Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: M, 1935-1936. A-71, folder 612. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

October 9, 1936

Russell McWilliams, #5661-E, Box 1112, Joliet, Illinois.

Dear Russell:

Your letter of October 4th came today and I was made happy. Knowing institutions as I do, I must congratulate you on prompt attention to outgoing mail. I have said to myself each day since I returned from vacation, I must write to you, but I kept putting it off, only because of being tied up with making out the budget. You are good to write me when I owed you a letter. You relieved my mind to know you were not thinking hardly of my negligence. Then, too, October 4th is my birthday and so I can count the letter as a present.

I have felt guilty about not answering your question, do I want a canary? I really would like one coming from Joliet as your gift, if you think he (or she) could stand the long trip. I would, of course, pay for the railway ticket. Never have I had a canary, but I would take the best care of this one, and it would be a joyful reminder of my friend. I would put him in the green house where the alligator lives, and as this is off the dining room I would pay him a good many daily visits. But if you have given him to Miss Binford's old lady, do not feel badly. The bird would doubtless cheer her up.

I am sorry you are locked up at 3 o'clock these fine Indian summer days. In winter it won't be so hard, especially if you apply yourself to study. That must be hard, too, with five room mates. What are they like, are they young like you?

I had a splendid vacation. I rode an old white horse all up and down those mountains. I saw plenty of wild game in Colorado - deer, a wolf, some elk, bear, coyotes, and many beaver at work building their log houses on the banks of the streams. When turned loose to graze my horse had to wear a bell around his neck so they could find the other horses.

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We were up above timber line a good deal of the time, at 12,000 feet. The aspen trees were turning yellow and red. The tall spruce trees really look blue at that altitude, and the pine trees were a strong dark green. When the yellow aspen leaves fell on them it was like a Christmas trees decorated with golden spangles. In spite of the fact it was September and there was snow on the mountain peaks, I found wild strawberry blossoms. Robins and blue birds and some gross-beaks were having a good time in the thickets.

In the early morning (I got up at 5:30) I worked on my new book. All the rest of the time, I was out of doors on a horse, or rowing on the mountain lake. There were plenty of trout for every meal. I did not fish or hunt. For some reason as I get older, I cannot kill anything, but I listened to the stories of the others, and I ate the fish.

It seems all wrong to gave such a vacation and to write to you about it when you are shut up, but perhaps writing of the mountains has given you pictures for your imagination. There are some persons who say the life of the mind, the thoughts and feelings we have when alone, are the greatest realities. Sometimes I know this is true for me.

Since I came back, classes have started. The crops are in, and all the canning done. The girls in the shops are very busy. We hope to have a good Thanksgiving celebration, a combination of songs, poetry, religious service good dinner, of course, all raised on the farm. I am planning to put in a new ice cream freezer.

The first week in February, I am going out to Winetka, Illinois to make a talk to the Woman's Club. I shall see you then, so save up all those questions for I want to have a good long talk. The years have probably changed both of us a good deal. When I saw you, you were little more than a boy. Tall, for your age, but very young looking. Now you are gorwn up. I suppose I shall look much older to you. Perhaps I ought to send you my photograph. Is such a thing permitted?

Tell me also, is there something I should do in advance to get a visiting permit, as I am not sure of the day or hour. Your Warden was very kind to me, but now you are on a regular basis, and then everything, life itself, was uncertain.

[9 October 1936]

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Your letters are splendid. They always give me something new and interesting to think about.

All good wishes to you,

Your friend,

Superintendent

MVW/K

EMH 10/9/36

Dear Russell -

Your letter of Oct 4 came today and I was made happy. Knowing [inst?] as I do I must congratulate your[?] prompt attention to outgoing mail. I have said to myself each day since I returned on vacation I must write to you, but I keep putting it off, only because of being tied up with making out the budget. you are good to write me when I owed you a letter. You[?] relieved my mine because to know you were not thinking hardly of my negligence. Then too, Oct. 4th is my birthday and so I can count the letter as a present.

I have felt guilty about not answering your question do I want a canary. I really would like one coming from Joliet as your gift, if you think he (or she) could stand the long trip. I would of course pay for the railway ticket. Never have I had a canary but I [?] take the best of care of this one and it would be a joyful reminder of my old friend. I was just [?] been in the green house where the alligator lives, and as this is off the dining rm I would pay him a good many daily visits. But if you have given him to Miss Beufords' old lady do not feel badly. I was never The bird would doubtless cheer her up.

I am sorry you are locked up at 3 these five Indian summer days. In winter it won't be so bad espec if you apply yourself to study. That must be hard too with 5 room mates. What are they like. are they young like you?

I had a splendid vacation. I rode an old white horse all up + down those mountain. I saw plenty of wild game in Colorado, deer beaver, a wolf, some elks, bear, coyotes and many beaver at work building their log houses on the banks of the streams. When turned loose to graze my horse had to wear a bell around his neck so they co find the the other horses.

We were up above [tinker live?] a good deal of the time, at 12000 feet. The aspen trees were turning yellow and red. The tall spruce trees really look blue at that altitude, and the pine trees were a strong dark green. When the yellow aspen leaves fell on them it was like a X mas tree decorated with golden sparkles. In spite of the [?] it was Sept and there was snow on the mountain peaks I found wild strawberry blossoms. Robins and blue birds and some redgrass[Leahs?] were having a good time in the thickets.

In the early morning (I got up at 5:30) I worked on my books. all the rest of the time I was out of doors on a horse, or rowing on the mountain lake. There were plenty of trout for every meal. I did not fish or hunt. For some reason as I get older I cannot kill everything, but