On board the Cunard R.M.S. "Andania"
June 20Honey dear :-
I didn't discover the prunes until today. I hope you know where you got them, for they're delectable - I'd like to send for some - they're the right kind.
Very slow voyage - it's foggy, very. Nobody is anxious to go fast. But when we'll get there remains to be seen. We're along south of Newfoundland and icebergs are due as soon as we pass Cape Race. We want to see them - and see them before they see us! Several look-outs - but we just creep. This forenoon we had sun for a time, the first we've seen. It's a very smooth sea - nobody sick as far as I know. The ship is a dear. A Mt. H- girl has turned up, Helen Porter, 1910. I never knew her. She's teaching English at Western Reserve, - and didn't know of Miss Harper's death. She asked for B.K.Y. and I was right up to date. We have a daily newspaper, of which I'll put in a copy, which you might save. I've met few interesting folks so far - there are several conglomerate parties! A good many English and Canadians. One Irish-English-Canadian, of Catholic Ulster connections, very thrilling tales of murders by the Ulster specials, in her home letters, folks her family knew. It's no one-sided affair at all. This is the opposite of the Warbeke side, of course, with the same scene, Belfast.
Tea every day, very strong, but with pound cake! Food excellent. And the prettiest stewardess you ever saw. The steward has waxed moustaches and is named Scrugham, I think.
There's a perfectly elegant brand-new atlas on board - it's not idle a moment! But I get all my turns.
June 23
Still foggy. The foghorn has hardly stopped ten minutes since we left Quebec. The sun has been bright part of yesterday and today, so folks have enjoyed the deck - I'm learning shuffle-board with glee - but there is a low belt of fog almost all the time. We've "parked the ship," as Charlotte says, for two whole nights in said fog, because of danger of ice. Saw one beautiful ice-berg today, and not more than 1/4 of a mile away. Monstly we can't tell what might be at that distance. This was a lovely green-blue color, oh, quite entrancing. There are birds with us.
Our room-mates are certainly nice - we enjoy them. I've run upon a few pleasant folks - one a woman who knew Elizabeth Shearer at St. Mary's - but as a lot, it's not inspiring. A concert Wednesday evening was killing! The folks mostly couldn't do it, though the conjuror and one woman were good.
We're not yet half way across and have no idea when we'll arrive. All depends on the fog! But nobody seems to fret particularly. Our itinerary loses a day here and there - but we certainly don't want to rush through fog!
June 27
They say we land at Plymouth tomorrow noon, though we stick to the ship to London. We cable to Charlotte's folks tomorrow, and Mrs. Haywood has an envelope addressed to you. It has been such a nice voyage. The ship is fine and steady and we're well cared for. Me for the Cunard again! "They say" the C.P.O.S. is less good in the array of little things which altogether mean good service. Our steward, Scoogan, is a regular Dickens character, and the bathboy is another. Lovely baths! I've not missed a bath or a meal or anything! But really very few have been sick. We've seen porpoises and one man claims a whale.
Our Wisconsin room-mates we're really attached to and sorry to lose! They are to do some economics stunt directed by Prof. Commons, six of them, the Y.W. sec. Miss Anderson, one alumna, Charlotte Clark (these two our room-mates), and 4 seniors we'd be proud of if they were ours. They have a splendid spirit and self-reliance without cockiness. Of course they're a picked lot.
Dorothy Waldo is on board - and I'm fond of her. She'd be a worthy successor for M. Morriss if only she had been in college work. It's fine to hear her talk about her work at Dana Hall. She and Alice Macdougall and some Wellesley folks did a 50-50 rummage sale recently for the two funds and on two days made $800 and $600 - in all $700 for each college.
I did write you about M. Morriss, didn't I - for I'm a big hazy about the happenings of those days. Dean of women at Brown? Presumably at midyears. You'd best not talk until you hear it otherwise, for it was sub rosa when I left - all details not arranged, though Pres. Faunce wanted to announce it at Commencement, the 21st. It's only what was to be expected - she's too good to keep - but it will be hard to find one with her qualifications. D. Waldo has many of them, and experience with both private & public schools, also with parents in her present job. But I'd prefer someone with academic training beyond her A.B. Dana Hall had 55 girls try the comprehensives last year - only one failed, and she did old plan in the fall and made it.
But I must stop and pack! We want to be able to look at the sights tomorrow, and presumably we land Thurs. a.m. I'll stick in a revised itinerary - still subject to change. I wish everybody didn't tell us to always engage accomoodations ahead! It takes so long to write the letters.
Much love to you, honey. It seems to me that you'd have found this boat steady enough for comfort. I wish you were here. I wish I could send this to you more directly, for I'm sure it will reach Minneapolis before you do.