1100 Grand Concourse
New York 56 New York

8 Sept 1948

Dear Velma:

I have finally alighted - this migratory bird business gets a little wearisome. It certainly makes correspondence impossible. And that is why you have not heard from me sooner.

I took a long time - and a roundabout way - to get home. Spent a day with Dick Parker in Manhattan, working up some material for his radio program. We transcribed some of the interviews I had, and put on a little conversation between the two of us, etc. - all of which Dick thought would make two radio programs, which I hope have been aired successfully by now.

Then I spent another day with the lads of station KTOP in Topeka. And we worked up a little transcription which I understand (I was traveling myself, and didn't get to hear it) was used on the Mutual Newsreel in much abbreviated form (Sonkin and Morganville on a coast to coast hookup). I hope you got my wire in time to listen to it yourself.

I understand from Todd who heard the program here that there wasn't any mention of UNESCO in it - and I hope Dick Parker isn't unhappy about it. Of course I mentioned it and we had it worked into the script - at least once - but it was one of the things that were cut out.

For me, the triumph of the KTOP business was our getting Governor Carlson to record something. He read a message to the people of Feves that was a honey. I will send you a transcript of what he said as soon as I can.

To get back to my trip: after leaving Kansas, I went on to Louisville and spent a little time with an old army �buddy� - very interesting, and somehow very pathetic, because this guy, although very nice, is - after all - somebody with whom I have in common only the brief time we were in the same outfit. And after we had reviewed our army careers, and I tried to remember names (fortunately he�s better at recalling names than I am, so he was able to supply them all), and decided we hadn�t really enjoyed the army, and after we told what we'd been doing since we got out, and after I had admired his babies - there just wasn't very much to say. Except we really must get together again, and they would have to come to New York, etc.

Got back to New York late last Thursday, and early Friday morning was off again - to Virginia this time. This trip more nearly in the nature of a vacation, and I got my first sunburn of the season (better, I suppose, late than never).

Home today, and my first opportunity to sit down to a letter to you (all this partly in the nature of an explanation for my delay in writing).

How are you?

I find myself still full of Morganville, and full of the excitement and enthusiasm which the town, your script, the pageant, etc., have inspired. I am hoping that you will be able soon to keep your promise (no chance that I would let you forget that one) to send me a copy of the script. I still think there�s an article to be done on the Song of Morganville and I have made a start on one. But I can�t sleep, read, or write on trains, and so it hasn�t got very far. I would - should I get enough energy and ability-to-concentrate to get something done - like to clear it with you, as they say.

What do you have in the way of photographs? Did any of the local camera people produce anything? What has happened to Dick Parker's professional camera man (I am planning to write to him - that it is, Dick - soon, but I thought you might know something about it, too.)

Tomorrow morning, I have a date with the World Wide Broadcasting Foundation, to turn over to them the recordings I made, and to work with them on the preparation of a broadcast for France. I think Governor Carlson's message will be perfect for them, And I shall take advantage of Mr. Davis' carte blanche to write out an appropriate message to the people of France for him. etc.

The Todd has been almost as peripatetic as I have. I saw him for just a few minutes before I left for Virginia - just long enough to give him a kind of hysterical summary of what went on, heard that you had written him, hoped he would enjoy his weekend on Cape Cod - and that�s that. I expect to see him tomorrow for a more leisurely account of things, and hope that he will be able to come over to World Wide with me to work on the script.

I could write (really I guess I mean I can�t write) so much about what an experience for me my visit to Morganville was. You will just have to let me say that one of the great things was getting to know you - or, as it rather appeared, renewing our acquaintance: It was a great joy, and thanks for letting me know your family, too.

I'm very curious to know about the post-pageant activities in Morganville - about how people responded, etc. What�s going on now. etc. Send me all the gossip you hear about me, of course. Tell me all the nice things people said about me.

(And if there were any things left undone, or wrongly done, or if I made any other mistakes - tell me, too.)

Well, I will write to you soon about the latest developments here. And leave Todd to keep up the business-informational side of things.

I'm very grateful for the handsome pin. It has made a tremendous hit with Jeanie, who - to my amazement - appreciates the American flavor of it. She has already worn it and received the right kind of enthusiastic compliments from her contemporaries, so she knows it�s all right.

My best to your mother, Nelda, Arthur, Cynthia, Margretta, etc. Let me hear from you soon.

Yours,

(signed) Robert (Sonkin)