don't you? When I read your "second" letter, I felt very depressed. When you have written it, you still had hopes, you were still struggling, you were full of determination to win, to set her right. And now...But we are better to forget it. Everything possible was done. The patient would not be cured.

I am getting a bit tired of the rock house. The work is a bit monotonous. I wander around a lot though, and worry poor fellows by requests for information. They are always please to tell me "all about it".

While I write this letter you have already sent me the duplicates of the snaps with the "second letter". I am afraid, but hope not because it is base extravagance to have duplicates. By the word "cluck" I no doubt you meant "cheque", but have written the word "cheque" - check - chuck - cluck. Do you see: (a) simple spelling mistake, (b) evolution of a "ch" into "cl", and simultaneous involution of "e" into "u". Thus "cheque" becomes "cluck" or Darwin is a fake!

You do not want to tire yourself Bennie. Fake it easy. Moderation, Direction, and Restraint work wonders!! I never get tired now. All my nervous energy is being slowly but steadily transformed into physical energy. Soon I shall be like an ox. Or is it possible?

The week after next, I am planning to go to Toronto for a couple of days to see the Great Yearly Exhibition there. I shall most probably stay at the friends house; you know the ones I have told you all about. The young lady of the house and I are very good friends, perhaps a bit more (wow) and she wants me to come over all right! You know Bennie, I like her an awful lot. I use the word "like" to be mild. And if you would see her [and you might some day] you would like her a lot too and would compliment me on my taste. But then, I forget, you do not care for girls much, do you? Well, you know I am not much of a shiek, but this girl is a peach. Reminds me of pieces like"Who", "She's a grand grand girl" and above all "The song of Spain". You remember I told you of that wonder piece of music I couldn't remember? Well, I saw it again in Montreal on the way here, and now I can hum it with ease. It is simply wonderful! Whenever I hum the tune I loved to pick up on your piano you know the one, it goes like this: /_.,_ _\,_ _/,__/. | | _ . _.,______ (I remember the times when I danced at Lakewood!) I wonder if you can get the rhythm I am trying to describe. It is a combination of Morse Alphabet, French accents, and ordinary commas.

I am talking a lot of rubbish! You must be thinking I am going out of my head. Well, anyway, it is too inferiority complexed. It isn't even superiority complex. It is superlative complex of super self-esteem of self satisfied-ego (Gash!) And now from the ridiculous to the sublime: How are you?............................
When will your holiday end, anyway? Here I am working hard and you are there playing with potato bugs, amusing yourself with the coroner; in fact simply wallowing in bliss! Well, a lot of healthy exercise with the  spade ought to keep you from putting on undue beef! [Please do not think me callous, dear Bennie. I must have some outlet for...er.....elfishness!] I hope it isn't Selfishness!

Kiss your mother and Auntie Lydia for me. I hope that all is very well with them both. I give you one too, my Bennie, the dearest pal on earth!

Your loving Guigui