Boone School
Wuchang, China
Mar. 20, 35Dearest Abby -
Countless times in the last months that have grown to be more than a year I have been about to write to you and then something has intervened and the letter remained unwritten. I was most awfully glad to hear from you in February and ever since then my intention to write has hovered from the future periphrastic over toward the present.
As I wrote Gertrude from the Pacific - the letter you said you saw - my months in the States were most hectic and fevered. I tried to write to all my neglected friends from the steamer but unfortunately failed and not even yet have caught up. We plunged at once in medias [?] up on our arrival at Wuchang Sept. 2. Our house was badly out at the elbows and took a great deal of time, thought and money to rehabilitate. While unpacking, settling and repairing huses furnishings I had three fellow missionaries living with us - one a delicate young bride who was homesick and ailing and difficult. My task as housekeeper was complicated because all five of us had widely different schedules. Besides I was teaching two courses in Eng. Lit. in the college, both without either text-book or syllabus and hence requiring hours of preparation. Also I had a little trouble in getting re-acclimated.
Thus the days seemed full and one never can work full time in this enervating climate.
The bridal pair moved into their own house just before Christmas but you know how full January gets for school-folk. I did make some headway with letters during our delightful China New Year vacation but there were too many doings of all sorts to spend very much time at my desk.
When the new term opened I was persuaded to take over a class of twenty-five college Freshmen in Eng. Lit. and they take it out of me as they are not used to working on their lit. Also I am working hard leading a class of twenty American women in a study of Japan - a most absorbing topic for us, of course.
Everard's work is as always in our school department. He excels in making English a good tool for the boys. He always has a heavy schedule and works hard - too hard often.
Katharine is so radiantly happy in her marriage and has developed so much in so many ways these last months that Everard and I are forced to strangle our misgivings. She has a good secretarial job. Philip had a part in Valley Forge and when last we heard was hesitating between two or three courses to follow on the closing of that play. He and Katharine are living with Marian and a favorite cousin in one of the new apartments in Knickerbocker Village. Marian is concentrating on her course in The Fashion Academy hoping to finish this spring.
I am sorry your back is giving you such constant trouble. It's a heavy cross for you, I know.
I have been walking more than sometimes these past months and I am always thinking of you and wishing you were along to enjoy this interesting countryside.
Thanks for the paragraph about Elizabeth. It's a year since I saw her. She seemed very unlike herself that day - very old and - yes, vague. The memory troubled me a long time but her letters tho' infrequent seem quite Elizabethan. I believe her present job is the least irksome one she's had. But like you I just can't understand it. One thing that I marvel at is why Margaret doesn't make room for her in her establishment - unless Elizabeth really has failed either mentally or physically more than I realize. I do know that she is afraid of going like her father.
I wish Gertrude were stronger. It is so hard to work under the handicap of poor health.
I had a good letter from Grace Burroughs at Christmas-time - a letter that showed less strain and more normality than sometimes.
Nell is greatly on my mind. I think she is one of the friends I've neglected.
Do you know anything of a Chinese physiologist named Pei-Sung Tang? He knows about you and your work altho' he says he's never met you. He is on the faculty of a government university situated in this centre and sometimes comes to tea - very interesting person.
You must feel Dr. Clapp's death keenly. I am sure Miss Alice S. is completely lost. I must write to her.
How's Miss Goldthwaite?
Radios are just beginning to come here. Those in Wuchang are really n.g. because of a powerful government receiver that thorws everything else out. A very few people in Hankow have expensive short wave sets and get a great deal of satisfaction out of them, but personally I've never heard anything of any interest on any radio in China. It's all too experimental still.
How I'd like to hear you talk about Russia, if you really get there, as I certainly hope you do.
I was quite struck dumb over Elihu Lyman's adventure! One never expects such things to happen to one's friends.
I hope you soon got over the after-effects of the flu. It's been very prevalent here this year but I've escaped with only (?) more than two months of pharyngitis - so awkward for a teacher!
Here's a hanky that first was to have been a Christmas one, then New Year's, then your birthday and now is to flourish with your Easter costume!
Old friends are best, aren't they? I love you a lot and do find time to write in the summer.
Always fondly yours
Lucy FishOn re-reading this I am struck with its inane stupidity but at least it puts you in touch with me!