4/9/28

Dear Thelma

Well! Well! I’m in luck to-night. One of my pupils called up and postponed his lesson until Friday. That makes it possible for me to sit down and have a chat with you, which is worth a million postponements. The thing that is uppermost in my mind just now is your trip here Sunday. Unless I hear from you to the contrary I will be waiting at the Grand Central Sunday morning at ten o’clock. I have been trying to buy a couple of tickets for the Heifetz concert but it seems impossible. ( Mabbee ) if all goes well we (that is you + I) will be able to get in by “briebery”. Guard this please it’s a secret .

Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward delighted me about seven years ago. It certainly is unique and interesting as far as stories go. There’s plenty of food for thought in it. By the way Paddy De Lee was attracted to Socialism through this very book. The best that can be said for it is that it is Utopian. Daniel De Leon will furnish you with the very best of ideas on the future state in a more serious and scientific manner. A pamphlet that will delight you is “Two Pages of Roman History” ask my brother Sam to get you it.

I suppose Leo told you all about the final concert of the New York Symphony conducted by Arbos and assisted by Heifetz. It was a very touching affair, believe me. The program was ideal. I shall always remember that concert as one of my greatest musical delights. It seemed to me as if sadness prevailed throughout the whole audience. Such calamities will always happen as long as Symphonies are in the hands of private concerns. When music is played for music sake and not for profit only then will such proceedings be regarded as a social crime. The excuse for breaking the ensemble was given as a merger takeing place.

Say when I lay my hands on your friend Becky she’ll be looking like a war veteran. Every time you get started writing me a letter she hurries you off. Advise her to wear armour if she comes here Sunday because I am on the war-path. Woop! Woop! The concert season is coming to a close; the only things I have to look forward for pleasure are your occasional visits and letters and no Beckys are going to interfere. I saw Dave Harris only once since he got back from Troy, so you can see for your self how destitute one can be in N.Y.C. And I have no time nor inclination to make new friends. Enough of this self pity I’ll be in tears in minutes. The reason I mention all these things is to show you the necessity of your letters.

Last Thursday I was up to Ann’s house, you should see her kid. He’s a winner that’s all! We shall discuss some topics when we see each other that was laid on the table, so I’ll close with a bear hug.

IZZY

P.S. Regards a plenty – and then some.

Editor’s Notes: Thelma is coming for a visit on the weekend and Izzy attempts to procure tickets to take her to see Heifetz at Carnegie Hall. One of his tricks for getting into so many concerts is revealed — bribery!

Enrique Fernandez Arbos conducted the final performance of the New York Symphony before it merged with the New York Philharmonic. The New York Symphony was a collective sound that Izzy knew and loved — with new members and compromised it would be undoubtedly changed in some way.

Thelma must be closing many of her letters with something along the lines of “Becky is calling to me” or “Becky is here to take me somewhere” and Izzy blames this Becky for the shortness of her letters. Once again, Izzy alludes to discussions that will only take place face-to-face and therefore we will not be privy to them.

To Read: Edward Bellamy’s “Looking Backward From 2000 to 1887” – a science fiction novel set in a Socialist utopia in the year 2000 with the main character adjusting to the changes he witnesses after being in a hypnosis-induced sleep for 113 years.

Daniel De Leon’s “Two Pages From Roman History” – Two lectures delivered by De Leon in 1902 “Plebs Leaders and Labor Leaders” and “The Warning of the Gracchi” comparing modern Marxist complaints to Ancient Rome.