“How would you spend $1,000 in one week?”
Harry Smith’s 1939 Answer to The Question Box
Sixteen-year-old Harry Smith started his sophomore classes at Anacortes High School in the fall of 1939, taking Western History, Latin, English, and Algebra. Harry’s name and byline had appeared in various student publications and the Anacortes American from his time at Whitney elementary school through the Columbian Junior High Searchlight, in which he admitted the “secret ambition” to “break one of the fire alarms in the hall.” From puzzling about lead and gold to sharing his ideals on the duties of American citizens, Harry’s youthful expressions seem to connect to enduring attitudes and even his later letters. Take, for instance, this newly found letter in answer to THE QUESTION BOX on 23 November 1939: “How would you spend $1,000 in one week?”
Statement by Harry Smith: “To whom it may concern: If I had to spend it in one week (6 days) I'm sure I could do it, but it takes a great deal of thought to pick out worthy projects. However, after much consideration, I have prepared the following list. Viz: 1. Buy one set of the ‘Encyclopedia Brittannica’. 2. Start a rest home for old English teachers. (The line forms on the right.) 3. Life subscription to ‘National Geographic.” 44. Copy of ‘Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary.’ (This will help my spelling, I hope, but I doubt it.) $5.00 worth of U. S. Government bonds. 6. Have stained glass window erected to commemorate my sudden death during a Latin test, 7. Bribe teachers to keep my name off failing list (mention this at risk of your life). “You may pay the $1,000 today (with interest) as I am in need of note book paper and 300 thumb tacks—and other things.”
Signed: Harry Smith
No surprise that books and bribery are on his list of worthy projects. The writing contains the humorous spirit of his grant letters written thirty years later, like his “Application for a grant in aid from the Committee on Poetry, Inc.” or his 1975 progress report letter to Creative Arts Public Service (both of which appear in Harry Smith: The Avant Garde in the American Vernacular).
Teenage Harry Smith was staging puppet shows with his mother at the home of Anacortes’ head librarian. He was hanging out with old friends from Whitney School, young artists, scholars and ethicists who also appear in Sounding for Harry Smith: Early Pacific Northwest Influences and in The Question Box:
Wally Wilson: “If I were compelled to spend $1,000 in one week, the first thing I'd do is stock up on art supplies and then apply for a moderate art course, correspondence or otherwise.”
Ann Marinakos: “I would buy stock in some big railroad so I would have definite views on the debate question. Then I would not have such a hard time writing my debate speech.”
Lorraine Munhall “If I had $1,000 to spend in a week, I would take a trip to the Hawaiian Islands. I would fly by airplane to Hawaii and travel through the islands. I would stay at the Royal Hawaiian hotel, after I had seen the islands I would come home by boat.”
Frank Anderson: “I don’t think I’ll be bothered with making such a decision right away!”
If you need something creative to do today, someone should design the stained glass window that Harry envisions to “commemorate my sudden death during a Latin test.” It made me wonder about the Latin in the margins of that 1973 letter he wrote to the Committee on Poetry. Extracted it translates like so (according to google):
Into the field
Some neglect their prayers
The author gives his rose to the virgin
The departure of the virgin Lucifer
Drink
Interlude
A wonderful cupid's joy
Freed from bonds
It is given by an old man
The author sleeps with Atlas and the old keeper of the tower
Whether this is a kind of poem by Harry or sly excerpts from a book on Walter Mapes …. I do not know. Please explain if you do.
