U.S.M.S. "St. Louis."
October 17, 1917.Dear Abby -
I hope you won't think I am impudent if I call you by your first name too. I am perfectly delighted that you have taken to mine at last. Isn't it funny how we go on for years with the formal - last names, when we don't really feel formal at all?
I am so eager to hear all the details about the faculty house. You must let me know how much I owe you or someone for the curtain fixtures etc. I am so anxious to know, too, how the whole thing works out, i.e. students & faculty, dining room tables and lots of other questions.
I can hardly realize even yet that I am going to be so far away. The work still seems a little indefinite though I know pretty well what it is to be. It is thrilling to work out a new kind of job, especially under conditions like these but it is rather fearsome too. It would be so ghastly if I flunked. But one can't admit the possibility of any kind of failure on a boat like this. We have scores of soldiers aboard of all areas of the service, and all of them equally fine strong looking fellows. If I were a little younger I would lose my heart, but as it is I am simply lost in admiration of the splendid material our young men are.
People jolly about submarines all the time but no one seems much alarmed. We have a committee of our national legislators aboard and they all have those thermos bottle suits to protect them. Personally I think we could afford to lose them better than some of those earnest young soldier boys. I just heard a man outside this room say in a loud tone "Women, women, this is no place for women" I suppose he is referring bitterly to the fact that we have over 40 nurses on board as well as other women like us - & some children.
Do write to me soon again and tell me all the news. I loved your steamer letter.
Yours lovingly
Margaret Morriss.