Newberry Library - Fowler, Gene, Ben Hecht incoming correspondence, n.d., 1932-1964

User-Contributed Transcription May 2, 1955

Gene Fowler

Dear Ben:
Have had no luck with the
telephone to Perry Lane. Probably
would have had little to say
except that I can't get used to a
world without "Snocker," even
though he never really lived in
the World as it is defined by the
lesser mortals. From the few
glimpses I had of him these last
ten or twelve years, it appeared
that he was a stag at bay.
Everyone who runs from reality
(and I have been a Wes Santee
in that respect) needs "second
wind" again and again. I assume
that Charles used up his store
of adrenalin long ago, and was
track-weary.
I thought the"Time" article
excellent in most respects, but
cannot accept the word "voluptuous"
as applied to the lad. It may have
appeared to some bystanders that
he indulged in sensual mechanics,
(as which of us has not?) but
found no genuine pleasure in such
exercises. His indoctrination in
evangelist brimstones became
a wall that he could not scale.
I believe that he hated sex,
because he feared it. Speculation?

Transcription Status Needs review

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Archival Collection Title Ben Hecht papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection, Society of Collectors

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Hecht Box 57 Folder 1249

BibID 992595638805867

Rights Status Copyright Not Evaluated

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

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IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 3039px × 4266px 74.22 MB

File Created 02/22/2024

Filename 992595638805867_midwest_ms_hecht_box_00057_fl_01249_000057.tif

Unique Identifier NL125RP9

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