Thurs. A.M.
Good morning, honey. Dr. Forbes is lecturing and I don't need to give him more than 1/2 my mind - perchance only 1/4. Didn't write to you last night because I went to bed as soon as I got home at ten. It was a great day, about which I'll tell you. Mrs. Johnson asked me over for dinner and a party Tues. night. She didn't know it was my birthday but I enjoyed it just the same. It was a Geo. Wash. event - not elaborate, just pleasant. One part of the refreshments was new to me. Little celery (the short kind you know - all short & white) she had stuffed on the hollow side of the pieces with cheese & stuffed olives (chopped). See? Here's the section of the celery.
We ate it with a nut bread she makes. Seems to me it would be very nice with bread & butter sandwiches - especially brown bread. She didn't salt her cheese enough. On this occasion we were given two paper napkins & pins also little flags cut from patriotic paper bands, to make ourselves caps. People made very pretty ones and they were becoming. Adaptable to any occasional. Well, the Bloods asked me to go for the 22nd to their camp in the Lynn Woods. I had intended to work, for I broke the best capillary I ever had (or expect to have!) Tues. A.M. and spent all day trying to make another[] Tried two of the eight I made photographically, but I know before developing the films that they aren't up to my others.
It's now evening. I've spent all of today making and trying out more capillaries - all n.g. Darn!
I met the Bloods and Mrs. Johnson at the North Station at 9:35 and we went to Lynn where we took a trolley to Lynn Woods. The essntial thing here is a lot of rough, rocky, hilly woods surrounding the Lynn reservoir (which looked woefully empty). We mounted up to near the top of next to the highest hill. Most of the land is a city reservation but there are a few camps. The Bloods have two acres and next them - a quarter of a mile (?) away is a camp where the Appalachians were to the number of 110, including Nell, Helen Evans and Helen Warren. Oh, honey, I have to have snowshoes! The snow yesterday wasn't bad for wading, with safety pin tucks. I wore my gaiters and tights and was quite happy. The camp has just one room - a day affair, mostly, though there is a two story double bunk in one corner. The fireplace had a big fire in it for Mr. Blood & Robert went up ahead. We went out of doors and looked from a neighboring high rock out to sea, blue sea. There was surf on Nahant visible at that distance - 4 or 5 miles I should say! We had a grand dinner - broiled steak, mashed potato, onions (I didn't partake!) hot rolls, cranberry jelly, celery, Washington pie (really caramel frosting) and coffee (delightful even to me!)
Then we went off to Sunset Rock, a half mile or more, passing the Appalachian party. You ought to have seen the snow-shoes around the trees, and lots of people were off with them on. Lots of elderly ladies. Mrs. J- and Mrs. B- say they think they'll be old enough in ten years! Robert and Mr. Blood made a crazy sled and we coasted down precipitous rocks - Robert always running down to bring the heavy thing back. He's a dear boy. You ought to have seen Mr. Blood riding down on a young birch tree! It beat a broom all out.
Then we sat around the fire and read Crothers and magazines and talked until supper - chocolate, brown bread, celery, cheese, oranges[,] candy - I forget what else. We left at a little after eight. It was so pretty to see the lighthouses out beyond the city lights. They were so kind to include me - and no reason for their doing it. They are the nicest people, anyhow. I want them to come out to South Hadley with their auto either next fall or the following spring.
One article Mr. Blood read to us was is in the Mar. American - on Scientific Management about and by this great Mr. Taylor. It's very interesting - from all points of view, seems to me. Dr. Cannon referred to it in one of his lectures. There's to be a series of three articles, I believe. You'd better get hold of it. I've gotten one to keep as a physiological illustration. And in Life there was the richest picture, a duck being put to broil by a cook who starts back in surprise to hear the duck say - "Well, I must say this feels mighty good to me after two years in cold storage." Sometime ask me to tell you a story about Belgian hares' multiplying.
Dr. Roseman's underling came to us today to urge us to look at the demonstrations freely and the great man himself came to talk to Dr. Stirling, whom I judge he knows, and to me incidentally. He's a man who has risen by his brains unless I mistake. The polish is well-nigh perfect, but there's once & a while a slip, "three years hand running" for example. He couldn't say "advantage" like Dr. Forbes who recently gave the $11,000 necessary to complete the fund for the new Harvard Chemical first building. He is, I think of the Forbes family that owns Naushon, that big island off Woods Hole, you know.
I'll enumerate swiftly a few more things. Firstly, honey, you shouldn't have sent me the two dollar[s]! But I thank you all the same. I think I'll use it to take Mrs. Johnson to something nice. I'd have taken her to Beatrice Herford last night or the Flonzaley tonight but for yesterday. Perchance an opera, of a Sat. night when $1.00 seats are good.
Boy Porter sat with me (!) at the restaurant this noon. I accused him of fabricating the remark I'm about to quote, but he swears he didn't. He says Dr. Lewis in talking with him about the Ph.D. exams said as how the candidates sometimes share the diffidence of the examiners!!! And - now honey, think of this - he referred to my exam as the best one ever gone thro' at the Med. It's preposterous - both the fact and Dr. Lewis' saying so! He was the one who was so nasty to me about the liver! I ought to have been able to make a capillary on the strength of that if I'd deserved it, but I wasn't able to! They grew worse all day. However I was quite overcome to have Dr. Tolin wait for me this P.M. and carry my suitcase to the car. He could have walked on without being impolite at all. I told him Miss Blood liked his lab. manual and that I wanted this year's. It'll be $1.25 - he might have given me one, but I have to have it! Also he remarked that he'd heard my exam was a great success. Now why he selected today to make that remark I can't conceive but I felt like crawling into a hole. Good heavens, what do they usually get? I'd just let a feller squeak thro' on a performance like mine. Boy Porter is revelling in some work over at Harvard with Dr. Parker. I'd revel myself if I had the chance.
I've called on Lydia Sanderson Capen a few minutes and had a long conversation with Nell. Lydia, Alice Macd - Nell, Eva Noyes (?) and I planning to sit together at this Mt. H- luncheon. Miss Gates has accepted for tomorrow night. Golly, I don't know what rooms to choose. I gave you my advice clearly but I'll bet you can't get it for $18, and I don't know what to do. I'll skirmish a while first! Something might happen.
I have other things to say, but must acknowledge a dear little case for a brush-travelling thing - and a hand-made brush to fit from Elizabeth. She's been having a class of Italian boys in that enterprise. This whisks in a marvelous fashion for one so thin and compact. Helen Wieand sent me a little hanky with a tatting edge. Ella Dickinson wrote me a nice note, and Lucy Baker hit it within one day with a Chinese tie, crochet, and a letter. Anna Yates sent me Lucy's letters which she had. I shall tell her to take them to you. I had seen two of the three - and haven't read the other yet.
Elizabeth Clark '97, teaching in Newton, has just died of pneumonia.
My mother was better and more cheerful. Jessee was sick in bed with indigestion. Took dinner with Doc Monday night. She's so much better since she had Miss Schwab there, but she has to leave about Mar. 15 I believe. My mother wants to give me a present. She's getting better - she didn't apparently think of it at Xmas at all. I think I'll buy the three Everyman volumes of Shakespeare - I believe they include all the plays.
Good night, honey dear - I love you a great deal. Have you survived the Prom?