Copyrighted © 1999 by Gary Barton. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gary Barton USGenWeb NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist. The envelope is Postmarked 7 Dec 1928. Besides the letter inside, there is a small typewritten note I will include to start. The note was probably written in 1928 and not 1925. 1925 is most likely a typo as she typed Dec 5. Anything in (..........gb) are my notes. Gary Letter from Alice JIRASEK to Paul LERNER dated Dec. 5, 1925 San Mateo, Cal, Dec. 5, 1925 Dear Paul: I am writing this little note in night school. I feel like a big criminal because I wasted a dimes worth of paper already, and haven't written a thing that is good enough to hand in to-morrow: so I thought I'd write you a continuation of the letter that I wrote at home before I came here to slave, curse, and .K?#$_;@. I believe in sending samples of my GOOD work to everyone interested in typing, and I know you will be greatly pleased at getting a chance to glimpse the work of a natural-born typist; some day when I am famous you will have a chance to glance over the work of a great genius. Just look this paper over and see the few eracings, and you can tell why 10 (cents gb) worth of paper disappeared without me knowing it. I always cherished the idea that revenge is sweet, and BOY if my typewriter could only talk what wouldn't it say. If it was my own, no machine would live to tell the tale and I don't mean MAYBE. I guess I must close now for it is time to go home; good-bye. Write Soon, Alice JIRASEK Letter from Alice JIRASEK to Paul LERNER dated Dec. 4, 1928 San Mateo, Calif. Dec 4, 1928 Dear Paul, Don't pass out at seeing my handwriting again, but I really did find a few spare moments to answer your letter which was received ever so long ago. In writing this letter I'm also fulfilling a promise I made (to write this week) Thursday, and so I'm killing two birds with one stone. I received a letter from Ella Friday and, believe me, the shock knocked me senseless for at least 10 minutes. (I can hear you saying "You're senseless anyway; so what's the diff.") I can fell that thought as though you said it to my face because I'm so sure of you saying it. You always say it when you have a chance. Perhaps it's not in the same words, but it means the same. This letter won't be much of a letter because I have to go to night school and have about ten minutes to write it in; so please excuse it if it's not very long. Don't you think my new excuse is pretty good? I think it's better than my old one which was, I know of nothing new to write. How did you get home Thursday? I slept like a rat after arriving home safely. I think you know I really needed the sleep. Lucky I found time to write this afternoon because this is examination week, and boy it sure is. This is a few of the things I must be ready to do: Read two book reports, give an impromptu speech, and examination in History, make Christmas presents, etc. Draw your own conclusions in guessing how I spend my time and also consider yourself lucky that you're not in my place. Gee whiz, I'm on page three already and this was only going to be a short note. Even if I say so myself, I am getting good. I'm reading over this letter, take notice of all the punctuation I've used and see how good I'm getting. Those commas, semi-colons, etc. were all learned in school, and I consider it ample proof that S.M.H.S. (San Mateo High School gb) does teach a person something even if it isn't very much. The school must be good if I learn there. I bet if you were in S.M., you'd tell me the school sure is good. I seem to be picking on you quite a bit today. Have you got that gray tie on today? Maybe you haven't, but I sure feel like arguing: and I bet if you were here, we surely would have a nice argument. Good thing you're not here. Peace & harmony will reign at our next meeting. Perhaps you don't understand what I'm writing about. (This isn't a slam either.) I'm just writing a lot of words that are readable but not understandable. Just look! Bottom of page four is in sight. Whoopee. I'll get to page five yet. I have exactly four minutes before I start to tow hours of misery. By that I mean two hours of typing. Had a speed test today, and just think I made 5 words plus a fraction. I would have made more but I had 8 errors. I'm good; I am. How is everyone in Alameda. All of San Mateo is "K.O." and I hope the same prevails over there. By the way I really forgot to tell you that I'm going to have my picture taken this week. Hot diggety dog. Some picture that will be. Eh what? I wish you would answer all the questions I've been asking you. Today I'm showing my real Dutch ancestry by asking a lot of questions and also trying to find out your thoughts. End of page 5 is near, and I have one minute to go. Gee this letter is just like a Football game. Watch the minutes until the end and see who wins. I guess I've written enough for today; so I'll close hoping to receive a nice long letter from you real soon. Give my love to all and best wishes from all of San Mateo including myself. I remain As ever your cousin Alice JIRASEK P.S. Some letter and I don't mean maybe. Try and strut your stuff in answering it A.M.J. Look! I have a middle name. (arrow drawn and pointing to the M. gb)