1929

The year opens in Dallas with a raise to $225 a month. JJL reconnects with Max Morrison, his former Presbyterian pastor, and attends services at Riggs Memorial Church.

The Purpose of Life

In August, JJL writes the longest single entry in the entire diary — an extended philosophical essay. He is twenty-seven years old.

I have been thinking considerably of late along the lines of success, failure, the purpose of life, religion, etc. In thinking about subjects of this kind one always has a feeling of humility. The mind is so small in comparison to the subject it would grapple with that the thoughts seem to come to a jumping off place, so as to speak or to round a bend and come to a vertical wall of unlimited height and infinite breadth. (August 20)

He reflects on marriage after an evening visit from friends Alice and Henry:

As it occurs to me there are three causes for unhappiness in marriage. First: The failure of one or the other or both to see, recognize, and fulfill their own duties and responsibilities of married life. Second: The desire on the part of one to regulate the details of the other one’s life for the good of the other one as the one sees it. Third: The inability of the one to see wherein he was wrong about a certain point and the other was right. (August 12)

El Paso

In October, JJL accepts a position as City Engineer in El Paso at $250 a month and relocates by the end of the month. He takes a long ride with the Lackeys and Leonora before leaving Dallas.

Stomach trouble surfaces for the first time — he is examined by fluoroscope. And in December, he begins considering the study of law, writing for information about the Texas Bar Examination. A fateful decision.