Dear Wayne, Gladys and Mary -
The ordering being that in which I owe you all. Well here I sit comfortably on a perfectly good porch in the good city of Ottumwa Iowa. I arrived a week ago.
I had the grandest time in Cleveland. Billie was having Exams but still there wasn't much time to Waste[.] Everet - came & took us Auto riding on Sunday and in the evening I talked to the family. Monday I went sight seeing all day and then Mr & Mrs and I took supper downtown and then all went to the Exposition in the evening.
Tuesday morning Billie & I went rowing and in the afternoon Mrs & I went out to Euclid Beach. and in the evening several of Billies friends both boys & girls happened in and stayed till ten then Mr & Mrs took me to the train. & you know Rumona & Ruth & I were all going to meet but as it happened we didnt. I was to[o] tired to hunt long for Ruth & decided she must either have gone to bed with Rumy or else gone on an early train there was one 2 minutes earlier. Next morning no one appeared & I didn't see Ruth till I had crossed Chicago and was in the Burlington depot and we didn't hear from Rumona till later. She got on the wrong train and got as far as Thomasville before she noticed it. When she got back to Springfield she had 4 meals yet to get & 60¢. I guess she had a time of it poor girl.
I got a Postal from Ruth full of her usual manners. but that is all I know about the crowd so I decided I would write a few letters & learn a little. Plenty of excitement here the first night. There were two elderly ladies visiting here so I had nary a room for a while. There was a blackie & a whitie in the kitchen, both none too pleasant[.] Will managed to get over his bashfulness and come up & Ruth & Art were over. Alice didn't get home till Saturday night and of course we had a ready gathering Sunday. They are having another today but I didn't want to go. I was too sleepy and the folks were afraid Id get toncilitus (can't spell it.) since I have the cold act & -Zella has the real thing. I managed to have a headache for the first 6 days, In fact up till today & the folks think
sits from over-study. Isn't that nice. Ive lost 11 pounds or had a while ago so I am getting back to where I started out. Everybody thinks its there [sic] duty to say. O how fat you are but they needn't bother any more. We have a burn girl and I pine to do the cooking myself. If I would wake up in time I sure would take a hand in the breakfasts. I manage to eat a little just for politeness. but I haven't been hungry since I got home. Don't marvel but it's the truth.There was a hen party Saterday [sic] and I had a fine time considering. There was an exciting Dance Friday at which I danced with all the old men & when I got through began on the kids. O it was exciting.
Saterday [sic] there is a luncheon, real formal & proper I guess. I am trying to get some things washed up & some more made. Ruth has had her graduating dress washed. Thought you'd feel easier if you knew it was clean.
O Mary I have heard some more about our German. It seems Mr Reed said that three or four years ago Miss Hinsdale complained to our High School about their G. course & they had a big fight about it but finally dropped the matter till we came & then lit into us to prove their point that the German here was work. & old lady H wrote to Mr R. or maybe it was Miss C B.G. for Miss H and Mr R said that they more than raked up the German here & everything else too and threatened to drop them from their credit list. All that for us. I'd sort of like to know whether I got through but guess Ill have to wait Mr R. thinks Miss G. is crazy so I dont mind so much. He says she writes the sassiest letters he ever read. Nothing nice in them. Well it's supper time so I must stop.
Sincerely yours
Grace