54 Chestnut St.,
Liberty, N.Y.
Oct. 27, 1906.Dear Lucy:
I think it time for me to write and enlighten you about my school and work. I am a teacher of eight weeks experience now and can say that on the whole I like it very well. It is very much better than I expected, and really isn't nearly as hard. It is a High School of between fifty and sixty students, while my largest class has twenty-four enrolled.
There are three of us teachers in the High School and all are new. The Principal is a young man named Mr. Fetterly. He is very nice and kind to us all, and very ready to help us. He has a lovely wife. I have come to think a good deal of her. The Preceptress is a Miss Johnston. She is rather old, and has not been very well since coming here. She is very nice but the children do take such advantage of her and act like regular heathen with her. I have had some trouble with them but they are getting much better. They do not bother me in study hall much. I have found that a strong glare serves pretty well in quieting them. The first year class is especially mischievous. They are very bright and inclined to act up. There are two or three of the boys who have been pretty mean. I think with Mr Fetterly's help we will soon get them straghtened [sic] out. The second year class is much quieter. I hardly think there will be any graduating class this year. It seems rather too bad; but in this place they are apt to have school after a year or so in High School.
I teach first, second, & third year English, Ancient History and two classes in Biology. So you see I have the work I have always liked best, and so enjoy it very much. Biology is especially nice for the students are mostly so interested. We have already studied the grasshopper, frog, amoeba, earthworm and clam, so you see we have to cover the work very much faster than at college. The year's course includes Zoology, Physiology, and Botany, so one has to go fast. The English work is very interesting too. The only thing I don't like about it is that there are so many papers to look over. We have had exams. this week, and that makes a lot.
Liberty. is quite a pretty place of some 2000 inhabitants. It is a very hilly place and has a great many trees. From the highest points there are some pretty views of the mountains. You know this place is in the southern part of the Catskills. It is about 120 miles from New York. I hope to be able to go down there sometime this year.
Liberty is a great health and summer resort. There are a great many consumptives here all the year around. They that [sic] some of them are very much benefitted, though; of course some are too far gone for that. There is a sanitarium about three miles from here.
There are some quite large department stores here for a place of its size. There are six very nice churches. I am extremely fortunate in finding a dear little Episcopal chapel near my boarding place. It is very pretty inside. There is a very fine rector who would have a large church if he were not here for his wife's health. I like him so much.
I was very fortunate in securing a very nice boarding place in a private family. The lady and her daughter are very full of fun. The third and eighth grade teachers board here so we enjoy ourselves very well.
The greatest trouble with Liberty seems to be the lack of cordiality. The people do not take the trouble to call on the teachers or invite them to their houses. So I am not acquainted with very many people yet. There does not seem to be much going on to go to either. There is to be a Carnival of Mirth and Melody next week which is to be given by local talent. That will make a pleasant break in the monotony. There is not much to do except read. I have joined a book club which will give me a chance to read all the new books.
Well I think I have talked about myself long enough. I hope you will have a very leasant year and get a satisfactory boarding place.
Had you heard that Clara Newell died on her way to Constantinople to teach this fall? Isn't it too bad.
Marjorie Bronson was married last Thursday evening. I would have liked to go to the wedding but of course couldn't get away. Amy Peters is to be married soon to a wealthy young widower. Janet McMartin teaches in Catskill this year and seems to like it very much.
Mary Pond teaches at Montecello [sic] twelve miles from Liberty. I saw her at Institute and talked with her quite a little[.]
I have not heard a word about Minnie Sparrow since we graduated.
The place where Ella Lester is to teach this year is the same as Marion Richmond taught in last year.
I must close now. Write me soon again.
With much love,
Mary.