Society Notes from our Douglas correspondent

In January 1963, 8 months into his self-imposed exile in Douglas, Arizona, Wilder wrote to his good friends, Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, and shared a glimpse of his activities in town (and South of the boarder).

(Stationery embossed 50 Deepwood Drive Hamden 17, Connecticut) Private

P.O. Box 144 Douglas Arizona

Jan 14. 1963

Dear Kays:

I've been here 7 months.

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It AGREES with me.

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But le petit train- train of my life makes me a poor letter-writer.

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Tallulah and Estelle W. are playing Tucson at the end of the week in HERE TODAY.

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I'm half tempted to go up and sit with them until four in the morning. But I'd better not. That's a different world. I'm not ready to reopen that door yet.

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Judith comes soon. Macbeth-scenes and Medea.

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And Celeste Holm. R oad shows are reviving. Some agent sends them out, starting in L.A.

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I enclose a glimpse of my activities. Note: I don't see a soul until long after sunset.

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I found the last surviving honest garage mechanic and now my car goes like a dream.

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I love hearing from you, but gee I have nothing to recount in return.

Love and kisses

Thornt'

SOCIETY NOTES

by our Douglas correspondent

A shower was given for RUSTY (barman at the Tophat) and his bride, at MIKE's on Route 80 in Silver Springs. Beer, dancing, and clandestine gambling were enjoyed by over 90 guests ..... Among the presents were ..... a can of Crosse and Blackwell's kippered herrings and a can of coffee for percolating, from the Professor.

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On Saturday night Louie (engineer) and Pete (highway patrol) and the Professor crossed into Mexico and had dinner and danced and smooched at the Copa. They then went on to visit a house of ill-fame, where the Professor's Spanish was much in demand. All of the gentlemen returned to their homes at four in the morning, their virtue intact, but leaving most tender regrets with the beautiful young ladies.

County Hospital, Douglas Arizona (vintage postcard)

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Vera R., waitress at the Palm Grove, has gone to the Douglas Hospital for an operation. Among her callers was the Professor, who was not admitted to see the patient, but whose flowers were much appreciated.

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The Crystal Palace Saloon, Tombstone, Arizona (vintage postcard). It is still open today.

The usual Stein Night (second Fridays) was observed at the Crystal Palace Saloon in Tombstone. Beer and tacos were much enjoyed by 85 guests. The beautiful "Duffie" (Miss Duffield) behind the bar was pleased to welcome her shy admirer, the Professor.

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Mr. L. whose travels for electronic gadgets bring him frequently to Douglas received the help of the Professor in writing a letter to council and judge requesting that his alimony be reduced. Mr. J. L. hasn't a bean; he lives in a trailer while his wife and two sons enjoy his six-room house. The Professor believes Mr. J. L. to the effect that he had never offended his wife in any way. She and another woman concocted a story about how he had struck her cruelly on six different occasions. Tie that!

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Hotel Gadsden (vintage postcard) is still open today.

Mrs A ... B ... a winter guest at the Hotel Gadsden again closed the bar ("one o'clock, ladies and gentlemen, thank you") in deep conversation with her friend the Professor. There are now not many chapters in Mrs B's life which have not been imparted to her attentive friend.

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Dawson's on the Lordsburg road is becoming more and more a place of entertainment for our Young Married set. Miss Winnie Shaw-former waitress at the Gadsden<,> now cooks at her brother's Hamburgateria—laughingly persuaded the Professor to dance with her. The crowded floor was soon cleared as the other dancers stood against the wall and watched the charming couple with admiration. Miss Shaw was told by her parents that she was related to the English dramatist George Bernard Shaw, which in view of her lively ripostes is not hard to believe.

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