[Two sketches in the margin: one of a female stick figure entitled "Looking for teacher!" and the other of a female stick figure pointing to a house and tree entitled "Me for Home & Family! What's in the movies?"]Tuesday, April 15
Margaret my Love,
[Sketch in the margin of a female stick figure entitled "Looking for teacher!"]
I am in the excellent Sociology class, but the admirable instructor has not yet arrived. The class is rapidly [...]ing over its marriage and divorce notes and babbling stuff about legal guardian, bed and board, connection of crime and indemnity - paid for husband's property - all of which is as nothing to me for I feel imperturbable. There is a matter of two weeks or more 'til the next quiz, and also I have my brief resume of Pa. laws - gathered a minute ago from sister Hosp of Reading, Pa - and they will serve as Miss Dietrich doesn't know Pa. laws herself.
[Sketches in the margin of a female stick figure pointing to a house and tree entitled "Me for Home & Family! What's in the movies?"]
Back a day, Margaret, thee should enjoy this class. All about races, race prejudice, are white people's brains superior to colored people's, family - what is it, and is it necessary any longer (on account of trained nurses vs. mothers, teachers vs mothers, & movies vs home picnics, and flats vs homes with gardens. The idea is that the person is outside the home so much that home is no longer vital. That is the idea, but it doesn't appeal to me), marriage: is it a religious or state affair? is there more to it than the propagation and rearing of children? will men realize their wives are individuals, even as much as men are? divorce: is incompatibility of temperament as good a reason for divorce as adultery? hasty marriages: how to prevent them - in 1920, 4500 girls between 15-17 yr. old were divorced, to say nothing of the numbers of young ones who were married.
Evening
Well I had a sudden chance of expressing myself. Miss Dietrich was reading off the 6 kinds of marriage you could have in U.S, and went thrue (1) Roman Catholic' sacrament, done by priest, and divorce-proof; (2) Protestant - by minister (3) Civil marriage - performed by magistrate and (4) The Quaker ceremony - "is any one here a Quaker?" she enquired. I had my head down, taking notes, but I put up my left hand. "Oh - Miss Smith," she said "will you tell us about the Quaker marriage ceremony." The class all gaped toward me expectantly, and I tho't back on the Wedding scene in the Wm. Penn show, and spoke up like an authority. - then I maintained it was a religious affair, which I hope is right.
[Sketch in the margin: Quaker man and woman stick figures in profile holding hands with two exclamation points over their heads]
But enuff of Soce, and some of Don. In your distinctly brief note in mother's letter you enquired of our Sunday trip toward Phila. Well - I should think you could have asked Don, but you are so particular.
Let me think - well, going to Altoona Don did most of the talking!! I listened respectfully. Don talked about religions and ministers and points of view. - Don is such a comfortably upright soul, both of himself and account of his family's training. The discussion or dissertation got pretty abstract, but it was very satisfactory. - We got the train neatly at Altoona, altho the [...] cconductor listlessly presented us with seats across the aisle at first: Don spoke to him about remedying this error, and in the meantime he (Donald, to be sure) perched on the arm of my chair and talked to me. Oh - all about how he was going to miss me and everything.
We got into the diner practically first as Don did something wonderful to the head-waiter. And we got a cute table to ourselves, and Don ordered the food with an eye to cherishing my health (you remember I was feeble that day). And he, sitting opposite, kept smiling at me, and his hair was neatly parted and very smooth, and he looked pretty darling ...
Back in our car we had new and next-to-each-other seats. Don was speaking about coming here, and bemoaning chaperone and rules in a way. "Frank can do most anything when Ray comes up, on account of being engaged" I observed "Spiffy - be engaged to me" said Don, and smiled adorably, catching my hands. My heart did a few extra turns, because he was so sweet. "Well it would be pretty convenient if I did for about two weeks" I said. "No - I mean for always" Don urged. But I upheld the negative.
At Harrisburg I stood on the platform with him for a while. He had on his grey-overcoat (which I think is becoming) and was bare-headed (I like him best that way), and he looked pretty darling. I thot "dear me - I'm going to miss him" and more in that strain. - I forgot to state that in coming out of the dinner I stopped in the narrow-passage way and stopped over a bit to show Don a view or something thru the low window. Don stooped, too, - stooped and caught me close and kissed me, before I could utter a single squeak. Back a day the villian [sic] will come to no good end. I moved directly on out of that car.
Thanks to mother and thee for very good candy and impressive box. I will cherish the box 'til the 17th of May, when thee may have it. I'm engaging a room for the night across from Judson & I can sleep with thee for a quarter extra. Thee must come. I want thee so much. We are giving a linen shower for Frank Thurs. night. Frat and I wonder what we can afford.
I am pretty well now, but two quizzes are staring me in the face, and that requires all the extra wind in my sails. - Worked all afternoon in Zoo Lab on bees legs: I might add that they haven't any knees at all.
Dearest love old precious
SpiffyP.S. Write to me for a change, will ya?