No. 30 -- 16 March 1932

Mr. N.A. Hughes,
C/o Y.M.C.A. College,
5315 Drexel Avenue,
CHICAGO. Ill. U.S.A.

My dear Noel,

Your letter of Feb. 9th reached me this week. We are sorry to hear that you have had the 'flu. Snow is very beautiful as you suggest in your letter, but of course the experience of long walks in the snow can only be carried out when you are properly booted and equipped for it. You probably did not have any of the necessary equipment to face such an experience.

Winter in Chicago is a pretty desperate business as I can well recall. It was February when I visited Chicago the last time, and the cold was intense.

I am sorry that you had to miss some of your school work but I guess that cannot be helped under the circumstance.

Lake Geneva is a lake in Wisconsin just north
of the Illinois border. A campus there was part
of the Chicago YMCA College, later renamed
George Williams College. According to a
history of the college found on the
Aurora University website: "The roots of
George Williams College run deep
in the YMCA movement of the 19th century.
In 1884, leaders from America’s “western”
YMCAs gathered on the shores of Geneva Lake
in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, to attend a
summer training program. Two years later,
the camp was incorporated, and the first
parcel of the current Williams Bay campus
was purchased. Since that time, “college camp”
has been a source of inspiration, recreation,
education and renewal for thousands of
guests and students."

I am glad to hear that you have placed an application with the College for a position at Lake Geneva, and I sincerely hope it will come your way. I am surprised to learn that there will not be a Summer School this year. Is that because of the depressed conditions? I do not recall any similar occurrence in other years. What will actually take place at Lake Geneva during the summer? It is usual for quite a number of Summer Schools and conferences to be scheduled over the months of July and August. Presumably there will be a number of such conferences and you will be attached to the staff if you get the job.

The World's Fair mentioned was the
1933 Century of Progress exhibition in
Chicago. It was a major event in Chicago
history and will come up again in future letters.

We note your suggestion about the Australian Exhibit at the World's Fair in 1933. I will make some enquiries on this matter, but I imagine that most of the actual arrangement will be done by our Australian representative in New York. Anyhow I will make some enquiries and will let you know, if possible, by the next mail.

The Washington stamps mentioned likely included this
stamp, issued in 1932 as part of a bicentennial
celebration of George Washington's birth 200 years
previous. A whole series of stamps was issued, but this
was the most popular.

Thank you for the Washington stamps which you enclosed. I have already received a number of used stamps of the same issue which I am carefully keeping.

I hope your Fraternity dinner passed off satisfactorily. It seems a pretty expensive affair, when it costs 35/- for all expenses!

Since my last letter, Keith has been exceptionally ill. We have had the Doctor to him practically every day for a week. We thought it might be diphtheria and a swab of his throat was taken and examined, but the result was negative. He has had a very bad attack of laryngitis. The Doctor states it was one of the most severe cases he had ever handled.

Ruth also has been out of sorts again and I am beginning to wonder whether after all she will be strong enough to continue her training to the end. Today she is home and is very much out of sorts and I shall have to apply for further sick leave for her. The work is so desperately heavy and the hours so long that only the strongest can stand up to the work.

I am sending you a short printed article that appeared in the magazine section of the "Herald" which describes the Sydney Bridge. This, I thought would interest you. Great preparations are in hand for the official opening which takes place next Saturday. A tremendous number of people from all the States and from overseas are visiting Sydney, and I imagine there will be quite a big round of festivities. It is likely that several of the illustrated papers will bring out special editions on the Bridge, and if so I will endeavour to send you one or two so that you may have all the details.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954),
Monday 14 March 1932, page 10

I'm not sure if this is the specific article that George
included in the letter, but it fit the description.

The Vikings went away for their Weekend Conference last weekend, and had a good time at Beaconsfield.

We had a work party of 10 fellows at Camp Manyung and they did splendid work which Burge estimates worth about 60. They have erected showers, laid concrete, made drains, and quite a lot of other useful work.

Rex. is still away in Sydney and we do not know exactly when he will return. I should imagine he will not be back until after next weekend at the earliest.

We are having special meetings of the Finance Executive to discuss whether we can increase revenues in the different departments and sections of the work. In the face of the depressed conditions it will be hard going to raise additional money, but we must do so or else make further economies. It is obvious we cannot continue to lose money each month as we are now doing.

Mr. Hines is away on holiday and will not return until after Easter.

Ernie Gollan is to be married on Saturday March 19th to Lilian Langham.

George Briggs was offered the General Secretaryship of the Y.M.C.A. at Port Pirie, but he turned it down, so that he might continue his studies and afterwards go to the States. I think he was wise.

E. C. Parsons, late Physical Director at Perth, passed through here yesterday. He is returning to England.

Well, my boy, I must close now. I am off to Rotary Club luncheon. I sincerely hope you have completely recovered from the 'flu and that you will be successful in your second term's exams.

I had a fellow in the other day to look at the Amplifier but I do not expect a sale will eventuate, although he looked the machine over and said he would keep it in mind should an opportunity occur to dispose of it.

All the folk at home unite in warmest love.

Yours affectionately,
Dad

(Handwritten post-script)

Ruth's birthday card arrived yesterday. Thanks! She will acknowledge.

Kath sent you a sweater.

I was amazed to hear that you hadn't written to her for months!
What's up?