Dear Jane -What a glorious place to live and work in. There are so many little bays & coves one can't go anywhere without being right on the waters edge. We live on what is called the eel pond, only the ground is so high we're above it. Claribel and I have a room on the first floor with a veranda in front of it. It is a large room, adn we have great fun getting breakfast & supper, with chaffing dish, tea kettle & little nickle coffee pot, (a new addition.) We go to the mess for dinner, a place where everybody goes to eat. It's other name is the "Homestead", but nobody knows what you mean when you say that. It's just the "Mess." Going over to to [sic] see a Baltimore girl now so good bye. Will write reams later.
Evening - Found the B-girl out, for which I was thankful. Then got some milk, had supper, went for a walk. Had another feed, & now trying to write letters.
You were a dear to write me. To go back. We left N.Y. City on the 6 o'clock boat last Monday, reaching New Bedford at 6 A.M. after a most delightful trip. It wasn't rough, but just nice and rolly. Sister & I sat up at our state-room window most of the night watching the water & the lights on shore. It was great.
Well, we reached here about 10 the next morning - went to the Lab. to find out about my work, then we unpacked & straightened out for Wednesday's work. We have a lecture at 9 - & Lab until 12. Dinner at 12:30, & Lab. from 2-4 again. The Lab. is open all the time, even Sunday, so that one is free to work whenever one chooses, but instructors are there to help you at those hours. The department as a whole is dandy. It seems funny though to have men working beside of you & men instructors, but it's mighty nice. "More natural" as you would say Jane. Wed., I mean Thurs. the 4th, we went on a tramping trip to collect specimens for use. We usually go on a trip on the water on Saturday & sometimes Wednesday afternoon. We begin the water trips this week. Oh joy!
There is a Kansas girl here, who is positively the funniest thing I ever saw. We made her believe last night that I weighed 210. Do I look it? I may before the summer is over however. She does exquisite work however in ink. Some of it is to be published next Fall. Most of the people here are sharks, & I feel like such an infant, regardless of my size.
Please give my love to Margaret. I'm truly sorry I haven't written before; and my regards to your Father.
With much love
Pert. [?]Sunday.
Write again soon.
Tonight Miss "Kansas", the gullable [sic] one, drank her tea at supper, then forgot it, and told the waitress she prefered cocoa. She's a sercus. [sic]