[Letter] 1945 March 17 [to] Dr. Stoughton
Dublin Core
Title
[Letter] 1945 March 17 [to] Dr. Stoughton
Subject
Schweitzer, Albert, 1875-1965
Elbridge (N.Y.)
Description
Kimman congratulates Stoughton on his new appointment in the ULCA. She writes that she is teaching music and tells of her living arrangements and her students. Also thanks Stoughton for a biography of Schweitzer that she returned to him.
Creator
Kimman, Doris
Source
Wagner College Archive, Horrmann Library
Date
3/17/1945
Contributor
Wagner College, Staten Island, NY
Is Part Of
A complete index to the letters in this collection can be found here: http://library.wagner.edu/wagnerarchive/StoughtonPDF/Correspondence index.pdf
Format
application/pdf
Language
eng
Type
text
Identifier
Kimman1
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
March 17, 1945
Dear Dr. Stoughton,
Greetings from one who has followed your activities with sincere interest through the Wagner Bulletin but has remained silent these past several months. Congratulations on your new appointment to the office of stewardship secretary of the ULCA. Know you must have experienced considerable inner conflict in deciding to leave Wagner. However, your services there have been many and now your opportunities for service have become increased and expanded. Viewing this new venture
[Page 2]
from its beginning must be a challenging experience for you. May you find great satisfaction in your new tasks.
My life this past year has been very full and as a consequence, happy. I’m teaching music in Elbridge, N.Y. about 14 miles west of Syracuse. It is easily accessible being located on Route 5 — the main Greyhound east-to-west highway. I stay in Elbridge from Monday to Friday – living with 7 other young teachers – and
[Page 3]
the State Police! Let me hasten to explain myself - Trooper Smith of the State Police has his office and living quarters downstairs in our establishment. Consequently, we are well-protected and usually receive all the exciting news of the surrounding country-side well before the rest of the community becomes thusly enlightened.
I’m very fond of my pupils, enjoy my colleagues, and challenged by my work, have experienced much fellowship in the community. Have 2 bands with a third “on the way” – 2 choruses, a community chorus, a church choir,
[Page 4]
an Intermediate L.L. at home Friday nights. Piano lessons and University classes on Sat. — and so it goes. You know what it is like to be involved in a ceaseless round of activities. In spite of it all — or maybe because of it all - I still maintain life is good — though sometimes a bit “too much with us.”
Often think of A. Schweitzer and his marvelous outlook. Thanks heaps for the loan of his autobiography. I fear it was sent to you without a word of explanation or thanks. I deeply appreciated the privilege of being able to read this fine book. Had a letter the other day from the A. Schweitzer Fellowship. Portions
[Page 5]
of a recent letter from him were quoted. He is involved in a tremendous number of routine duties such as supervising care of medicines and instruments (so much of this is irreplaceable), supervising harvesting, hoeing and caring for crops, starting the motors at the hospital each morning, etc. He gives these as reasons why he couldn’t take a vacation as was suggested by some of his American friends. He ended this paragraph by saying that when he is doctoring or in the evening when he is playing his piano with the organ pedals given him by the Bach Society of Paris when he first went to Africa, or when he is studying philosophy late at night,
[Page 6]
the humdrum tasks of his day are forgotten.
Oh, to live so monumental and simple an existance as this! It’s something to achieve toward. My life sometimes becomes somewhat frantic and futile. Oftimes I neglect putting first things first. Pleasures of the moment so often upset my good intentions. Someone once said, “The Righteous but weak will is the world’s greatest tragedy.” How true.
The last portion of this epistle has been penned while proctoring a last period study hall. Consequently, it has been
[Page 7]
interrupted often by tours of inspection, questions, necessary comments at the proper time, etc. Apologies are, therefore, extended for the quality of thought and legibility.
Did want you to know I’m very happy for you in your new work, Dr. Stoughton, and wish you every success.
Sincere regards,
Doris Kimman
All the Kimmans send greetings!
Dear Dr. Stoughton,
Greetings from one who has followed your activities with sincere interest through the Wagner Bulletin but has remained silent these past several months. Congratulations on your new appointment to the office of stewardship secretary of the ULCA. Know you must have experienced considerable inner conflict in deciding to leave Wagner. However, your services there have been many and now your opportunities for service have become increased and expanded. Viewing this new venture
[Page 2]
from its beginning must be a challenging experience for you. May you find great satisfaction in your new tasks.
My life this past year has been very full and as a consequence, happy. I’m teaching music in Elbridge, N.Y. about 14 miles west of Syracuse. It is easily accessible being located on Route 5 — the main Greyhound east-to-west highway. I stay in Elbridge from Monday to Friday – living with 7 other young teachers – and
[Page 3]
the State Police! Let me hasten to explain myself - Trooper Smith of the State Police has his office and living quarters downstairs in our establishment. Consequently, we are well-protected and usually receive all the exciting news of the surrounding country-side well before the rest of the community becomes thusly enlightened.
I’m very fond of my pupils, enjoy my colleagues, and challenged by my work, have experienced much fellowship in the community. Have 2 bands with a third “on the way” – 2 choruses, a community chorus, a church choir,
[Page 4]
an Intermediate L.L. at home Friday nights. Piano lessons and University classes on Sat. — and so it goes. You know what it is like to be involved in a ceaseless round of activities. In spite of it all — or maybe because of it all - I still maintain life is good — though sometimes a bit “too much with us.”
Often think of A. Schweitzer and his marvelous outlook. Thanks heaps for the loan of his autobiography. I fear it was sent to you without a word of explanation or thanks. I deeply appreciated the privilege of being able to read this fine book. Had a letter the other day from the A. Schweitzer Fellowship. Portions
[Page 5]
of a recent letter from him were quoted. He is involved in a tremendous number of routine duties such as supervising care of medicines and instruments (so much of this is irreplaceable), supervising harvesting, hoeing and caring for crops, starting the motors at the hospital each morning, etc. He gives these as reasons why he couldn’t take a vacation as was suggested by some of his American friends. He ended this paragraph by saying that when he is doctoring or in the evening when he is playing his piano with the organ pedals given him by the Bach Society of Paris when he first went to Africa, or when he is studying philosophy late at night,
[Page 6]
the humdrum tasks of his day are forgotten.
Oh, to live so monumental and simple an existance as this! It’s something to achieve toward. My life sometimes becomes somewhat frantic and futile. Oftimes I neglect putting first things first. Pleasures of the moment so often upset my good intentions. Someone once said, “The Righteous but weak will is the world’s greatest tragedy.” How true.
The last portion of this epistle has been penned while proctoring a last period study hall. Consequently, it has been
[Page 7]
interrupted often by tours of inspection, questions, necessary comments at the proper time, etc. Apologies are, therefore, extended for the quality of thought and legibility.
Did want you to know I’m very happy for you in your new work, Dr. Stoughton, and wish you every success.
Sincere regards,
Doris Kimman
All the Kimmans send greetings!
Original Format
http://library.wagner.edu/wagnerarchive/StoughtonPDF/Kimman1.pdf
Date Digital
2014
Citation
Kimman, Doris, “[Letter] 1945 March 17 [to] Dr. Stoughton,” Wagner College Archives and Special Collections, accessed April 20, 2024, https://wagnercollections.omeka.net/items/show/16318.