A Letter written on Feb 16, 1919

Bertram Hall
53 Shepard St
Cambridge, Mass.
Feb. 16, 1919

Dear Margaret:

Thanks for the check. I don't think you right to pay all the express bill but I am weakminded enough to let you.

I do miss you most awfully and a year looks like such a long time, except from the point of view of the work to be accomplished - I really do miss you here because I do my refrigerator: you alone know how great that compliment is. I think it was high time I left my beloved home - for I was certainly growing far too wedded to their creature comforts and to the beauty of that view.

It is very strange living in one diminutive room and sharing two tubs with eight girls - if it were not for Miss Griffin, it would be a different matter - but she is a saint like all the S...es. How did one family get such a monopoly of virtues? I can't believe that Jamie is a saint however and perhaps he leavens [?] the lump. I shall hope to meet him in [...]. Miss Griffin insists in bringing me up tea in the afternoon while I am working and she put up some ...ing curtains of her own in the room, etc. etc. The food continuing to be delicious; I could not ask for better. I am very much impressed thus far with the general demeanor of the girls who have far more freedom than do the students and who seem to use it wisely. I should not like to have Carrie or even Dorothy know how much I see to admire in the way they restrict their lives without ten oclock rules etc. The greatest tribute that I know how to pay them is that they re put me right back in to the conditions obtaining in my own undergraduate days! How is that for complacent concert?

I am quite worried about Emily; her fever still continues and I can't see that she is any better - it is well over two weeks now sh since she was taken ill.

I have seen my family all of whom are flourishing. Haven has developed tremendously. Nell wrote me about Margaret. I must say the latter was aggravating! I am glad you plan to go to N.Y.

Lovingly
Bertha [Putnam?]

I think that is a splendid record for the Freshmen debaters. Congratulations!