November 23, 1929
Tallakulam P.O.
Madura, South India.Dear Mrs. Arnold -
I enjoyed your letter written the end of September ever so much. The maps of Ann were exciting. It doesn't seem that she can be so big. Give my love to Connie when you write to her or see her, and tell her I quite approve of the young daughter - that she's a dear.
We're just thro' our written Tamil exam and waiting for our eval, which comes in four days. Ed is about to explode with rapture at the tho't of ending his two years' grind. I still have another year or two ahead before I take my "Second exam," so I'm not quite as exuberant.
However, I shan't begin regular tutoring again till April, I think - so there are months of vacation ahead.
Christmas insists on making itself felt very early in these parts. By now all cards and presents have been some weeks on their way over seas - those for home folks. Our planning is for India, now, - clothes for the servants, gifts for friends here - Just at present I'm wracking my brain to see how I can devise 15 cards from nothing; I have 18, but need more. Ed and I will be here in Madura and experience a real tropical holiday, but we'll hang our stockings and have a tree of sorts, eat fruit cake, tinned cranberry, and pumpkin pie - and play "O Little Town of Bethlehem" on the victrola.
The school year has gone happily for Ed. He has large classes, so that teaching is difficult - but next year a third man in the department will remedy that - and he manages very well as it is. Our classes run from about June 22 to the 27th of March, with three terms, a month out at Christmas time, and another 2 weeks holiday in September. Thus we're just completing the second term now.
As mother has probably informed you, the Miss Smith of whom you wrote to me died here in Madura the evening of November 18th. She had come on from Colombo, starting her Indian trip from this end. Katherine Wilcox, head of Capron Hall, our big girls' school, was her hostess. Katherine is a Mt. Holyoke graduate.
Monday Miss Smith went to visit Katherine Dudley, another Holyoke girl, who is in an "outstation" fourteen miles from Madura. There she had a delightful day, returning in the evening with Katherine and her husband to Capron Hall for a tardy birthday celebration of her 66th birthday, which had occured [sic] the previous Saturday. At this dinner were Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Miller (Mrs. Miller was Edith Gates - Holyoke graduate) and their daughter Frances, Katherine and Raymond Dudley, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace (Mrs. Wallace's mother was Holyoke), Katherine Wilcox, Margaret Stenger and Gertrude Chandler. (the last two, Capron Hall teachers). There was a birthday cake which greatly pleased Miss Smith, and the whole affair was most happy.
Just as the last guests were leaving in their cards, Gertrude Chandler started to close window shutters - Miss Smith was in the now empty room, and seemed to be helping at one of the windows. Suddenly she sunk down on the floor unconscious - and died shortly thereafter without regaining her senses - Of course Dr. Thomas was called immediately, but she failed to react to any restoratives.
The funeral was held at three the following afternoon, and I wish her friends might know how simply beautiful and friendly it was. Americans took charge of everything. She lay in a open coffin a bit removed from us - Some twenty of the mission were there, Indian pastors, Capron Hall Indian teachers, and a choir of Indian Christian students, dressed in pure white saris. This group of girls sang "Peace, Perfect Peace", in English; Dr. Banninga (J. J. Banninga - principal of our theological seminary) conducted the service. In his prayer he thanked God that even in a strange land a Christian had other Christians near, and the love of God ever present; he rejoiced that tho' called so suddenly to the beyond, Miss Smith was prepared and fortified - ready; and he beseeched that thro' her death the two countries of India and America might be drawn more closely together, friends in each hemisphere thinking more kindly and more keenly of each other.
We all went to the Madura Mission Cemetery where she was buried - The flower bedecked coffin moved in its dignified black hearse slowly the short way. Strange dark faces stared; cattle moved stolidly aside from the street's center where they usually walked. The land was foreign; and yet all about was love and understanding from us who were her friends.
The cemetery is surrounded by a weathered yellow wall. Inside are trees, and shrubs; peace and calm. Here are buried missionaries, their children, American civilians, and a few Indian Christians. And here, under a green palm tree, close to the sun warmed wall, Miss Smith's coffin was lowered into its grave. Roses were strewn upon it; jasmine covered it. There her body rests.
We are all so glad that this sudden going did not come when she was alone anywhere, and that we could arrange the final services.
The pall bearers were:
Rev. Raymond Dudley - stationed at the Tiramangalum, husband of Katherine Clark - Holyoke.
Rev. Bryan Stoffer - principal of the American College.
Rev. James Hess - head of the English Department of the American College.
Mr. Edgar Flint - head of Physics and Chemistry Department - American College
Dr. C. W. Miller - head of the Pasumali Teacher's Training school for boys - Husband of Edith Gates - Holyoke
Rev. James Dickson - head of the Pasumali Trade school for boys -
I have gone thus into detail because I thought that perhaps some of the Alumnae might like rather definite information, since Miss Smith has been at Holyoke so long, and was so well loved - and I know you would be eager for knowledge, too, and the comfort of knowing all ended so happily - for I think that after all her going was happy.
I'm glad that Kathleen does so well at Wheaton; and Libbey is at Holyoke!! My! They'll both be graduates when I see them - They're having great years now; I almost envy them.
Our best to all of you - Ed joins in sending greetings - Greetings for Christmas, just passed, and the New Year of 1931 -
Sometime write again, if you can find time.
Love -
- Dorothy -