SundayHiland, N.Y.
June 8, '07Dear Lady Jane;
This letter is so long overdue that you have most likely forgotten that one is due. I know that you are not home yet but you must have left Holyoke by now and I have no idea where you may be. I make no excuses for not writing sooner for you know yourself what it is to be busy.
The Cornell crews left Ithaca yesterday evening and got up here on the Hudson this morning. I count myself one of the bunch even if I am only a freshman[.] Never mind - before the race comes off I and the other "'10" men here will be "sophs" Cornell's graduation is on the 18th.
Since you heard from me last more than a few things have happened to us and to Cornell. You may have heard of the home doings. M.M.P. must keep you pretty well posted. - - Jack Sherman has passed his exam for West Point but he is only an alternate so he is on pins and needles to know how his first man is doing.
He was out home the 30th with most of the rest of the "old" crowd. "Fish" Davis was there with "an old friend of his", a young lady Miss Gardner. Did you ever hear of her? Pat was the only Frat boy who got out and he did himself proud. My cousin Mary Davenport was there and she and "Pat" just had it "tooth and nail["] every time they got near each other. None of the Putnams were out.
My pen has run out and there is no ink within reach until tomorrow morning so you will hae to put up with pencil or else take no letter at all.
John D finished his work and left Ithaca on the 5th. My freshman work was easily finished in time for the trip last night.
The Colombia [sic] crew men were up here a few minutes ago. I thought we treated our coxwins pretty severely but from what they had for coxwins ours are treated finely. Those Colombia coxwins are made to run about ten miles - once a week, just to keep up their light weight.
Hoyle ("Johnny") is up here telling us yarns about (our?) his freshman year - more crazy yarns than a "house afire", about how they played pranks on "Freddy" the assistent [sic] coach.
We are here now, just opposite Poughkeepsie right on the shore of the river. In fact the only thing between us an[d] the water is a double track. Trains thunder about once an hour and furnish us some amusement.
Well, - I will say good by now. If you will drop me a postal with your address I will try to write you a letter.
Your sincere friend
WBill.P.S. How did you like the candy that we had up at the Schaaffs. Ours was fine. About a month ago, in a letter May wrote a lot of scribbles and said if we could translate it, she would send us each a box of candy. We sent her a letter and explained it in hieroglyphics, and as a result we each got a pound box of mighty swell fudge. It lasted about two weeks, but, alas, it is all gone now.