Feb. 1
Honey - I'm not sure but this fellowship chase is worth while as a "divairshun!" Let me do Miss S. Alice Brown, principal of the Classical School for Girls, 66 Marlboro St, Boston. I received a note from her sec. that I might go at 2 today. Missed my first chem. lecture, but I ate my lunch at the Art Museum to secure a classic point of view and went! A youth in livery with a silver tray received my card. The sec? [sic] appeared to say that Miss Brown had laryngitis but would see me if I would excuse &c &c. Now I knew S.A.B. to be an A.C.A. person and I expected her to be youngish. She was fat and fifty-five or sixy - must be an early Vassar alumna I'm sure! One eye was shut most of the time, why, I know not. She had a lace be-decked dressing sacque on, with fluttery sleeves, and the bedcovers, plus a brown plaid shawl (not a rug) formed at the top a belt like effect under her arms. I was allowed to wiggle around a screen, to take her hand, and then told to sit in a chair by the bed's foot! Then - "I'll let you do the talking," says she. Oh, honey, it was rich! Of course it was embarrassing, but she looked so funny! And she's so cocky!
"Now, I don't advise you to build on this. As I see it, there are several serious objections to your applications. In the first place, the fellowship is usually given to some one who wishes to study abroad. In the second place, the applicants usually present printed or written papers. In the third place, your work is scientific. Now, last year I pushed a scientific candidate. There was a practicing physician who had been collecting data for 15-20 years on the subject of girls' monthly sickness (slight lowering of voice). She wished to give up her practice for a year to complete her investigation (the other eye opened here briefly) and she said it was most important. I am sure from my experience in a girls' school that it is so> But the committee was shocked! Is Miss Irwin on the committee And the fellowship went to someone who wished to investigate the use of the inclitic ne! [sic] Is Miss Irwin on the committee this year? (I told her she wasn't - tho I tho-t she ought to know herself!) Well, your chances will be much better without her! She is the old-style conservative. Now I planned when I was in college to teach science, I did teach it for several years. - Usually the fellowship goes to someone who has a particular piece of work she wishes to finish, but, oh yes, you said that was just where you were, didn't you? And you might be an entering wedge at the Medical School." -
Then I told her a few choice morsels of gossip about Miss Coes, how fond the girls are of her (for I saw she liked Miss Coes - "She ought to have been made Dean in the first place. I have signed a petition to have her given that office now"). I told her a variety of things - and led her to talk about her tonsilitis [sic] (rheumatic it is, in nature, cured by aspirin after fourteen weeks), sciatica, laryngitis (she's having injections of bugs for it, very helpful). But I'm not to hope! Oh, it was rich! "Some of the applicants write such letters, misspelled, mispronoun poor grammar - you write a very good one, by the way (I wish you'd heard that tone!). And last year a woman handed in a paper on some topic in the history of art. I have taught that for twenty years, of course in a very elementary way (other eye open here), and I thought 'Here is something I can read.' We always give the papers to experts to pass judgment on them. I read on. I said, this is brilliant. I said, this is wonderfully written. I said, this is familiar! She had taken pages of ___ even to the punctuation and never credited it! I took the book and showed it to the ladies!"
That half hour was worth quite a bit. There is oceans more - I talked a few paragraphs at first, but her laryngitis, aided by sips of water taken with languid hand from a table by the bedside - permitted her to talk quite continuously. Oh, you ought to have seen her! Dressed up, she'd be a rather bustling old maid, I think. Oh, I forgot a color effect, a chart of her classes and students evidently, a large pasteboard covered with groups of bright colored slips like this - each perhaps a single girls subjects each group held by a thumbtack as many as 40 groups perhaps - The contrivance lay on the brown shawl.
Yesterday my turtle heart of Sat. was still going. Today, ditto - 78 hours after removal. How's that? Dr. Porter is as bad as any of 'em - tickled to pieces at a stunt, for it's nothing valuable. he's smiling on me now. The young men were invited in to see my show. One woman came Mon., a Dr. Mowers (sp?) who is working in neuro-pathology. She introduced herself afterward to me - "so interested in your beautiful work." She's had 4 yrs. in Berlin, 2 in Munich! - is working with Dr. Southard, husband of Mrs. Dr. Southard, the Mt. H- lecturer. She asked me if I spoke German - is afraid she'll forget hers.
Mr. Hayes has a new son, Joseph.
Lots more I could say, but I must write a note or two paying bills, and I'm awfully sleepy. Mr. Burkart came tonight. Oh yes, I got to Chem. lab about 3:30 and it's going to be no joke! The quantitative sort - very good for my spirit and my general knowledge. I've learned how to manage the delicate balances this P.M. but I'll never be able to keep up with the youth, because I never have full time. I'm in a corner place, in a big lab - with 70 or so youth. They smoked today. The ass'ts, even the prof. and asso. prof. were most courteous, and the lab. man, "Henry." I kept busy all the time! I s'pose the youth hate me, but they're decent youth as a lot. I'm going to take over my shorter grey skirt to wear because of slops &c. A chem. lab. is ever the same. Shades of Cornell! I again have a window stool to sit on.
Glad to have a letter last night. Don't go to Oberam - unless you want to!
Good night, dearie -
Feb. 2. I've just come in at 11 o'clock to read D. Rowell's most remarkable letter. It is remarkable, to be sure - such kindness as one doesn't often know of. I can't quite think in a minute just what to say, but I'm surely appreciative, and I think if the fellowship is n.g. as Miss Brown warned me(!) I'll accept her kindness some anyhow. Honey dear - you're sure she's quite in her right mind? Being a nervous wreck and doing such a marvelous thing! Of course I shall write her in a day or two, but I can't tonight.
Nell & I have been to Sue Long's to dinner - most pleasant. Sue is a dear and Mr. Thorp very satisfying as men go, sincere and able. The boy has the most beautiful color, like Sue. He's stunning - 9 or so I guess. The little girl is less attractive. Evelyn Coolidge and Evelyn Davis both came in for the evening, the former lots of fun, the latter just returning a month ago from a 2 mos. nervous breakdown and evidently still shaky.
Have a R.R. but haven't read it. Edith Hamlin's fifth came Dec. 28, a boy.
Here's a Hayes joke - Miss Nutting very poorly.
Love, honey dear - Abby.
Got to Neiman - Dr. C- enjoyed it hugely
When I said this A.M. I was going to Chelsea, O. Ware extended both arms. "God bless you! We'll never see you again" So I'm glad to be back at eleven.