[The author didn't address the letter formally, but it was written to Abby Turner.]New York. Thursday P.M. [Jun 20, 1918]
There's not much to write about. I'm still here. Dr. Noguchi bleeds rabbits tomorrow I think and then I'll start along - perhaps Saturday. I've sent telegrams twice giving up reserved berths and I'm shy about writing for more until I'm on the actual point of departure. Anyway I'll take along some good material in the half pint thermos bottle I've bought for the purpose but I may be down to the point of wearing my kimono for I sent most of my clothes along. to Ky. Tuesday and the rest to a laundry around the corner and nobody comes to iron them. The man who runs the place has ironed himself to bed and he can't get any women to help him out of his piles of clothes. I guess I'll ask for an iron and do my own tomorrow morning. As a final straw the elevator has been quiet for the last three or four days. Eva adopted Mr. Scott's plan of riding up in 419 and climbing over the roof to 417 and I am doing the same. A large box is the first step, the wall around the court the next and usually we land on 417s roof next. The steps remind me of Chocorna.
Last night I went with Eva to the Food Show. I got a lot of pamphlets for mamma and thought later maybe I could have selected a few choice ones for you. We partook of rice pancakes, evaporated milk and shark au gratin. Last really good! As we walked by one booth the demonstrator looked strangely familiar and on close inspection proved to be Edith Roberts. We went over and talked to her for a while. She is a specialist at present on cottage cheese, trying to encourage the making of it. One of the Du Pont villages has been converted and turns out 900,000 lbs daily - if those figures aren't confused with others gleaned last night at various times and places. We heard many.
I'm collecting information. One man kindly demonstrated to me with actual materials the method of determining meningococcus carriers. Today Dr. Kligler, who gives the war typhoid wash, gave me the outline of the work he gives the doctors and Dr. Ruddock has lent me her notes on the whole course. I've been through the base hospital and Dr. Flexner was brought in to call upon me by Dr. Noguchi - Major Flexner, he is now. He was very pleasant but I see that he might be quite deadly as at the polio-myelitis meeting[.]
You have had great weather for your trip with Dr. Clapp and you'll be glad to have had the chance to go off with her. Once in a while I wish I weren't going so far away from home. To see you and my family just a few days out of a year or two worries me occasionally, for the last two years has made my family ten years older at least, it seems to me. Maybe mamma will be better now that Dr. Gates doesn't require so many extra steps from her. Winifred can do his running around now, because he'll still need attention and sewing of one kind or another. I forgot to tell you that Miss Thompson of Wellesley spent several days in Dr. Gates' bee yard at college and fainted once. I didn't know about her name until after she had departed, but 'twas the time you paid a flying visit to the house, I believe.
I suppose I'd better read Dr. Ruddock's notes on typhoid, etc. It's now 9:20 and actually dark. Such long days are so surprising!
Do be decent to yourself now that you are home and let somebody else do a little work for the good of your soul. I've wondered how your garden got along in your vacation. Invite Miss Safford to do your canning and jelly making this summer. You have enough to bother with without such extras.
I'm getting sleepy which is fatal - but I'm not oversleeping these nights. New York does keep such late hours. Perhaps Louisville will be better - and the next time I write you maybe I can tell you what it is really like.
Much love to you,
Beryl.