What's with this "more people killed" business? Is that just one of those wacky 1930s things, like calling your friends "fellows"? I don't get it.

Fibber Builds A Doghouse*
 

I kinda wondered about that too. It must have been a saying at the time. I googled it and found reference to a 1943 novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs titled "More Fun! More People Killed! But that's all I know.

Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pa.

January 2, 1939 [1940]

Dear mother,

I arrived hear about eight o’clock. While in Pittsburg I
met a fellow who spent some time in Evans City. He is
a cousin of Louis Burgos and goes to school at Ohio
University. His name was Graham.
While our bus was going through Johnstown I saw
Hamilton Witter. However he didn’t see me.
I was on the same bus as Swope (from Chicago) from
Pittsburg to G-burg.
I had a couple of Hamburgers at the “Brass Rail” in
Pittsburg.
I put a clean linen towel on the dresser and your picture
in one corner of it and a little toy dog in the other one.
I didn’t take the sheets off, they’re still here.
Fibber McGee is now on the radio.
I found a Christmas Card from Dorothy Derban at the
Fraternity.
I saw Miss McKnight down at Zelienople and also Paul
Louten who was moving the street light in front of the
Kaufman Hotel
I am using Red’s pen because mine is in the box.

Love,
Gordon

*[according to the Internet, that was the episode of Fibber McGee that aired January 2, 1939 - I mean 1940. Damn! I keep writing 1939 on my checks!]

Fraternity bill leaves $3.80 in the bank
 

Gordon A. M.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
[has his own stationery now]

January 7, 1940

Dear Mother,

I’m not sure whether the Dean told you about me
dropping Chemistry I or not. He probably wrote you
about it. I saw him about it last Wednesday and he
seemed to think it would be a good idea.
I’m rather worried about my Math though. I had a talk
with Wally about it after dinner today. I’m going to get
a Math tutor and pay him something and get service
every day if I can. I’m going to see my math professor
tomorrow and tell him what’s up and ask him for some
suggestions for a tutor. I’ve got to get that stuff! I don’t
have the math final until the 23rd,
Here’s my final exam schedule
Tues. Jan. 16, 9-12 FrenchA
Wed. Jan. 17, 2-5 R.O.T.C.
Thurs. Jan 18, 2-5 English A
Sat. Jan. 20, 2-5 Orientation
Tues. Jan. 23, 9-12 Mathematics
Please send me my box of tests, quick, for study
purposes.

I saw the movie “Judge Hardy and Son” Friday
afternoon.
Last night I went to a wrestling match and saw a
basketball game between Lehigh and G-burg. We lost
the wrestling but won the basketball game by a score of
31 to 29. What a game! We were behind 16 to 7 at the
half and were never ahead in the game until the last
minute. It was a thriller.
I did some shopping yesterday. I bought some new
black shoes, a green hat with a red feather, and a light
blue-grayish stripe light black shirt. The shirt is very
pretty, I think. Wait till you see it. You’ll want it for dad.
It was a $1.65 shirt for $.50. I looked at some
“Manhatten” shirts that were marked down but there
were no stylish ones in my size.

I haven’t any plans for getting to Hood yet.

I paid my fraternity bill today which amounted
to $20.85. That leaves me a total of $3.80 in the bank
(beside $75) and I have $4.30 in my pocket. In other
words I have $8.10 to spend before I have to touch the
$75.
Shopping Expenses
Hat - $2.95
Shoes – 3.95
Shirt – 1.50
Total - $8.40

Love,
Gordon

PS. I’m going to read “Tono Bungay” this afternoon
and evening.

Getting close to finals. Panic sets in
 

Gordon A.M.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Jan 21, 1940

Dear Mother,

I’m in a hurry now. I’ve got to go up and get tutored
pretty quick.
I’m coming home by bus if it’s cold like the present but
may try bumming if it warms up. Tuesday morning is
my last test which is Math. If I get done in time I may
catch 12:00 bus for Pittsburg, if not I’ll have to take
5:00 one. That is if I don’t bum.
Hoping to see you Tuesday evening or Wednesday,
I remain,
Your loving son,
Gordon

PS. I’m going to register Monday. Will take Greek
History in Chem place.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Gordon A. M.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

January 28, 1940
11:00 P.M.

Dear Mother,

I got that ticket refunded and received 65 cents. A ticket
from Chambersburg to G-burg cost 75 cents.
I had lots of company on the bus after I got to
Pittsburgh.
I’ve been over to the fraternity. Most of the fellows
were back.
Swope came to my room about nine and we went up to
the Delecto and had something to eat.
Schartz, the fellow at whose home I stayed hasn’t come
yet. He’ll be absent for a while. He has developed a
group of boils around his infected elbow, I heard.
Red hasn’t showed up yet and it’s eleven-fifteen now.
I don’t know where he is.
(over)
I left my pair of brown pants at home. They need a
button sewed on them anyhow. Please send them with
next laundry.
I’m pretty sleepy, I must be off ---

Love,
Gordon

Just cross out where it says Theta Kappa Nu and write in "LXA"
 

Gordon A. M.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

February 4, 1940

Dear Mother,

I’m getting in the groove again. As soon as I get back to
school it seems as though I’d never been home. It’s an
entirely different world.
This is a dance week-end here at the College. Friday
night there was the Junior Prom and last night the Soph-
Frosh Hop. I didn’t attend either. There were a lot of
girl guests over at the fraternity as is the custom on
such an occasion. Last night a few fellows and I went
over to the gym and listened to the orchestra, which
was Les Brown’s, and later went up street to Butt’s
Restaurant and danced. They had a small dance band
up there composed of college students. Dancing cost
one dime.
I got my fraternity picture several days ago and will
send it home in the next laundry.
I got a new unbreakable crystal for my watch yesterday.
It cost 35 cents.
I saw “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
(over)
last Friday afternoon. “Gone With the Wind” is coming
the 22nd of this month.
Have you got my grades yet. I haven’t got a formal
notice yet. But I know I got “C’s” in French, English,
and Orientation. I probably got a “D” in Math. He
hasn’t given us our grades.
It’s now 2:45 and this has to be in the mail by 2:55 if
you are to get it Monday.
I can’t think of anything else so so long.

Love,
Gordon

PS. Enclosed is my Personality Test results and some paid bills.

The Personality Inventory (By Robert G. Bernreuter, published by Stanford University Press) consists of six criteria, all on a scale of 0-100. Gordon scored as follows:
Neurotic Tendency – 76% “Persons scoring high on this scale tend to be emotionally unstable.”
Self-sufficiency – 18% “Those scoring low dislike solitude and often seek advice and encouragement.”
Introversion-Extroversion – 67% “Persons scoring high tend to be introverted”
Dominance-Submission – 23% “Those scoring low tend to be submissive.”
Confidence in Oneself – 84% “Persons scoring high on this scale tend to be hamperingly self-conscious and to have feelings of inferiority.”
Sociability – 50% “Average.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[One bill is from the College. Tuition for the semester was $175, Light $5, Room Rent and Heat $38.50, Locker Fee $1, Athletic Fee $10, Student Chest Fund $5, and Health Service $5. Total= $239.50]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[The other bill is from the fraternity, dated Feb. 1, 1940. Theta Pi (Greek letters) Chapter of Theta Kappa Nu Fraternity (which is crossed out with a line through it, and LCA Greek letters penned in after it).
Balance Forward (blank)
Initiation Fee (blank)
Chapter Dues (6.50 crossed out) 3.00
National Dues (5.00 crossed out)
Room Rent (6.00 crossed out)
Board 25.60
Assessments (blank)
Miscellaneous (crossed out) Disc Chg 1.45
Total: $30.50-$1.45 = $28.60
Marked PAID, signed by Robert Rhoads]

"But what were the "final instructions"?
 

Gordon A. M.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

February 11, 1940

Dear Mother,

Guess what! We had our Hell “Week” last week.
That’s all over and it wasn’t so bad. I’m enclosing a list
of rules which we had to abide by and my battlefield
trip. We had some serenading to do, trips for brothers to
make, and make some speeches at the Delecto. Some
fun!
Last night I went down to Hood. F&M were there for a
concert and Lou had a blind date with one of those
fellows. They signed up for dates according to heighth.
They had an informal dance which cost a dollar. I got a
date with Lou’s roommate Ann Compton from
Annapolis and we and another couple went to the
“Hour Glass” for a while. We then made a tour of the
town on feet!
About 11:00 we got back to College and danced free of
charge till 12:00.
I met Annabel Lutz there. She wanted me to meet her
boy friend from Dickenson Law School but she
couldn’t find him. Tch tch.
It was rather nice having girls cutting in for a change
while I was dancing. I had my green bow tie on and did
that slay them? Wow!
I saw Lou there and talked to her a while. I’ll send you
her picture.as soon as I get it. By the way, I sent you a
picture of the fraternity in my laundry case. The names
of the fellows are on the back.
We have a bible test Tuesday
I’m still having trouble with Math. I must have passed
my math though because I’m still in the class and my
name is not on the probation list. No, I’m not being
tutored any more.

Love,
Gordon

PS. I met several girls at Hood who knew people I do.



PLEDGE DUTIES AND CUSTOMS
1. Ride broomstick
Ride broomstick backwards on Broadway
2. Carry books in suitcase
3. Get signature of Erhart or many at Delecto
4. Carry pack of lifesavers all the time
5. Wear loud clothes
6. Enter class last. Leave last.
7. Wear black cap at all times
HOUSE RULES
1. Learn poem. Say at dining door
“Allah Allah who art most high
Behold this neophyte on bended thigh
Prince Charming intones, not meek, yet bold
The deep seated secret I now unfold
Oh brothers I am indeed of less consequence than thy noble posteriors”
2. Enter back door
3. At dining room door do following:
a. give full name
b. give age
c. give course
d. give home town
e. give one minute talk on string beans
f. say poem on knees
4. Pledges sit at different tables
5. At silence at all times in house except when given special permission
6. Can’t sit in front room
7. No smoking in house
8. No pledge may enter a brother’s room without permission
9. Pledges lose all identity, known by letters
10. Sing at 6:45 AM outside house for 5 minutes
11. Sing from 5:45 to 6:00
12. Obey reasonable requests
13. Wear tie and coats
14. Must be neatly shaved
15. Address brothers as sir
16. Ask no favors, expect no favors
17. Wear hat at all times
18. Go up and down stairs backwards
19. Wear robes in house

Do these in order
1. Go to the Pennsylvania Memorial and find the rank and co. of Hugh McGonigille 3rd, also copy off the full names of all the Stroehmanns
2. Go to Barlow’s Knoll and get all the information on Maj. Gen. Barlow you can.
3. Now go to the statue of Brig. Gen. Wadsworth on Reynolds Ave. and bring back all the information about him that you can.
4. Now report back to the house for final instructions.

OMG, to funny to say the least. Just feel like a time warp, but can be somewhat true in Our Days and Ages.

Please Let This "Pledge make His Grades"!

Love The Green Bow Tie! He must have been a real Bon Viante in those days!:)

He sure wansnt a Hippy from the 60's!:D

First Semester Grades 1939-40
English A – C
French A – C
Chemistry I – F
Mathematics 3 – D
Orientation – C
Military Science I – C


It pretty much looks like my first semester in college.

ZAX,
Jono

Now Playing: Gone With The Wind
 

Gordon A. M.
Lambda Chi Alpha
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

February 17, 1940

Dear Mother,

I’m just reading over your two letters and answering
questions as I go along.
Studying does seem easier for me this semester. I’m a
little more systematic, I believe.
About that personality test, some of it I believe is true
and other parts I think are all hooey!
You said I received 3 quality points. No, I got nine. A
person gets 3 for a “C”, 6 for a “B”, and 9 for an “A”,
in three hour course. I got 3 “C”s making nine. There
are 0 points for a “D”. Six was minimum for 1st sem.

Congratulate Bob for beating Zelie.

We’ve had a lot of snow here lately, although it’s
melting now. Last night the bus bringing Muhlenburg
players here got stuck in the snow and the game was a
couple hours late getting started. We beat them by a
couple of points.
I saw N.Y.U. play here last Tues. night. They were
really good. They’re about second best in the country. I
expected to see fellows that were large and, well,
different. But they have to put their pants on one leg
at a time, just like me.
I had several chances to go to Hood to a formal dance
tonight (Saturday), but I’m going to see “Gone With the Wind”
February 24 – I’ve got my tickets ($.77) – and I’ve got
to save someplace.
We’re having an open house at the fraternity Sunday
evening. We’re bringing girls for supper too.
Last Tuesday was my biggest mail day yet. I really hit
the “Jack Pot”. I got five letters from, Lou, Jeanette,
you, George, and a girl from Nauvoo [?], Ill. (Don’t
know her do you?)
Well, I must be off!

Love,
Gordon

[I will be posting the last letter on Greek Chat tomorrow. -Jono]

“Good luck Gordon…”
 

[The final letter in this collection is not from Gordon at all, but rather from his cousin Jack in San Diego, sent via Airmail to him, three years after the letter above. By 1943, World War II is in full swing and it appears Gordon is about to graduate with a commission in the Navy.]

Feb 28, 1943

Dear Gordon,

Well I got back in San Diego this morning at $10:00,
oclock, not dollars. I had a swell time both at home and
at Jeans. I’m sorry I didn’t get down to see you but, I
came home a different way which cut off about 11 hrs.
traveling. I came home thru Buffalo instead of New
York.
Auntie, you mother, spoke as if you had some questions
you wanted answered. I don’t know much about how
the officers live, so I can’t help you much. But you’ll
get along all right because I imagine it’s just like school
was. It takes a little bit of time to
(over)
become accustomed to the change and then everything
is all right. The navy is a pretty good outfit to be in
right now.
I suppose you are glad school is nearly over so that you
can get started at something a little different. It will
probably be tough at first, but it doesn’t take long to get
used to it.
That’s enough of that chatter tho, and to get started on
something different. I did some tobboganing at Jeans
while I was their. We had a heck of a lot of fun. If we
weren’t at war I might even consider moving. Maybe
I’m lucky we are at war. Eh what!
I have already written six letters and have a couple
more to write after this. Some fun.
I had a swell time going and coming on the bus. There
was a mess of women traveling and did I have fun.
Things at home are so dead it isn’t even funny. All the
fellows my age are in College or the service now. And
the girls I used to date are all married, or at college, or
working some place. Even at that I got around a little
bit as Jim Leighton got home at the same time and we
had his dad’s car all the time.
I saw Evans City beat Mars & Zelie at basketball while
I was home anyway. They were the first ball games I
had seen for two years. I’ve been in the navy about
15 mo. now. It doesn’t seem that long but it is.
I suppose you are pretty busy right now, as you get
ready to graduate. But if you do get time drop me a line
and ask any thing you want to know. If I can answer it
I will, so don’t hesitate.
Good luck Gordon and maybe we’ll meet somewhere.
Maybe we’ll ty up along each other.

So Long,
Jack


So ends this collection of letters from the time of the merger of Theta Kappa Nu with Lambda Chi Alpha. Brother Gordon did survive World War II and married a girl from Pittsburgh named Martha, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 81. Together they had five children – three girls and two boys.

As of 2003, Gordon was still going strong, attending reunions at Gettysburg College, and trying to stay out of trouble. More fun, more people killed.

In ZAX,
Jono

Brother Jono, this was just Awesome and just as interesting as Yours even though in different Schools and times.

I can so remember My School Years and can so relate to many things that Gordon went through.

History does tend to repeat it self doesnt it!;)

That was cool!
 

This stuff really hit home with me, because I've been to that house several times. As a freshman, my roommate and I, both newly initiated Lambda Chis, stopped there one afternoon. They had a cook, and we were invited to stay for dinner (Coming from a chapter that met and had parties in a tiny rented six room house, it was really a shock to walk into a place where the brothers ate dinner toghether every night.)

They've still got the same house today, although I believe they school owns it now.

And I don't think they get grades in "Bible" now.

Jono, where do you find this stuff?

Ottor

Ottor, thanks for writing. I'm really glad you like the letters and I'm envious that you've actually been there. That's very cool! I would guess that makes everything easier to visualize too. Nice to know the old house is still there.

I love collecting things like this - especially letters - because they are so much better than people's memories. The LCA History book written by Chuck Peyser in 1992 has parts that are more accurate than the one written in 1929 because he referenced letters written back and forth among Cole, Mason, and Cross whereas the earlier book went more from memory. When Mason writes he just received the first badge from Hoover & Smith, well there you go.

Oh, I found them on ebay.

ZAX,
Jono

BUMP!