Nov. 7, 1918.
Dearest mother:-
As you can see I am taking a sit up - to study physics for a mid term quiz tomorrow. My brain is in one whirl of forces, velocities, gravities etc. Why I am writing is to let you know about the quarantine[.] It was partially lifted today and we can have any one come & see us but we can't go out of South Hadley except tomorrow night when we go to the first of our concerts. So if you come up Sunday you can see me all right etc but I couldn't go to Amherst. Seems silly doesn't it? Harold wrote he was trying to get a pass to go home this week end but if he shouldn't I hope you'll come up. If any of the boys come I hope they'll wear their uniforms if they have them yet. If you do come will you please bring me another pair of blankets or else that gray comfortable I used to have on my bed. You see the house doesn't furnish any blankets and I've been cold for, you see, our room faces N.W. Also I would like the copper teakettle you spoke of and a collection of "eats" - fruit, sardines, jam - (a few pounds of plain crackers would be extremely acceptable & peanut butter) also pie oh you know!
As you've doubtless heard yesterday was our day for the United War drive. Mr. Fred Smith spoke in the A.M and gracious he made you feel like giving every cent you had or even hoped to have. I gave $5. trusting you would send me $5. for my W.SS. (I now posses[s] $.28) Then at night we had a big mass meeting. Our quota was $16,000.00 It was announced that we had raised only $13,00000 Then Miss Wooley [sic] got up and said perhaps some would add to their pledges, that she would - a $100. liberty bond. Then everyone began popping up - raising their pledges by $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 and in one girl's case up $500. Then the Freshies voted to give $250. as a class and that meant $10 apiece for us. Then Pierson [sic] voted to give more so that each girl added $1. more. Poor me! Harold had sent me $2. from the news which I was saving for Xmas presents - all gone now to the war. Well when we got thru we found we had gone over the top $30000. After that they auctioned off the posters. The lowest bids were $5. It seems strange to me that if the girls could give so much they would leave in the first place. I guess I could have given $7. all right but now I've got to get along and save up my $2. Margaret & I aren't going to get any candy, ice cream, or any thing we can possibly help. Aren't we noble? "Self-sacrificing thats me all over Mable." Have you ever read "Dere Mable"? You ought to - it's the best book out. I've read it twice.
This afternoon I was plugging away on physics when I heard whistles blowing. I hopped out and met Mr. Skinner (Skiners [sic] Satin) and he said Germany had accepted the terms of the armistice and fighting was stopped. I gave one howl and scooted back and told the girls. Some rumpus. Then the bells began to ring. All classes were dismissed and there was a big mass meeting and Miss Wooley [sic] spoke. We sang and then had a parade. It all seems to[o] good to be true. I heard three days ago all Kaiser Bill's luggage had arrived in Switzerland. I do hope they won't let him off easy - death is too good for him and for the Russian Empress too. Well there is still a big work left to do to rebuild France and to take care of our men during dismobilization. I never realized how important until recently.
Fri. A.M. just heard all the news yesterday was a fake. I do wish they wouldn't circulate such reports.
Well, I've studied physics and if I flunk I flunk. I got C+ in math - is passing so at least I am getting on in one subject. Have to get C in half my hours to get a degree. There's a girl here this year taking P.G. work because she didn't get credit enough for her degree when she graduated. Hope I won't. Today is the 81st anniversary of the founding of Mt. H. Seminary so chapel is going to be around Mary's grave. I'll bet we'll all freeze. All the faculty are coming out in cap and gown so I guess it will be impressive anyway. There goes chapel bell so I can't say any more but I hope I'll see you soon. Perhaps by next week I can come home. Live in hopes anyway.
Lots of love,
Ruth.
[A second letter in the envelope]
Dear Theodore:-
I guess you must have saved up your news for a long time for your letter was simply great. You don't know how I enjoyed it. I am so glad you are better and are beginning to "enjoy life again". Goodness but I wish I could see you.
Me, in tears: "Boo hoo I want to go home" You: "Hurray I'm well"
It is awful being in quarantine for so long. The only way out is for you to come up here, eh Mable?
This afternoon Gladys and her room mate were at a Senior meeting so Margaret and I trotted in and made them a nice pie bed each - oh so nicely. After the last bell rang there was a grand bang - and in they came! They tried to mop up the floor with us but they couldn't. They vow they'll get even but they can't. Yesterday I found some dandelions - so I picked a bunch and arranged them gracefully with dead grass and tied them up beautifully and put them on Gladys' desk. She found them and now they're in a vase fixed very elegantly, and artistically[.] The admiration of all who see them. "Generosity, that's me all over Mable"
I tried to type write some on one of the girls machines today and you should have seen the mess - but maybe sometime she'll let me use it to write to you on. I expect you would be delighted -
Me writing to you on typewriter. "D-e-a-r now where's T-?"
We are having indoor gym now and have great times. After exercise we have to take a shower[.] First the water is cold warm and then gets colder and colder and the girls shriek louder and louder. It sounds like a regular monkey house. We have to dash around wrapped in a wet sheet (the door of the shower) and we nearly freeze. It's fine tho - gives you a good chance to yell.
Me in gym. -> Marching.
Write as soon as you can.
Yours till the ice cracks in the pond -
Ruth.