Women's Christian College,
Madras,
Nov. 20, 1929.Dear Miss Turner,
What dreadful news I had to cable to you yesterday. I am sure that you are finding it as hard to believe as we are here. She was to have arrived this morning and we were all so anticipating her coming. Miss Stokey's and my plans centred round Miss Smith for the next six months and now we feel so at sea. And you, - alas, how you will miss her, and so will all at Mount Holyoke and all who knew her.
I am sending you a copy of a letter which reached me to-day from Katie Wilcox for I know that all news will be precious to you. If another letter arrives in time to-morrow with news about the funeral I shall copy that. Our home mail has to leave on Thursday afternoon.
I had three short letters from Miss Smith after she landed in Colombo, one from Kandy, one from the train before she reached Madura, and the third written Sunday night in Madura. Grace Paul went down from Jaffra to Colombo and met Miss Smith on Monday, the 11th. She wrote that she was especially grateful for Grace's help because they had had very rough weather during the last three days. Grace stayed with her in Colombo, helped her with her business, and saw her off for Kandy on Tuesday afternoon. There she had an interesting time until Friday when she left for Madura. Unfortunately her pass port was defective and she was held up after crossing by boat from Ceylon to India. Her letter telling of this experience was very cheerful, but I was sorry that it happened. On Sunday she wrote very happily of her visit in Madura and said that she had been persuaded to stay over in Madura a day longer than had been planned. Apparently she felt well.
As I think this will arrive after College has closed for Christmas, I am sending copies of Katie's letter to Miss Purington, Miss Doak, Miss Martin and Mary Wells, and of course, to Mrs. Larrabee.
Nov. 21.
No letter from Katie arrived this morning, and as we have to mail our home letters this afternoon I must send this without news of the funeral. I shall send that next week.
Yours affectionately,
Edith M. Coon[The Wilcox letter mentioned here is another transcription of this one.]