Trumbull – Dear Lad – Easter Sunday and Good Advice (2) – March 24, 1940

This is the conclusion of a letter I started yesterday which includes some really good advice to Lad from his Father.

Alfred Duryee Guion

In the absence of news, or at least lacking normal functioning of my brain, in order to interpret to you what news there might be gleaned if one were alert, I will have to fall back upon a little philosophy in order that this letter may not look disappointingly short. You have probably noticed that in one’s personal conduct it isn’t the things that one is expected to do, no matter how much sacrifice or effort it may entail, that makes an impression on the world, but rather some little insignificant thing that is entirely unexpected that, because of that fact, registers far bigger than is warranted. Apropos of this thought, I met in my younger days a wise old man that took a fancy to me. He has had quite a successful career and in talking with him one day he told me that as a young man he deliberately set out to make an impression on others, so he always made it a point to watch opportunities where the things he did stood out in strong contrast to what others did. For instance, in case of a bad snowstorm when everyone was expected to be late at his office, that is the very day he would get up extra early and be on time or a little ahead of time. Again, when in celebration of a company dinner, everyone stayed out late the night of the celebration with perhaps the flowing cup circulating to freely, he would make it a point to be at his desk the next morning a little ahead of time. He told me the attention he thus created and the reputation it earned had much to do with the success he achieved. And that brings me in a long-winded way around to a little suggestion. You recall in one of your letters a while back you mentioned the fact that you liked people and wanted them to like you. The thought occurred to me that if every week you sent three or four picture postcards under regular postage, not to those whom you might be expected to write to, but rather to those with whom you have only a slight acquaintance, the effect would be correspondingly great. For instance, Dave Cronin, who went to bat for you with the Justice of the Peace up in Woodbury, has been under the doctor’s care for a few weeks following a minor but very painful operation. Any of your old school teachers you especially liked, some of those in a humble capacity with whom you have worked, other “forgotten men” that would not in the least expect to hear from you. If you like the idea and it appeals to you strongly enough for me to dig up the names and addresses of those I happen to know that have done nice things for us in the past (such as Rufus Burnham, Roger Bachelder, Emma Linley, the Chandlers, etc.) let me know and I will do my best, only you had better give me the names of those whose addresses you want me to furnish.

Hope you are having a very enjoyable Easter trip at Trinidad. Be careful you don’t get all gummed up in the asphalt pit. And if I don’t get a letter from you Monday I’ll send out the reserves.

Complainingly yours,

Dad

Tomorrow and Sunday, I will post more of Elizabeth’s Adventure in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Judy Guion

Advertisement