18 Rosemont Ave.
Portland, MaineDear Mary,-
Am I the guilty one? I have wondered often when I should hear from you again and perhaps I am the one at fault. I often think of our visit to Woodbury and our day in Philadelphia I do wish we could see each other oftener.
We have had a fine time here in Portland. We have enjoyed keeping house very much and I have had fun experimenting with cooking. I am not so expert yet but what I get "stuck up" when I make baking powder biscuit. Still, by shutting our eyes we can eat nearly everything I make. For three months we had Frederick's brother Maurice with us and we tutored him for his Naval Academy exams. He passed with good marks so we are quite proud of our pupil. He is already there, a full-fledged midshipman. Mother made us a visit in March and is here gain now to stay until we leave. Grace Calhoun spent a day or two with me when she came down to see Betty. Otherwise we haven't had much out of town company. Elsie was here from home a short time Betty Smith has been here a great deal, and she is such a good friend. She has done a great deal for me.
Ruth Adams 1913 lives here and I have seen quite a little of her. She likes her work for the associated charities. There have been a number of meetings of the Western Maine Alumnae which I have attended. In March Miss Woolley gave a fine lecture on the College Woman and the New Era, and afterwards made herself very agreeable at a small reception.
We have enjoyed the Municipal Organ here, given by Mr. Curtis of Curtis Publishing Co. There have been Sunday afternoon concerts for the public, and also numerous evening concerts with outside talent. I was very happy to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra give Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
The spring has not been so pleasant as we have had beastly weather nearly all the time. Also I have not been able to go out so much, for we are expecting a new arrival in August. I am pretty well most of the time but of course keep rather quiet. Frederick hoped to remain here until Oct. 1 and then go to Annapolis for post-graduate study, but they have provokingly changed the time of the opening of the course to July 1. I want to go with him but it is such a hot place and heat uses me up so that the doctor says I must not. So I shall spend the summer in Manchester with mother. Frederick will come home in August if he can and will come up in September to stay until Oct. 1. I hope I shall be able to go back with him then.
You remember my telling you of Mrs. Chandler. She has another little girl now 7 or 8 weeks old. Both are well. She is going down to Annapolis in a house before Dwight starts in on his study. She was so good to me when F- was in the hospital and we became very well acquainted.
I guess the summer will be lonely but I can exist someway. I wish you lived in Manchester now and could come in to see me every day.
Were you pleased with the class letter? Kate seems to be well and happy. Miriam must be a wonder, she seems to be so happy and so well all the time. The pictures of Kate's home are very attractive. I have a couple of pictures taken at camp last summer I thought you might like. Meant to send them long ago. We have not had very good luck this winter for one reason or another.
I have certainly found out how nice it is to have college friends in different places. Anna was so sweet to me last fall and Betty has been so good here. She has done a lot of sewing for me. I don't know of any Holyoke people in Annapolis. Perhaps Barbara Bradley will be in Johns Hopkins another year. Baltimore is only an hour's ride away. But Amy Chandler will be in Annapolis and that will be a great help.
Do write to me soon. We shall leave here for Manchester June 27 or 28 and Frederick will probably leave the next night for Annapolis.
How are all your family? Give our love to them all, they are such nice people. I hope they are well. Frederick is quite well now. He has not taken vigorous exercise this winter but the dr. says he is all right for anything now.
With much love,
Beatrice.