Hotels Statler This letter written at CLEVELAND
Saturday night.Dear Mamma:-
I have waited to write until I should have been out to see Bertha, for I telephoned her yesterday and knew I was going out tonight.
It is surely a lovely place. "Edgewater Drive" is a new boulevard put in nearer the houses than Lake Avenue, but there is still a lot of land. Miss Whitlock, Elliott's sister, came in for me with the elegant car & Chauffeur. Marjorie, her husband and baby were all there, also a brother and sister of the husband. And I saw Mrs. Adams who is pretty well, and specially sent her love to you, as did all you know for that matter. Mr. Whitlock is such a nice man, and Marjorie's husband I liked much. Julian seems pretty well. Knowton's wife has a little daughter. She went home from the hospital today. They live on the other side of the city and I may be able to see her and Knowlton before I leave. You know of Janet's little son in Worcester - and that Reno Atwood has a son, too. Lots of new babies! Marjorie's baby is a nice one. I even held him a few minutes! Very scarey [sic] for me, but he didn't yell and I didn't drop him. Marjorie and family go back to Providence tomorrow night after a week here.
Bertha and Elliott brought me back to the hotel after eight o'clock. Bertha gave me 500 for Christmas for you. She had it ready to send when she got my card saying I was coming here, so kept it. I'm right down in the shopping district so I may have time to get you something here. Is there anything you think of which you would like? Or that you need?
Eloise telephoned to me today, and it may be that Emma can come in to see me tomorrow - or some other time before I go, and perhaps I can get out to Gates' Mills though it takes an hour and a half each way, so I may not be able to make it.
It is barely possible, Bertha says, that Besse has not yet gone to California. I shall call up her house tomorrow to see, but I don't think I shall try to connect with Will, Holly or Fred. I never knew them enough, nor have I seen their wives.
This situation here in the nursing is more complex than any we have met before. Yesterday and today I have met a lot of people and tried to get into touch with the folks that are to be connected with before mapping out the work. There are likely to be more dinners and social occasions than before, for instance with the wife of Pres. Thwing of Western Reserve who is much interested in nursing education, and with some more folks. Some of the Mt. Holyoke girls are taking me to dinner Wed. night. I have found out what church Molly Stevens Sweet's husband is at, and shall go to hear him tomorrow night unless Emma comes in.
My room here is very comfortable. Mrs. Piggott, my companion, comes tomorrow morning, and then we shall decide whether to stay here where it is very central, or to go a little farther out for greater quiet. My room is not noisy at all, but the hotel is a big one, with a lot going on in it. We may not be able to get rooms elsewhere anyhow. So keep on using this address until I tell you otherwise.
Your note and Miss Safford's came just before I went to Bertha's. She was glad to know you had such a nice Christmas and so was I. I'm glad there was so much for the Hripaks, too. Mrs. Cameron was good to help in that. I'll start this now, so you ought to get it Monday.
Love to Miss Safford, and to you -
Abby