Barnard College
Columbia University
New YorkDepartment of Chemistry
Friday, March 12, 1915.
My Lady dear, -
How the time does fly. I've been trying to write a letter to you for so long. I'll at least have time to start it now anyway! These last few weeks have been unusually busy for some reason or other. I've tried to work in a few extra trips to P & S doing urine analyses and when I've finished the methods maybe they'll let me work on something else. This doesn't mean that I don't like what I'm doing now. On the contrary I'm crazy about it, but these "methods" are merely the "tools" if you'll excuse the very trite simile. They might even give me a very small problem. Oh - this quantitative work is so much more satisfactory than the million little test tube messes that I fussed with last semester, though I realize that that was necessary and I surely got a lot out of the course. Physiology continues to be fine, and Dr. Pike is nicer than ever. We've done some fine experiments lately, several on absorption of different kinds of things from the intestine, and of different concentrations of solutions, and the effect of blood supply on absorption, etc. The last thing was the absorption of magnesium sulfate & cane sugar. We still have the titrations to do, to find out how much SO4 & sugar was absorbed. Also we've stimulated the nerve of a salivary gland and watched the saliva flow. It was a great disappointment to find that a regular deluge was not forthcoming when the nerve was stimulated. Then we've seen an ox heart work - one which was all fitted up with glass-windowed valves and an electric light inside. That was a beautiful demonstration. I wish we could do it next year, for you just can't grasp the precision with which those valves work until you see them. Dr. Pike asked me if I had any free time during the week, and if so, would I like to be around when he was going to do some of his own experiments, which might be interesting? I answered him that I would, so he said he would "bear it in mind." He is a nice man to think of me on such occasions.
After lunch.
I'm now in laboratory watching over the children while they make up their back work. There are only three here so I can manage if I keep just one eye on them.
I am negotiating with Dr. Sherman for a job this summer. I went over to see him yesterday morning to ask for suggestions and he offered me a position himself. He has charge of some research for a committee which is investigating the nutrition of the poor and he'll know by the end of this month, how much money we'll be appropriated for the work this summer. He wants me to work on that piece of research and maybe be one of the subjects for experiment. I'm eager to do it, for it will be awfully interesting and it would give me first hand knowledge of nutrition experiments. I'll be able to tell you more about it later, when I find out if I'm really going to do it.
Now about my abode next year - I don't know what to do. I don't really want to live in a dormitory for I think that may have had something to do with my annual visits to the infirmary each spring, because here, when I've lived in a quieter place, I've kept right well. On the other hand I know what Dr. Hooker's ventilation is and if she admits it's poor, excuse me! I guess I'm a regular old maid but I care more about a comfortable, cheerful room than lots of things. Do you suppose I could find a room anywhere in the village that might not be much more expensive than living in a dormitory and still be livable. How about the smaller houses on campus i.e. Cowles lodge or the Byron Smith house or some such place? I wish I might go up to South Hadley and look around and talk to you - maybe I can, for I certainly don't want to bother you with my domestic whims! Are you going to be in South Hadley any time during the Easter vacation? Our recess is April 1-5 inclusive and that comes just at the last end of yours I believe.
I'm glad Marion Janney is coming back. Did you tell me that Marion Howe would or would not be there? What I'm most pleased about is that I'm going back! Selfish as usual! You were mighty good to get the $800 for me. I appreciate it more than I can tell you.
I see Mr. Line now and then. I had dinner with him and Mr. Kennedy Wednesday night at a funny little Italian restaurant in "Bohemia". Mr. Kennedy is Professor of Economics in New York University and he and Mr. Line live to-gether. Mr. Kennedy was at college two or three times. Maybe you met him.
This afternon Geddes Smith, Marjorie Smith and Arthur MacMahon are coming up to the laboratory to have tea. Mr. MacMahon is an instructor in the Political Science (?) department at Columbia and is a great friend of the Smiths. Miss Lurck has now taken charge of the laboratory so I must go and scare up something for tea.
Dr. Sherman told me yesterday that Dr. Clapp was a distant cousin of his. His name is Henry Clapp Sherman. They are both to be congratulated I should say.
Give my love to your mother please. How is she? Are her windows full of flowers and nice growing green things? And here is a big lot of love for you. I told Miss Barnard that some fine day I was going to swipe one of the letters that I see on the rack for her occasionally, which threat merely means that I'd like one of my own!