Bert Stiles Papers, Ms 0095 Box 1 Folder 1
Transcribed by Julie Downing, 2026.

July 10 1935
Dear May, Mother, Dad and Elizabeth,
Arrived safely stop went to bed stop went a fishing for trout stop Love Bert
There’s my telegram and now starteth my letter. I’m writing this on the dawn of a great day. We are celebrating the thirteenth anniversary of the birth of one of the world’s most famous citizens, Miss May Stiles Bravo! Whoopie! I am sorry that the trout could not be sent but there are two very good reasons as you shall see. First they all said that the fish would spoil if I tried to send them and second I haven’t caught enough to send Sunday morning I went out and caught two measly little fish, but they certainly looked good then. Later in the eventful day I walked up two the Lake and went fishing again in the brief seconds that the sun shone I caught another funny denizen of the deep and then it began to pour so I pulled my stakes and hit the high road. Monday I went up again and walked all around the place and then I got up to the inlet and climbed out on a rock by a big pool and right there was a trout that was twenty inches if he was an inch and bunch of other minnows about twelve inches long. That afternoon I met the famous guy who takes care if the boats at the lake and we went out but I only got one six incher so no net result for me. Walking home I met three fellows that had been clear up to Crater Lake and they in about two hours had nailed about twenty five fish not one under eleven inches. Tuesday I went up to the lake again and Jim and I rowed across the lake and hiked way up creek where we were going to fish. We hiked all the morning and when we were just about to start angling Jim remembered he had to go down and get the mail so we had to start back then and didn’t get to angle. About three thirty we went out in the boat and we had great sport. In about forty five minutes we got about twenty of whom about twelve were big enough. I brought home six beauts. Jim got one that fought about five minute before he could land it. Yesterday I woke up, looked out and thought it was about five o clock so I turned over and went to sleep again and when the smoke cleared away I had slept about fifteen hours or to about 12:30 o clock. Dad you better come up early Saturday start by ten o clock anyway and then we can go fishing where ever we want to in spots it’s been up here. Happy birthday May and don’t feel to hard about the fish because when your distinguished father gets up here he will catch them for you Mother, I bet it’s quiet around there but don’t let it worry you I’ll be back soon and tell my distinguished sister Elizabeth when she gets home hello as she isn’t home now I can’t address her directly. This is happy go lucky pete signing off now. Goodbye all.

Receipt
I hereby certify that the five trout to which this certificate is attached were lawfully taken by me in Grand County, Colorado on the 19 day of August, 1935 Signed Bert Stiles

Receipt
Boy Scouts of America Nation Office 2 Park Avenue New York, New York
Scout Bert Stiles in Troop 24 of Denver Colorado is hereby certified as a star scout. He has achieved the requirements set forth in the Official Handbook, and has made effort and progress in Scout service and in living in the scout and oath.

Hotel Lincoln 44th to 45th streets and eighth avenue New York May 23rd 1936
Dear Bert,
Being good miles away when your letter reached me, I’m not close enough to do much good. I suggest you go to the Federal Building, ask to see Mr. C. F Stahl in the U.S.F.S. and he could tell you whether or not the proposal you have can be worked out. They might have a summer time guard younger fellow at some front who’d be glad to have company at least you can take your proposition and see what happens. You can show this note to Mr. Stahl as an introduction of your words and write the Denver unreadable.
Sincerely,
Arthur H. Carhart [?]

Slate Creek a long ways from anywhere July 25 1936
Dear Mother, That gal is finally going home altho she is only in seventh grade she looks like she is in 10th grade and acts like she is in 1st. On Thursday I went up to Slate Creek and caught eighty unreadable please quote that to Grandmother a good many were rather small sixteen came home with me3 I am going to send some home but here aren’t as big as at unreadable. Yesterday Mrs. Stavely and this city dude tried to rake unreadable a bridge picnic well I was creek but Mr. Stavely found unreadable to be done and I got away. My shoes are out and I am not going to be able to wear until I finish my elk hide mockissans how’s that spelling. Oh! Oh! Here is the state so long, Bert

Slate Creek Range Sta 14 miles from Dillon Kremmling, Colo. July 27, 1936
Dear Mother,
Boy! Oh Boy! The rainy season has set in. Rain, rain and more rain. Mushrooms are ripe now. Today I went with Mr. Stavely over to Black Creek, a thoroughly useless trip for me, ( it rained buckets at a time) and walked home, twelve miles. On the way I surmise that I passed over five tons of mushrooms; Big! BIg! BIG! Some of them were built like washtubs. I guess I best be a getting back to civilization again The Stavelys are going to have a crew of clubfooted E.R.A. men bashing in their barn and I think a couple of them need my bed So Dad had better bring a trailer and come haul my junk home. Is Bob Reeves hard at work? I wonder if he could go on the Mt. Evans to Longs Peak expedition. Or do you think Howard could go for a week or so someplace? The other day Mr. Stavely and I were talking about cabins He said that a slab cabin is very poor and more over slabs, good ones, cost 5 cents a piece; and you can get a good set of house logs for five dollars, less than slabs. Well I guess I’ll be seeing you as soon as Dad comes and hauls me home. But I hope I can go again as soon as I get there.

This is from Slate Creek
Way up in the hills
Near Kremmling, Colorado
On July 28, 1936
Dear Mrs. Stiles,
Recieved [sic] one pair of overall pants. Although I really don’t need them now I can use them. For I found an old out-grown pair here.
At last my moccasins are complete. Ki Yi Yi my totem is a cockeyed range steer.
My letter writing from here has included: the Lost Creek Ranger station, Arthur Hawethorne [sic] Carhart, Courtney Ryley Cooper, and Desmond Holdridge an adventurer in the Virgin Islands. I have written a poem and am going to write two wild yarns.
Could Dad wait until a week from August 2 to come and haul me home but come this weekend and go fishing. If he wants to go on the Williams Fork I’ll hike over ute pass and meet him. He can phone and tell me if he is coming.
Tell May her letter was side splitting, especially her encounter with the skagaroot [sic] smoking wild amazon.
We went surveying the other day and I chopped around forty trees down.
Whereas I hereby remain yours, nevertheless whereby the wilds call I hereby answer in great gusto.
With pleasure,
Bert (Rod)
Hi Dad (come on up)
Hi May (my pesky sis you remain)
Hi Elizabeth (You old battleaxe)

This is Slate Creek
Running into Blue River
14 miles down from
Dillon
August 3, 1936
My Dear Mrs. Stiles,
Your correspondence the past week was conspicuous in it’s absence if my sweet sister and honorable father had not written I would have been le in this god forsaken place without a ray of light from the sophisticated outside.
Dad said that he thought I ought to stay here until school starts. Well that is all very nice but practically impossible to since : one Mrs. Stavely is expecting on Mr. and Mrs. Stiles who were the Slate Creek school teachers and have transfered [sic] to fort lupton, Mrs. Curstis [sic] and son who are also very very swell folks, Mr. Curtis is an expert fisherman and is also the head of the A.A.A. which bodes well for future literature, mayhaps these persons will all be here at the same time thus all beds will be full. I must go August 16, but please not before. Tell Dad to come both weeks Also I must warm up on my basketball. Also Mr. Stavely already has to spend half of his time on the trailcrew and in a few days they’re starting a three and one half mile forest boundry [sic] fence which will take the other half of his time. Also I’d like t see Dude and incidentally my home whar ah wuz raised. [sic] Over
Now for the news: Definetely Mr. Stavely is not a social lion and his wife who longs for that distinction has a hard time dragging hime out. Mr. Brown the wheeler and Dillon ranger has a beautiful wife and is she keen. I think I could cinch a dish washing job there too. Did you know that transit compass’s are backwards, I’ve found out why now. I now number surveying as one of my arts. Our stacia {sic} constant is 2,375 chains haw. A week ago yesterday we drove into the colossal town of Breckinridge and partook of my first picture show in months Vive La el Capitan Blood. Captain Blood was super-perfectly thrilling it was the best show I ever saw even if it was the second time. Mrs. Stavely didn’t like it but boy did we men, pardon we men-boy. I’ve been catching fish by the bucket. The rain rains rain and rains water continuously this place is drowning.
Yesterday I saw another deer a doe sure was a beauty. There is another little girl here now but not big enough to make trouble only nine years old. Yesterday we hauled eight cases of dynamite to Slate Creek. Today Smokey the packer was hauling it up to trail camp when the pack horse began to buck, boy was he scared, his eyes popped his tongue stuck out, and his toes curled. Finally I got to ride horses some. Today I took old Don home from the trail camp. Fourteen miles. I was kind of rusty but the last three miles we kept at a very fast trot and just tore into the station. Well goodbye.
Solong [sic]
Bert
P. S. May, thanks for your epistle you nut.

Lawn Lake Ranger Sta.
June 22, 1937
Dear Mother and Dad-
This is the toughest place to find time to write letters and tougher to get them mailed.
The fishing up here is superb. The three of us (Viney Stiles and Ranger Jack Moomaw) caught twenty six and some of them were honeys. Viney caught the biggest trout.
This cabin is fine but the Lake is sure a dirty mess.
Dad you better hurry up the fishing is perfect.
How do you like my partner ship with the great Ben East.
The deer are thick around here. (Bear Lake the thickest).
Sunday Howard and I put out a small forest fire- very very small; but started by a cigarette.
I ate eight trout this morning. I’ll send some down Sunday with Vineys – it is almost impossible to send them other times as we aren’t near a post office any time.
Hurry up here-
Solong [sic]-
Bert Stiles

Bear Lake Station
July 10, 1937
Relatives-
We leave at the break of day for a three day trip into those inaccessible Gorge Lakes. We have to pack everything.
Howard is not normal in intelligence- this morning he got up at six o’clock and had to stall an hour before we got going.
The deer are as thick as flies around here.
I haven’t a cent to my name.
My mood is depressed tonite. [sic]
Magazines would be gratefully received here.
I almost broke my neck sliding down some pine needles in those darn moccasins today.
My boots have to have another half sole [sic} job. Mr. Rincker is a definitely a superior shoer. [sic]
My lake score is an even fifty now.
Hi! Ho! Lackaday!
Solong [sic]
Bert Stiles

Wet and Rainy Stn.
July 30, 1937
Folks –
We are again at Bear Lake. Monday should see us en route to Grand Lake and the East Inlet.
We drowned getting up here that is our duffle did.
I had to get both pairs of shoes fixed again.
Here inside is a letter to send to Aunt Addie I forgot her address.
We got six nice ones today in Dream and Emerald.
Again I remind you to get me a Tyrolean hat with feather. Ask the guy in the store he’ll know.
I am not getting any mail from anyone- go kick Bob Herrmann and tell him to answer me.
I hauled in six inches yesterday.
Ho hum ho
Bert Stiles

Bear Lake Station
August 13, 1937
Fellow Folks –
We just wisped in from Gorge Lakes. Ah! those phantom far places. There were ten guys in there today – nuts!?
Again my attempt to send my best trout (plural) home was thwarted.
Wednesday I got four of the biggest fattest trout I ever caught. They were all between fifteen and sixteen inches. I laid them in a pod and Thursday morning they were gone – I guess some mink or marten got them. So an hour or two later I went
Those five discarded trout went to Mrs. Blanche - out ex – teacher.
Last night the Grand Lake theatre saw me in its seats.
We didn’t get up until 11:30 today. Those Nebraska Coeds sent us 7 pounds of pancake flour.
Fishing is very superior over here.
Dad – how about us going for three days over labor day.
Some magazines would be duly appreciated.
I am water-boy for the Antlers Hotel (basketball) this winter via Jim Riley.
Adieu,
Bert Stiles

Note: Read other letter first
Continue at Grand Lake
Grand Lake Ranger Stn.
Grand Lake, Colorado
August 22, 1937
Hello my long lost friends,
I hope those last trout really got there without perishing. I got those babies in Paradise park – wow! What fishing. I must have caught twenty-five or so; but I only kept twelve. I added three brookies the next day. Then – when trying to mail them I had to discard five to get under neath the five pound mailing limit. Twice we wrapped those things to again unwrap them. No more trout. Next week we are going up to the Shelter Cabin on the North Inlet.
Johny Freeman, who went with us, decided we should go up to Lake Verna a day ahead of the tent and horse. It poured, drooled, and goobered all over us all night. Then the tent came with only three corner ropes and no side ropes – plus the fact that it leaked like a sieve. But! the fishing was fine.
We haven’t had any mail for two weeks ; but when we got back on the other side there should be a stack.
Jack and Clyde came up and were hunting all over for us – finally we coincided.

Still Aug.22 (late)
Hello again –
I was going to send this this afternoon; but I couldn’t get a money order.
Say- when I get home I’m going to buy a Roget’s Thesaurus. Sam Hair up here has one and I have been looking it over. It has every word in the world plus some more.
If I don’t get away from here I’m going to drink up all my money.
Adios,
Bert Stiles

Back at Bear Lake Stn.
August 28th 1937
Dear Mother and Dad,
I just got down from the top. Your mail was here. Over labor day- I don’t know which would be best. If we go up from Grand Lake we will have to carry beds and food and a tent (tent especially) for it is almost too far for a day. I’d say Murray Camp would work best right now unless you are yearning to haul that stuff.
At Nokoni on Thursday dusk I could hardly keep the fish away from the fly – I got elven in an awful hurry.
Mother – your letter certainly brought no glad tidings.
My objections are as follows: First I had a letter from Miss Aronson – She said that the P.E.G. was really going to bear down in English on English next term. Despite my difference with Mr. Arnold I am staying in the class. Therefore don’t tell the office anything about changing for I’m not changing. If I get going – which I shall – I’ll fit in that class. That Math you were speaking of is much better in college – according to the Rangers here. Also that Little plan of me working a year first is very bad – I’d forget any thing I know now and the Park Service is not going to have so much room if I fool around too long. Remember I;m not quitting the P.E.G. – what do you want me to be a quitter.
I sure am delighted to hear our house is fixed so we won’t live in it any more. ( I hope that woman stays firm ) Is the house that any good? Two Little sparks like these in one letter are almost too much. I fear if any more things happen like this I’ll be afraid to come home.
Fare thee well as me –
Bert Stiles

Park Lane Hotel Piccadilly
London, W. 1
October 4, 1937
Dear Sir,
I thank you for your enthusiastic letter and regret that there seems little prospect of my ever again making a voyage such as that in the “Joseph Conrad.”
Sincerely yours,
Alan Villiers

Bills –

Dad
Flies & spoon $1.75
Dry flies & leaders 1.25
Loan 3.25
Total 6.25
PAID

Mother
Ski Boots 4.00
Total $4.00
PAID

Initial Cost of Summer
Parents out lay $13.70
On account (I pay) 2.70
Interest (I pay) .05
Balance Due $11.00

Bert Stiles Papers, Ms 0095 Box 1 Folder 2
Transcribed by Julie Downing, 2026.

Popular Publications, Inc, 205 East 42nd Street, New York, N.Y.
Plowden Bay Howe Sound B C Canada
Ap 27 (1938?)
Dear Mr Stiles
Your letter was very interesting but I can do nothing to find you such a job. You seem to have been very successful in your own land and why not continue the good work?
We have acute unemployment here and the only jobs are naturally kept for our own pensioneers.
As regards Mounties or Ramigers needing a man, if such were the case it would be sent from headquarters, and retired Indian officers such as you speak of, they are mostly in books.
I fully appreciate your desire and ambition, wish you all luck but cannot help
Sincerely yours
C Plowden

On Board Yacht Alice
Norfolk, Virginia
May 10, 1938
Mr. Bert Stiles
1245 South York Street
Denver, Colo.
Dear Bert Stiles:
I am sorry that I do not know of any such person as you are looking for, although I have no doubt they are to be found. Most all the Islands in the West Indies have very strict immigration laws, wages are exceedingly low, there is much unemployment and you will find it very difficult to make a living in any of them. They, of course, welcome tourist with money, but do not welcome anyone who is likely to compete with their own overstocked labor market.
Yours Truly,
Henry Howard

Long Branch Ranger Station
Sargents, Colorado
June 20, 1938
Greetings and Salutations,
I’m glad that the fish arrived in good shape and if I could catch any big ones I’d send some more. But all I catch around this place is little wee ones.
I think I could detect a note of glee in your note when you mentioned my being worked. I worked two days and made seven berries and three blisters and a sunburned neck. The second day was a snap compared to gumping out that sage brush. All we did was build a bridge, haul about six tons of rock, and cover a rock slide with dirt we had to haul a couple of hundred yards. I had a pretty good time the second day.
We are going on a pack trip tomorrow for three day and really ought to have a big time. We went on a ride yesterday while Mr. Stavely was breaking in Happy to trail work. He sure is a good looking horse and I’m going to swipe him.
Friday is a good day to come up here. That’s just the time I want to go home – after that week-end. You can stay at Stavely’s easily. They have plenty or room and I think you would hurt Mrs. Stavely’s feelings very much if you didn’t stay here. It sure is a slick place – and I’ll bet that you can catch fish as well as anybody.
Saturday I caught fourteen big enough to keep. And yesterday when we went on the ride I caught four nice fat ones in a few minutes up in the high beaver ponds. We really ought to hit some fishing on this trip. There are thousands of fish right in the front yard—but most of them are pretty small.
I am learning to shoot from the hip with the rifle. Pretty soon I’ll be a plenty dangerous customer.
I told Mrs. Stavely you would be nuts about the place and would like to go tearing around just as well as I do. She doesn’t believe you are the mountaineer type and you’ll have to show her.
There is a creek called Canyon Creek on the northern end of the district and I want to go fishing over there pretty bad. So when you come up we might go over there. At an old busted down town of White Pine over there, there is an luscious Grand Piano that was the wonder of its time. I haven’t seen it; but Mr. Stavely has and says it used to a whiz and is really a monster. It wont play now – and there are rat’s nests in it. But I thought that probably wouldn’t hurt the sounding board any—and it hasn’t got wet at all. So maybe it would really be something.
We had a party last night and all went on a Toot: Some young folks from Sargents who are just moving out came up and we played Monopoly and had a bust on grape juice. We got in bed at the unearthly hour of eleven fifteen.
I guess you saw the slick Chev that we have here. We, because I get to dive it all the time. What a slick bus!!!!!
I’ll be seeing you, Friday, sometime, and I’ll get the fish all prepared.
Fare Thee Well ----
Rod the Ripper

Bear Lake Ranger Stn.
Estes Park. Colorado
July 3, 1938
Greetings-
I’m still in the dark as to whether I get a pardner yet. This guy Herschler (?) is not the chief ranger that Walter Finn was. He doesn’t know whether his head was moulded or carved.
One thing is certain- I won’t make any money if  I don’t find a guy to help buy food. You just can’t get that stuff in one man portions. And then it isn’t a heck of a lot fun with just one.
I’ve started pulling strings to land a regular job. If you can find someone who knows Representative Taylor he’s the man.
The park has almost no organization this summer. Until the chief ranger learns the score nothing will go smoothly.
I’m getting the same pay as last year. And if I hadn’t been for Harold I would have taken a 37 ½ % cut- again due to the chief Ranger.
I’m either going to Fern Lake or ? next- but I don’t know when.
Berry is sure a swell guy to live with. Then there has been a ranger called Lee Sneden here, too. He went to Fern Lake and will go stay sometime this week.
I’m going to try and work six days a week instead of five and a half. No one has told me anything yet so I will work when I please, meaning that I’ll try and collect for six days.
Yesterday I got the limit in Sky Pond and gave most of the fish to some Kansas people.
Tomorrow is the glorious fourth; but I’m going to work. I think I’ll probably go with Sneden from Fern down to the Brinwood.
Be sure and save the Saturday Evening Posts.
So hurry and come up with a big dinner and I’ll be seeing you.
I’ll let you know when to get a guy to come up.
Farewell and Aloha,
Bert Stiles

Bear Lake Ranger Station
Estes Park, Colorado
July 13 1938
How do you do-
If your week has been uneventful mine has not. I wasn’t in on the man-hunt which is a good thing.
I hope you do shimmy up the way Sunday. I’m still at Bear Lake and probably will be when you come.
Some folks from Chicago are here and they are swell. We have been tearing around all over. The whole mob just got back from Fern Lake. I have been swimming on purpose and no on purpose all the time lately. I really “pond-ified” myself today in Spruce Lake.
I guess Dad had a big time fishing over the holidays. I have been watching fish fairly regularly. The other day at lake of Glass I whipped my line in and hung two great big babies at once. Berry had to land then while I hung onto the rod. One fish weighed about a pound and a quarter and the other just under a pound.
So I’ll be seeing you Sunday.
Goodbye,
Bert Stiles

Bear Lake Ranger Station
Estes Park, Colorado
July 20, 1938
Dear Folks,
That deal over at Mr. Stavely’s fell through. It wasn’t any too strong in the first place and it just went to plunk!
This is Doc Barrows typewriter; but it won’t be here long so I still want the other one sent up please.
It really has been raining up towards this direction these last few days. We were going to Black Lake today and it rained us out. There isn’t much doing; but I sure am have a lot of fun.
We have a house mother here in the person of Ranger Barrows. Since he moved in we haven’t had a moment of sobriety at all. I’m losing weight just laughing.
Be sure and call up Mrs. Viney and tell her to be sure and come up this week. Because after that chicken last Sunday I find myself with strange longings in the stomach. That bread sure was good and so were the tomatoes.
I saw Gordon Mace the president of the Phi Gamms today in town and he says that he and some of the boys are coming up here some night soon. And I’m supposed to play basketball with some C.U. Boys tomorrow night. So I won’t be having too dull a time.
So long,
Rod

Wild Basin Ranger Station
C/O Rocky Mountain Natl. P.
July 25, 1938
Dear Folks,
I got moved from the rumble and grumble of Bear Lake to the peace and quiet of the Wild Basin today. I don’t know when I’ll be leaving or anything about it.
It was fun at Bear Lake with Doc and Jim and I hope I go back again. But over here I’m with Ernie Fields and his wife and a kid named Flanagan. They sure are swell people. Ernie’s wife is the slickest gal I ever saw. I hope I marry someone like her.
We went to Gorge Lakes last Saturday and I caught not the slightest suggestion of a fish. Merle caught four. On the way home we found a little tiny fawn that hadn’t been born more than an hour or two.
I have done very little fishing lately but I guess I’ll get some done here.
Here’s what I’d like to have you do for me. Would you go down to the Vim sporting Goods and buy me a pair of size 8 ½ soled moccasins. And be sure and get the best kind. They’ll cost around $3.00. And mail them up in a hurry.
Hurry up and come up again.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

Wild Basin Ranger Station
Estes Park, Colorado
August 4, 1938
Dear Folks,
The moccasins arrived in due hastes yesterday and got their first official workout today. Thankyou a lot and I guess my cash on hand will go even lower when I have to pay out for them.
I sure hope that you can come up Sunday. And don’t forget to brig the Reder’s Digest and all the Saturday Evening Posts you can lay hands on. Tell everybody to read this weeks so you can bring it too.
I am sure getting spilled on this salary deal. I worked every Saturday last month; but I don’t get paid for it. I only get to work 44 hours a week. So I get reaped out of that dough. Then to make up for it double. This year I am paying about nine bucks a month rent. That exorbitant rate is double what the boys in the bunk house pay and almost triple. And quite a bit more than anyone else I can think of except the permanent rangers. I also worked the first Sunday and the Fourth of July which is another three bucks I will not get. So I figure that my check will come to about 28 bucks ad I’ll pay out about twenty-five for odds and ends and it’ll be the same next month. So I will probably come home at the end of the summer abut six dollars to the good. I spent nine bucks for the sleeping bag and seven for the boots; which need fixing badly. That will make me about ten dollars in the hole for the summer.
There are a couple of bright notes around though.
The Curtis Brown Ltd. Literary agents of New York City have agreed to take over my stuff and see what they can do with it. I wrote to the Saturday Evening Post and they gave me those boys as the real thing. So maybe I might make some money that way some day.
Ernie Fiels may get an appointment out in California. We are all sitting around here waiting for the letter which is on the way and waiting to see what it will contain.
I sure am having a heck of a swell time down here in the Wild Basin; but that’s about all.
So long,
Bert Stiles

North Fork Ranger Station
Glen Haven, Colorado
August 17, 1938
Dear Folks,
Well I’m still up in the woods. And having a pretty good time I am, too. I’ll bet you thought I wasn’t going to have a sentence there didn’t you.
I think that I’ll be coming down either Thursday or Friday. I haven’t had any mail since a week ago Friday. If anything has happened since I have been out here I sure don’t know anything about it.
I’ve only been fishing once since I’ve been up here and I caught nine that time. It should be pretty good fishing; but I just haven’t go to go any.
Last week I saw another big hunk of the park that I have never seen before. There certainly is a lot of the part that very few people ever see. We went up over the Stormy Peaks down on to the Pouire to what is called Pingaree Park. It is a big park that you can get to from Fort Collins. It should be swell fishing there; but again I didn’t get to fish.
The guy I am staying with is Bill McCracken who was voted the most valuable player on Aggies ball team last fall. On that pack trip we were tacking up boundary signs. That boundary was only surveyed last year and the Land Office men really did a lousy job. In two rough places they just pulled stats and didn’t survey any boundary. So we had to come home and without finishing the job.
Lately we have been clearing trail to Lost Lake and it really is a job. We progress about a mile a day so far.
Howard is supposed to be coming up tomorrow; but I haven’t heard whether he is going to make it. He is staying over at Stead’s ranch.
Gil is working over at Grand Lake now; and maybe I’ll get to see him. I haven’t heard anything ese; so I’ll be seeing you.
So long,
Bert Stiles

Wild Basin Ranger Station
Allenspark, Colorado
August 24th 1938

Dear Folks,
Yesterday I got out of the big woods and it really is good to be down again. I was up in that superb glorious wilderness full of fighting fish for two weeks and went fishing once on the first day and it rained and then it was too dry. But I did have a lot of fun and I saw a lot of new country.
I have five days off here in a row. I worked Saturdays and Sundays up there and accumulated some time off. But I almost didn’t get it. That is the way to do it. Maybe. I’ll tell you when my check comes in.
The financial picture I have of myself a while ago was a trifle stretched I think. I had it all figured out that I wasn’t going to make a cent this summer. But perhaps I will. I worked for my board over here the last time and I think that the entirity of my next pay check will be straight into my jacket without taking any out. If that is so I’ll clean up even more than I made last summer. I hope so; but I’ve got my fingers crossed.
It sure is swell to be back with Annie and Ernie again. Up on the North Fork we didn’t dine so well as I do here. We had too much meat and not enough fruit. Bill McCracken is strong on meat. You ought to have seen our meat bill. It was a shocker. Once the cook down at Glen Haven gave us a whole bucket of creamed chicken free. It was enough for two big meals and you know how I eat and Bill is just as good. When we get together we are the eatinest crew that ever was.
I’ll be hearing from you – and seeing you maybe.
So long,
Rod

Wild Basin Ranger Station
Estes Park, Colorado
August, no, Sept. 2 1938
Dear Folks,
I think my departing date will be about Thursday of next week or to be precise September the eighth. The typewriter slipped out of gear then and didn’t take enough room.
If you don’t think that you can come up and gt me, then I haven an alternative. Jack Burkhardt is home and why don’t you call him up and tell him I’d like to see him and his new bus and if he’ll come up and get me I’ll pay the gas it takes to feed his wagon.
We are packing fish and having a big time. Carl Flannagan is leaving Labor Day and so Ernie will need a little help I think. So I’ll pack fish until next Thursday and then light out for the plains. Those two days following will really be one heck of a hustle. I have a million things to do in Denver. Then Monday I guess its back to school only to a different one.
Ernie Field has a birthday on the 31st and we really had a toot around here. I didn’t tell anyone until afterwards that mine was on the 30th. Annie was so mad that we all went to town and went to a show. It was the first show I’ve seen this summer. And on the 30th Merlie Potts and Chuck Terrel and their respective wives came over and cleaned us in poker after a birthday dinner. It sure was fun.
Saturday we pack fish to bluebird with the big shots going along. I’ll see you, and hear from you, maybe, someday.
So long,
Bert

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
September 21, 1938
Dear Mother and Dad,
Well the works is being shot. And this place is really going around in circles for me. I don’t see how I am going to be able to get all the things that I am supposed to do done. And the money is steadily decreasing. The N.Y.A. job hasn’t started yet and neither has the board job. And last night at the first pledge meeting Bob Beach presented me with a very nice little bill of $9.80 for room rent, parlor free, and laundry and I haven’t got it.
Books cost horrible sums here and seem to be getting horribler. And in November I have to get a dissecting set which will probably run into the dough. But that’s November and that’s a heck of a long time away.
But the toughest thing at this place is the sleeping. There just isn’t enough of it. George is on house duty this week and he has to get up at a quarter after six. When it comes to my turn I’ll probably waft away with a breeze.
I hope that I can hook a ride up again on this weekend. If that happens I can probably get some more stuff and see about the money.
But is sure is fun. And it will at least be a merry life if I is a short one.
So long,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 2, 1938
Dear Folks,
I’ve been going around in circles the last week and I just haven’t had time to whittle off this letter before now. But I was expecting some stuff from you. How about those sweat sox and the climbing boots and the cut-off cords. I really need them. I guess Mr. Scott will haul my dirty clothes in before this gets there; but anyway they are dirty and I need them back.
And I haven’t got a job yet. I don’t know what to do. Don Autrey was just blowing when he said all that stuff. He didn’t have the slightest intention of getting me a job and I do have to pay for my board. So what am I going to do? I have seen at least a million places and I went down and saw Aunt Frankie. I guess something will turn up sometime; but that doesn’t help now.
We sure had a wild week this week. On Thursday nights the Fraternities are supposed to load Palmer hall with junk in honor of the next days ball game. So Chris and I decided that we ought to do in on Wednesday night and get ahead of the boys. So we went out and got some unmentionable articles and draped them all over the place. Then you should have been with us when we went out and captured a goat and tied him up over there. We really had fun. Then we had a belt line on Thursday. We had the freshman-sophomore brawl on Saturday morning. And our great-great freshman class with 187-odd swell heads in it really got their plows cleaned. It just took a handful of them to keep us from climbing that greased pole. I really don’t think we would have gotten up the pole if there hadn’t been any Sophs there at all. Because we didn’t have the slightest bit of organization and half the time we were fighting other Freshman. George really laid one. He slung him about fifteen feet and didn’t even know it. First we thew rotten eggs at them which was a tactical error of the first magnitude.
And then Saturday the game was plenty good. You should have seen Bob Scudder, who is house mother at the table I eat at, really clean up those boys. And we sure had a swell time.
And Friday the Freshman tried to picked Palmer Hall and did a heck of a job. The Phi Gam pledges weren’t in on it. But when we got over there a bunch joined in and some of the guys got caught. George and I hung around for a few minutes and I went to sleep on the steps – a heck of a picketer- and then we left and pretty soon we came back and went to class. All the fraternities are made each other and that’s one of the reasons why we lost the fight.
So today, I went up on the Peak again and had a good time. But I sure am sleepy and I think I’ll be getting some pretty soon now. So so long, and I hope I hear from you pretty soon or else.
Goodbye and good luck,
Bert Stiles

Date unknown
1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Spring
Colorado
Dear Folks,
I got your letter and the money. It sure came in handy. That first five bucks I took it right in to Bob Beach. And the next ten bucks I took right in and gave it to Bob Beach. So the last fifteen dollars have gone straight into the ooffers of the fraternity.
A lot of the guys are moving out of the house. There used to be a scramble for bed every night; but now there are a couple that aren’t used.
Dad, you were asking for the dimensions of the room and all that stuff. But if you are wanting to put in a lamp. We already have one. Steve Lowell rounded one up and we can use the swell. So you don’t need to put any in.
I have gotten a couple of letters from the Park Service. But they don’t promise anything. I cant make it up there this weekend And I did want those boots and pants for this weekend; but I guess they just aren’t forthcoming.
You just don’t have time for anything down here. But I guess someday I’ll be able to get around to some of the things I want to do.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

October 7, 1938
Mr. Bert W. Stiles
1245 South York St.
Denver, Colorado
Dear Mr. Stiles:
Dean Rawles turned your letter of September 26 over to me to answer. The statement which we mailed you was on which we only mail in the special instances occasioned by the student specifically asking we do so.
Since your son Bert has an N.Y.A. job which has the possibility of paying him $15.00 on approximately the 20th of each month r a total estimate if $60.00 by January 20, you may wish to pay the difference of $79.00 at this time. Of if your prefer, you may send your check for the whole amount now and as the N.Y.A. checks come in from the government they can be handed to Bert to pay as he sees fit, either on his outside expenses or applied to his next semester account.
I might suggest that our financial policy is to have  payment of not less than $75.00 at registration and the balance in payments or a short deferment of the whole amount as in this case here the payment is expected to come from the parent.
Trusting the above information will allow you to plan a convenient arrangement, I am
Yours Truly,
C. E. Hathaway
Cashier

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 12, 1938
Dear Folks,
Why don’t you  hop down here this Saturday and see the ball game. The way D.U. is playing ball out there I guess you don’t even care whether you see them or not. But down here, that’s a different color of horse (if you can overlook that last shellacing ) (that must be spelled wrong).
This Friday I have three consecutive quizzes coming up. That will be fun. Last weekend they were skiing up on the peak. I went up as usual but didn’t get anything done. I don’t know whether I got any credit or not. Today I got a notice from the treasurer saying that $139 is due in his office. I don’t know a thing about that. Is it or is it not?
That stuff got down here about fifteen minutes after I mailed the last letter- so I haad the proper clothes for mountain wearing. The other night I tore a triangular hole in my grey pants so I guess I’ll have to ship them up to you and get the works done to them.
I am beginning to need a few minor incidentals. Could you get me another tube of Kolynos, a tube of Mennen’s brush shaving cream, a bunch of envelopes, and all my ski stuff; parka, poles, boots, wax that is in the boots, gators, pants, skis, and anything else you can think of.
I didn’t send anything back with the Hermann’s because I don’t think much of the Hermanns. They sent a letter to Bob telling him that if he didn’t stop going with Bettijo Evens they would jerk him out of school. If that isn’t the height of something I never heard of it. And folks like that can just do their favors for someone else.
And you might bring me down some typing paper too, I forgot that in the last paragraph.
I saw some ski pictures last night that almost drove me nuts.
There certainly isn’t time for anything down here. I haven’t had a minute to think things out yet. And the way they cram this history own your throat is lousy. But I guess you get used to it after a while. But I know that I don’t get a lot of the things I really want out of this place simply because I haven’t got time to get them.
That board job hasn’t turned up yet. But it will – or it had better. Anyway I’ll be seeing you. And I sure hope that you can come down this weekend. And if you have any spare Reader’s Digests around and Saturday Evening Posts just ship them down.
And take it or leave it. For once in my life I’d really like to get home and take it easy for a few days. I’ll bet that just about bowls you over doesn’t it. And it isn’t because I am not having any fun here, either. I’d really like to be there just for the sake of being there. And I sure am having fun down here. This is the screwiest place I’ve ever seen.
So solong, and take it easy.
Fare thee well
Bert

Dear. Mr. Styles
So sorry given no time for a full answer- But just let me send back thanks for your letter
VR
Stephen L. Cannon
(Unreadable) 38
The Colorado College
Administration Building
Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 15, 1938
Bert Stiles
The next installment of your tuition is due Oct 15 1938, amounting to $139-. Please make payment on or before that date at the Treasurer’s office, and oblige.
Yours Very Truly,
W.W. Postlethwaite, Treasurer
 

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 25, 1938
Dear Folks,
Well the big job finally turned up. But it wasn’t through any plans or plot of mine. It was a pure bolt from a blue sky. Last night Bob Beach told me he wanted to talke to me ad when he collared me he told me that he had a house job for me. He said the fraternity wanted to help me out and that they had a job doing various odd jobs around the kitchen and I won’t have to pay for board for me, anymore. I mean you won’t have to pay any more. And the money you’ve already sunk in this stuff I’ll pay you back next summer.
They are breaking pledges right and left around here. Four guys got their pledges broken in the last two days. Last night in pledge meeting they gave two of us the chance to talk it out. But both of them turned in their pins.
Last night George, Chris, and Jack Laws, and I went down and serenaded the dorms at elven chimes. We woke up plenty of them and we really roared. Then the watchman chased us and we ran over toward the Beta house. Then we came back and played like we were painting the tiger in the front yard and the whole house came pouring out. Be sure and don’t mention that when you come down here next time or I might have trouble walking for a couple of months.
Solong, and I’ll be seeing you this weekend, I think.
Adieu, Bert

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
November 2, 1938
Dear Folks,
I got the check yesterday and it is practically gone already. And I guess you have been getting royally gyped again. For the money you have sent hasn’t been simply a nice Sunday trip. I didn’t get a cent for the four times I went up last month and I guess I wont get any. That old Rawles didn’t hand in my hours.  And it is impossible to make up work for the N.R.A. rather the N.Y.A. and so my check amounted to the royal sun of $3.00 for those glorious Sundays. That sure makes me sick. First he goes off without even ficin me an idea of how I’m going to get there each week. And then he rooks me out of my pay. If I had another job I’d sure take it and quick.
The grades will be wending your way along toward the end of this week. I guess you won’t throw any parties over mine. But if you had to cram some of this junk down your gullet you might take a while to get used to it. No fooling, the Ec History has me stymied. It is the most completely uninteresting stuff and I know it isn’t doing me any good.
Bill Henderson says that he can get Dad a pass for the ball game. You said that just he was coming down so I told Bill.
I’ll see you this weekend and take it easy.
Fare well,
Bert Stiles
P.S. I’m running out of envelopes again, and I need some razor blades, Probaks.

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
November 21, 1938
Dear Folks,
I’ll be home Wednesday evening sometime I think. But it might be that I won’t get there until Thursday morning. Hey Dad! did you get any tickets to the ball game. That’s one I want to see. I have seen precisely one football game this whole season. No I saw two. And I didn’t think much of either of them. So I am banking on going to a real ball game Thursday.
When I got down here a week ago Saturday I sure had a surprise. The hitch-hiking wasn’t so hot. I had a heck of a time getting a ride to Littleton, and a good long interval transpired on the out skirts of that metropolis before a couple of slick people picked me up. But when I got here there was a letter from Mr. Stavely. At long last he wrote me. But too, there was a big package from the same guy and in it was a great big chunk of venison and a heck of a big loaf of german raisen and almond bread of somekind. Phil Bissel and I ate a full dinner that night on it (there wasn’t any thing else.) The next morning I stowed my hold full before I went skiing and it had to suffice for lunch as well. And when I got home Steve and I ate dinner on it. There was still quite a chunk left that I was saving for George and some!!!!!!!!!!#####****!! Swiped it. But anyway there was venison.
You will be somewhat pleased I hope, to note that I got a 95 on a Biology test last Friday. That was something and no bull.
And Friday night we really had a dance. It was the Shipwreck Dance of Phi Gamma Delta and we really had a time.
Yesterday I went skiing. And in the morning we skied on this new trail that I helped to build. It was really smooth skiing. And I was in the finest fettle of my career. There are so many lousy skiers down here that I am regarded as one of the better. And no fooling, I was really going to town in the morning. But on the way down to the Cove this gal in the car wanted to run the run that the tow (not operating) goes up. All my visions of a big shot skier vanished. There was hard packed, wind blown crust two inches thick and the points of the skis were always digging in and I was always digging out a second later. Was I lousy; but so would have been any one else I think. But I think I really am getting to be a heck of a lot better skier. I’m going to invest in some Kandahar bindings and some new metal poles and someday soon and then I’ll really go to town. I’m bringing up my skis this weekend and I’m going up to Berthoud on Saturday.
The Sunday I spend is, except for the swell skiing (yesterday only), a fast day. I never eat any breakfast and never any lunch; for the simple reason I can’t get any. And it costs me 30 cents to ride up each time so I usually don’t have a cent to dine at night.
I notice that I haven’t gotten a letter from Denver in some time so how about shipping one down in a hustle. Solong and I’ll see you.
Adieu,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
December 5, 1938
Dear Dad,
I heard that Mother has gone to Mississippi. So now you guys are the lone wolves holding down the den until she gest back. Mr. Lake brought down my stuff with him; but how come you didn’t send down my skis. I need those things. If there is any way you can get them down here for the next weekend all well and good. But if you don’t get the down here for next week – keep them up there; because I’m going to start shipping stuff home for Christmas so I won’t have to take it all at once when the time comes.
Basketball started last Monday. So far I’m playing first team. But there are a lot of plenty smooth boys out and I don’t know how long I’ll be up there. This Done Glidden who is the coach sort of likes me and I don’t think I’ll get cut. Thursday and Friday we scrimmaged the varsity. They really warped our tails. But they will have plenty smooth varsity down here this year. I don’t know howgood the freshmen team will be. It should be plenty good. On the first team last Friday where was four Phi Gam pledges. But there aren’t any Phi Gams on the varsity squad.
I think I know a kid in Denver I can get some good cable bindings from – so you may have a job putting them on when I get home. He’s going to stick me five bucks – I don’t know where I’ll get that – but I think he’s in no rush.
I’ll see you and have a good time.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

2228 Landis St.
San Diego, Calif.
Dec.5, 1938
Dear Mr. Stiles:
Your letter is one of the 112 that I have received so far from people all over the country and some foreign parts as a result of my article on the South Seas. Practically all of them ask for further information on going down to the islands. Of course, most of these people will never actually go, but a few may, and I’m trying to answer all letters.
I can fully appreciate your yearning to go to that part of the world for a while, as it was almost an obsession with me from the time I was a youngster and first read Stevenson, Melville, London and then Frederick O’Brien. I think it was O’Brien’s “White Shadows” book that put many others. In 1929 I was fortunate enough to meet O’Brien here in San Diego and go on a trip with him to Ensenada, Mexico. At that time he told me that if only he were a bit younger he would certainly go back to the South Seas, particularly Tahiti, for good. That did it, and I knew I had to go.
However, I was fortunate enough to have a small income of which I could be sure. This, I must insist to you, is essential. It is virtually impossible for the white man to get by in the South Seas without any cash. It is true that you can live for very little, but you must have that little. You ask me for the names of some people down there who might have some use for a husky youngster who would do anything to get along there. I’m afraid I must disappoint you, for you just couldn’t do it. You see, most of the people down there have very little themselves – they are doing their best to get by as cheaply as possible, and are not in a position to take on any youth, however desirable he might be, without funds.
Another thing, even if you had right now the small means necessary to get by, I should advise against it as present for this reason. Naturally sooner or later you want to pick out some work for yourself – some trade profession, something that you know you can make a living at. If you went down there now, before you’ve even started to try to make a living, before you’ve finished school, and you liked it as I do, for instance, you might hate to leave there, and on coming back you might find it tougher than ever to fit in up here and find your particular bent. The islands sort of get in the blood of the people thar love them, for and if they live there or a while they are not contented to go back home and settle down. There is sometimes, as in my own case, a nostalgia for the island life which becomes almost unbearable at times.
This nostalgia has become so great with me, particularly since answering all these letters, thinking so much about the place and getting letters from friends in Tahiti, that is has got me, and within the last headquarters down there. In my case this is all right, because I have a small income – just enough to get by – and I’m trying to be a writer, and I can do that just as well there as anywhere else.
So. I should say to you, keep the desire in the back of your head, but wait a while until you know what you want to make of yourself, get a job and do the best you can with it and make a little money – and then go. The islands will always be there, and the life doesn’t change much. I’ll be glad to hear from you any time and know how you are making out, but you’d better postpone the South Seas for a while.
Sincerely yours,
Philip Aquila Kempster

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
December 14, 1938
Dear family, (May especially, & Dad especially, and Elizabeth, too.)
I’ll be getting home on Saturday. Chi Sigma of Phi Gamma Delta is throwing a big Christmas Dance that night and it should be the realy thing.
I guess it’s bad luck to talk about basketball. Last time I told you I was doing alright. Scratch that out. I’m doing lousy. I’ll be lucky if I don’t get cut before Christmas. I guess I’ll be second string all my life.
The other night we had an alumni smoker. I met a guy named Stewart who was an old pal of yours. About ten of the pledges had to box. I had to fight a guy named Blakely. He had a left like a mule kicking. But every time we got in close I’d whang him some good ones. I just about busted my thumb. I don’t know when it will be fixed again. And I sure can play ball with a thumb like this. I can’t even hold the ball. I’ll sure be lucky if I don’t get cut.
We’ve had a whole string of tests lately and they were horrors. This is the unluckiest week I’ve ever had. If any more bad luck comes along I’ll probably get killed by a mad dog or something.
That ten bucks covered my dues and rent. I won’t need any more until I get home. I may need some then.
Only two more days. Boy! I sure wish they were over.
Solong, Bert Stiles

Bert Stiles Papers, Ms 0095 Box 1 Folder 3
Transcribed by Julie Downing, 2026.

The Denver Post
January 4 1939

Mr. Bert Stiles
1245 So. York St.
Denver, Colo.
Dear Mr. Stiles:
We will be unable to avail ourselves of the skiing column you suggested in your letter of December 29th. I thank you however for offering the idea to us.
Very truly yours,
The Denver Post
Lawrence Martin
Managing Editor

Esquire Magazine
919 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago
January 9, 1939
Mr. Bert Stiles
1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dear Mr. Stiles:
We are running your letter in the Sound and Fury for March in the hope that someone will offer you that college education you’re looking for.
Cordially,
Arnold Gingrich, Editor
1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
January 16, 1939
My dear parents,
A grave circumstance has come to pass. Saturday night I was hailed by a gigantic bundle carrying all my ski clothes. But my dear parents you forgot to send the skis and the poles. I have assailed the express office at least five times and nothing has been seen or heard of the errant skis. Now either you didn’t send the things or they have been waylaid. And either way I think it would be a very good idea to get in their trail at once. Naturally every penny of that postage which was excessive was wasted sending the clothes; because I couldn’t ski. So would you please let me know in a hustle if you sent them or if you didn’t. And if you didn’t do send them, and if you did start collecting on a lost pair of Groswald  skis with metal edges and cable bindings and a pair of very fine metal poles.
I worked that job yesterday. And Dean Rawles isn’t such a bad guy after all. But the rest of those club members are a collection of the biggest chickens I have ever seen. I have never spent six hours being considered such a menial dog. The minute those mugs found I was working for the club I was relegated to the gutter. They didn’t trust me at all. And they had a regular member of the club down there seeing that I didn’t get to collect money from anyone and doing just exactly what I was supposed to be doing. And what a phipe he was! Once I did collect four bits and e member ran over grabbed the money, and two others asked the guy I collected from just how much he gave me. Every time I wen in the motor shack to see how the thing was parking at least two of the members barreled in to see how I was doing and what. If I had had a pair of skis I would have left their job right then and had some fun. But I stayed around all day just checking to see that none rode on their rickety tow. Rawles offered to let me ride his seven foot skis but I didn’t take the offer. He is a pretty good guy. But he certainly is the exception in that club. Of course there are other exceptions too. So, my friends, I think that the ski club and I are parting ways. I can and may go on working for a couple of weeks. But if I ever get to thinking I’m a pretty good guy I can just go up there some Sunday and comeback in a truly meek frame of mind. There isn’t any work for the N.Y.A.ers to do on the field now so all the guys go up to Joe Irish’s and are building him a new house. Its four blocks up there and I haven’t worked up there and don’t think I shall. In the spring after basketball I’ll start again down on the field.
Now to some good tidings. Guess what? Next month Bert Stiles will be a contributor to Esquire the magazine for men. It’s another one of those all honor and no remuneration deals but I’m in the Sound and Fury in the March Issue. I wrote them a letter I promptly forgot about and the other day an answer stormed in here and told me I’m in. So if you want to get on the inside of my ski school read it. I guess it must be even better than I thought; because those editors are pretty astute boys and they don’t usually get taken in by any baloney. I also wrote to President Hutchins of Chicago U. and then forgot to sign my name. He wrote back sending the letter to a freshman at this address. Prof Weimer was going around trying to find out who it was to- but we never made connections. Last night I heard he had it- so he’s bringing it over at lunch. It should be good.
Curtis Brown Ltd. Repeated their request for some stories. So I think I’m going to hit that deal. Starting this week I’m going to try and get in some time on that stuff.
I got a letter from Mr. Stavely today. He seems to be living in their house in Salida. I got another letter from the Forest Service and I’m on file for one of those recreation patrol jobs.
That letter in Esquire may bring me quite a lot of mail from some pretty far-away people. I certainly hope I get some action there.
After finals I think I’m going to try and come on a lot of Friday afternoons and go skiing on Saturdays with Jack.
Well solong, and get a line on this sis in a hustle will you? I sure hope I can have those by next weekend, hint hint.
I’ll see you someday.
Good day friends,
Bert
P.S. I’m getting low on typing paper and envelops- hint hint, B. S.

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
January 28, 1939
Dear Folks,
I don’t know whether this is the 28th or not; but anyway it is Friday and I have just come out of a medieval torture chamber. We just had our Economic History final. And my friends in the far away city was really a final. But I think I got through it. Though what kind of a grade I got I don’t know. Anyway that’s over with. Yesterday I spent nine hours in the library with my old brain focused on a history book. I think the nine hours was well spent – at least it was if I get through that test. I don’t mind telling you that nine hours is much too much to spend and such stuff. But I guess I was a bit hasty at the beginning when I said Economic History was so lousy. I still don’t like it very much; but  I guess it is good for me to try and stuff it through my thick skull. Tomorrow I have M & M History and on Monday Biology and hygiene, and on Tuesday I finish up with English.
Tuesday afternoon I will be on my way to Denver. That makes me happy. Another thing I have been invited by the Fields to come up for a series of ski meets and I think that if I get a chance to ride up I’ll go up to the Park Wednesday night. Then I won’t spend so much money going skiing everyday in Denver.
I don’t know whether to go to a ski tournament at Berthoud or not Sunday. The Pikes Peak Club invited Peck and I to go. I really should do some studying – and again maybe I shouldn’t. So you may hear from me sometime Sunday.
I’ve been putting in some time lately on the old books. But that isn’t any fun.
I worked up on the peak last Sunday again. And I sure did for those guys. Every time I’d see one of those chickens I’d grab hold of the tow rope and go tearing up to the top of the hill. I skied all day long and did what little work there is to be done on the tow. Most of the guys in the club are pretty good eggs – there are about six chickens and I dodged them. I’m not going to turn in any hours for a couple of weeks because I got some money when I wasn’t up there two weekends – those two when I was all set and nobody ever came. But so far I have gotten to ride the tow free and I’ve been having a slick time skiing. I’m getting my weight out over them now, knees together, and zoom. I’m going nuts on this skiing business. And brother if you want to see a kid who can really ski- it’s me. I really am getting onto this game.
You ought to see me know. I haven’t shaved since before I saw you that night and I’m a trampish looking guy if there ever was one.
This typewriter is getting sort of out of whack and doesn’t shift right between the lines. I’ll probably have to get it fixed sometime soon.
So I’ll be seeing you. I don’t need any typing paper until I get back. That dollar will probably go for eating on Sunday instead of a show after finals. Thankyou, anyway and I’ll be there someday.
Good day,
Bert

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 6, 1939
Dear Folks,
I just got back from taking  a trip to see all the big boys and getting officially entered for the next year. They are shipping that bill home to you. And you had better close your eyes before you read it. If you don’t plan on putting out the whole works on the 15th you’ll have to write to Dean Gadd and tell him when the money will be forthcoming.
I sure hope that you can fix that ski for me, Dad. It doesn’t seem to be broken much worse that it is in back. But I also have another idea. Will you find out how much Mr. Groswold would charge for one metal-edged ski. I think that if I can rake up some money I’ll buy one ski and then get that other one from Jack and have a plenty slick pair. I’ll have to match it in color- and his ski has brass edges not steel. So check that will you, please? And you might even be able to do better at Gart Brothers Sporting Goods. That ski of Jack’s is six eight- but it is a different model.
My grades so far seem to be these- Biology- 3; Medieval and Modern History-2; and Whoopeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! English- 1. I was the only person in the class to drag down a one. That sure was a bolt from the blue. But that Biology was a rooking I think. I haven’t found out about the other history. That English grade makes me definitely sure that English is going to be my stuff from now on and biology is going by the wayside pretty soon. In biology final (a the belongs between in and biology) there were two persons who dragged down threes and about three fours, and all the rest were 5’s, 6’s, and 7’s. If that isn’t a lousy exam I never heard of one.
But that English sure makes me happy. I didn’t raise the grades to all twos’; but I got a one. I don’t care about the rest. Hot dog!!!!! A one.
I had a keen time up in the park. I rode up in this great big liner. The guy who drove it sure was swell to me. He gave me part of his lunch and when we got to Estes park he took me up to Ernie’s and Annie’s in his own car. It didn’t cost me a cent.
The next day I couldn’t rate anyway to go skiing. But I made up for it on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Saturday night I went to three plays, locally written, and very-locally produced, plus an amateur hour. It was pretty good.
Sunday we were riding this dive- just a curving shooting ride. On the very last ride of the day I batted down out of there hitting about forty or fifty and tride (tryed) to swing around the curve at the bottom and go on down instead of just stopping. I slipped into it all right; but there wasn’t enough room to pull out of it and I smashed into a stump at the edge and cracked that ski. Anyway, it was a swell trip and I had a lot of fun. By the way the edge is bent up on the bottom so flatten that down too, please. Solong, and thanks, for anything you want.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 7, 1939
Dear Folks,
I’m really keeping the mail man busy this time. But there were several little incidentals that I left out in the yester letter.
Number one: That works of Edgar Allen Poe and sundry stories is lying prone around the house somewhere. I wouldn’t kick if you would ship that baby down. I certainly do need it.
Number two: I found out about my Economic History grade today. I came through in a blaze of glory at the finish line and carded a good grade in the final and rated a 2 in the course.  That puts my average at an even 2.00 which is what you demanded. If Gilmore had ruled everyone in that biology rooking- I would have had a 1.75 average. Oh well! I was so lucky to get the 1 in English and the 2 n Economic History that it isn’t even funny.
Number three: An acute money shortage will soon be at hand. In a few minutes I will plunk down a buck and a quarter for another English book. That makes $1.25 for that book.  $1.50 for the trop down. $.80 for four modified Shakespeare books. Someday very soon when the books get in I’ll have to put out from 3 to 4 dollars plus six bits for a new Ec History book and an outline to go with it. Quite a tidy sum isn’t it?
I think that I will have an agent call for the skis on Friday- so have them ready to go at a moments notice. Good day, Bert

1122 North Cascade Avernue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 10, 1939
Dear Folks,
Get ready to sit down and talk this over- IT IS IMPORTANT! I think that this is the last week I’ll be in Colorado College this year. Remember mother, you used to be worried about whether that board job was just a gift. I thought you were worrying about something that was pretty phoney. But it turned out you were right. I really don’t know the reason back of it; but I do know that I do not have a board job and haven’t had one since the 17th of January. One day out of a clear sky after an active meeting when they had a hot financial row- Beach came in and told me that the job had only been temporary until I could hang onto another one. That sort of got me between the eyes. He never said anything like that at the start- several times after that I mentioned things and even turned down one job when he was in the room. So it may be that the fraternity couldn’t stand the expense and this is the way they broke the new to me. Anyway I don’t have a job. George Teller had an opening that he said he would probably go through if I worked like a dog and did the things they wanted at Shadburns. Sixteen fellows have had this job this year so far. It was getting down there at five and working until eight. That meant giving up basketball; but anyways I filled in for Teller to try it out. Well I got in a fight with one of the help and I had to do the slimiest stuff that I couldn’t eat after I had earned it. I was supposed to be through at eight and had a date- I got through at a quarter after nine and then had to tell the chef point blank that I couldn’t stay any longer. Herrmann had that job at the first of the year and he couldn’t eat at all because of the horrible odor and the taste in his mouth from all the filthy pans and stuff he had to wash. That was the job. Well maybe I would have gotten it and maybe I wouldn’t have anyway. But I told Teller that it wasn’t worth that much to me and I have been sitting around waiting for something to break. Maybe I should have taken the job; but it meant going clear down town at morning and at noon- giving up basketball- and leading a dogs life. It was Sundays and Saturdays too – no skiing no going anywhere- no possibility of getting out of this burg at all until Spring. It is just as I say- going to this college just doesn’t mean that much to me.
Maybe I should have told you then – but I let it ride for a while thinking something would come up. It hasn’t and now I owe a month’s board bill. I know you can’t take that- and I don’t think that you can take even the tuition since I haven’t been helping much with the N.Y.A.
If I had let you down on the grades- I really would have let you down. But I don’t think I did. Did I? And now that I have shown that I can do some work on those books will you listen to what I have to say?
Even if it weren’t for that money I wouldn’t think you were getting your money’s worth out of me. Because I really don’t think that this is doing me much good. I admire my Ec History prof a lot and I am glad that I did get over slamming his course because it did do me some good just to have to take some stuff that is rather dull and needs to be assimilated with effort not just soaked up. But I think I’ve gotten that. The other history is okay too. But that biology is a kickback. If it wasn’t for the fact that Gilmore is an interesting prof I think I’d gag every time I go to class. And even he has changed since someone hooked this test and sold it. And these labs just about drive me nuts. You know how I feel about English. There is a real course.
So here’s my plan. I’ll drop out after Hell Week- starts today. Curtis Brown repeated their letter that they wanted me to write ten stories for them. I won’t have a chance to do them here.
And if I can cash in on that stuff I’ll be set. I can go over to Aspen and stay with a ranger there and start my own ski school like you’ll read about in Esquire that comes  out Monday the 14th.
And I may hear from a lot of guys through that article. That pretty clearly tell my ideas,  I think. If I had stopped before Hell Week all the guys here would have said I didn’t have any guts.
In any case I’ll be back here someday. But when I come I’ll know just what it is that I’m after. If I do have a chance at that writing- I’ll be back here for some more of that guy Powell. I just can’t get enough of him. He’s the swellest guy I’ve ever listened to. Anyway he had said that he will outline a bunch of stuff that I ought to read while I’m out and I’ll read it and write to him about it. He said he would answer all my questions etc. I’m all tied up in this helping the fish work- and I can’t very well extract myself. When I come back I’ll hit that English and leave the biology.
I don’t know what you plan to do about initiation. The $60 is due next Saturday if I’m going to get initiated. And all the bills have to be paid up. I guess initiation is out. I’d like to be if I get through this hell week- but that board bill sort of knocks everything on the head.
The only regrets I have about leaving are leaving some of the guys and leaving Powell- and leaving basketball. I think I’ll be having more fun at less money and learning more if I do get to do some “Ski-Schooling”. Anyway I’ll learn whether I’m learning more or not. I’m really in pretty much of a rut. I haven’t been to a dance or even out with a girl since Christmas simply because  I haven’t had the money. And I know that the drain on you has been plenty anyway.
So I’m taking the gamble on leaving and trying to cash in on those stories. If I had a board job I might stay out the last semester; but Phil still hasn’t got a board job and they are pretty tough to corner. And if I rung one like that Shadburn job I wouldn’t do that anyway. So there you have it. I hope you can see that I’ve got to do it- or something anyway.
George is leaving too I think. He just isn’t going to take any more money from his folks. There is a pretty good chance that he will get a scholarship and finish out the semester. But he has a cinch scholarship to Stetson, down in Florida where his siter goes and he’ll take it if they don’t give him one here.
I think I have a fair chance to get a scholarship to the U. of Chicago; but I don’t know.
So talk it over pretty well- and let me know how you react.
Solong, I guess I’m pretty much of mug.
Feeling pretty mixed up,
Bert

Hell Week
Phi Gam House
Tuesday 14th
Dear Folks,
If perchance you open this first – stop and read the other. This hell week business is just what is cracked up to be. It started last Friday & finishes next Sunday. Boy! Oh Boy! Never did a week go so slow. Each day is a full 24 hours and we are in action in about 21 out of every 24.
Now to get down to problems. I have been absolutely flat broke since last Thursday. Everyday I thought some money would be rolling in, but now I’m not sure if you are even alive.
I’m in a sort of detached state now and I can’t remember whether I even mentioned initiation in the fat letter. I wrote that before Hell Week and I haven’t had money for a stamp- I just borrowed it. I don’t guess you’ll put any more money out on this kid who is leaving next week. But right now I’d like rather be a Phi Gam active than anything in the world. If you can see it – I hope you’ll let me be initiated. One thing is certain- I will be back in college-and by all odds it will be here- because I still think that Powell is the greatest man I’ve ever talked to. But I’ve got to give this writing a chance and the ski school a chance. There’s one semester to lose and everything to gain. If you wish- I’ll make that initiation fee a straight loan. I’ll pay interest too, because I sure want to be initiated.
Please write me right away when you get these letters! And I’ll tell Bill Henderson and some of the guys. Naturally, I haven’t told anyone yet- and if it got out- I’d be dished by Scudder and perhaps another active. (Scudder is absolutely the most primitive, beastial guy I have ever seen- hated by every pledge- and almost every active- and he is dumb!) So please don’t break it to anyone. And please hurry and write.
(Over)
Saturday night we had a walka then for hours & hours just walking- running racing around. Then some Fire drills. Fire drills- bust out of bed at the gong- mouth full of water- down the stairs on hands & knees- getting beaten all the time- crawl into dining room fire place- shoot the water on the fire- up stairs for another mouthful until it is out. We got in bed about 3.
Sunday we worked all day, Had five drills all night & other forms of pleasure! In bed at 4- up at 7:15. Last night- we worked all night- finally they let us snatch a few winks about 4:30 or 5:00 o’clock. I feel sort of woozy, but not as bad you’d think. I don’t care about anyone or anything. Well-we have Five more nights of it.
Ski meet last Saturday- I placed finally-Cross Country 4th. I had the best C.C. time in the slalom. On the last flag my bindings jammed together when I fell- and it took at least 10 secs. to get going again, I would have been in the money. I did fair in the downhill. I was really fagged- only guy in 3 racing events. Right from ski meet to Basketball game- to Hell Week. I didn’t have a bite to eat between Friday night & late Saturday night. George loaned me a dime to eat Sunday- & Joe Husted bought me something again at night.
Solong, I hope I see you.
Hurry and Answer,
Bert

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 20,1939
Dear Folks,
Thanks again Dad for coming down yesterday. And don’t forget to call up Paul Miller.
I’m running very low on typing paper and tooth paste. You could ship some down and I wouldn’t kick. I’m going down this afternoon and get this typewriter fixed.
Don’t get all on edge about having to fight a big argument about that letter in Esquire. Since you think it is parasitic I guess you’ll keep thinking so. I won’t say another thing abut it. You sure do change your tune though. When I go to Mr.Stavely’s you never kick- you never mentioned parasitic then. Well there is a little or no difference. And anyway the editors didn’t seem to think that way. So forget it you won’t hear me defending myself. I wrote it- I’m glad it got in and I don’t take back any of the things I said. If you don’t like it you don’t like it. The subject is closed.
Dad, you said that Gilmore told you that I got a two in his course. Well here are the grades to prove it to you. I dragged down a lusty three.
I’ll be seeing you maybe someday.
Fare-thee-well,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 21, 1939
Dear Folks,
And still another mess has dawned over the horizon. This morning I went over to collect my ticket books for the basketball games and Koshare productions and I ran head into trouble. It seems you have informed Dean Gadd that this tow job costs too much each Sunday and that you asked him to take me off it and to put me on some other place. And that you are holding the college responsible for the fact that I do not get enough hours. Now once and for all. It isn’t the Sunday hours that I miss it is the weekday hours. I will go skiing every Sunday anyway and it will cost just as much. So therefore if I can keep the ski tow job I only have to do four hours during the week instead of twelve. If I don’t convince them this afternoon that the ski tow job is okay. One thing is very very certain- that I will not be able to get in twelve hours a week. So next time I would like you to ask me about what you are writing to Dean Gadd.
That’s about all I’ve got to say. We had our first active meeting last night. It was pretty good.
We have a holiday tomorrow. Hot dog!!!!
Take it easy,
Bert Stiles

Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 21, 1939
Mrs. Bert. W. Stiles,
1245 South York Street,
Denver, Colorado
Dear Mrs. Stiles,
I regret the delay in answering your letter of the eleventh, and now enclose receipt for your remittance of $50. The balance of $33.18 on first semester is largely due to his not working full time on the N.Y.A. assignment, and I enclose statement showing his N.Y.A. checks, including February 15. It will be quite satisfactory for you to pay the balance which, presumably, is estimated at $57.18 in two installments, on March 15 and April 15, as you suggest.
I regret very much that I cannot answer your questions regarding the matter of your son’s work on the ski course. This apparently was an arrangement made by Dean Rawles, who is out of the city and will not return for several weeks. When he does return I will ask him to write you.
Sincerely yours,
W.W. Postlethwaite

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
February 27, 1939
Dear Folks,
You ought to see those new skis. Or have you? They are really the stuff. But I’m having my troubles. I’ll send up the old ones pretty quick. I think I’ll wait until I get the 1st of the month check.
I didn’t bargain on having to learn how to ski all over again. This model ski is a heck of a lot harder to maneuver.  Yesterday I went swishing up the peak to the tournament with the new skis all set. I went out on the hill to warm-up a bit before the meet started and I really had a time. It takes a lot more swing to turn these babies and I had them waxed so fast(?) they were wobbly. Add to that I couldn’t keep the bindings on because I had worn the grooves out of my boots. Boy! I was disgusted. I went back to the lodge and got set for the race. I moved the binding up so they had less downpull and figured they wouldn’t come off. Then we had to climb clear up to where the race started- and it was a climb. It snowed hard all day and the wind whipped the snow around like knives- and it was really cold.
I dived out and on the first turn I knocked myself silly. I just couldn’t handle the skis. On the third turn I lost a ski-the groove didn’t hold the cable. It was snowing so hard that you couldn’t see. You could tell the ground was white; but it was impossible to tell what kind of snow you were on. I lost the ski seven times and got sicker than a dog. At the top of a rock chute both my eyes froze shut. The snow driving into them made my eyes watery and they froze. I don’t want to go through that again. I couldn’t keep the ski on at all after that so I took it off and walked. I sure did feel lousy.
It may be some time before I catch on to riding those new skis. I hope it doesn’t take too long. They really are beauties. But I sure was a sap to start right out trying to race on them.
Thanks a lot for the fudge and keep it up. The malted milk was good too. I am sending the loud pajama top and the swimming trunks back again because I never use them down here. Keep them up there. I’ll be seeing you, and thank you again, Dad, for the skis and bindings.
Adieu,
Bert

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
March 8, 1939
Dear Folks,
I have been a trifle long in writing; but there for a time I was whipping these off two at a time and this is the period of relapse. Now to get at those financial obligations. Active dues are $8.90 a month. Board bill is approximately $25. House bill is $6.80. I’ve got an idea how you can save four bucks to put on the additional dues. I think I can save some on the board bill. Jobs are still so scarce it’s pitiful. Instead of eating three meals a day at the house I’ll only eat one. The breakfasts here are awful anyway. That would be about 45/a day for 26 or so days in a month would make about $12. I can very easily eat on 35 cents for the other meals and possibly for less. For breakfast here at the house we get some soggy-with-mixed-butter-and-lard toast, a bowl (very small) of fruit, and cereal. Once in a blue moon this is varied with an egg or French toast. Instead I’d get a bottle of milk, a roll, and a couple of banannas. And for lunch I can get a pretty good meal for 20 cents down at the Pig Parlor. It would mean you would have to send board money about every week and then pay the $12 house bill at the end or some time. The total month’s bill would be around $21 instead of $25. Let me know.
The N.Y.A. worked out a lost better than I expected. I talked long and fluently and retained the ski-tow job. I now do my added hours under Prof Mathis at Lennox House which is pretty nice. I’m actually getting in the hours for once.
The cove has been snowed in this weekend. All the snow-plows are down in the southern end of the state cleaning up. On Saturday we bucked a little Chev to within a hundred years of the cove; but it snowed again that night and no one went up that way yesterday. We went skiin up towards Divide and found a slick little hill. I began to get the feel of the new skis and another workout and I’ll have them down. Those bindings are really the berries. Collegiate races are at Berthoud weekend after next so I’ll probably be seeing you then and not before. Those skies are boards from paradise. One thing I really do have is a complete ski outfit. I’ve got the best boots to be gotten- the best skis, a smooth jacket, and I engineered a judicial trade and hooked a new pair of gabardine ski pants. Wow!
Don Autrey has quit school and gone to work out on the coast- he’ll be back next year. The Bowery Dance is next week. Elections are this week-tonight in fact. I’ve really gone intellectual. I had a big bull-session with Powell the other night. He really knows the complete history of every obscure composer from the beginning of time. Then right after I went over to Ted Little’s house and looked at his pictures, borrowed a couple of books, ate cheese and avocado at three in the morning, and had a wonderful time. I’m sure getting used to being a night owl. Five of us here have a bet that we will get something published and remunerated before the others. I hope I win. Except for biology I’m having a swell time.
Take it easy,
Bert

4328 Montrose Avenue,
Westmount, Quebec, CANADA.
March 13th 1939
Mr. Bert Stiles,
Just a line to let you know that I carefully read your Sound and Fury letter in March Esquire- why not come up and try the mountains of Northern Quebec. If you want to idolize, idealize and what have you, I promise that you will not find a more beautiful spot this side of Heaven, than lying on your back, with the canoe gliding across mirror like surface of a Laurentian Mountain lake- surrounded by the tall and silent pines and the moon rising over the distant mountain top- and the quiet, why you’ll never believe it…
I’m single, fancy free- no women for me- over 21 and a little more and just love the countryside, the lakes and the mountains- so come on up and I’ll show you a little Canadian habitant (a la Francaise) life. It’s a grand life if you have the right kind of companion. A couple of years ago I went through Europe with a young American from Ohio and I’ve never stopped thinking of that trip- only I’ve lost touch with him now. If you’re like him-come on up to Canada. Maybe this letter will never reach its destination, but if it does, here’s hoping for a reply.
Cordially, L.A. Collins

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
March 15, 1939
Dear Folks,
I’ll be banging into Denver on Friday afternoon sometime. But it is still doubtful as to how long I’ll stay. The Colorado College ski team goes tripping this weekend to Berthoud Pass for a two-day Inter-collegiate meet. We are supposed to go up Friday afternoon and do a little warming up and Saturday and Sunday we strut our stuff. The team is staying at Glen Arbor or Conroy’s or someplace. But Talmadge has a chance to go to the Nationals too and we may work it out that we will hit(?) for the high hills right after the games. I hope so.
My shoes need fixing- so when I get there remind me to take them off and let you get them fixed. I have to have them or I’ll be walking with my toes in the breeze pretty soon.
Here is some really astounding news. The other day we had a test in Economic History of America and Bert Stiles, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stiles of Denver, raked down the top grade in the whole class. The grades ranged from 70 points down and Bert Stiles came up with the 70. But don’t get worried- it won’t happen again. Two other test grades showed up at the same time- an 82% in a biology mid-term, and an 85% in an M & M History test. I’ve had an awful cold ever since Hell Week but I guess I’ll get over it.
So solong, and I’ll be seeing you.
Asta Man Yana,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
March 20, 1939
Dear Folks,
I sure ran off half cocked yesterday. All that stuff about eating one meal a day at the house cannot be worked without some cash to eat on. So I’ll be eating here again for a couple of days until you whip it down. It will be thirty-five cents a day for six day a week. That makes $2.10 a week. Therefore I’ll need that to start off on. We leave Robert Browning and his sometimes somewhat vague poems today and switch to the masterpiece of Keats and Shelley. That means it is time for another dollar and another quarter of another dollar to spin down this way so I can purchase the book containing the works of these two estimable costs.
My ankle seems to be almost in shape already. I’ll be skiing next Saturday., I mean next Sunday. I’ll have to work all day Saturday to make up for not working last Sunday.
I got a letter from a young kid in Yorkshire, England in response to the Esquire horrendosity, and I got my second letter from a guy in Wampum, Pennsylvania, who answered the letter some days ago. One thing I can say for it- I would never have met two pretty slick guys if I had never written it. So there. Well take it easy. Next Thursday after this Thursday we are free again for a brief respite and I will skip home for a brief sojourn. Good day.
Farewell,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
April 16, 1939
Dear Folks,
Well you certainly have me on a pan sizzling over the coals. I haven’t got any clothes whatsoever. If you don’t send those down with an instant’s delay- I vaguely recall your promise that you would send them down right away last week- I’m leaving this joint to a nudist’s camp. And besides sending down the clothes-think this over-I am wearing a horrible old pair of black shoes around- and I haven’t any pair of pants to my name. That gray-checked pair gave way in the nether region two days ago- so I’m ruining my blue pants to my suit now. So do you think that there might be a way that I might purchase a pair of slacks and some four buck shoes in a hurry. I’m warning you if that stuff isn’t here by Tuesday I’m not going to school again until I do get some clothes—and don’t forget to send that dirty-clothes bag down.
I just figured out a rather obvious idea- why don’t I just send you the fraternity bill instead of trying to pay it in chunks myself-every month practically I run short on one end or another and fork out for something unlooked for. That bill is what it is except the Arrears Unpaid are only one eighty now.
We are playing baseball now almost every weekend I think- so I really haven’t any idea when I’ll get home again- maybe not even until summer -I sure hope that summer hurries up.
Down to my holey shorts,
Bert Stiles

Receipt
April 1939
Bill no. 172
Bet Stiles
Current Items:
Chapter Dues 5.00
Parlor Fee 3.00
Room Rent 6.00
Laundry .80
Board, Meals, etc .80
Library fees .15
Total Current Account 15.75
Arrears Unpaid 6.80
Balance Now Due 22.55

Esquire
919 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago
March 27, 1939
Mer. Bert Stiles
1122 North Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dear Mr. Stiles,
Here’s a fan letter for you.
Cordially,
Genevieve Pfleeger
Secretary to Mr. Gingrich
GP:lk
Enc.
Letter from Mr. W. Corwin Chase
Route 2, Box 419 A
Kirkland, Washington

Kirkland-Wash
Mar. 18 39
Esquire- Coronet
Chicago, Illinois
Dear Friends:-
While out wire-tapping  I overheard this interesting dialogue concerning the letter of one, Bert Stiles; as published in March, Sound and Fury:-
Hello; Bert Stiles?
Yes, this is Bert Stiles:
Are you the young man in Colorado Springs, who wrote that letter to Esquire?
Yes sir, that’s me:
Well this is J. William Godd, speaking; ever hear of me?
Oh yes!, yes!
Very well; young fellow I would like to know just what you mean raising  your “voice in the wilderness” like that: Can it be you are not satisfied with the magnificent system of mass-instruction, with the superb architecture of these schools and colleges of your State? Can it be you find some fault with the quality of wisdom to be found there?
Well, J.W., I am not exactly satisfied, on account of the high rate of speed; we have to gallop over the ground so fast; and we only get diz-
Ah, I see Mr Stiles; too fast, eh; that’s too bad; trouble with you is you’re just lazy: I see you want lots of leisure, and lots of fun, - skiing, sailing, swimming, cycling, surfing, etc and etc: Not too much company at first; but lots of leisure and laziness, time to think; time to unlearn a lot of traditional rot-
I can sympathize with you, Bert: I too am lazy, very lazy: SO lazy, that with all the interesting things going on in the World, - Great War, Depressions, Dictatorships, and all, - still I have kept silent, and not opened my mouth, for more thousand years than you ever heard of:
You should know that it is my regular policy to keep quiet, out of sight and hearing and not to meddle in the affairs of men; enjoying their endless monkeyshines, tragedies, comic predicaments, etc; and in course of time, maybe, they will develop the native unit to solve their own problems:
And so the pot boils; quite mainly these days: But what’s the matter with you, now, that you must write letters: to busy editor, to be published in Esquire, for me to read. –
So you would like a bit of leisure? Time to educate yourself, following your instinctive urges? Time to build, to integrate the structure of the mind? And not have a bunch of burly boobs batting you about from duty to duty, with us profit later to accrue?
Leisure; is that it? Laziness, correct!
Would to heaven there were more lazy people, like that Chinese; it would solve many, many problems for them; it would prevent other millions of problems from ever arising; and it might eventually lead to a sense of humor:
Let there be laziness; much laziness, say I:
And the problem, - How to be lazy in a world of haste? And the answer, - Put on the brakes!!
Now, Bert, let me tell you something; a something lots of people know, but won’t admit:
The American continent is a land of plenty; Nature made it so: But, unfortunately, came a day when it was: discovered by Europe, and the people of Europe flocked over in great masses: first on the Mayflower, then on other ships; bringing along their good: their European ways, and their European ideas; amongst these bring their
Point is, the Scarcity System simply does not fit in the America scene; and that’s what causes the friction: You see on the Mayflower and other ships the newcomers brot along their cream-skimmers; and they at once got busy skimming  off the cream; first o the Atlantic Coast, then in the Northwest Territories, the Great Plains; then on the Pacific Slope:
Now that the cream is about all skimmed, the cream-skimming gentry are thru: And they hate to admit it; and especially they hate to shut up shop: And in so far as the schools and colleges teach the gentle art of cream-skimming, they also might as well shut down-
So you see, there is considerable readjusting going on; lots of milling around to very little purpose: But eventually they will accustom their eyes to the American scene:
And because you have raised your voice to get a little leisure, I think you should have it: It fits!
Now, Stiles, there is a fellow citizen of your: I think you should know: He lives over in the State of Washington; somewhat older than you, he’s been around a bit, and the life he lives is just about right:
You never saw a lazier fellow in your life, - but at the same time he gets things done: He paints pictures and makes block prints, when the spirit moves, which it does about once in five years.
But that’s the way he lives, by selling an occasional print or painting: And to get his landscapes, he climbs mountains, visits the ocean beaches, camps in the desert:
He does much traveling by bicycle: All around Puget Sound and Heed Channel, getting in frequent swims; over into the Cascades; round about Mt.Rainier; and into the desert: And I understand he is talking about a trip into the Rockies, or perhaps into Mexico: The real purpose being to have fun and adventures:
And his main trouble is, he can find no one who wants to share his extensive leisure with him; everyone is so jittery; so anxious to be making big money; so set on finding where the big lake of cream is; and so on edge to be first and ready with his skimmer, -That lush leisure, simple laziness, and how to enjoy life, are fast becoming lost arts:
And the biggest and lushest batch of cream is right under everybody’s feet, and they don’t know it, and will not learn it:
Now this block-print maker I mentioned, one day decided to build a studio-house; he didn’t have much cash just then, and Winter coming on: He was the owner of a bit of wasteland, not far out of town that was going back to jungle: So he hopped in, he did, and built a small dwelling, of a size 22 X 20 feet, for the modest sum of 35 dollars: He’s finishing it and moving in, just about Thanksgiving:
Now this house wasn’t exactly an eyesore; he received complimentary notice from critical persons; and was persuaded to tell about it on the air:
It had a reef of hand split shakes, - a luxurious feature: It also had an ample studio window, 14ft long by 7 high; another decided luxury: Also it had a fireplace, with an air-circulating feature; and the fireplace did draw perfectly, even in a highwind:
So you don’t have to sell your soul to any Industrial Sotrap, just to get an education, and a little leisure, and some fun: You can have the leisure, and the far as you go along; and believe me they are important:
Maybe you know of someone who has built himself a neater, more comfortable and compact dwelling; and one costing less with that, in money and labor, than this printmaker’s: Me, I don’t; and remember, this house of his does not contain one stick of well-sawed lumber!
Now if you like that sort of a life, and don’t care to “drive or be driven”, and would know more of the construction of this rustic house, you should get in touch with this man: It maybe you will fancy each other, - can’t say, - Anyway, he is not the kind to want a mortgage or your future: Or, better, you could get yourself a bike; grab off your blanket roll, - Spring is coming, you know, - and make rendezvous with the artist somewhere between the Colorado Rockies and the Puget Sound Country: The full distance is only about a thousand miles, and what’s that to a good cyclist?
Not too much:
So, I will take the liberty of signing this artists name at the end; but as for me, just skip it:
Yours for much leisure and laziness,
W. Corwin Chase
R2- Bx 419A-
Kirkland, Wash.

St. Elizabeths Hospital
Washington D.C. 4/4/39
Male Nurses Home
Esquire-Sound & the Fury.
Chicago, Ill RE: Bert Stiles-March Call to Far off Places
Bert Stiles of Colorado Springs, Colo interests myself. Bert seems to be seeking a congenial spirit who inhabits some mysterious, far off place which reeks with pleasantness and happiness. I personally have had the same thoughts and welcome even the daily newspaper not for its news reports alone, but for the travelogue therein. So Bert, if you find the companion you are so assiduously seeking – please drop me a line, I’d love to hear how you make out & if you want a third hand at shining a beach-combing wire me collect.
And if you don’t find him remember that in our own every day experiences, if one has any sort of an imagination- we can find true happiness if we but just give ourselves a chance-perhaps!
Clutch the future!
David A. Levine

Envelope with beach picture
Spring Greetings
To Bert Stiles- And may he succeed in his chosen field
W. Corwin Chase

Dinosaur’s Cave
Kirkland, Wa.
Apr.17 39
My Dear Bert:-
On a day I climb down from my porch roof, where I am waiting shakes, to greet the postman, who has a letter from you: For this letter I have been waiting in slight impatience:
In the first place it would be interesting to know how many replies you got from your letter in Esquire; and to get their variety of tone, - This because, to me, people are the supremely interesting study:
Doctors and surgeons are concerned with the mechanics of the human being; psychologists and a train of quacks, pry and peer into the dim intellectual regions, - But who, of what name, understands human creation, the motive power and exciter of all action and that?
On reading your letter in Esquire-
Ah, said I, there is a young man who know how to turn a neat phrase, and  write a good letter; the greatest literary gift: And fasting quite benevolent. I will make answer in siren song of unbelievable words:
Of course there are lots of miner’s “park  knacker’s” hermit and self- ostracized, - countless isolated atoms of humanity: Such can be found in all wild places of the earth, living not in assured stability of contentment, but, as it was, slipping-, and struggling-: But they would it be getting Esquire until after a year, at least:
Or, on the other hand, if some Industrial Sotrap, or some well garnished man of leisure took you up; and you entered on a life aboard a private yacht, with much leisure and luxury, every imaginable enjoyment, and some unimaginable ones, - With what result?
No stimulus to further education, or to development of your native abilities and versatilities: Am I right? And not a while more contented than the outcast?
So, say I I will invite the young man to my fraternity,- The fraternity of poverty and hard knocks:
For there is no royal road to joy: nor any royal road to adventure either, Dick Halliburton notwithstanding:
But yet there is a trail-
I will invite you, Bert, to fly on your own wings, out into the big, broad, beautiful world; that is full of hard knocks, - and also full of the finest and best that the soul of man can desire: And if there are hard knocks, it is chalked up on the account of experience,- like cracked shins, and skinned knuckles; not to be remembered everlong:
About me: I am 42; (look more like 32:) And for the last twenty years I have been of the ragged individualist persuasion,- preferring my own private and personal cause, on stiff (or knotty leg) to riding the waves on my institutional ship, with charted course and time schedule and set routine:
And because I was not at all agreed that the destinations of any of these “big ships” would please me, it was needful that I “learn to swim”; that is, have a craft, or art, or profession on which to depend at odd times, especially in rough weather:
Thus, I have found my little portfolio, of prints in bright colors, under my arm, to be one of the magic ingredients in the formula of adventure:
Seeing you have mentioned a certain female,- I hope she is of an adventurous turn of mind, and favors for you, a scant regard for stuffy providence:
For, an excess of prudence will insure that you will never have anything to write about:
I am not now married, but was minded once to take on a wife, gran one off, as it were:
At the time I had only a modest rattler, and a tepee to live in; tho the tepee was an eighteen-footer, and furnished for simple luxury:
Nothing else but my winning personality!
Came a day when I abducted her, - and when we compared notes we had less than four dollars, max. Anyhow we continued to sell a print for 7.50, and tied the knot in an elopement the next day:
And, by the way, be sure to elope; even if there is no one to elope from; it is so much better, quicker, officiant,- and superior in every way!
Our first honeymoon was at Mt.Rainier: And later we went to Honolulu, and stayed two years: Our little bark was launched in 1930, and weathered five years, Five sweet and eventful years,-
And when our modest song was sung,- fortunately, and wisely, we signed off:
There is no reason why you should not make writing your greatest pleasure,- it should be a pleasant outlet if you are to recur to it, and pursue it frequently: It is a question of tempo,- if you are like me: Sorting with out can be irksome, if there is too much pressure:
As for what to write about, age has the advantage, and an adventurous man the super-advantage: And to get this letter, it is almost necessary to be a rebel,-
A rebel, not so much politically, or culturally, - an underminer of the sacred and impregnable institutions,- Industrial Salvapy, Political Chickenry, Legalistic Skullduggery, etc and etc:
That is the lush adventure for the writers and artists of today; to simultaneously build and destroy:
Incidentally, I belong to a skiing & alpine club; and have never been on skis!! But life will have to be longer if I am to be expert at everything:
But the skiing, fishing, hunting, swimming, etc, can be had have very easily: And this is one of the foremost skiing regions:
I can think of nothing just now, but of your invitation to come to call on you at Rocky Mountain: It is even possible that I will accept,- the first matter being to earn the needed cash:
From here to Colorado Springs is 1600 miles (more than 1000); and that should take me 32 days by bike; passing thru Pendleton, Boise, Salt Lake, etc: Maybe longer if there are vicissitudes; I have a friend or two in Salt Lake City; would like to make other contacts on the way:
The bike can stand it, as it has already gone 4000, under me: And last summer I essayed the Chinook Pass, (5450): starting from sea level; ending up at Pasco, or got too sunburned, or drank too much irrigation water, or swam too much, or climbed too many mountains, or something,- and got a bit sickish,- and came home by train:
Anyway she wasn’t home when I called
Please excuse the long letter, and write when you feel like it-
Best of luck,
W. Corwin Chase

Postcard April 28 1939
Mr. Bert Stiles
1122 No. Cascade Ave.
Colorado, Springs
Colorado
Dear Bert Stiles.
Excuse my long delay in answering your letter. About the time if came I was heading to Hawaii and have been involved in parties and plans for Lei Day and have neglected my correspondence. I’m glad you have liked Vagabond’s house. I enjoyed writing it. Here’s advice (good) regarding Hawaii. Don’t come unless you have pennies in reserve to carry yourself for a good while. The place is swamped with adventrurous young and not-so-young men who are on their uppers looking for a way to get on. I’m the complete lone wolf. Don’t count on anyone when adventuring.. it’s more fun to win your own vagabond. Hawaii is even lovelier than I ever knew it before. Hope you make it some day… on your own. Aloha, feller.
Don Slauding
Ted Narramore, Hilo, Hawaii T.H.

1122  North Cascade Avenue ( Apr 29, 1939)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Several Days Late
Dear Folks,
So much has been happening to me these days that I just haven’t been doing any letter writing. Now get ready to start hopping for I’ve got a lot of chores for you. You see since I’ve gotten back I’ve gone for two really slick-looking queens. Last Week we had our Barn Dance and once more in my life I had the best time I ever had—I had a date with a gal by the name of Jean Randolph. I’m importing her to Denver for the Collee Night at Lakeside—that’s the twelfth and we’ll be through on the big hop..We have to go back that night.
Then this Friday I’m invited to the Theta Spring Formal by a real pretty little gal that I never met before I got the date. She asked me via Floyd Bucklin, he was the inbetweener. So will you haul out my white coat, just the coat, have it cleaned, and sent down with my tux shirt—see if that needs cleaning, too, and that black bow tie, tux tie of mine. I’m going to have to have some white shoes pretty soon now, and if I can I’d like to get them down here--$5—because I’m pretty sure I’d have to make a flying trip to Denver to get them before the 12th—and I absolutely have to have them then.
Now here is a list of further expenses I’m going to incur in the immediate future—and will need money for quickly. The English Class is now reading Havelock Ellis’ Dance of Life, and I haven’t a copy yet—that is very immediately needed—I’m going to need a haircut for this Theta formal- and my budget 50 cents doesn’t allow for those things. I’m going to have to get Phil tux pants cleaned and 25 cents or 35 cents or ? and that’s something else. The white coat will probably have to be cleaned after the Dance. And the Dance itself won’t be free. I’m afraid this next month is going to be rather expensive. But it sure is going to be fun. Be sure and have that cost fully protected by some kind of cover or other. Be sure and send studs etc. with that shirt and be sure and get that stuff down here a comfortable interval before Friday.
That’s about it this time I think-there will be more later. And I’m due in there the night of the 12th for a flying visit.
Baseball is swell- I’m part of half regular and half not. I’m the utility infielder. The other night I got three hits against the varsity- one was a triple and I should have made the plate. Last Sunday we went down and played the Convicts at Canon City- they beat us- we went through that hopeless place- this morning we beat a C.C.C. Campe 9 to 8-I scored a run and handled five chances. Tomorrow we go to Canon City again to play some other team. I’m getting in on some of this Fine Arts Conference. That Founder’s Day banquet is on the night of the Formal- Thankyou, Dad, sorry I can’t go.
I’m sure having a swell time this last month or two. So be sure and hustle that stuff down here-and I’ll see you.
Solong, Bert

Envelope
1122 North Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Stiles
1245 South York Street
Denver Colorado
There’s a corsage too- I forgot.

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
May 9, 1939
Dear Folks,
Well I’ll be breezing through on the 12th. You say that you won’t be there probably when we get in—and I very much doubt whether we will stop on the way back.  But I will have to pick up some cash. That ten bucks didn’t last long. I bought the shoes for five and a half. The English book cost a buck. A corsage cost another buck. Cleaning Phils ants and pressing cost another four bits. So I’m flat again.
Say if you do come down Saturday will you bring the following things: typewriting paper, Probak razor blades, and if you can’t find any—some shirts and pants. I haven’t had anything washed for so long- that I’m down to my three sweaters and that’s all. These gray pants will soon give say in the nether regions I fear and I will be completely without covering for my shafts.
Thankyou, Dad, for the rush news. We’ll get on those guys.
I’ll try and see the gals some time down here. But I have a test every day starting Wednesday and Friday we are heading for Denver- but that will be at night.
The Theta formal was a success and a half. This little gal Peggy Keyes or Keys is really all right. She sure is good looking- and so is the one I’m importing.
I went skiing Sunday and it was just about the best skiing I’ve ever had. It was as smooth as a pool table and fast. Another buck went that way. It took the usual thirty cents transport- another two bits for a show that night-and fortyfive cents for three meals on Sunday. That old money vanishes like nothing at all.
We have our formal out at the Broadmor the 26th- and it is going to be something.
I got a letter from Jack this morning- and a letter from Don Blanding, that Hawaiian poct that wrote that little book of poems Mr. s Atkinson had the other day.
I haven’t been home for an age- but I’m getting used to it down here- and with these two gals and baseball and etc. I’m sure having a time.
We played East Saturday and they eked out 18 to 14. How’s that for a horrible score. I made five errors and seven assists. Schwarts made fiver errors and about two were a pretty weak infield. Well, take it easy and I’ll see you. Leave the money on the table-or anywhere.
Adieu,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
May 22, 1939
Dear Dad,
By now you are how-ever-old-you-are plus four days and I haven’t officially bidden you Happy Birthday!!!! Well I hope you have thousands more and all of them good ones.
On the 18th I suddenly remembered that  I had better be shipping your present off to you. In my stats of limited financial resources that quest for a fitting gift was hard and perilous. Finally I struck upon the idea of a turtle. The turtle symbolizes a trip we once took where we caught five fish, three cottontails, and one turtle. That turtle ran away. This one probably will. But in the turtle I vision many trips on blue waters where wary trout lurk-the turtle also lives in water. Anyway I went over to get the turtle and found I couldn’t get one until the 20th. Such a son- anyway I hope he got there.
I don’t know about that weekend fishing trip- I don’t think I’ll be able to hack it. We have our formal on the 26th, and then we have to start be ring down- for Wednesday finals start with a vengeance. That definitely rules out any trip to the Park on Tuesday for I’ll be hard at Economic History that day- and naturally on Monday I’ll be in school.
I’ll be seeing you and here’s hoping we get to go fishing soon-maybe not tomorrow-but soon.
Adieu,
Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
May 22, 1939
Dear Mother,
It doesn’t look like I’ll get to Denver before they 4th of June after all. I couldn’t make it this weekend. We went to the art Center Ball Friday, and bowling Saturday, and I just didn’t get there. Besides that there was the Conference Track Meet on Saturday.
I can’t make that Tuesday Park excursion and will be booming around here with a big weekend with the queens so that’s out.
For the formal I must have the shirt and tie back- and this time don’t forget the studs- you did that last time. DON’T FORGET THE STUDS AND LINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also need some Mennen’s brush shaving cream-last time you sent brushless-it is okay; but it runs out too quick.
I don’t see how the siters of mine can crack this formal- for it really costs a lot of dough-and only a few of the guys are going- and they have all had their dates for quite some time. I hope that the turtle was all right- it was a good turtle.
I raked in a 95 on a biology test today. That’s the high for this season.
I guess I’ll have to let the pants go until I get to Denver- I hope these last that long. I can get a swell sport coat here from John Clark for four bucks-and when I have to get one soon up there- if I happen to have the dough-it will cost ten and better. So perhaps you could institute a little loan. Anyway, solong, and send the stuff.
Adios, Bert Stiles

1122 North Cascade
Room of Bedlam
Monday
Dear Folks,
I got your letter this morning, Dad. Here is something you perhaps would like to know- Canby’s name is not Ted- it is Joel-or joe as he is called.
Say, would you put this proposition up to the girls. I have after due contemplation of my almost empty treasury decided that I will part with my radio-for the princely sum of six bucks. Two dollars payable just as soon as they can get it down here. The kitchen closes up either Wednesday or Thursday and we don’t eat tomorrow- so practically every sou I have left after buying that coat, a ride up the park Sunday, two meals Sunday, and one today, and borrowing to eat tomorrow is gone. (not a good sentence) So please try to swingthe radio deal with alacrity-will you. That is good. Also I have to take a final on Monday after all- we got one switched and I won’t be coming home until next week. Everything happens to me- so I’ll see you.
Be sure to sell that radio in one awful hurry-I need that Kale.
Solong, take it easy, the weather is nice-I got a letter from the park today- no news- no appointments whatsoever have been made yet- up in the air…..COFF!
Adieu, Bert Stiles

(A hand drawn map on the letter that includes directions to Seattle and where the author lives)
R2-419A-Kirkland. Wn.
June 7-39
Dear Bert,
Yes, I think you will do well to suspicion any long succession of good luck:
Pardon the delaying in my answer; and I should have realized there is always about the getting of any job: And you would have it, about if_____:
That is particularly encouraging news from Curtis Brown Ltd., and a thing to follow up, most certainly: Paint is, a guy needs a quiet place, and good food, and not too much company, while he is doing it: On the other hand, any job will serve to get the emergency rations, and there isn’t great danger of being: ordered into anything too profitable nowadays:
Anyway my previous offer to you still holds: I have a small house, which I built, standing in a grove on a quarter-ace tract; across the road is a 5-acre tract which I own: Nearby is about 30 more acres, mostly in second-growth, owned by my folks: It is growing up rapidly, around here, into residences, small farms and etc: Three miles down the tracks is Kirkland, and across: Lake Washington is Seattle:
If you could continue to get here, you could live with me: Here is a good roof, a private garden, beds, - and our food we will have to fight for, just the way everybody does:
My first big (lost) project is Printmaking: At that I have worked for some fifteen years, - I can’t say it has paid well, or even moderately; but it is a combined art and craft, and something to have, and show, and talk about, and satisfies a need:
Next (lest) project is writing: (Don’t be too shocked) but I have been doing it, off & on, for eleven years; and no sales yet; mostly because I was writing for my own enjoyment, not for any specific market,- recording my adventures, etc: My trouble seems to be that I have a most vicious tongue; too vitriolic; but I have hope this first froth will boil off in time:
Next possible project is designing or building small houses like mine: And it’s a cinch I would build to sell, not to rent, in view of the unreliability of incomes:
About my cabin: It is approx.. 20’ X 22’ one room, with ‘L’, and small screened porch: Very rustic: it sets on cedar sill and stout base log: The siding poles(peeled) stand upright on the base log: Its eaves are brot down very low, to give a snug effect, and the 14’ stud is windows placed in the gable end (14’long x 7’ high):
On the whole there are so many unusual and radical innovations in it, and in the fireplace, that most people are frankly afraid of it: Just the same everybody keeps an eye on what I’m up to:
And it’s always possible to install all the high priced plumbing and whatever the customer will pay for:
Anyhow theres a possibility: People around here do about everything under the sun,- flower culture, berries, chickens, pigs, truck, dairies- building trades, shaker splitters, teachers, clerks, WPAers, hummers, and etc-
On the whole, the score seems to be, -it is almost necessary to create one’s own permanent niche: because the “job era” is about over: And looking back, I sure did kick over a string of good jobs, and not sorry either: Main thing is to have enough to eat: it-food keeps a man alive-eh, what!
Very Hastily
W. Corwin Chase
Enjoyed your letters very much

Previous letter typed word for word dated June 7 39

R2 419A Kirkland
June 17
Dear Bert,
Once upon a time there was a guy whose name was The Lord of Chesterfield: And if so happened that this Lord Chesterfield’s house burned down; so it, and everything in it, was lost:
My comment on that was, “And if the cake is not all frosting, neither is life all cake: and a house burning can happen even to the Lord of Chesterfield”: And the Lod had to take the grief, even tho he hadn’t committed any crime:
This thing of your folks being doubtful about me and my projects rather throws a monkey wrench into things: I am perhaps the last to decry deceit, if it is in a good cause: but I have found it wise to use deceit only against actual enemies: And your folks, no matter how straitlaced are not actual enemies: They know you have a mind of your own, not to be quelled; and if you go about showing your intellectual & emotional independence in ways that require courage, rather than deceit, they will later come around.
But what’s all the rush? Didn’t you sleep last night; or eat food this morning?
Christ, If I had you up here, I’d probably make tougher demands on you by far, than your folks do: And if this nefarious program is so that you can escape from the frying pan into the fire,-
No, my young and giddy friend, it is not skiing, nor fishing, nor winning championships, or making money, or climbing mountains, or hunting, or such educational courses, that spells joy, happiness, pleasure,-
The joy, the happiness is something else; so slight and rare a thing as to be very easily lost: It is not at all vulnerable to any mass program of “cake gulping” or did of pure frosting, duly:
In your present, hasty frame of mind, you and I would not get along; not for five minutes: Most valuable versatility I have is an ability to take, and disregard, considerable grief; such as, the total loss of my first house, built entirely by myself, requiring two full years: labor: (this by court action):
Another thing,- You will have to learn the psychology and mechanics of conscience; something not taught in school;
Anyhow, amongst my other accomplishments, I have a certain expertness in practical psychology, - And its like this; we start out and together, very easily, manage to pull a fast job of deceit; next act, when the circs put on a little pressure, I put over an even better job on you, or vice versa: Tan you would be mad, and with good cause; also vice versa:
Another thing, by forgiving my name to the typewriter letter you showed your mother, you are down one: Believe me, boy she wanted to see the postmarked envelope too; and if you gobbed that, by erasing any pencil marks,- going down!
Having lived with you much longer than I, they can hardly help but be aware of your vocal & verbal versatilities, only they are hoping it wont get serious:
Everybody has to learn how to take a little grief,- and its always forgotten later: Thing to do now is to sketch that fishing club tale, and sketch it right; even if you do lost some face by it:
I am not mad now, but if you don’t, I will be! That’s another most valuable psychological note,- the face has to stand the punishment, and it can:
Hop to it
W. Corwin Chase

The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Office of the President
June 22, 1939
Dear Mr. Stiles:
Thank you many times for your letter of June 7.
You would be a better student in my school than I would in yours.
Dean Works informs me that he has not yet received from you applications for admission and for a scholarship. In case the applications were lost in the mails, I am enclosing blanks on which you may make application. These blanks should be returned just as quickly as possible, so that they may be considered by the Office of Admissions and the Scholarship Committee.
Sincerely Yours,
N (?)
Mr. Bert Stiles
1245 South York St.
Denver, Colo.

Picture enclosed of W. Corwin Chase 1938 that reads              
Taking the liberty of sending you my mug

1939
Kirkland, June 26-
Dear Bert,
Said I to myself that now is the last I will be hearing from young Mr. Stiles; and it seemed too bad you should get yourself into such a dither of haste,- etc-etc:
You surprise me; or is it true that you actually have erased that “fishing club” picture, taking a tick in your self-esteem?
If you have, you have acquired a valuable faculty that will be useful right along:
I make no secret of the fact that I have diverged, stepped aside from the main current of “progress”, and the “machine age”: The result is I am a constant source of laughter and amusement to practically everyone,- because I ride a bike,- paint pictures, - I build outlandish houses,- go about in shorts,- have a funny face,- and generally do what I feel like doing, regardless:
But that is very swell stuff: and only the usual hazing anyone will get who does not conform: But you will be surprised how few there are who can take it:
If you still wish to come up to these parts and learn the gentle art of starving to death; and other fine and practical arts,- such as Blockprinting,- Houseplanning & building,- Landscaping,- etc & etc, Why you are most welcome:
It seems a shame tho, that you do not have a bike; because there is so much fun to be had that way: and it is also possible to get there on it!
Until the 10th of July I shall be vacationing on Hood Cave with some Olympia friends: My first act being to bake some bread and than bike the 70 mi to Olympia on Wednesday:
Hope your folks realize that I am not trying to “exploit” you, or make a dangerous radical out of you.
Keep in touch-
Truly, W. Corwin Chase

Bert Stiles Papers, Ms 0095, Box 1, Folder 4
Transcribed by Julie Downing, 2026.

Timberline Lodge on the Slopes of Mt. Hood
Government Camp, Oregon
July 5, 1939
Mr. Bert Stiles
1245 South York Street
Denver, Colorado
Dear Mr. Stiles:
We acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 30 in which you apply for work at Timberline Lodge.
We are sorry to advise that we have no opening in our staff at the present. However, in the event of an opening which we fell you would be competent to fill, we will be glad to contact you.
Thanking you for your letter, we remain
Very truly yours,
Timberline Lodge, INC.
Arthur V. Allen
One Hour’s Ride From Portland, Oregon

Rocky Mountain Fork
(National Park)
August 12, 1939
Dear Mrs. Stiles,
This is addressed to you only because I am in dire need of some immediate assistance. First of all I forget the very necessary article called the towel and would appreciate very much if you would send up a couple—in an awful hurry—plus the razor blades which are lying down on top of the chiffeneur—if that’s how you spell it—plus that old half slicker which hangs in my closet—plus that leather jacket which also hangs down there—the one which came from Cid the green one with the belt.
Well the worst is here I couldn’t have plotted a more diabolical scheme of things if I tried. I found out on arrival that the Park Service now has me where they want me. And for the next two years since they have seen me swear before the judge as to my age etc. I cannot be a temporary ranger or a fire guard-and it will be useless to try and coerce them for they’ve got it down and they can use it any time one of my letters gets too demanding. That is the nuts. I heard one of the clerks say that at last they wouldn’t be bothered by any more mail from me-thank the Lord. So they put me out on a road crew-which is as the letter said so I was warned and I get considerably -some forty centers per day less than anyone else on the crew. I have not yet rooted out the reason for this-and probably will (over) not be able to do so anyway. They are paying me $3.60 a day-which isn’t bad- but then they turn around and take one great big healthy chunk out of it right back. I pay $1.20 a day for board and that is Sundays too-where there is no income. Plus that there is a slight charge for quarters-some three to five dollars per month-plus that every time it rains hard enough to stop work work stops-and pay does also. Plus that the appropriation may run out any day-but will probably last for a while.
Right now I’m using a rickety type-writer at Utility dorm-where we have been working today-and probably will part of next week. You will probably chortle with glee at that-it is a sure cinch that my illustrious father-for it is really a chore. We are the poling crew and the oiling clothes are slated to be ruined completely. They are on the road already after only one day of it-but what a day. We start early and we quit late-and we oil-which means most of the day I swing a shovel-which is still work. But it isn’t bad if I only didn’t have the prospect of two years of the same thing with nothing better in sight. Not that the brass hats will say I can have nothing better; but they kicked a kid out for not being 21 the other day-and they are really tightening up and the stenographer did tell me that I was probably in for two years of it. So nuts to that.
That means I make $21.60 on a fall week—and pay put $9.19 of it right back to the government. And there will be other expenses so I stand to make a little better than ten bucks a week the week it doesn’t rain.
With that fortune in prospect it seems that I am on the quick road to being a millionaire. Doesn’t it though. So you were glad I got up in the Park again instead of the city-well it mightn’t be so bad. But utility is the worst part of the Park and where we go next isn’t so hot.
I’ve got a lot of clothes I might as well send back. So the first time you come up bring a great big box and carry home a lot of junk. Because this oiling is the end of a hunk of cloth. I brought up my ski jacket-but I can’t wear that-so if it does rain while we are out I’m just going to have to get wet- because I’m not going to ruin that stuff on this ghastly stuff. So , send that slicker and that leather jacket.
And Forward that mail-just in care of the Park Service-ie. c/o National Park Service, Estes Park , Colorado. And I’ll get it. I sure hope I line something else up for the prospect of this stuff indefinitely is not pleasing- in that not at all pleasing. Oh, I’ll get used to it; but the minute something else turns up-I’m leaving right now. Tell Dad to ask that guy he knows who hires kids liken McClung and Winters for those survey gangs if he could get me on after they go back to school. There I’d be clearing about $25 a week-I wouldn’t have to be paying the government quite so much kick-back. And some of those letters may be what I’ve been writing for—so send them up as so as they come.
But best of all-as my literary agent-if just one of those jobs would come through there would be probably a couple of months salary in one lump. So agent get on the ball-and if one does hit the jackpot-then be for that. I’ll rent a locked room with a time clock on it- and it can keep me in there for eight hours and then open. I’ll make them up part of the time-and copy them the rest of the time. I was just getting going before the Park Service clipped me off-was that Echo Valley any good? Boy, if I could only sell a couple- then I could even probably go back to school-and every afternoon-instead of N.Y.A. which I didn’t do-I could hit that typewriter just like I did the nights I was home-when I stayed home. And then I’d ship them up to you and you could go them over-and then we’d be off. There’s nothing like a day on the business end of a shovel-and the prospect of a ghastly procession of more like it to make a guy think of school. So, agent, my fate is in a large part, in your hands. So come home for me, luck charm. This doesn’t look so hot too me.
I sleep in the dorm with about twenty other guys-and the sleeping is eratic and irregular. Some of them I knew from last summer. But Berry and Barrows were the best and they have gone. The guys that live her never have any fun anyway-and they act like it. The Basin is the best place for that. The guys on the road crew seem like pretty good eggs-the one I’ve met. So that isn’t so bad. But I don’t like getting less dough than they do. I’ll find out sooner or later about that.
Ernie and Annie are okay. So I’ll get along-but I sure hope something comes up that I can out of this dump. It better.
Solong,
Bert Stiles
P.S It really isn’t as bad as I make out.

Colorado College
Colorado Springs
Colorado
Dean of Lien August 17, 1939
Mr. Bert Stiles,
1245 South York,
Denver, Colo.
Dear Mr. Stiles:
I note that, to date, you have not made any payments to reduce the debit balance of your last year’s account with the College.
Will you please give this your attention or write me frankly as to what your financial plans may be?
Your very truly,
Wesley Gadd
Dean of Lien

(Aug. 19, 1939)
Natl. Park Service
Estes Park, Colorado
Dear Folks,
Either I haven’t been getting any mail- or you haven’t been forwarding- and haven’t been writing either- or the office hasn’t been passing it on. One way or other I need some and you or somebody had better supply it.
I got moved up here about Tuesday- this is about ½ mile below Poudre lakes. For a while I had hoped of getting switched to the trail crew and still might but I’m getting in the rut and don’t care much.
I hated this stuff so much at first I guess I wore myself out- because I don’t care anymore- each day is just another day. In fact the cultural surroundings of this place are so completely lacking- and the food so leaden and deadening that I would almost rather work than stick around here. Church Hoss, all-state end from Engle wood is a good kid and a guy named Sid is okay- the rest are older-good guys-but in a runt- and I’m getting in it.
I caught two fish last night and that was fun. It really isn’t so bad. But if you can get your hands on some reading send it quick. But mail is what I want most.
Here is some news. There is a guy named Art who works for the Bureau (of Public Roads�� who has a job on a new highway from Mexico City to Vera Cruz- and down to the Pacific. He is a good guy and one night he said he thought he could get me one. The Pacific Construction Co. is doing the job. I wrote and applied two nights ago. Art wrote a letter too, and he is in with the big shots, so I will probably get it. Most of their labor will be Mexican, and I will probably drive a pick-up or some thing. And Art says there is a swell chance to work up. I will get about five bucks a day-according to Art- and living expenses, the money is deposited in an American Bank. I have to sign a two-year contract and if I quit before the first year is over I forfeit half my pay. I looked over Art’s contract, his has all this stuff- but he starts out at 12 bucks a day. I didn’t like the 2 years stuff- but it’s okay I guess. Since I’m a minor you will have to sign it. There isn’t any hustle- I won’t be leaving until the 1st of October if I do get the job- and I think I will.
So maybe I will learn how to work. I have always hated and tried to avoid stuff like this- because I figured that a guy could swing something good if he loved it enough, fought for it enough, and wished, hoped, dreamed, and had faith in. But maybe I’m wrong. I guess I’m not good enough to be a writer. So I might as well start figuring on having a life that for a time at least, I won’t care much about. It will be Mexico, though, and I’ll see something new. So I’ll try and learn how to work on something day in and day out that I hate- I guess it will be good for me. I guess that’s the way it is. So I’ll go and make some dough- maybe enough to keep me for a while. Maybe someday I’ll have money by the tail instead of it always having me. But I really don’t think I will- it just doesn’t look like I’ve got enough on the ball. So I’ll take it- it will be something like football- I’ll see if I’ve got guts enough. And I do get used to it- for I’m almost used to it now- only a week- but I don’t like it and I never will, And I don’t figure this is work that I ought to do- since it has to be done. I just take a look at these old boys up here- good guys- but they are in one ghastly rut and the life they lead is pretty horrible- it is their life. Nuts!
Well take it easy, and let me hear from you. If I line up any chance for some good fishing- I’ll let you know Dad. And send me another 5 dollars will you, please.
Let’s take a look at my expenses. Mother, I owe you #2.50 plus five. I’ve worked six days now- and made #13.80, unless Uncle Sam dips in a big finger-which he probably will.
For three days I was an oil patcher and worked two days at utility and one day up on top. Then I got switched with another guy and I’m on a general crew- three men. Chuck, and an old dope, and I , we fix shoulders, haul sand, dig out ditch lines- and eat the lousy food. This cook makes the worst lunches in the world- and we pay 40 cents for it- that is the rankest robbery.
But here we go – all I do is beef. It isn’t bad.
Solong, and I’ll be seeing you,
Aloha,
Bert Stiles
P.S. Don’t forget that 5 bucks.

Utility Typewriter
Nat’l Park Service
August 27, 1939
Dear Mother and Dad,
Well I got the letters and the enclosed bill. I really didn’t need it because Joyce couldn’t come after all and probably won’t be. But I had to get some things fixed up and most of it is already gone. But the check will come sometimes after the first and I will be able to pay the whole works back. That will make about $13.50 and that is a healthy chunk of the check.
The Mexico deal didn’t pam out after all- they don’t need any kids like me- and Art’s optimism was a bit unfounded I guess. Anyway it was just another one of those things. I’ve contracted such a cold I can barely move without a hearty blowing of the nasal appliance. I guess I’ll get over that too.
I don’t know quite what is going on up here. Bert Fraser tells me to keep my mouth shut and go to work. And I think maybe the brass hats may have something up their sleeve. Anyway this is the last week with the full crew. Sid and Chuck, the two kids are leaving this Saturday for good They are pretty good eggs. But I won’t miss them an awful lot. The older guys will hang on for a while. I got another brain child the other day and wrote another letter to Mr. Canfield, so maybe I can keep me in his mind so that he won’t forget about me.
I was planning on coming in to Denver with Paul Anvilink, who is a character of strange proportions (not physically0; but I’d only go out and spend all that dough and I think I won’t come now. And anyway I found out that we do get Labor Day off, so that would make two days, and maybe Dad can come up and go fishing. I have to work all day Saturday, so it wouldn’t be much use to get in here then, unless he wants to get up here early, or rather be able to get to fishing early. Maybe he should wait and high in here Sunday. I don’t know- so if you can come, write quick and tell me when and where. I was all set for the bright lights of the city- but I’ll write and tell the gang, that I’m not coming. There are a lot of places that we can go fishing- I don’t know how good it will be.
That Unknown magazine(?)must be a Street and Smith pulp, and I’m pretty sure that Pegasus would be frankly out of order- but I don’t know. You’re the boss so send them wherever you want to. Why don’t you send that fishing thing to Bert’s Best, Grand Rapids Press, Grand Rapids, Michigan; he is titled Outdoor Editor. It might go and it might not. And don’t try to make the letter so business like; because he is a friend, and tell him that you are the mammy of the guy that wrote it and see if it is suitable.
Your letter would have gotten to me too late, to do any good if I needed that money- I didn’t get it until today, Sunday.
I saw Howard last Sunday, and his folks. They haven’t showed up here yet-and I wouldn’t be able to go fishing anyway. But I’d like to see them.
The cook up there is getting worse and we three kids and he are feuding – I get cheese sandwiches every day. He sure is a dumb chicken -but I guess he has to get along. Annie is coming out in their new Plymouth petty soon- they traded Scrammy, the Ford, in-if that wasn’t tough parting there never was one- I should have bought it and kept it in the family. But they’ve got a new one now-and they’ll forget about Scrammy.
Last Monday, Paul and I had a misunderstanding about whether he was to pick me up or whether I was supposed to go over there- and I got stranded here at Utility with no ride. Tomorrow I hope nothing happens like that- but at least he knows he is supposed to get me.
There are sure some good eggs here in the dorm. George Tiner, Ranger par excellence, is probably going to get shifted to the road crew after this week, and maybe we will be on the same track and that will be keen. A kid named Prather Ashe who is on the trail crew, from Denver, skier, is a really good egg.
If I could get rid of this cold I’d be okay.
All there is to do at Milner Pass is write letters-so some of this money will buy stamps- a lot of it will- and I have run out of envelopes and will purchase a pack or so today. I haven’t been fishing except that one time. We throw a football around every once in a while-and I really have a good tan. All last week-or rather for three days all Harvey, an old boy from Grand Lake, and I did was screen sand- and maybe that wasn’t work- just shoveling sand for eight hours a day. But I got the tan- I hope I get to keep it. Friday, Fred, another old but swell guy, and I patched holes in the Grand Lake road, and made a couple of bigger ones. Then Saturday, yesterday, Fred went away and they put me back on the oil-patching crew again. Nuts to that- I’d rather shovel sand any old day. I don’t know what I’ll be doing tomorrow- but I sure hope I’m not o the oil truck again.
We have a shower up there now. We see deer all the time, that’s about all. I saw another show last night. I’m going up early in the morning again.
I’ll see you sometime and I hope I get some mail- and the fishing should be pretty good this weekend.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

Milner Pass Road Camp
Park Serice- Estes
September 2-39’
Dear Mother-
Here I sit=Saturday night-usually I at least have some fun on Saturdays. I hope Dad gets her early.
My birthday was indeed momentous-shoveling-but we did go down to the CCC camp and saw a show-which I saw New Year’s Eve of 1938. But it was better this time.
On Monday: I am completely indifferent-no hope-no anything.
Tuesday’s , the same, only I’m glad it isn’t Monday. Things aren’t so bad until about Thursday-than I get fed up- and ponder and plan over ways to escape.
I am always, hoping the mail will bring my reprieve. It all came at once today. I got 10 letters-but no loophole. So I became resigned again. At this moment I am hoping that perhaps Dad will bring some news of something.
The other two kids left today. They were really happy. Nobody left now but the old boys. I thought today that deliverance was coming unsought. The cook, the dog, and I almost came to fisticuffs. And I had visions all day of the foreman driving up and giving me my walking papers. But I guess the cook has about as much influence as I have. Still I may get the axe yet. The food is really lousy. I can’t keep going on it- too heavy. The cold still hand on-and I think that one of my teeth is having internal troubles. Well-here’s hoping for the day I get out.
Adios-
Bert Stiles
P.S. Thankyou a million for the birthday presents- and I have one for May- Thankyou May, nd thank you Elizabeth.

Utility- the weekend
Park Service etc.
September 10, 1939
Dear Mother,
I was really in the modd for writing a real letter this afternoon- but Ernie and I went up on the road and watched them haul a wreck out of the bottom of Forest Canyon and it has fled.
I got the rather massive packet and thought perhaps it would be an endowment of several million dollars or something. Well first of all- definitely I will not be going back this semester. If it was tough last year-well it would just about thrice as tough this year for you- and maybe for me. Because don’t you see- I couldn’t have an N.Y.A job if I wanted one because I told Dean Gadd it was a graft and turned it down last spring. Also I wouldn’t have a chance for a house board job and those town board jobs are even worse than road crew and they are probably all tied up anyway. So you see- at first I wouldn’t be able to do a thing- and even as much as I cuss myself I still have to do some of things I would probably do. And even if I did go out and look- I wouldn’t do it right. And anyway I don’t want to go back that way- it is still the same.
The other night I just thought it over. I had just seen Bobby Ish packing off and for a few moments I really wanted to go. Then that night when it was clear and quiet all of a sudden I thought what a sap I had been making out of myself kicking so much about the road crew. So I just decided to (over) let it ride and take it easy and forget about and rake in those dollars as quick as they will come in. I still don’t like it worth a snap- but I’m not going to let it worry me anymore. And all the scruples you think I have about taking money from you- you see I always take it don’t you. I always do. Even if I don’t want to. So forget about that- when I go back- and I think it will probably not be to C.C.-well I’ll go on as much of my own as possible.
And I don’t think there are only two ways. What if I don’t go? What if I don’t? Well, I really think I have to or three things I can swing- one or both of them are still high in the sky- but if they come through- well I won’t be in Denver when this job folds up. I’m just hoping they do. I’ll wait until I hear from them before I tell you about them. And maybe you won’t like them-but really don’t you see I’d a lot rather take your money than your plans- and don’t take that the wrong way- don’t you see every time I do go flying off and get checked- well you win and you have me a little closer tied down to you. And sometimes at night I want to be so much- that I wish I didn’t know a single person in the whole world and could just start and meet them; and find it my way- for me. That’s the way it was here in the Park the first two years- now they think they have my typed and maybe they can sit on me- and to fit in for them I would have to be sat upon. But I don’t want to fit their way. I don’t know why. Haven’t you ever sensed the way I feel about those things- I hate to have a past tied to me- relatives, and things like that. Maybe you know how it is. But when I get in with a lot of people- people that know my background- well they think they have me tied down- and maybe I’m not what they think I am at all-because I’m not a person like that think I am one person- and they know all about me- but really I am a thousand persons all in one- and they really don’t know a thing about me- it’s the same way with everyone.
So this time- I’m going to take it my way. Lucky me that I’m here where I can say that and not have to hear your side. Because your side is always so logical and reasonable and you know I always fall into it-because I have to to keep on living with myself around you. But I hate myself for doing it every time. Now up here- I’m away from you-you haven’t got me- and as much as I love you- well I’m sort of on my own now- and I like it- and if I can I’m going to stay that way. I hope you can see the way I feel.
Now if I do get something through on my own- then I’ll be so very very much better off- even if the situation I create wouldn’t be as adventurous as yours in some ways. And I don’t like your saying- “You’ll be here where at least you are appreciated.” No kidding, why should I be appreciated- I’m a pretty chicken sort of a guy around there anyway- and you know it and I know it. And you are worried about me being low. Don’t you know that I hit alow and a high maybe several times in a day. And sometimes for a long time I’m in a high-and then for quite a time here I really was low- but that was because I was letting it get me and I shouldn’t have- and I won’t anymore. And at home-sometimes I wanted to know what was coming off so bad I had to go out and kick myself to keep myself in hand. But tennis was a lot of fun- and that Joyce was pretty slick and those things made it good. See- when I can forget myself and get into something then even for a second I am happy- and I guess that’s the way I’ll have to do it- just snatch those moments, chains of moments, weeks, days-whatever they are (over) and take them for what they are- perfect. And that was why I did hate to go up here. I hated the thought of the road crew- I hated to leave when part of the time I was having a wonderful time- and I did have a lot of dreams and hopes wrapped up in that writing and do think that your solution- you being the agent- was perfect-and would like to keep it that way- if you are still willing.
Now I’m really glad that the battle against the economics of the 1245 situation are coming out on top. But you and he are just getting ready to sock it all out on me again-and I’m not going to do things your way anyway- so why don’t you put it into a new car or something and make me get by by myself – why don’t you. If I don’t come through- well I guess you will have to come to my rescue- but I pray and hope you won’t. And anyway May and Elizabeth ought to have it a lot more than I should. Because they are going to town- and it is tougher on a girl than a boy- and that May is really going to hit the ball- and so is Elizabeth. So if you won’t put it on yourselves- well put it on them.
Now maybe you will talk me in to your way- I’m really pretty easy to coerce- you know that. But why don’t you not even try. Because sometime I’m going to make the break- and it is going to be messy and horrible if you don’t just take it easy- so why don’t you. Do you think you can? I really don’t think you can. You don’t think I can cut it-and maybe I can’t. I’m going to have my try sometime- so why not forsee it and let it ride and let it come. If you really love me as I think you do- well it will take an awful lot for you to just let things go—and to wait and see. What if it doesn’t work- it is a thousand times better for me to try my way- than to take yours and get someplace. Because the place won’t be as good as if I get it with my own brains and my own hands.
Really I’m thankful that I did have to come up here- because one thing I have been doing is a lot of thinking. And I think hard and pretty deep- and I really don’t know anything- and I can’t see what is going to happen. But I still think that the moments when I forget myself are the ones that are best- and I even get them up here. Now I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Okay. Got that. That’s all. I saw a copy of Unknown last night- it is simply a pulp and neither of those two things are at all suited for it.
I really think I would have gotten that Chicago scholarship and may yet it those grades every go through. Will you please, if you go down there- make them airmail them straight back there. For I got a letter from the committee yesterday- they have to have the grades before they can do anything and urged me to get them ir.. I wouldn’t take it this year anyway- but it would really be wonderful to know what I’d earned it. Wow!
I read the article- and have read it before. Say before I forget—please send up the September 2nd Saturday Evening Post- I missed that one. And anything else you can lay your hands on. Any books will be slick- but don’t go buying any.
Well I guess that’s all. Solong. And incidentally I am having dinner with a professor from the University of Minnesota next weekend- so can Dad stay his visit a week. I have the thirteen fifty- but I haven’t been able to get a mail order and maybe I won’t get it in the mail for a week or better.
Solong-
Bert Stiles

Phi Gamma Delta House …1122
Dear Folks-
I have just made a momentous decision towards the future. I think I’ll try for this Marine Corps Officers Training. If I pass the physical, which I’ll take in the next few days I’ll get sent to San Diego for six weeks training. Then next summer I take another six weeks training. Then I have nine months active duty as a lietenaat at $180 a month, and then I’m through. Of course at any time, I’m on call to dive into war.
They have a deal called principles and alternates. And if an alternate you’re maybe not called until later, and maybe not at all if this war blows over. But anyway you’re booked for the marines, and as an officer any time they want to take you. I’ve been thinking it over and the draft is pretty sure to get me sometime or other, and quite a little of my time has been spent in just thinking about losing a year out of my life in one chunk, drawing twenty-one bucks and living in a tent. If the emergency blows over there may be nothing come of this. And if we get in the war, which seems a cinch to me, and very soon too, probably before Christmas (What a forecaster I am) then I’ll be a marine and in the thick of it. Maybe I’ll get a crack at that flying too.
It may knock my Park Service galley-west; but as I see it, it stands less chance than anything else. I won’t go before July 1st, and I could put in a couple of weeks up there, and say I’ve been a ranger, and then check out… and if perchance I’m classed as an alternate then I might be able to serve the whole summer. Any way you look at it, one summer is going to get knocked (over) out by the army, or marines, or what have you…so what does it matter.
The best thing about the whole deal is you get a chance to be someone in a hurry. They gun it to you, and in three months you’re a lieutenant. And starting out your draw $36 which is fifteen better living conditions… and you get to be an officer…and when you are one you draw that $180, less for living and when you finish the three months they give you 250bucks for uniforms. So it sounds good to me… as good as anything along that line.
I kind of hate the idea of being a soldier; but if there is a war, I’d rather have a little head start in the Marines than be a flatfoot in the regular army… and stay that way. And if there is a war we’re all in it anyway… so what does it matter. I suppose I’m almost a pacifist at hear; but I’m not clear enough on my own ideas and beliefs to take a stand like you have to take to declare yourself… so I’ll just go along, and try and see if I can learn a little and understand a little better… and maybe the discipline will be good for me. I think you probably think so.
So that’s it… if I can get in. I have become a career man, all of a sudden.
Skol-
Bert Stiles

Milner Pass
September 18-1939
Dear Folks,
Monday again- Monday’s are pretty good- except I have to take a cut in pay- to pay back what I spend on the weekend.
It was a really a wonderful weekend- had a swell time. Saturday’s are easily the longest days in the week. If Dad comes up this week-I’ll be at utility- I have to go over Saturday night- so I’ll see you early Sunday. There is no place for you to stay over there- or here either again. I think I have lined up some real fishing- maybe not, though.
I haven’t the slightest idea why you sent that thing to the Atlantic- it’s ghastly (not the Atl.) Pegasus would have been better. Have you tried Forum yet? Why don’t you junk that horrible fishing thing- if Ben East won’t take it- well- and it certainly isn’t pulp material.
Abou the weekend- First I dined in camp- then to utility-cut the hay crap. Bert Fraser roped me in on an invitation to Herschler’s- chief ranger- and I dined again. Then I escorted young Miss Herschler to the brawl- she is a fair dancer- but I think she is about 3 ½ years old. Bert told me she was 18 (over)
Sunday I wrote letters- then went bowling with Bo and Bo and two friends. Then Dr. Cooper- Minnesota- picked me up and I had dinner- wonderful-and it was the nuts. The maid served everything on a far cry from here. I don’t think they ever saw anyone eat like road-crewer me. Incidentally, I’ve gained 15 pounds since I came up here. The Cooper’s are wonderful. Mrs. Cooper is really keen. She is much younger than he. He first came out here in 1904. He has mapped all this country. I had a swell evening- and robbed them all of their magazines.
If Powell isn’t at C.C. where is he? It sure wouldn’t be much of an English Dept. without him. Have you got them my grades yet! And be sure and make them get on that sending to Chicago.
I think Mr. Oberholtzer is going to put in the call for me to him to Rainey Lake soon- I hope. This outfit will pull out at an indefinite date. Sometimes next month probably.
Solong, take it easy, I sure had a good time with the Coopers- they are the nuts.
Adieu to yieu-
Bert Stiles

Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado
W.W. Postlethwaite, Treasurer
Administration Building
September 19, 1939
Mrs. Bert W. Stiles
1245 So. York Street
Denver, Colorado
Dear Mrs. Stiles:
Today I received your letter of September 16th and check for $16.80, for which I enclose receipt.
We find that on June 27 the account was as you say, $41.80, which consisted of an unpaid balance of $39.60 plus interest of $2.20 at that time. On July 1 a list of unreturned athletic equipment in the amount of $12.33 was reported to this office by Jo. E. Irish, Graduate Manager of Athletics, and the above amount was charged to the account of Bert Stiles.
In preparing our accounts for our present new semester, interest has been figured on all student accounts down to September 15 and charged directly to the student accounts. In your case the amount so charged was $2.70, being an increase of $.50 over that previously reported in June.
Thus the remaining unpaid amount of $12.83 is represented on our books as follows:
1 towel .16
1 baseball cap .65
1 basketball jersey .75
1 baseball shirt 6.00
1 baseball stockings 1.00
1 pair of sweat pants 1.00
1 towel .16
1 pair sweat sox .16
1 basketball sweatshirt Fr. .95
1 pair sliding pants 1.50
$12.33
Remainder of interest on account .50
BALANCE $12.83
Any correspondence necessary in regards to the above athletic equipment should be addressed to the Graduate Manager of Athletics, Jo. E. Irish.
Yours Truly,
C. E. Hathaway
Cashier

(Sept 22, 1939)
Milner Pass Road Camp
Thursday Night-

Dear Folks-
I probably won’t get my mail until I get over to utility Saturday night. But I’ll take my fishing rod over and be ready to go fishing Sunday.
Some old stuff- but it doesn’t bother me at all anymore- another day- what of it. Most of the guys are beginning to think that this outfit is going to fold up pretty soon. Fred says he wouldn’t be surprised if things finished up next week- but he may be nuts. I don’t think anyone knows a thing about it- not even the brass hats.
The Boulder Phi Gams got some choice boys. I hope we got Peterson at C.C. I don’t know why I say we- that isn’t my alma mammy until I get back- if I ever do.
Pretty full up here now- new guys coming and going. I wish skiing would hurry up and come- so maybe it will. My fingers itch for my typewriter but leave it there. I’ve got lots of time.
So solong, nothing to say, nothing to do , and maybe I’ll see the bright lights someday soon.
Adios- Bert Stiles
P.S. Have that occulist lined up- for the day I say I’m coming.

Haverhill Mass postmark
Septe. 25, 1939.
Dear Mrs. Stiles,
I have been on the road for the past three weeks. Your letter just caught up with me, together with one from Bert which I have answered at length. I am no longer connected with the college; accordingly I can give him little advice about how best to prepare for courses now taught by other men. I suggest that he write for specific information to Dean Hershey, who will either answer his questions himself, or else deputise the person best fitted to do so.
Frankly I hesitate to guess whether Bert will be a successful writer or not. That he can become a good writer I have not doubt: he has already learned the essentials of clear straightforward expression. But much more than that is needed to make a living with one’s pen. The professional writer must not only be able to express himself well, he must have something to express which appeals to the audience. This is in large measure a gift of personality. I don’t think anyone can prophesy whether a beginning writer will come to possess it or not. Once can only settle down and write like grim death; in the end the editors will decide whether he is any good or not. It is possible to write very well, however, and still not be saleable. I think this explains why so many promising young writers do not succeed in the end.
If Bert is so determined to write as you say, I should not oppose him. He may fail, but I he does not try, he will always have regrets.
Cordially,
Desmond Powell

The barnlike structure – Utility
The 1st day of October
Dear Mother-
I couldn’t aget any mail out of Milner Pass all week. And this is the first time I could get it out- so this is the first time I do any writing. We are just about all finished up up there and we will be moving over to this side. We are stepping up production and putting in snow poles-which is supposedly the last thing that goes before we go. So I guess we will be moving out of the accursed Milner Pass country sometime next week.
Then I am in a bit of a quandry. Utility is being completely closed up- Bert Fraser is moving out. Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Voon Field will be moving in for one month- while their house is getting ready- but that will be in the other end of this dump- which is slightly already very slight- and there just isn’t any place for me to stay or eat- so I think I’ll be on my way home sometime next week- but I’m not completely sure yet- and they may save me any wondering around by simply firing me when we do move out over there – it would simplify matters quite a bit.
The main reason why I didn’t come back to Denver last week was because I couldn’t stomach the ide right away of working at Monkey Wards, assuming that I cold get the job- and I definitely won’t go near Gates- that dump would be so much worse thatn this- it isn’t even funny. You see the prospect of coming home- was worse than staying here- from a road crew to Monkey Wards, it sounds pretty grim to my ears- and I just decided to make the worst of a bad bargain. But now I guess I’ll have to come after all.
There’s notiing up here- and though there is something in Denver- it seems to me that Monkey Wards would be enough to make up for it- and Gates is unspeakable- but it looks like that’s all there is at the moment. I’m sure in a hole with smooth sides.
There isn’t a soul at Utility anymore- a lonlier joint there never was- with nothing here but some iced showers, which will be turned off the first of the week, some ancient cots and mattresses, a lot of junky and ripped up magazines, and this typewriter, which will also leave via the front door-there being no back-within a few hours. I don’t even know what I can do with my stuff- it will probably end with my getting it all swiped.
I didn’t have any supper- and nothing to eat yet today. I should have stayed over at Milner Pass, I guess, but more than six days straight in that dump leaves me a bit weak and quivering. I gues I’m getting in perfect shape to go to war- nothing ahead, nothing here, nothing anywhere I look, I’d make a perfect guy to go get shot to pieces-they could get rid of me and not lost a thing. I’d be one guy that the country could lost without missing a thing. And there area lot of others up here- that wouldn’t make an awful big dent if they were suddenly removed. A good thing.
The weekends are usually a lot of fun up here- but I’m so starved, and there is nothing that could possibly be fun that might happen, and my mail was a flop, and there just isn’t anything but Milner’s Pass to look forward to. And when I get to looking forward to that- I’m in a pretty fix. I’ve stopped, for the moment, even hoping for one of my plans to come through, I guess I was just born to plan, and not to ever have anything work, but in a couple of days I’ll be in another sweat. I used to hate this place, now I don’t even waste that on it. It works a lot better- but now at this hungry moment I’m in one of the worse moods.
We thought we were going to get snowed in last week-but I guess we missed that pretty far. All week we have been working right on the top of Trail Ridge- and that is one cold cold place. But putting up snow poles isn’t as bad a some things- and I hope the day of the shovel in hand is over- it probably isn’t.
So get ready for the homecoming that may not come off. I’ll be coming unless I can find some way to stay away from Monkey Wards a little longer- which looks impossible from this angle. Anyway there will be some fun in Denver.
I got a letter from Powell in the throes of a car trip all over the east and south. They told him when he came to C.C. that he would get the next professorship that turned up in the English Dept. (he was only an associate) and then Davies appointed someone else. So he left. Now he’s traveling, having turned down another job in a girls’ school-and he has some lectures on the string- but I think he has just decided to have some fun. At least he said that was it. He was going to Europe-but that is off. He gave me a lot of books, the names P mean, that I ought to read if I enjoyed them, but he said to just skip anything that seemed a bit foul- he said there were a lot of books that should-but not to forget them forever for I might like them later.
With him gone C.C. will have an awful hole to fill down there. When I heard about that horrendous bill for the ball suit- I was going to write a letter to C.C. and tell them what a bunch of robbers they are- no fooling. I don’t think they could have gotten over four bits for the whole lot of that stuff- really, it was almost completely useless- not that that is any excuse for not turning it in. But that is a pretty high-handed way to slap at anyone. One thing-before you pay it-if you haven’t already-how about asking the for my two sets of numerals-baseball and basketball- I probably won’t get them-but at least you might ask. I was going to tell them-that they would never get another penny out of me-but after all they never got any anyway- and I thought it might be a good idea for you to tell them that-which you won’t. Another thing I wrote President Davis at pretty important letter last summer and he never even bothered to answer it- so I really haven’t any desire whatever to academically set foot on that Campus. I am going down and see the brothers, and a couple of gals I know. But as far as trying to go there again-well right now I just don’t think much of it. They have probably queered me with Chicago-and they certainly have robbed you-or maybe me- out of twelve or sixteen bucks- even if theprinciple is right- and they haven’t sent my grades yet- and they have let their best prof. go. Not very good, as far as I can see.
There was a guy up at Milner Pass the other night- a writer, artist, knocker-arounder, who happens to be making quite a bit of money, andhaving a wonderful time- and he said that he thought it was a good idea to go to school, on and off, for a long time. He’s going back to a photography school in Chicago this year- and he is now 30. He has been going to schools all over- since he started kindergarten-and he is really all-around. He has been to six different schools in Europe, and can ski like a demon. He has been to four colleges in this country, Princeton, Alabama, Colorado (summer school this summer) and U.C.L.A., besides a full score of art schools, and two journalism classes. He has been all over the world, and is a beautiful fly caster- though I can beat him, and loves to ski. He certainly has the thing in his hand.
You were right- I met the Coopers through Mr. Oberholtzer-and when I get to Minneapolis again-I’m going to stay with them. They were certainly slick.
Say, when you kept the saddle-shoes and later sent them up-you had new heels put in-which they didn’t need, and didn’t have soles, which they did need badly.
I almost terminated my engagement on this earth on Friday. We were slapping poles in right and left and Art and I were giving one the works down behind the truck. The poles stick back of the truck ten or twelve feet. Then the truck backed down and I began to feel poles jabbing me in the back. Art and I yelled for Fred to stop the truck-we thought he was backing up and he wasn’t even in the thing. Art yelled to take off- and I dived and the truck, no brakes, andnot in gear, rolled off the edge and over the fill and those poles, some of them went two feet into thr ground. I just barely got out of the road, and my pants were ripped clear off, almost. We got the truck out, and I threw away the pants- and things went on as before.
Well I’m getting so hungry I can’t type anymore- so I’ll probably be seeing, you, )comma unintentional)
Take it easy.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Office of the President
October 3, 1939
Dear Mr. Stiles:
Let me know when your college admits you have met your obligations.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Hutchins (?)

Mr. Bert Stiles
National Park Service
Estes Park, Colorado

The University of Chicago
Office of Admissions
October 17 1939
Mr. Bert Stiles
1245 South York Street
Denver, Colorado
My dear Mr. Stiles:
We have received the transcript of your record at Colorado College and while your record there for your first year of work was not strong it meets our minimum requirements for admission. We shall, therefore, be glad to issue a certificate of admission to you if you will indicate to us the quarter in which you plan to enter the University.
The Committee on Scholarships has given consideration to your request for scholarship aid and I regret to inform you that your request for a scholarship in the University has received unfavorable action by the Committee.
Sincerely yours,
Valerie C. Wickhem
Director of Admissions
VCW:VB

Postcard:
Postmarked Altamont
Oct 9
5-PM
1939
N.Y.
Bert Stiles
1245 S. York St.
Denver Col.
Flip side:
Chadbourn is no longer in Haiti. Whereabouts unknown.
Tracey

Postcard:
Postmarked Denver
Oct 18
1030 AM
Colo
Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Stiles
1245 South York St.
Denver
Colorado

Hello-
I’m going to see Ober.
I had to go.
I’ll write you.
Take it easy.
I’m happy now.
Love-
Bert Stiles

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Office of Quetico-Superior Council
October 19, 1939
Dear Folks,
I hope that is the correct approach- just as though nothing had happened-because it sure is bogus-just about as bogus the take-off; but it’s done- and I don’t know what to think-right now I’m thinking it was a pretty big mistake- but it really wasn’t and I’m really awfully glad that I did come. Because one way or another something like this was on the make all the time, and now is a good time get it done with.
The purpose in case you didn’t know, which you probably didn’t, is to come up and see the old man of the North, Mr. Oberholtzer. I would have tried to talk you into letting me go if it hadn’t been for that talk that night when Dad said he wouldn’t consider anything like that-seeing that I wasn’t certain of anything I wanted to do. So I had to take-off without saying anything. I had to see if I had the guts to do it or not-and I guess I did have-because here I am.
The funny thing to me is that you were so seemingly surprised and worried when I didn’t seem to have any definite purpose and set convictions. And you are wrong about other kids having them-at least the ones I run with- none of us knows what we want-how we are going to get it-or anything about anything. And there are an awful lot of adults like that too-read that book of philosophies over and see- Drisser was all muddled, and knew it- so was Mencken, so was the art critic, they all are- Shannon is, Rosemary is, Scotty is, Herrmann is, Ernie and Annie are. That doesn’t worry me much.
But I did an awful lot of thinking that night after that abortive attempt at getting at something and the only thing I decided was- I’m going to write until I’m blue in the face- and I’m going to be doing a lot of it here- and I’m going to make that typewriter pay or bust doing it- and the other thing I decided was that I wasn’t go back to C.C. awful badly-very very very very much- that trip did that at least.
Those two things I’m certain of. Maybe this taking-off has put you in sort of a spot- I’m wondering how you are telling different people-I’ll bet it is sort of funny. But I’m not sorry- and I wouldn’t have been able to get anything done in Denver on a typewriter because I didn’t-there was always someone barging downs stairs and blowing of something or other-and all summer long I was always afraid that someone would come booming up with a very fine job and I’d have to lay off-I never did really have a chance to get going- and I’m not very sure I’ll get it here—but I’m hoping to-and maybe I will. I sure hope so.
Then too, there is a very very good chance that I may be able to line something up back here-and be able to pick up some dough-I hope so. I think it is a good chance.
If this has queered my going back -well that’s bad-but maybe this little typewriter can hammer me out of it. The big thing I’m worried about right now is just how disappointed and griped you two are-I really have no idea what went on when you found out-and I sort of had an idea you sensed something was going to happen all along.
If I’ve missed the boat in my thinking-as you seem to think. Well here are a couple of things where I think you two have missed. Remember last year when I bought those new boots, the ski boots, and spent all the Christmas money and a lot more. Both of you thought it was a waste, and needless extravagance. Well, it’s just like the piano, why didn’t you buy an upright and like it-I wanted those boots more than anything in the world-they were the best-the very very best- and I wanted them- and I started saving and putting up a little dough on them, every time I could get a little-and it took about four months to get them- and I was so happy I couldn’t even talk straight when I got them-and then I brought them home-and you took it like that-that’s it. Make whatever you want out of it- I’d give everything and anything in the world for somethings- and one of them is this chance to fly my own wings- right now it’s lousy-but the principle is okay. Another time was when I threw that biggest fish back into the creek when I already had the limit-and Dad you, seemed a bit chagrined, and I know you thought I was a sap. But I figured then and I figure now that as long as I can fish and throw the biggest one back, even when I want it awful bad, and I wanted that trout and plenty of it, well I’ll always be a sportsman instead of a sport, and I’m fishing for the fun of it and the beauty of it and not for the meat. I was pretty disappointed that time too but I guess it doesn’t mean much.
That bus ride was sleepless, or practically so, and I haven’t had any good food for a heck of a time- just snacks here and there. Tonight I’m staying with those folks I stayed with last spring, and tomorrow, maybe I’ll catch my ride up to Duluth- it’s 300 miles farther north even from here-and I’ll probably freeze stiff before I get out. But it will be wonderful. I sure hope the typewriter goes to town, and I sure hope I line up something. If I don’t -well, I hate to think about it.
Say, there are a lot of loose ends. Shannon will want to borrow my sleeping bag any day now- give him the new one. And Dad, will you please take those skis down and see if you can trade them-here’s the deal, they are too long-she wants six fours, and they cost 25bucks, she wants to trade them for a pair of the other type, you know ridges like mine, and she doesn’t care if she loses some dough on them; but if she can’t get a new pair and a good one, don’t go through with it.
I’m pretty much up in the air-and so tired I can’t even see to type-but it’s going to end sometime soon. And please forward my mail, if any, to me c/o C. Oberholtzer, Ranier, Minnesota. I’ll be up there someday. I thought this was the end-but this is only the beginning of the trip-solong, and I missyou, you won’t believe that; but it’s true; but I’m sure tired.
Solong,
Bert Stiles

The Mallard
Ranier, Minnesota
October22, 1939
Dear folks,
This my friends is journeys and-and it is just about the closest thing to paradise that I have ever seen- and that has been pretty close sometimes- or so it seemed to me.
I stayed another night in Minneapolis-first spending one whole day in doing practically nothing- in fact, I was engaged in church work- helping Mrs. Parsons- strange things- a very strange thing-a very, very strange thing-then I moved over to the Buckman's house for a night and Phil and I and a girl I knew before went out on a part-we saw the Minnesota Phi Gam House but none of the brothers- we saw all the home coming decorations and the parade and met some kids and had a keen time-then the next day I went downtown and met the guy I first wrote up in this neck of the woods- a fellow named Winston-we had dinner at the Minneapolis Club which corresponds to the U. A. C. on about a twice as high plane-it was the nuts-and I had a wonderful dinner-fried scallops-and Mr. Winston gave me a lot of advice and such, and we had a keen talk and that was about it. There is another guy here who when he found out I was a friend of Mr. Oberholzer- he almost insisted on paying my fare in a slick hotel for the two nights I was in Minneapolis-meals-everything-and some other guy arranged my ride to Duluth- was still another fellow and I went up there yesterday and took the train from there to here last night.
One thing-I’m certainly in marvelous hands now-I’m up in the north country-the real north country.
So far things have gone wonderfully. When I wrote first I was feeling pretty much like a lost dog- but now things are different. Mrs. Parsons helped-and then I went out with Phil and had a wonderful time- and all the people kept trying to help me-it was all very touching.
While the Minnesota ball game was going on we took off for Duluth-the odyssey was on again. At Duluth-by the way I rode with a very pretty girl- a nurse from Minneapolis-I had a supper of wall-eyed pike-and picked up my baggage and got onto a little half horse train for the north. There was a very vey blond family from a town called Virginia and they had one of the best looking girls who was precisely my age- but she trailended and they got off and I went to sleep and pulled on up to Ranier.
It was one O’clock when I got into Ranier and I didn’t know a soul and it was dark- and the northern lights were playing over the northern sky-it was really beautiful. Ranier is a town of beer joints. I was pretty sleep and didn’t know what to do- so I just rolled up in my coat on the floor of the station and went to sleep. There was another train through at about three-thirty in the morning and after that the station agent went home and locked up. So he woke me up and kicked me out- I left my junk there. I was bit forlorn-even this exceedingly bright northern lights didn’t help a bit and I was prepared to wander the town until dawn. But then at the first corner-there are only two or three-I met a very drunk fellow-with a very broken accent-who had a very kind heart-and we went into a beer joint at the ghastly hour of four A.M. and the Ranier dance-band consisting of one accordion was still going like mad. So I sat there and he took me to his bosom so to speak- I was supposed to look up a man named Moe-and he told me where to find him in the morn.
His wife was away --and that was the reason he was drunk and up at that hour--then he took me home with him--to a very messy house and put me to sleep on the sofa--and he tumbled into a drunken stupor--and I set the alarm for seven o'clock and went into a sound coma-- until the alarm. I woke my protector up because he had wanted me to--but he wouldn't come out of it-- so I took out--and it was really snowing-- and it was really cold--colder than the Antarctic. Things didn't look so good. I went over and picked up my baggage and ran right into this Mr. Moe--who had been instructed by Mr. Oberholzer to be all set for me. He looked up a ride out to a certain lake, shore, or escort, and a man with a little kicker (outboard) took me out into Rainy Lake to the mallard--the corner of paradise. Mr. Winston had sent some ducks he had shot up with me.
They heard the sound of the boat and Ober came out and waved and gee I was glad to see him. Then we had breakfast—there is still a cook up here and a guest—an old friend of his—a Miss Andrews, who is on the elderly side – but very nice and swell to me—and the cook is also keen to me—and she can really cook.
And Mr. Oberholtzer is really swell. He is a short guy with grey hair and the swellest smile- and right now I felt like I just sort of belonged here. And you ought to see this island- there are about six houses- all built by him with a little aid- an ancient motor boat- two canoes- two rowboats- and an unmounted outboard motor.
The houses are the most wonderful. Two of them are houseboats gone unseaworthy- one is built up like a bird house- and is called the Bird House- it is three stories- and is perfectly marvelously- and then the winter house which is in the throes of being finished- is his pride and joy. It is the most superb bit of architecture- built on this solid lake granite-the oldest rock in the world-so it is said-three stories-with a northern light lookout up on top-stairs- and books on Keats- books on Louis and Clark- books on Captain Cook- books on French- books in French- books on jungles- poetry- adventure- satire- humor- classics- ancient- new-moth-eaten- every manner of book- wonderful books- rather dull looking books- there are more than the eye can take in-and there just as many in the bird house- and a lot in the other houses. It is the nuts.. There were two pianos-and Ober plays a violin- says when he has been working all night on this council work- nothing rests him more than a session with his violin-and I guess he is very good- and there is a guitar down at Mrs. Andrews-and there may be more stuff around. Then there are records and records and records- not any new stuff- but some of the most expensive kind of old symphony records- and some of the most beautiful numbers- all of them. It is a treasure chest.
The house is built of cedar, and all the doors are heavy hand hewn-and there is a lot of rock work-and it is really beautifully done. The lace is the sanctuary of the birds and squirrels. It certainly has charmed me- with everything it has at hand.
The freeze-up is coming soon- the old boy who brought me over said he was going to haul up his boat in the next couple of days.
In the morning we went and got two boatloads of sand- hauling the row-boats behind the motor boat- which has a very ancient motor- but seems to get along. There is still some cement work to do-and it is getting really cold-that wind down the lake really bites- and it his hard too.
Then we went out and took a swim-and that water was the coldest stuff I ever hit- but I liked it-and kicked around until I was about half my present size- due to excess shrinkage. Then we dined on wild rice and duck and it was wonderful- and it was fun. Before that we went out and tried out the big canoe to start breaking me in at a paddle. It sure was fun.
After dinner we didn’t do much- until we took a trip across into Canada. Today I was in Canada. That sounds wonderful. Today I was in Canada. The line is about a mile north of us. We went over to a castle- a lovely lovely place across the lake where two od Obers very best friends live- and they have money to burn- the huge castle- a luxurious place- is built right out of the native rock- it is huge too-as big as some of the biggest homes in Denver- and furnished to match- and the servants quarters and keen- and the caretakers-and Mrs. French’s art studio- she paints-he photographs- and they both drink- and have a wonderful time- and their children stay all summer- but they are gone now. We had a keen time over in Canada and then we came home- and right now I’m trying to tell you about it- but I can’t do a very good job- because I’m too busy taking it all in. I’ll try again someday.
So I’m all here in one piece. It’s swell. There may be some stuff I’ll want you to send up. I’ll let you know. This is wonderful. Solong, for a while.
Take it easy,
Bert Stiles

The Mallard- Rainey Lake
c/o Ernest C. Oberholtzer
Ranier, Minnesota
October 27, 1939
Dear Folks,
I am probably the most relieved kid in the whole world right now. I just got the letter from Denver- and no kidding it was a good one. Because you see I was pretty worried about just what furor had been created when I took off for the big timer with no notice. It’s pretty swell of you to be like that-thank you, very very much.
Well Dad, you won the Chicago bet- those last semester grades did the trick- and I probably didn’t have a chance at a scholarship-but I thought that Hutchins would pull it for me- because I didn’t think the grades would have anything to do with it- since I never have had any that were good enough to rake a scholarship. I have heard from him again- I’ll have to write him.
That’s about it, I guess. The winter is beginning to set in now. It snowed last night and there is ice al over the island. The two women went over in the canoe yesterday, and got hung up on the mainland all night not being able to get over- it was the nuts- and this morning work on the house has almost stopped.
We have really been going for a while here. There is a lot o rock work to do yet on the winter house- and I have been hauling rock for Emil, the big Norwegian- who looks like a dope, but isn’t- and is really an artist at building- he is the best there is in this country- except he goes on periodical drunks and isn’t worth a cent. He is rebuilding the chimney right now and I have to haul rocks clear up on the roof for him- a pretty hefty job. We have to go all over for our stuff- we even have to haul dirt in because this island is made of solid granite- with very little dirt- we have to haul sand- we have to haul rock. And I have been giving the wood piles a working over- for we are short on short wood for the kitchen and I’ve really got a stack- and part of the time I help with the dishes.
I am reading Somerset Maugham’s THE SUMMING UP and it is plenty good. The music here is something that you would swoon over, mother-you ought to hear some of his records.
In the early part of the week we had the most highly developed social life- with the French’s, the millionaires, across the lake. They came over here, and we went over there. The night we went over-we had to paddle, the big boat wouldn’t work. And it was so beautiful you couldn’t look at it all the time-the moon was out, and the lake was just piffled up a little by a breeze-and it seemed like there wasn’t anything left to look for- it just stopped me- it was really slick.
Today things are sort of at a standstill- the two women just got back and said that Emil couldn’t get his boat going- so he will be late-and so there won’t be much work to do until he gets here.
I haven’t got any cold weather stuff at all. Would you get out my pack or that other old suitcase and send up those boots- the eight inchers in my closet- not any ski boots-and that big checked shirt- and a couple of those white shouldered sweat shirts, and those beautiful pajamas- not the heavy ones-and some heavy socks- and those two sweaters- and the little post office scales, and anything else useful you can think of. I think the pack would be the best thing -because it weights less-and probably holds more-I left a lot o stuff in Minneapolis- but it isn’t any good for here.
Ober, has said that the fishing was lousy here- but the other day I found arod and was just playing with it out in the dock- I got a backlash on the fist cast and the spoon dropped right off the edge at my feet and a big old northern pike- pickerel, jack, what have you. Grabbed it- he really is a pretty small one- and teeth like a rhinoceros, and not my fight- he was about eighteen inches long. I was so surprised that I want all around the island yelling at people to look. Then I went back and about three casts later I caught another one about the same length and three times as thick. But since then I haven’t caught any-but I haven’t been fishing much.
We sure live like kings here- and it is really fun. As soon as we got the house all fixed up- then Ober will get to work on the council work and I’ll really make the typewriter go like a house a fire. Until then I won’t get a lot done.
No there isn’t much else. I thinkit is probably a good thing that the loan didn’t go through for me to go back to school right now- February is plenty soon enough- and maybe that won’t go through either. But good or bad- and it sure is good so far- I had to go sometime- and who knows maybe I’ll come home with a treasure chest full of treasure. I wish I could have seen Merlie- and Petie the Beep, he’s going to be a good Phi Gam.
This Marie Hull may make you out a cruel and unjust woman who drove her son to the north woods. That would be something. But I’m glad you don’t care so awful much- and maybe she won’t say anything.
Well, take it easy- there may be a time- while the ice is coming that we won’t be able to get mail out for a couple of weeks- so don’t think I’ve drowned- there is no telling when that time will come. So I hope Denver is in fine shape- and keep it warm for me- and I’ll be seeing you.
Adiou,
Bert Stiles

The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Office of the President
October 31, 1939
Dear Mr. Stiles:
How about letting me know, every now and then, how you and your college are coming?
I will be glad to see you when you get to Chicago.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Hutchins (?)
Mr. Bert Stiles
c/o Mr. Ernest C. Oberholtzer
The Mallard- Rainey Lake
Ranier, Minnesota

The Mallard- Rainey Lake
c/o Ernest C. Oberholtzer
Rainer, Minnesota
November 2, 1939
Dear Family, the whole works,
Tonight it is cold and clear. There are more stars then I ever saw before and meteorites go shooting off every so often. There aren’t any northern lights but there may be later. I hope so- I haven’t seen them since that first night on the floor of the station at Ranier. It seems an age has passed since then. Then everything was uncertain, I was the wanderer, the man alone, everything behind me, everything ahead of me, nothing at the present. Now it seems, like it always does, that I live here, and everything that has ever happened before is just a dream something that I sometimes think about; but never really remember what it was like. Its funny. This place seems so isolated and remote. It is a bit- but not very much. There are people just across the bay and others in every direction. Most of them are Norwegians, swedes, Danes, Indians. But they are good to everyone, I guess- I haven’t met many of them. This lake country is funny. Though, Rainey Lake is almost fifty miles long, there is no sense of its being one big lake- rounding each island seems to another small lake. There are hundred of islands- some small, some large- just islands.
The freeze-up is on the way. Today we hauled out the big motor boat-clear out of the water- to make sure it wouldn’t freeze in- and it may be none too soon. It has been cold. It seems cold up here most of the time. The sun is way to the south- it is always low in the sky-never getting anywhere near overhead- but the moon-boy the moon up here is wonderful. Today has been the first clear day in weeks it seems. Really, though, it is very cloudy here most of the time-unusual, they say. I always thought I’d mind it-but I don’t very much.
We went to town the other day. Miss Andrews is a lousy driver- always on the left side- and all that kind of things- but she has a beauty of a little V8. She is a lot of fun- and seems to like it very much- but she is leaving this Sunday and so is Mrs. Johnson-who is really slick. We sure have a lot of fun around here. But they will be gone and we will be the only two on the island.
Everyone has storm windows up here- they are all on now. The chimney just rains creosote- a thing I have never heard of before- and a lot of rains in on the house.
I’m reading Nordhoff and Hall’s Faery Lands of the South Seas. It is just as good as their others. Preceding it I read Tolstoy’s The Cossacks. It was good. Then I read Hamlin Garland’s 40 Years of Psychic Research-and was amazed and wished the spirits would haunt me some. I’ve read three other books before that. That’s pretty good-more books than I’ve read in quite a time. At this rate, though, I’ll be through this library in about the year 2000000. It is tremendous. I went swimming in the lake yesterday when the thermometer was about twenty- and the water was about twenty below- I was never so glad to get out of any place in my life as I was to get out of that drink.
The decrepit and dying dog that lives here is something of a problem. He is blind, deaf and no teeth. A veteran of 19 years- he staggers on. There is great sentiment attached to his weak and faltering bones- but I soon think he will pass on to the happy hunting grounds simply from a tremendous amount of ennui.
Days are much the same here- always something happening-and not very much at that. Just something. It’s a funny place- but it won’t be as much fun when those two women go- they are slick folks, and the food that Mrs. Johnson dishes out is certainly good stuff.
Today we added about a hundred feet to the water pipe on the bottom of the lake- and now get water from way out in the lake. Our man Emil, good old Emil, has refrained for six months now, and tomorrow things bode well for another prolonged drunk. No one drinks in small quantity up here- they either drink or they don’t. This Emil goes on one that lasts anywhere from six weeks to six months and he never gets sobered up in all that time. Another little banty, Carlson, gets tight and beats his wife and she runs away. And Mr. French just drinks steadily, but he never gets tight and he is a swell guy, with the mighty castle across the lake, and a hatful of gold.
May, you may cut all you wish off the tail of the ski jacket. You have my express permission. I give it to you until June the 1st- completely and with no strings- but then I may want it again- for my pack- if I don’t- well you can have it for good- and I probably won’t. But I might. Thankyou, for the letter.
I finally got this little typewriter unlimbered and pretty soon there will be some long hours spent over it. Two days have been spent on it- but most of the time there is an awful lot to do just getting this place the same. It is a swell place. All these islands are covered knee deep in blueberries. This must be heaven in the summer-boy I’ll bet it is fun. Nobody wears any clothes (hardly any) and you can swim anywhere- and there are boats and fish- and the craziest kinds of people- all kinds of people-here-do-wells and celebrities. I’m going to miss the skiing- but it will be there when I get back- or at least it had better.
Right now, we just got through reading aloud- Daniel Boone, written by a guy named Bakeless, who has been up here a lot of times, and who dedicated the book to Ober, the modern master of the wilderness, just like Daniel Boone was the old timer. This may be , but really he doesn’t make you think of any master of the wilderness. He’s more like a college professor- I really don’t know how old he is- maybe seventy even- but you would certainly never know it- probably he’s not that old- he acts like a man about thirty- and certainly gets around like one. He was vice-consul in Hanover, Germany once- and he has been to Europe a bunch of times.
We get Minneapolis papers here once in a while- but I don’t have the slightest interest in them. They seem practically like foreign papers. I would like you to make me out a list of all the South football games, and the C.C., and the rest o the Rocky Mountain region, send all the scores.
I’ll sure be all set for school- after this sojourn- that is something of a leasing statement. But really this is a school in itself- I do more reading than I did in school- and I am doing some writing lately-and will do a lot more.
I haven’t caught any more pickerel. I have tried a lot of different lure- but the natives say they are all out in deep water now- bedding down for the winter. But I cast a few times every day- I might snag a couple more someday.
Just the act of living in a place like this calls for so much. There is wood to cut and haul- we have to go miles via canoe and cur- on foot when it is gone-for food. We even have to haul garbage across to an old mine shaft on another island and then laboriously sink everything, some garbage is burned. We have to haul sand for the concrete from a beach way north of here on another island. We have to go out and get boatloads of big slab rocks. The days are over before they begin.
Ober sleeps out on an improvised sleeping porch- a sort of a perch- but it isn’t so hot if you ask me. The wind whistles down and he has to keep a canvas tent rig over his dome to keep the creosote from drooling on him. I sleep in the upstairs bedroom with all the windows and doors to the outside open. I sleep under a great big double Hudson bay blanket. It is really warm.
I wear big half-rubbers-half boots around here. They are pretty warm, and all the northmen wear them. She’s a cold country, though. And it will be getting really cold pretty soon.
Well, that’s about it. This is pretty peaceful. I certainly feel remote at the moment. But I’m really not. I sure should have some mail coming in there to be forwarded- but I probably don’t have.
Solong for a while and take it easy. And Dad, have you tried to talk Grosswald out of any new skis for Rosemary yet? I sure hope you will do that with gusto and dispatch. Thankyou.
Adios,
Bert Stiles

From the Heart of the North
c/o E.C. Oberholtzer
Ranier, Minnesota
November 9, 1939
Dear Folks,
We had the heat wave- now the wind shifts and it appears winter is on the way- we’ve already had half a dozen snows- but they have mostly melted- though there has been some snow on the ground all the time I’ve been here.
Miss Andrews and Mrs. Johnson bailed out on Monday. We are the sole livers- on the island. Emil, the phlegmatic Norwegian comes just about every day to work on the house- which seems to have endless things to be done to it yet- really though it is just about as complete as it ever will be-except for the kitchen which isn’t done yet.
Thankyou for the Sport’s page. My alma mammy seems to be absorbing a terrific beating all the way around. I heard from one of the brothers; but not much at that. I still would like a little information on the status of the Rebels of the South High and how my excellent friend Billy Havens (re May) is doing. So ship that along will you please.
I konked the outboard motor last week by screwing the gas lines on too tight and it broke off- but we got it fixed and the kicker kicks off right now. We have been hauling wild hay to cover the farm land, and now we have to haul in hay to cover the dirt. We go out for sand every once in a while- that is another couple of miles towing the rowboats. We have to go for rock almost every day to keep Emil busy- and that is usually a fair jaunt. We went seven miles for a canoe load of light slabs to finish off a hunk of floor in the kitchen. We really travel around this place. I was in Canada the other day, again, looking at slabs.
Mrs. Johnson cooked up a lot of stuff for us and we haven’t worked through it yet- but when we do we will go to a diet of Hudson Bay bannock and wild rice. Incidentally, that wild rice is something which beats white rice eighteen different ways.
I’d like a verbal report on what has been done about those skis of the lovely Miss Harley. Skiing season is on the way- and she’ll be wanting to know.
Ober is chief cook and I’m chief dishwasher. I’ve been doing a little wood hacking on the side. We sure use a lot of it around here. Every so often the stoves blow up in the big house and the place gets the smoke treatment. The flues in the place seem to be completely blocked with soot and creosote. It beings to look that Emil will have to tear the house clear down and build it up again, putting in some good flues. He did clean out one of them, by taking out a hideous hunk of the white birch floor. Today he is building up the furnace, an improvised oil barrel, which throws heat far and wide.
The package and impediments came in due time and was hauled home in the canoe. Thankyou.
The old man of the north, Ernest C. Oberholtzer, is not married, he never has been to my knowledge, he has no direct or indirect descendants, no close relatives, and several thousand friends. He was graduated from Harvard University in the year 1907, and I think he is a couple of years short of sixty-maybe three or four- anyway he isn’t as old as he led me to believe- and I told you already- he acts and gets around like a man of thirty. He has been to Europe three times at least and he has been there completely. He rode a bicycle all over the British Isles. He has tutored a lot of big shots. He was for a time Vice- Consul at Hanover Germany. Since then he moved up here, from his home town Davenport Iowa. About fifteen years ago he went with an old Indian on a six month cane trip way up into the barren lands of Hudson Bay. He explored a lot of country, made some maps, and is now a member of the Explorers Club. That trip might have been 20 years ago.
For ten or fifteen years he has been in the Quetico-Superior Council work. They are projecting an international forest between the two nations to protect this country from the road builder, the power man, and the lumberman. They aren’t getting the job done very quickly, and the war has knocked things into a cocked hat on the Canadian side. He was appointed by the president on the joint commission to try and fix things up. He is president of the council and does most of the work- that is all he has been doing for the last however-many years it is. He used to get a salary, and he does again now- but it is petty irregular and the going is tough- the rest of the members of the council are serving without pay. His work often calls him to Washington, New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, Toronto, anywhere. Everytime the opponents get going these people have to get hot and block them or try to, or some more of the wilderness gets the axe. He is a personal friend of Ickes.
Sinclair Lewis wrote a couple of books right across the bay, at the Dalberg’s. Mrs. Dahlberg is something of a writer. Sewell Tyng, a member of the council, was Dewey’s head attorney, and is an authority on the world war and wrote two books right here on the island. Miss Andrews is something of a writer. This is a literary lake. The French’s, the semi-millionaires, are photographers and artists. It is an artistic colony. All sorts of strange people come here to the Mallard in the summer. Maybe you’ve heard of Pudge Heffelfinger, the all time all-American from Yale. His nephews were tutored here last summer by Ober. There is another kid, Teddy Hall, who has been coming up here for ten years in the summer- he is just my age. He practically runs the island in the summer.
Ober sometimes spends winters here. For the last three or four years he has usually been knocking around the capitals of Canada and this country trying to get action on pending bills, etc. etc. He may get the clarion call any minute to get on the go. But it looks now that things will be fairly quiet until after Christmas- but he can’t tell.
I’m expecting to stay until he shoots me, or has to head east. Then I’d like to take off down to Chicago, see Aunt Helen, will you please send me her address, then to Fort Wayne, Indiana where one of my Esquire pals lives- then home to the Rocky Mountain, by way of Columbia, Missouri.
Hutchins wrote me, and told me to keep in touch with him, and to come in to see him when I get to Chicago. He may come through for me yet.
The family troubles sound pretty remote to be here. Take it easy, fix up that deal about the skis, and I’ll see you someday.
Adios,
Bert Stiles

c/o E.C. Oberholtzer
Ranier, Minnesota
November 14, 1939
Dear Folks,
It has turned summer again. All the ice is melting- all the snow has melted- and the third Indian Summer has set in. Three days ago- it was cold and the ice was three inches thick on most of the bays- we took a sled across in the boat and pulled it along where we had some potatoes cached. But today, that ice wouldn’t hold up Snippy- who is the decrepit nineteen year old fox terrier, who is dying day by day. He can’t see, he can’t hear- he can’t even bark- he’s got a great big tumor sticking out on him- like a balloon- (l)- and he’s thin as a two bit slab. Poor snip- some morning he will wake up and find he has disappeared inside his own tumor-what an end.
The northern lights have begun to do their stuff lately- long flickering streamers that comb the east and north skies like searchlights at an airport. And you ought to see the sunsets- last nights was the best yet- I just sat up on top_ we have an observatory tower on top of two of the houses, and I watched the whole show- it’s the same at night- if it isn’t too cold. New moon last night.
Nothing much has been happening. Emil, the Norwegian, who is slowly; but very surely making this house a work of art has been sick- and would have been ice-locked anyway. The motor was going again- but today a rope got caught in the prop and the ting cracked up again- it doesn’t run very good anyway. Miss Andrews wrote that she arrived safely in Minneapolis. The days just ride by here- nothing very adventurous happens but the weeks are gone before they begin. We hauled up two barrels of gas and kerosene the other night and loading them to the steps at this house- we did all right on the first barrel- but the second one plunged into the water- tipping the boat with it- a good part of the lake ripped in over the gunwhale before Ober could get the boat upright- the barrel was there half in the water, half in the boat- we didn’t want to get the end in the boat in the water because then water would get in the gas- so I got down in the lake- and as soon as he got the boat fixed up- so did he and we heaved that barrel out- but it was colder than Long’s Peak on New Year’s Eve.
Last week I finished Burton’s Titan’s of Literature, then read his Prometheans, then read the Satyricon by Petronius, then read Wilderness by Rockwell Kent- superb. Now I’m reading Salamina by Rockwell Kent. There are so many books here that it’s pretty hard to tell where to begin or how- but each time I got for a new one- I close my eyes and dash for the nearest shelf.
Still no news of the skis- will you kindly tell me what has been done about those things. It is rather important.
And say- will you go down and look under my desk for my two biology notebooks- one of them is typed the other is in pencil. Take them both- be sure- and wrap them up in pretty blue paper and send them to Rosemary Harley- 1625 North Wood Avenue- Colorado Springs, Colorado. Okay. Thankyou.
Shannon will be after the sleeping bag sooner or later.
I should have had some mail there sometimes or other-be sure to forward it.
We went down once last week and tried to cross the channel between Deer Island and the mainland on the ice. We went down the shore with milk bottles- and while I idly batted at field mice with a paddle Ober ventured out on the channel to the middle and prudently returned- ice conditions not yet good.
Yesterday I went to town. We rowed the boat over carrying a sled and towing by canoe. I hauled the sled down to Ben’s, the jumping off place- and left it. Ober went to Emils and was going back in the canoe. I had a whole pack of junk on my back. I got a ride into Ranier, bought them out at the store, hooked another ride into International Falls. Pete Reuter, the store keeper called up Mrs. Johnson, my old buddy of the lake, and we talked for a time- then Pete, the big Swede took me home to a turkey lunch at this house- impromptu- and I hooked up a ride out to Ben’s with a local- heaved the stuff on the sled and hauled it over to the boat- and rowed home to the Mallard- a day in the big town.
I’m glad I’m missing the big brawls over who is doing too much- and who isn’t doing the homework- etc, etc, etc. Did I ever tell you what I’m going to do with my kids- I’m going to tie them into a very inextensive pair of shorts and turn them loose and if they turn out okay-okay-and if they don’t – but they still will- look at the blood.
When the weather permits I wear next to no clothes at all. I’m beginning to see the finer side of nudism. There’s plenty to it all right. Rockwell Kent and I are all for it. And in summer here- why no one wear any clothes- most of the time.
The chief game around here are partridges- something like grouse and they are all over the place. There are a lot of ducks- they go honking down the lake- (that’s geese- which there aren’t any of) There are great big white gulls that live out on the reefs, and there are lots of mice and squirrels.
I’m head dishwasher- entire dish washer- and assistant cook at times.
You tell me all about the going to of the B.Y.U. game and then don’t even tell me the score. I think I recall asking for information about South and C.C.- and all the rest o the Rocky Mountain Conference. Remember.
Toay I hacked wood for the morning- then went cruising around looking for fish on the island next to this- while Ober was out breaking the outboard. Then I rowed over to a deep hole across the lake by another island and caught my third pike of the season- they sure don’t fight much. He is now lying, headless, scaleless, insideless, in the ice house, ready to be partaken of-whenever we get the time.
The food around here is like the book situation- there’s so much that has to be eaten up- it’s sort of hard to know where to begin. Alas, what a state.
We occasionally get Minneapolis papers here- but I don’t even read them. Somehow the things of the world have almost nothing to do with this island. Life just goes on, quick, easy, without notice. I almost never know what day of the week it is- crazy, quiet, lovely world.
Solong and take it easy, Bert Stiles

c/o E. C. Oberholtzer
Ranier, Minnesota
November 19, 1939
Dear Folks,
We just got back from a one-nighter canoe trip. The weather has been extremely summery for better than a week. We had a wonderful time- started Friday afternoon, paddling up the lake, east and north into Canada, paddling in a lake of gold. We camped up on Sand Point Island, on the Canadian shore, or rather just off the Canadian shore, anyway Canadian land, and bedded down for the night. Canoe camps are different and marvelous. We dined, and then just sat around under the stars, and they were clearer than I ever saw them, every minute or so a shooting star would take-off. It was cold, the water in the pail froze more than a half inch- and it was beside the fire, which smouldered most of the night. We were warm- you can take a million blankets, if you wish, on a canoe trip- but my little sleeping bag is still the best thing. Strangely, Ober has never owned one. The next day, we cruised around Sand Point Island, a big one, three thousand acres, mostly burnt over- found nothing of note. Then we came home- uneventful, just a trip, but it was wonderful.
Today is Sunday- we didn’t get up- rather I didn’t get up until ten chimes- unprecedented. Sunday’s an easy day- I cut my black beard daintily off, and remarked to the mirror that if I didn’t soon get a haircut I would be getting my hair caught when I laced my boots. Then I posted off to this little black article of printing and began to pour forth letters. Today, in a change, the sky is dark and the wind is mighty- snow looks on the mend. My reading has been progressing. I read a little number called the Future or Nakedness- a treatise on Nudism- which says that someday it will be against the law to wear clothes- I wish the guy could stand out here on this porch in the east wind, without clothes, but really it was pretty good- and I agree with him utterly, almost. Then I finished Rockwell Kent’s Salamina-superb. I read Van Zandten’s Happay Days- the tale of a dutchman in the East Indies, gone native, fair book. I’m now reading- Pleasure if Possible, by Karl Kitchen, a guide book to Europe, and European pleasure- a short book which I will probably polish off today. Then I start reading a mighty bunch of biographies- a big book- I’ll tell you about it when I get it done. Then I read Wilderness Life, by whom I forget- anyway it was written just north of here in Canada, and Ober knew them. I’m reading Nordhoff and Hall’s test in the Saturday Evening Post. And at nights we read a monster book of Short stories, a collection of the best- very good. By the way Ober went to school with Conrad Aiken, a great poet, and prose writer, of whom you should have heard- they are wonderful buddies. Perhaps you have heard of Professor Charles Townsend Copeland- a great man at Harvard, whoselectures have been collected into a book- good stuff- Ober and he are the greatest of friends. Octave Thanet, a writer and he were intimate friends- Ellery Sedgwick, one-time editor of the Atlantic- William James, the psychologist- philosopher-someday I’ll remember all the big shots he knows. Ickes’ kid used to live up here in the summer- they paid $500 bucks a month to have Ober take him- you see maybe what I’m getting.
I caught the biggest fish I ever caught the other day- a twenty-six inch Pike, weighing between four and five or six pounds. He didn’t fight much- but it was something of a feast- except that they grow as big as fifty pounds.
I hope my instructions have been followed out concerning the notebooks- to Rosemary- if they haven’t, immediately get on the ball. Do you want her to think I come from a family of slackers. Also I’d like to hear about the fate of those skis- I’m deeply interested, I’m engrossed, I’m all ears. Step on it will you. I’d also like to hear a lot of football scores- and some news of the South Rebels. This isn’t so much, get going. Excuse my militant tone, but it’s meant to be militant, anyway.
My haul of mail this week was the poorest yet- foul. Oh well, nothing matter much here anyway. What’s a little thing like a war, or a ball game. More important is getting to town for some badly needed food- or getting the wood carted up close to the house in case this noreaster turns into something. It’s funny how much there is to do, just to exist here. We are self-sufficient except for trips to town. No phone, no mail service, no stores (close) There’s a lot of work to it- but it is fun- and the days swish by, without ever seeming to have started.
I saw no people all last week- since the trip to town. It doesn’t seem to strange. There aren’t any people in this world, just us, Ober, the weakened dog, and me. Funny place.
Solong for a while.
Skol-
Bert Stiles

Sunday after the 1st Thanksgiving
Which we did not celebrate
c/o E.C. Oberholtzer
Ranier, Minnesota
Dear Folks,
My typewriter is in a somewhat worse state than usual- the ribbon fails to function with any good works at all. Time out for some repairs which make take considerable time- the other day it started falling apart- and two pieces fell off- clear off- but they do not seem to have impaired the works much- so then I turned the ribbon over- and now it seems not to function- so- adieu for a while…
The time is now some minutes later- I have just removed the ribbon holders. Another fifteen or twenty minutes have passed and I have not found out what fails the ribbon- and now will have to stop again for an hour so and completely change it over- aurevoir-two words, pardon me.
At last I think the deed is done- the typewriter works- the ribbon is upside down- the wheels turn- all is well- took a long time, though.
For the last week, every day we have thought winter was coming- but come it never does. It was thrice as cold when I got her in October as it now is in December. The ice is breaking up in the bays- not due to wind- there has been none- but due to heat. It does not even freeze at night lately. Though the sky has been downcast-or overcast-cast with clouds anyway-we have had little or now snow-and it even rained once- horrors-is this the cold and windswept north- emphatically it is not. You are probably having much worse weather in Denver.
Tuesday I went on my usual trek to town- got a lot of junk- and hied homeward. This weeks mail was the scantiest yet- but maybe next week’s will make up for it. I think we dine on Turkey today- simply because Reuter- the big Swede in International Falls said it cost no more than two chickens. We have had chicken every Sunday since I’ve been here- and at various times throughout the week. I just finished freezing a freezer of ice-cream-chocolate. Our Thanksgiving is next week- I don’t know whether we stay here or go out- perhaps the Andrews will come up from Minneapolis – and maybe Mrs. Johnson will come out from the Falls- Right, it’s the first Thanksgiving away from Denver, home, family, buddies, football games. Do you know this is the first year since I was about six that I have not seen a football game-alas and slack.
I’ll bet Elizabeth was plenty good in that Junior program- slap on the blades for me. Tell her to thank Margaret for her very very lovely letter- it was full of almost nothing. I’d write her- but I’m afraid to- the response might be too terrific. She gather together all the bright cracks she had heard in the last year and put them in the letter and after each one she chortled, loudly, Boy, there’s a gal- what a gal!
I’m glad to see something has been done about the skis-though I don’t know what yet? Inform! And thankyou for sending off the notebooks.
So the Greens got the gate- tough luck for them- they were pretty nice- but they’ll probably like it better back there anyway. Wash Park Community Church- of which I am a loyal member will go a long way before they get another Mr. Albertson. The oracle has spoken- a startling revelation- mark you, well, it is said.
You have already Thanksgived once- the 23rd- I have been telling everyone up here that Colorado’s was the 30th- then I changed it to- Colorado has two Thanksgivings- I really give them a line up here- I don’t think most o these people even knew there was such a state- they knew there was a town called Denver- but after that- no no.
We’ll celebrate with bells on- don’t worry about that. Yesterday we started over to Bancroft Bay to get some of Ober’s mail on the way- and he went through the ice- it’s terrible now. I was lucky- he had to tear back- while I went on and hailed a car and got rid of the mail.
I don’t know when or whether I’ll get to Chicago- but I’ll see the family. Are you going to take the loan of Aunt Addie’s? Hope so. Say have you ever heard of F. Scott Fitzgerald- the writer- the product of the war, the jazz age- one of the top. We’ll he and I are related-and he and you are related-he is a direct descendant of Francis Scott Key- and so are you. Ah, it’s in the blood.
I just finished Blue Voyage and Great Circle by Conrad Aiken, Pulitzer prize winner, poet-schoolmate of Ober’s- and one of his very very best friends. I just finished Rockwell Kent’s N by E-marvelous. I just finished Batouala- a story of an African- not bad, not so good. My next’s will be Crock of Gold- and Walden by Thoreau- James Stevens wrote Crock of Gold.
The map: We lie straight south of the International Falls-via Ranier-which is four miles south of International Falls- a fair sized city maybe 20,000-maybe 5,000. Right across the line is Fort Francis, Ontario. The Mallard is one of the myriad islands on Rainy Lake-there are over two thousand. We disembark at either Carlson’s, Johnson’s, or Haskel’s. Ben Haskel is an old poacher and right now sports two lovely black eyes. Emil Johnson and his wife of two-hundred odd pounds, and daughter of almost that-lives on Tillitson Creek, one of the bays to the lake- Carlson’s live straight north of Emil on the same bay. We get milk from Carlson’s. The two islands immediately near here are uninhabited -south is an island owned by a guy named Hapgood who used to own this one. Across the lake a way is Dahlberg’s and their caretaker is another Johnson-millions of them- and we go over there once in a while, and he picks up our mail every time he’s in town. The next island is owned by Ober’s arch enemy Backus-or Buccus-or something- he’s the timber baron- and Ober is the conservation lad. Across on the Canadian side is the French castle- their caretaker is there now. All those people have more money than brains- except the French’s who have a lot of money and brains to match. Dahlberg’s own an airplane- and a cruiser as big as our island.
We haul more sand, we haul more rock, we get boughs to cover the pipe line- time goes and goes and goes- five weeks today I showed up here in saddle shoes and a brown suit- today I have holey moccasins, ragged cords, clean yellow shirt-great change. At every third whack at the typewriter I catch my hair in the keys- it is now long enough to be braided- and I often use it for suspenders since my only belt broke- I have gained twelve pounds-hitting the alltime high of 160 the other day. What a man. See you in a while-solong- I still want those scores, fast.
Fare thee well,
Bert Stiles