A ROOM OF OUR OWN

...We got to discussing Lend-Lease and the like because of a story published in Australia to the effect that, by reason of reverse Lend-Lease, and particularly because of the large expenditures by the United States and expenditures and purchases by service personnel, Australia was likely to end up the war with the financial balance in her favor as against the United States...

...I pointed out to him that when the so-called unsophisticated wake up they are likely to react...

...It is quite a problem, whether to keep them unopened or to open them up...

...Because the hardfisted, dour, materialistic type one meets in certain and other older areas cannot produce characters like Lincoln, Jefferson, Paine, Dad, et al, who with their strength have something of the milk of human kindness in their veins...

...If so, let me I.now, and I'll keep an eye out for them...

...I was moved about what you wrote about the kids standing up 'on their hind legs' and battling for what they believed to be right...

...I think I went twice in Australia and once in New Guinea, although I have gone to the newsreels occasionally when available...

...Strangely enough I have gone to the movies scarcely at all...

...Football, like a lawsuit, a political fight, or farming, or what-have-you, is a continuing process of learning how to do the job better...

...Hence, while 'sitting on the bench' put in your time studying the game, your own weaknesses and strength, so when you play again you can do a better job...

...Am enclosing some more 'splendid photos.' Col.___said, 'But they make you look older than you really are,' to which I replied, 'By the time we get home, I'll have grown up to them...

...His general slant, he said with the utmost good humor, is shared, he believes, by his compatriots: that we are, shall we say, unsophisticated...

...The kids weren't the only ones, for I myself was impressed with what time was doing to my physiognomy when I took a good look at those pictures...

...When one stops learning one doesn't stand still: he slides backward...

...Anyhow, I haven't seen a good movie since before the war...

...I even debated some about sending those pictures back, but concluded to do so on the general ground that you would have to get used to the facts of life anyhow, and might just as nicely do it gradually than have the old vet come back and appear on the scene yahrs and yahrs oldah and have to take it all in one look...

...One may thus be defeated, but still it is the only road to victory...

...I was much interested in your report of the East-West (high school) game and the surprise of Bob [our son] to find the 'invincible' West having a hard time holding its own...

...Not that I am personally swamped, but a few have come, and I see others coming for other people...

...And I doubt if one can be cynical, and constantly and never-endingly concentrated on one's selfish 'better 'ole' without forfeiting idealism, and without idealism the human race would be a pretty hopeless, worthless lot, at least it seems so to me...

...One must take risks, but the risks should be carefully assessed, weighed, and then one moves boldly...

...I told him briefly of what you had said and he replied, "They wouldn't be La Follettes if they didn't do that...

...But the ache, and remember this, Bob, Judy, and Sherry, the ache is the certain sign that you are making progress...

...Have you seen any good ones...

...Maj.___and I talked about our respective offspring last night...

...and he said it with real feeling...

...He expressed the opinion that perhaps Americans were too easily taken in, and made the point that we paid too high prices for inferior articles,, etc...

...And what is true of football is true of nearly all other contests in life...

...Yes, there is no getting .around the point that time has been passing, and when it passes in the middle forties it really counts...

...The Process Of Learning "In other words, it's the old, old lesson that it is so hard for folks to learn and remember: beware of over-confidence and underestimating one's opponents...

...A Room Of Our Own By Isabel B. La Follette WITH THE EDITOR'S comment that it is time for another report from Phil in the Southwest Pacific, here goes from some of his recent letters: "Worked late last night and am still tired this morning...

...By The Time We Get Home' "I note your reference to going to the movies...

...As a nation we would serve our neighbors better if we were more realistic, but I would not have us lose our idealism even if it costs us a lot in material wealth, and if need be, even more...

...Glad you liked the photographs...

...The over-cautious general who always wants more and more resources and re-inforcements before he will move (like McClelland in the Civil War) never wins...

...It would be a good idea if folks put 'perishable' on the outside if that were the case...

...Wouldn't Forfeit Idealism "Had a talk with one of the keenest of the Australian newspapermen...

...I opened two that came for me, fortunately in one, case, because it contained crackers, etc., that would spoil...

...Beware the day when you feel no dissatisfaction with yourself...

...And believe it or not, learning mentally or physically stretches the muscles and brain cells, and they often ache badly with fatigue...

...If one learns anything out of football it is that the best team on its 'off' days will have tough sledding with even the poorest team when the latter is hitting on all cylinders...

...Sitting on the bench is never much fun, but sometimes whether you are to play in the game or sit on the bench is not entirely in your own control...

...Another point on the vital question of 'open or not to open' is that where one moves around he can't tell just where he may be at Christmas: in other words, it is easy to make up a very impressive argument on why packages should be opened promptly...

...So if this letter does not sparkle with its accustomed brilliance you'll understand the reason...

...Here it is November, 1943, already—and Christmas packages have begun to arrive...