Dear Dr. Clapp:-Here's a brick for "Willy, Junior." The girls have risen up and are raising money with more enthusiasm than seems possible to me. They had teas all through Exam time, they've had fines at table for talking about exams, and today they've had a big valentime place in the p.o. all decorated, and everybody got hailed to buy a brick. You just put in anything you chose into the box and wore a brick. But aren't they dears, just to rise up and do it? I don't know who started it, but lots are working for it. Of course the sums are all little ones, but the spirit is soothing to us, very.
Mr. Hovey comes next week to talk about the Arctic. I wish you were here to see him.
Dr. Porter's book is out and I couldn't resist buying it yesterday when I saw it in Northampton. "Shock at the Front" - not large, but very interesting to me - with much that is amusing. It's about twice the size of the three Atlantic articles.
I went over to hob-nob - no, "fraternize" is the up-to-date word - with Wilder, and he was mighty nice. He gave me carmine, and various other things. He's going to give us quite a few duplicate mounted birds and more things. We talked much about his Indians which are more interesting than I expected. Indeed I've never enjoyed our neighbor so much. He inquired for you - and wants Ann to go over so he can give her things!
Did you see that Vassar had a fire? It seemed to be left out of the Times as ours was. The dining room wing of their main building. It was remarkable to stop the fire seems to me! We never stop 'em.
This is confidential. Miss Hooker came over this morning to see whether I thought her house would do for a lab. Miss Bradford may leave. She can get the Republic and the house she had before for less than she pays Miss Hooker. The latter seemed rather irritated. She'd like to have the college buy her house. I don't know how philanthropic her offer was, but of course she wants something for that house if Miss Bradford leaves. I told her I'd go over the space and see if she could supply enough room - and providentially she can't. That will settle it without unpleasantness. But I grow increasingly sure I'll not build a house! Maybe I could stand a bungalow like yours - but nothing bigger! They work on the heating plant in this house all the time! We're warm enough in our rooms, but ever and anon somebody freezes up.
New skeleton has come - not as well-done as the one we lost. It has a wonderful chest capacity and walks on its heels! But it's a good skeleton.
My cousin Sam (the rich one) sent me 100.00 for new equipment. I asked him for 5000.00 I wish I had the other 49 cousins! No, I don't really need all that 5000.00 this minute, but it's dreadful the way prices have gone up. I've been making out a little list today, and can get up to 700.00 and not turn a hair. Maybe Miss Woolley will let me borrow from Mignon's insurance, but I don't seem to see how to pay back for we use the fee money pretty closely.
The electric light will go out in a minute - and I broke my reading glasses on that Northampton trip. Don't dare to use both distance glasses and candle-light - either one is the limit. We're having warm weather now - very soft - and oh, such a mess, with all the snow slumping and running and dirty.
Good night - my love to you.
College may close for three weeks if Storrow says we can't have coal. That would be an early string vacation (none later) and Commencement deferred a week to make up time. But the thing isn't decided. We shall run until the 20th I think, any way.
Good night - my love to your sisters, too.
Feb. 14, 1918