Glencarlyn Va.
Dec 26, '05My dear Jennie:
You can't guess how pleased I was with the Mt. Holyoke flag. It's a beauty - Alice said she thought you made it and the one you sent to her and Will. The letters are beauties. I think I'll have to begin a collection of school flags now. I have three already - A Va. U and a Mt Holyoke and a Western. I may get a G. W. U. if I inform the Backi that I am going to collect flags. Then John will want me to have a Cornell next year and Leland will be at Stevens Institute and I'll have to have a flag from them, of course. I'll have quite a line of gorgeous decorations don't you think?
We had our Xmas entertainment last Thursday night and I thought you would like to hear about it[.] Quite a number of people said it was the best they had ever seen up there I certainly was glad to hear that too, as we had worked a long time over it and wanted to give the public a good impression of the graduating class.
As you will see by the program [no program is currently with the letter], we had advertisments [sic] first. My idea of this number had been to have bits on the class but it didn't work out that way. Niel Finch, our editor introduced each of the "adds" and they each responded with a verse or rather a jingle which they (bright class of naughty six) composed. Sunny Jim came first. He was fine[.] Waterman is a long, lanky, big-footed foot-ball man. He has not been in the school before but graduated last year at a high school in Mich. He has an appointment at West Point and is going through our fourth year to use up time. (Think of it!) I think that he, without exception is the most Sunny Jim expressioned and built boy I ever knew. I'm glad he took the part. On the Xmas tree he got a large bandana handkerchief with the admonition from Santa Clause, to "For gracious sake wipe that grin off his face." He used it then died [?] there and was sober for about half a second then the grin came out again. The spotless town people were all good. Robie, the bootblack got up such a good costume that the girls took him for a sweet several times. Margaret's costume and verse were especially good. The last two lines have been going through my head ever since[.]
And I assure you there's nothing sweeter
Than the chocolate I bring, that's made by Peter.She got a brick covered with gold paper, on the tree with something about the kind of bricks she would be getting and the remark that "If I were you I'd go out west and Fitch him." Pretty good, wasn't it, but rather hard on her. The ZuZus consisted of costume mainly emmense [sic] voluminous yellow gown with red stars on them. They came on jumping leap frog over each other. Jap-a-lac was a Japanese girl which is always pretty, her poetry was also good but mainly in the way she said it. Life buoy soap was an old mariner which you probably know. He came on hitching up his trousers, and yelled his poetry in true seaman's style. Eaton Hul. writing paper was a girl in riding habit (Ruth Hood) is our basket ball manager this year). she paried [?] "Sing a song of six pence" for her ryme. [sic]
Sing a song of writing paper
Of every shade and kind
Eaton Hulburd's is the very best
That anywhere you find.John, as you see was quaker oats he dressed up like Little smily Joey [?] with his skabs [?] who had eaten two or three large plates of Quaker Oats which created the Limber-that-wont-come-off. [?] By the way Miss Magie asked to be remembered to you sometime ago. Her costume, voice and ryme [sic] were next to the best! She took everybody by surprize. [sic] They all clapped from sheer astonishment. She represented an old lady - her high pitched voice was splendid for her "add" and she acted her little jingle splendidly. The next may shock you, but it wasnt at all embarrassing in the entertainment, in fact I didn't know what they advertised until I looked just now. Well thse two took the cake. I don't think I can ever forget them. They had hired tramp suits (They were two tramps) and the rags they wore! I don't believe I ever saw the likes on any tramp. One had had the top out the other was an old stovepipe had which could be crushed flat! They came on with the most ridiculous step very solemnly (a wonderful thing for these two boy[s] when together) and took their places in the middle of the front of the stage then took off their hats to the assembled company. Their appearance created so much laughter that they had to wait quite a good while before they could begin then they gave one of these shuffle steps which just capped the climax. They said their verse in the most ludricous [sic], husky, voice making the gesticulations while they were doing it.
The bluejay flitts [sic] from tree to tree
He helps you and he helps me
And in his good kind-hearted way
Makes walking easy, so they say.I wish you could have seen it. It was simply great.
Swifts little cook was good. She had a long[er] verse than usual, and said it very well. Mary Wilson is one of our best scholars. Miss Reed says she thinks the clearest of anyone, not excepting the boys that she has ever heard in Wash. Nevertheless she is very shy and contended her self by giving the Frog [?] a bit of her chocolate instead of a verse. Campbell's soups were good. David Bear was the little girl and Robbie Phelan the boy. The costuming in this was fine especially Robbie's. He wore his running [?] pants I guess from the length. They were only about half way down to his knees. He wore a wig of bobbed hair and a hat fully two feet in diameter. Gold medal flour wasn't so good as the rest I didn't think. I'm mostly interested in the girl because she has a sister who has had consumption for the last two years and won't do anything for it. She is in the last stages of it now and almost never leaves the house. She was out to this blowout however - Glen Morse, brothers to B[...] Morse was good. His ryhme [sic] was good for the intonation.
On land or sea
Remember me
For I know Needa [?] Biscuit.He kept his noise up at the last making it very funny.
Elizabeth Bolling was good. She didn't appear at her beset though she's an awfully nice girl. Evangeline was a very pretty girl but she didn't make any particular stir. Malted Milk stayed at home for some unknown reason. Pearline was a Quakeress her verse was
If thee would have thy kerchief clean
Use always only Pyles PearlineShe was very good.
Eastman kodak was represented by two girls in ordinary dress. One had a white skirt red sweater white ribbons and red cap while the other wore a red skirt white sweater red ribbons and white cap. Both had ribbons. They didn't have a verse but the sense of the words was right
If it's not an Eastman, it's not a kodak
If it's not a Western, it's not the High school
If it's not the red and white, it['s] not the champ If it's not the class of '06 it's not the class.Harriet was a scottish Jap girl. She's always cute. I was a Puritan girl rather a queer thing to represent playing cards, don't you think. Colgate's soap was pretty. Bland came down the centre and the two girl[s] clumped in from the sides and said their verse swinging their hands all the time.
The mandoline was good. Two numbers of popular songs - The monologue was a fine parody on "T'was [sic] the night before Xmas." C[...] also helped by being hiden [sic] behind Harrison and using his hands to gesticulate instead of Harrisons[.] Miss Holden did well (as usual)[.] Everyone said the Birds Xmass Carol was fine but we worked over it so long that we were thouroughly [sic] disgusted with it[.] Nevertheless Peorie's frequent cries and yells took the whole audience.
The tree had things which you wouldn't appreciate as they were class jokes. I got a doughnut with somekind [sic] of a ryhme [sic] about opptomism [sic] and pessimism which I have forgotten because I am so pessimistic in English class!! John got a spade to dry Plants out with not very good but would have been better if they had known that he was going to be a farmer.
I sent Mr Clingman a card to come but he had to go, very much against his wishes and play Santa Clause at one of teh Missions. I certainly feel sorry for him as he is not going home for Xmas. Constance & I are going to order the candy and get the Sunday School presents on Friday. We always have so much from that we asked Mr Clingman along, I think we will have a jolly time.
Tell Ella that I have some plans for a Washington's Birthday entertainment but we can't have [?] it unless she comes home to help. We certainly miss her on [?] the mission work. Rumors are about that Mr Berkely will be at the Seminary some time soon. He'll miss you and Ella, also the Backuss and Mrs Jones and the Parhams. [?] This village certainly is deserted, however, I must always see the Bacuks girls on Saturday which is about as often as I would see them anyway. The boys don't get out hardly at all. Well I can't start a new sheet I'm afraid all this wont go. Can't get over Ada's and Harry's nonsense.
Yours very much
Margaret.[Envelope has a pencil inscription: "Prob. Margaret Plant?"]