Jamestown, New York.
Sunday, August 20, '93.
My Dear Nellie;-
"She is an unregenerate heathen". Such was my mental characterization of you and your epistle came just in time for you to escape as bad a scolding on paper as you ever received from my lips. However, fierce as I may be I can hold no malice so here am I wasting this perfect afternoon on you. Your letter was so schär that it almost atoned for its tardiness and was read with so much pleasure by me that I thought I would answer "immedjat" but Nora Switzer came down from Chautauqua and stayed several days with me (the second nice visit I've had from her and I expect to have one more - everything is serene this summer we haven't clashed once) and this last week I've dissapated [sic] more than all the other weeks of vacation put together, excepting the one spent in Elmira and the first one after I came home. Thus it has happened that your Brief has remained unanswered for ten days.
The Round Robin came the 12th. Wasn't it fun? I enjoyed it immensely and it made me look forward to Sept. 13th more than I had been. I wrote my second Robin right away and sent the formidable document on to Mollie. If nothing happens, it ought to get just about around again, for I asked them to keep it but twenty-five hours this time. Aside from the Round Robin I've heard from Elizabeth Gund who praised our class for the artistic appearance of the Chapel that last night, said she had never seen it so lovely, from Elizabeth S. who has had to spend a very quiet Summer on account of that bothersome ankle and who has studied some every single day - how like her! To-day I had a letter from Nan who has been laid up ever since her wonderful trip with one of those awful things on her back. Grace Gifford and Mattie Hall I've scarcely seen, but we expect to all go back together. Little Tirzah Hall has been sick with the diphtheria but is quite well again. The other day on the Lake I met the Griers & Charlotte Lee and had a pleasant chat with them. Now I've told you all I know about the College girls.
Yes Helen is married, is back from the trip and is keeping house. It's great fun to watch her get dinner - puttering around with little messes in bright tin dishes. Helen's wedding was very small but was pretty & pleasant. She of course looked lovely - was the most natural-looking and acting bride I ever saw and read the responses beautifully. We girls had a number of jolly "farewell sprees", they were all here to stay all night once, to Marian's to tea once and had two drives - with no Miss Wood to subdue us! We trimmed the house for the wedding and made it look quite festive. We also took a car down to the function and when their train came, boarded it - "Horrors! Here they are!" - they shrieked, then they succumbed to the flowers & rice with which we buried them. Did I tell you that Nora S. is engaged too. It's really getting serious and makes me feel too antique and aged for anything.
Things are awfully slow on the Lake and in J- this summer. I've done so little neither read nor studied nor gone very much and yet the time has gone and now we'll all be back soon sighing for the lazy vacation days. Henry walked in on us unexpectedly two weeks ago. It's always "Hurray boys" when he is home. We've had that "soda-water burn", been to the theatre twice, then this last week - Monday I was down-town twice and also made some calls. Tuesday Henry & I took the 8.30 a.m. boat for Chautauqua. It was full of acquaintances and friends and the weather was delightful, so the trip up seemed short. We heard Kate Douglas Wiggin read A Cathedral Courtship and part of Patsy. She is young, pretty, graceful and was dressed very daintily. We had dinner with Nora Switzer then went back to the great white Amphitheatre to hear Russell Cornwell lecture on the Angel's Lily which is only another expression for Horace's "golden mean". After that we went to see Grace Durbleday, then had supper with our cousins the Breedens. In the evening there was a prom. concert by Rogers Band followed by a "Grand Concert," a large chorus, several soloists and Sherwood the famous pianist. When that was over we took the Ferry to "the Point" & came home by train.
Wednesday afternoon some of "the old Chuatauqua girls" chaperoned by Helen Frisbee (!) had a picnic at Long Pt. We acted as though we were about ten years old, rowed down to a little sandy cover, went in wading forgetting dignity years and long skirts. At least half the girls have more than their share of "American humour" & the afternoon was one continuous roar. Grace Durbleday & I started to walk back, were caught [...] hats, coats or rubbers in a shower & to cap all had to climb a ten-foot fence!
Thursday Henry & I were invited by Sophie H. up to Belle Vue to tea. We had the most delicious supper, a row on the Lake, then sat down by the water watching the waves, the clouds, the steamers, the Lakewood lights until the nine o'clock train.
Friday was Scott's birthday and we had a wonderful family picnic at Long Point, an all day affair. The nicest part was a row with Henry.
Yesterday Mamma & I went down-town to do the first of my shopping. By-the-way I came near going to Switzerland with Aunt Mary Baker instead of going back to Holyoke. Don't be alarmed for I decided not to, tho' it was quite a temptation. When I got home July 1st I was - pardonnez-moi! - a total wreck, but by doing "here a little, there a little" I succeeded in making myself presentable in my old duds for the summer. For your satin faction, let me tell you that all my dresses except my Lansdowne & challis, have been shortened. All that I've bought new has been two pair of shoes. I had my little lace hats trimmed with green & pink. Mamma wanted to know yesterday if I realized how short the time was getting, so we went down-town and invested in - first a trunk. That old one was all to pieces when I got home, but it pretty near broke my heart to squander so much on a trunk. Then I got some underclothes. I don't need scarcely any for all summer I've worn all the old ragged things I had, then presented them to the rag-bag. I'll send you samples of what I got. The dark blue challis is for a wrapper. I think I shall have it made empire; the pink you see is only challis but I thought it would make a very dainty evening gown - I think I shall keep it for the glee club concert. Besides I am going to have one new Church gown of some sort. Don't lift your eyebrows or shrug your shoulders, you know my things last well and I've had nothing for a year. Oh yes I got a box of stockings yesterday. Write me of any changes in your wardrobe. I shall be interested in it.
At last we girls have divided Aunt Anna's personal property, and I am richer by about fifty dollars worth of "all sorts and conditions" of trash, books, bedding, silver &c. Among other things a écru crépe shawl and a pair of red canton flannel curtains I shall take are to hang in the door of our ratty closet[.] I have too a pair of pillows & a feather-bed and so Mamma has given me two of her pillows that used to be on my bed to make into softer pillows to take back to College.
I still blush for myself every time I think of how dreadfully I left that room. It was awfully mean of me. Next time I'll try not to be such a fraud. What about a carpet? I wish we had asked to keep the one we had.
What lots of good times you've been having. More than anyone else I've hard of - it's an awfully quiet summer almost every place and yet I've had a pleasant vacation and I suppose my share of fun only it seems tame in comparison with other years. However the next three weeks will be lively enough, I guess. Your drive was an adventure. Every year I have some peculiar adventure to distinguish that year from all others, none has come this summer as yet.
I know nothing about Mollie's Alice's and Elizabeth's scrape, though I often wonder how matters stand. E-'s letter was long & interesting but the only reference to next year was a groan over College Algebra.
I am going to have my picture taken this week. I only hope they will be good enough to satisfy you girls.
You'll write again, won't you?
Your Affectionate
Room-mate.
You know how I am always & forever getting out of things before I know it, this time it's envelopes & I'll have to - oh, no! "glorious signal of relief", I've found a lot of Henry's!