[Some paragraph breaks added for ease of reading.]Wooster, Ohio,
Dec - 30th - 1885
Mr Joseph Robbins
My Dear Father
Brother and I returned from our trip to Chicago. Yesterday morning, Edd [her brother] went on to Greensburgh and I stopped off here.
Edd came on here X'mas day and spent the night and the next day with me, starting Saturday evening for Chicago and reaching there Sabbath morning.
Mrs Starrett's residence is in Kenwood about six miles from the central part of the City right on the lake. Went out on the Ill. Central R.R. getting off at Madison Station, which is just at the corner of Mrs Starrett's yard. She occupies an elegant and commodious building which was built for a private residence by one of the wealthy men of Chicago. The building is hansomely [sic] furnised [sic] throughout, the first floor, being devoted to a School room for day pupils. At present she is having but four boarding pupils, and she had taken a family to board with her until more pupils come. She has two teachers with her. (the pupils all being absent on their vacation), a Miss Graves from Boston and who is a graduate of Mt Holyoke, and another young lady from Lawrence Kansas, who has had charge of the kindergarten department, but who will not return after New Years.
The new term which opens Jan 18th, promises well for success. This part of the city called Kenwood, is a magnificent suburb, built up by many of the wealthiest men in Chicago. The Avenues are lined with fine mansions on either side as far as you can see, Mrs Starrett says the house that she occupies is the only one for rent in all that section. Now this is just the class of people thta would patronize Mrs Starrett's School. It is the only school except the public schools in that part of the city.
She aims to have a collegiate preparatory school for girls, giving them great advantages, socially in music and art, so that having finished the course at her school they can enter the second year in the best colleges in the country. Mrs Starrett, Miss Graves and a young lady a graduate of Wellesley Coll. who lives in Kenwood and teaches two classes a day constitute the corps of teachers for the coming term. Mrs Starret [sic] wants to devote a part of her time to literary work and that is the reason could she afford it, that wants me to assit [sic] her.
She says it is imperitive that she have some financial help at once or she does not know whether she can carry her enterprise through this year. She says could she carry the school through this year and demonstrate to the people of Kenwood her purpose and ability she has no doubt that they would form a stock company for her next fall and establish her on a solid basis.
Mr Starret [sic] is an intelligent well dressed gentleman and a very interesting talker. His health is such that he is entirely unfitted for business. He has just returned from Kansas City, where they were having a law suit which involves a large part or all they had and lost it. Their three oldest boys go int o the city every morning and come out in the evening. They are earning moderate salaries.
Mrs Starret is a remarkable woman. She has a young fresh face, magnificent physical health and a clear brain. It is a strange thing to me that she has not succeeded better with her undertakings hereto-fore. To be associated with such ladies as Mrs S. and Miss Graves, and to have the advantages of the refinement and culture of such a home would be of the greatest benefit to me as I expect and hope to teach for the next few years at least.
The last words she said to me were - "I want you to consult your Father and if you feel you can loan me even five hundred dollars or invest it in the School with me, write me at once upon hearing from your Father." She says all she can give as security would be her own and Mr Starrets signature and her life insurance policy, should she die before she can pay me.
Edd & I were both very favoribly [sic] impressed with the place people and surroundings, but we committed ourselves not all.
The question arises in my mind whether this money that she needs at once is going into the school or to pay other debts incurred. It might amount to the same thing and it might not. The matter rests here if I invest $300 or $400 with her she can employ me at once if not, she can not afford to do it. It would be an easy position for me, much easier than in a large school. I told Mrs S you had entire charge of my affairs and that I relied upon your judgment in all things.
Please write me at once what you advise. If I stay here longer I prefer to pay my board it is nothing but right I should. Both love and good wishes to you.
Aff daughter G