American University
Beirut, Lebanon
March 25, 1944Dear Miss Turner,
Yours of November 8 came long ago and while I am morally certain I answered it, I did not write "answered" on the envelope and I am separated from my carbon copies by 60 miles. So I have perfectly good excuses for writing you again.
News came from my family after a six months silence with descriptions of Libby's enthusiasm for dramatic work and reports that she seems to be getting along in her other work. We have never expected scholarly superiority with Libby but will always be proud of her loveliness of spirit and her human excellence. She played Mrs. Patrick Campbell in June & the Paycock sometime during the fall.
Also I have received a catalogue & picture folder which will help me to see how Katharine is to have her chance. She too has written me and said "I think I would like best to go to Holyoke." She is doing better school work, and is taking maybe 2/5's A's 2/5 B's and an odd C in her work. Biology & French and English are her better subjects - even Math - History not so good. I hope the fall of 1945 will see her in South Hadley.
I have applied here for my furlough for that year. It is not quite easy to see how they will secure anyone to fill in, but often enough we are told that no one is essential. So while knowing quite well how difficult it will be to hand over, I am gradually approaching the point where I want to leave regardless of the situation left behind.
At the moment it is the middle of a Saturday morning. I am at the home of the doctor who is in charge of the American Mission Hospital in Tripoli. He came to fetch me yesterday and we had a beautiful trip up the coast. We had a man and his wife on leave for a year from Cornell, the MacDaniels, so stopped for 20 minutes at Djebail. Taking a dip into the past at the excavations there. Crusader castle a 1000 years old, Roman columns, 2000, tombs, 3000 - ruined gateways maybe of the period of Senacherib, and even burials back to the Pre Hittite times. There is a perfectly delightful little Greek theatre, reconstructed, where one can sit alone and see nothing but the curve of the rows, the perfect small stage & beyond it blue sea, lovely.
From there coming north we came over a new highway, over a mountain pass. I had not been there before. 7 kilometres built in 100 days, - a magnificent job and most scenic.
This morning it is blowing up to storm after some weeks of sunshine. For the first time in months I am at ease on a free day, instead of feeling pressure of what must be done. I am impressed with the realization that I am not in the least tired out, physically, but the fatigue I felt in Beirut is simply a matter of nervous tension. By sleeping till eight one morning I am quite rested.
We have had a considerable number of friendly and distinguished visitors from medical centers here and there. This last week the chief nurse from one of the hospitals came & gave a talk to our nurses. There was a tea party too and all was very pleasant. Such visitors are generous in their comments on our efforts. Of course we realize that our American hospital atmosphere so far from home is a surprize [sic] to them and perhaps seen in too rosy a glow. It may be that after the war however, these friends made nowadays will help in the reconstruction of our staff.
Monday I am going to speak on nursing to the school girls at the mission school. I am reminded of the opportunity I had at Holyoke years ago which I muffed so badly. I suppose the reason probably was that I was a little afraid of the situation. It is gratifying to know that Margaret Conrad is "superior[.]" In conscience name [sic] I do not see how she can apply constructive genius in that PH situation. The place is so ingrown and so full of its own untouchable importance & perfection. She has a good deal of putty here and there, rather more in proportion to good building material than is useful. Well, here is the bottom of the page.
Love as ever
Katy