39 East 71st Street
New York City
Nov. 4, 1921Dear Miss Turner,
Just because I should be doing a dozen or fifteen other things, I am not. Most of our class is going to a chemistry conflab. from seven to nine. I fear for what chemistry they have to start with.
A few of us are going out for the evening having acquired keys and late passes for that purpose. A Mrs. Johnson and I are planning to hear a recital by Alma Simpson whoever she may be at the Town Hall which sounds like New England but isn't I'm afraid.
You would have laughed or any way smiled at the expression which rested on the face of our class this morning between 8 and 9. We are having work on diets and in twenty minutes this morning Miss Keith touched on all the points to be emphasized in providing nourishment. The class clutched its "American Food Materials (corrected April 14, 1906) By Atwater and Bryant" in left hand, and guided pen with right hand in vain endeavor to "get down" what she was saying.
This afternoon when we had a chance to put our theoretical dietetics to practical use, we broiled fish, made creamed potatoes, and cooked apples in a syrup - with nary a thought for the calories involved. Miss Keith certainly has a task ahead of her to give us thorough work in diet making, work on diets for various diseases, and on infant feeding, - in six lessons more.
The Presbyterian Hospital is said to put more emphasis on the teaching of theory than some of the other hospitals!
We are still being sent onto the wards. Mrs. Levy gave me chocolate for fixing her pillow - Miss Henderson told me that the graduates from outside don't bother with making beds according to square and compass - - (as we do) - - Miss Hayt exclaimed over the smoothness of the rubber sheet after my making of the bed was done, and Miss May told me to stand the screens right side out around a bed when I used them. Puzzle: to find which of the four above-mentioned was the head-nurse.
Our class is getting a bit on edge. Miss Rost, henna-haired, who has had trouble with her teeth, left us Wednesday. Mrs. Smed because of her dislike of the hours, leaves to-morrow. Incidentally about eleven exams of varying importance and dimensions will descend upon us within two weeks and practically every single one of us has a bad case of pre-test fever. It is said that every one of the 34 desks scattered through this four floors of house is to be occupied all of Saturday afternoon. The effect of all this tension, perhaps I might say the symptoms, are "inability to lend salt-cellar while working in the kitchen, desire to grumble cleverly and sarcastically through 2 1/2 hours of working on supplies in supply room, tendency to roar with laughter or with rage culminating in tears, and absolutely scornful grimaces at breakfast, dinner and supper tables.["] (I should say, breakfast, lunch, and dinner tables)
I have queried about the respiration calorimeter. No one seems to know about it. The physiology instructor doesn't know, the dietitian doesn't know. Just the lady that runs it knows, I guess and I haven't come in contact with her whoever she is. I do know that they have no "honest-to-goodness" one - It is a more or less partial one if you know what I mean.
We had a Hallowe'en party the other night. Some one heard that Dr. Colp's wife is sick, so after the party when Dr. C. danced with a large proportion of the anatomy class - someone suggested flowers for Mrs. Colp. The suggestion was followed. Mrs. Braden was delegated to telephone & inquire for the invalid. Dr. C. came to the phone, heard the inquiry -, and answered "Why, she'll come & speak to you if you'll just hold the line for a minute.["]
I have an idea that tomorrow after the lecture is done, he does it with dispatch, there will be a quiz, regardless. All of which has not occurred to me before this minute of writing it.
I hope your South Hadley is just as specially choice as it seemed to me two weeks ago. The few hours there were a joy. I came back rather eager to start in the next morning and the days since have been increasingly interesting.
The people at home in Easthampton are getting along without me for the time being. Just how I'm to manage my change of plans and whether I bring it about at the end of November or in January I don't know yet. When I do, I've a number of things up my sleeve, in the way of using spare time, of which I very well know there'll be little. Among other things I shall acquire my slow-to-arrive Howell and one or two other volumes by way of company for him. Isn't it fun to plan.
This dietetics course is coming at exactly the right moment to renew vim and interest in attacking a family and its dining room table.
This has been a jolly way to put in an hour between "off duty" and "out for the evening."
Please tell Miss Crofts that her bittersweet from the River Road is tucked into a corner of my desk as a most effective frame for my small brown Lorna Doone.
As ever - faithfully yours -
Katharine Lyman