Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. [Mar 2. 1911] Dear Mother - I have been “waiting and watching” for a letter for a long time and am hoping to get one tomorrow. There is nothing very exciting happening here lately. I think I told you about the Ice Carnival, held last week. Last night was Track Meet - Senior’s won. This Saturday Third Hall Play is to be given - “cherries” - translated from the German - Marjorie Woods and Martha Strong , the girls who used to room upstairs both have parts. I asked Miss Chittendon the question you wanted me to, and she said, “Tell your mother that you’ll do as much with your music as anyone can with such small hands.” She has given me dozens of exercises to help me increase my stretch - and I have a new piece, [Lahutt’s] “Caprice”. The music students are getting up a fund to present Miss Chittendon with a reference-library of music and I was invited to hand over $2.00 toward it today - it is to be a surprise to her I believe, and will take between $200 and $250. The girls have collected about $150, so all of us girls who have just started music this semester are being roped in to it. Funds being low I haven’t contributed as yet. All the old girls have left the Observatory I stayed because I was offered nothing save an unexempt room in Main - a condition which I can better explain verbally than on paper. I asked Edith what to do and she advised me to stick it out the rest of this semester - so I’m sticking-with a Marjorie Lane of Boston - she seems very nice and harmless. Am going to a play at the Maid’s Club house tomorrow evening with Edith - did I tell you that she has a younger sister, Marjorie, who is coming to Vassar next year? I’m quite anxious to meet her and see what she’s like. Sometime when you have nothing else special to do, won’t you send me a regular birthday box of eats - This having one’s birthday come in July offers no opportunity for such a celebration - and will you put in one [corner] the nightie for Edith that I spoke about some letters ago - I really mean it, odd as my embroidering may seem. Blanche Ellsworth came over and spent the night Sunday - we had a grand time - Irma Waterhouse (another Hockey girl) was over last night - we had canned baked beans for breakfast - I’m going to have a little breakfast party in my room next Sunday morning - wish you were to be here for it. I am having my white sailor-suit done up at Slosh’s - I didn’t like to trust it to the college-laundry - I hope the shirt shrinks a little, but I also hope the collar won’t fade - isn’t it a sweet pretty shade? I took Louise Spear over to meet Edith tonight - her sister, Daisy Spear, used to know Edith when she was here last year - so I skipped up in my graduation dress - much “flossied up” Sunday, Florence Barrett, Dorothy Denning, and I took a grand long walk - but oh! such mud! Flatbush never could hold a candle to those sloppy, slushy dirt roads! We walked way past the place where we stopped for lunch last fall, and by the time we finally landed at college again our feet were in the condition when the water squishes through every step. It’s very late and I’ve been awake late the past 2 nights talking to Irma and Blanche, so I guess I’ll G.B. How’s Grandma and the little folks? I’m going to send them some little things by express soon - Love to Daddy and yourself Muriel. Stockings came - have a pair on - good and strong and match my shoes beautifully. Just received your letter - spring vacation begins March 24th - we have to be back for classes the morning of April 5. I have just come from 2 hours work in the Physics Lab. and go to a Physics quiz next hour - am in Algebra just at present. The corset came and is better than new - so nice and strong - new lace in top and all seamed beautifully. Don’t worry over trying to get my dress done - I’m all right; of course I’d love to have it, but don’t rush yourself to pieces over it. There is absolutely nothing more to say - thanks for the check - what 2 weeks is that for - the coming or the past? Coming, isn’t it? Muriel Sorry to have delayed this letter for so long - do better next time - Please tell Babe and Evelyn that I love to get letters. POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. 2 - - PM MAR 2 11 Mrs. B.O. Tilden 291 Westminster Road Brooklyn, N.Y.