August 20Dear Bessie -
Just heard the creepiest murder story - all by mistake - on the radio - the kind I'm sure you like, & the kind I usually steer clear of. But all "jitters" aside I really liked it.
Can hardly believe that 6 weeks at Harvard have gone. I reallly had a wonderful time despite statistics - which was really tough. Both Mom & I took Mr. Kotschnig's course & were crazy about it - meaning Mr. K.
As for the "Ha-vard men who go along with the accent" - to quote you - "NIX" or - "Oh me, what a disillusionment!" I never was so disappointed in the male end of mankind in my life. Never saw so many messy looking men - in clothes & in looks. I actually saw 1 handsome man. But then, of course, many of them were not college students - that is, they don't go to college during the year & some were old enough to be our fathers; & also many come from home parts of the country where they aren't quite as clothes-conscious as here in the East. In a way it was a real eye-opener. Shut up all winter in that nunnery of ours & seeing very few men, relatively, we're bound to dream up all sorts of strange concoctions & then when we meet the real thing - oh, well, how did I ever get started on this? and then whenever we do see a man at Mt. Holyoke he's all dressed up. Moral - go to Harvard Summer School & see mankind in the raw (well, not quite). Despite all my rantings I did meet a few nice fellows.
In answer to your questions:
(1) Arthur Murray's was grand. I haven't been dancing for weeks tho' - hope I don't forget what I learned.
(2) I drew the same as you in Soci - C+
(3) As for Harvard's viewpt. on the world situation I'm not exactly an authority - to say the least. Some, of course are isolationists (that is, the students) & some are not. I really have no idea what the proportions are. But if Max Lerner had any influence at all - he lectured once a week, - there ought to be less isolationists than there were at the beginning of the 6 weeks. I think Lerner is a marvelous lecturer (however Socialist his tendencies are supposed to be) - clear, concise, fair, unprejudiced.
Speaking of isolationists, we heard a radio speech several weeks ago by Senator Nye that was positively disgusting. It was so full of unwarranted race prejudice it just made me sick.
We went to see a bone specialist in Boston about my back. As a result I'm wearing a steel brace - But it doesn't show & it isn't as bad as it might sound. It'll keep me warm this winter - Heh, heh, heh!
Well enough "dribble drabble." Only hope you can read it - you know I wouldn't want to have scribbled so much all in vain.
Love,
Marge