Nov. 11, 1957
Dear Mom & Dad,
Last week was a busy week, what with preparations for the Inauguration this weekend, etc. The weekend was most exciting and I wouldn't have missed taking part in it for the world. Friday night festivities began with a concert given by no less than Rise Stevens. Saturday morning there was a symposium on Words - and responsibility given by Mark VanDoren, Archibald MacLeish, Jessamyn West, and others. Most interesting and stimulating. Saturday afternoon was the Inauguration, itself. The guests were from something like 500 educational institutions and organizations and you should have seen the academic procession - each with the cap, gown and hood of his college. Luckily we had had a chapel talk on what the various hoods represented so they made some sense. What a colorful and exciting event it was. Presidents of all the big seven women's colleges were there of course and Miss Blanding, pres. of Vassar gave a delightful welcoming speech on their behalf. Pres. Cole of Amherst also spoke, as well as "His Excellency", the governor of the Commonwealth, J. Foster Furcolo, who committed the unforgivable error of speaking too long about politics and then calling Mr. Gettell Raymond when his name is really Richard. He's really in the doghouse around here now! The Glee Club sang and so had no trouble getting in, although I could also have marched in with the class. But we also processed in caps and gowns in church Sunday which was Founder's Day. Quite a weekend - much excitement and little work done but such things as new presidents don't happen every day.
I saw Miss Voorhees last week and she was very pleased to hear that I want to teach. She was quite discouraged about private schools - said grad school should be my next step if I can manage it and referred me to Mr. Stoke who is the expert on education on campus. I see him tomorrow.
All in all, this has been a very busy semester so far but I'm enjoying most of the work so it doesn't seem unbearable. Doesn't seem possible that Thanksgiving is only 2 and a half weeks away and Christmas only 3 weeks after that. Where has our senior year disappeared to? I had thoughts of going to Katahdin again at Thanksgiving but guess I'll forgo that. But it will be good to get away from campus. I haven't left it since I arrived in September, between quarrentines [sic] and flu, for more than a day! Did hear from Charlie. He might come up the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Must run.
Love,
Liz