to Professor A H Turner
South Hadley
Mass. U.S.A.From K. Lyman
American University
Beirut, Lebanon
August 1, 1943Dear Miss Turner,
Three weeks ago your letter was waiting for me on my return from the mountains. I began by writing a stupid answer, then put it aside. Now I am back on duty and after a Sunday with two emergencies I feel like writing. It does one good to fold a towel, or turn a stopcock, or pour out a glass of water, even to stand for three hours in an operating room and eat a late lunch in pleasant communion with the anaesthetist.
It is good to be a nurse. That at least I am sure of.
Now for other matters. I believe but am not sure that my Libby - Elizabeth Dwight Lyman, aged 19, second daughter of my brother Lauren, is going to Mount Holyoke this fall. She has had varied schooling, some years in a Progressive School, several years in a small private school where word study was emphasized and manners important, one year in a high school in Silver Springs Maryland, suburb of Washington, and three years in the Baldwin School. Her scholarship I have very little idea about, but would guess her to be an average or slightly less than average student. Her personality - is lovely. She is a lovely girl. And she is "my Libby" and to her I am "my Aunt Katharine." Of course I haven't seen her since she was fourteen. I would love to have her sit in a lab and looking up see you come by. I really would. That might happen too with you doing all kinds of war time helping out. I naturally want her to love Holyoke - so I just can't say anything to her about it. I [...] carefully refrained from suggesting that she go. By this time she may have other plans. Anyway if you bump into Libby Lyman, she is mine.
Now for another comment you will enjoy. The day your letter came I heard a letter written to her father by a Vassar student in her Junior year, in which she who has more literary aptitude than scientific, nevertheless stated that her physiology course has been the best course she has yet had in college. The professor she said "knows Miss Lyman" Oh dear the name escapes me. I must stop to give the night report and continue later. [added in pencil: "Ruth Colbourne?"]
12 hours later: I am now waiting to take the morning report from the night supervisor. Is it Ruth Compton. The name does not sound quite right to me. [She was thinking of Ruth Conklin.]
The cedars continue. They will be ready for you. I also am preparing. I learn to keep house. The maid & other problems make it simpler for me to take care of my house except for a weekly "cleaning." I like the privacy and the pleasure of handling my own blue bowl and egg beater so to speak. But it is time consuming and mending is a real chore these days.
I have carried the letter a week in my pocket, but will send it now without further news.
One day I asked a casual acquaintance, an officer, to drop in some afternoon at the hospital for tea. Yesterday at 2:15 he called up and asked if he could come at 3:30 bringing some visiting "boys." I said "yes indeed, how many." The answer was "Eleven."
It was a nice tea.
Love as ever
KatyP.S. They gave me rank of associate professor on indeterminate basis! Fancy that [smiley face]
[added in pencil]
Should I add that books sent direct from publisher or bookstore come though. They are limited to one a month to a given person[.]