February 14, 1904. Dearest Mamie Your valentine came yesterday and is too cunning for anything! I got a cute one from Hilda too, and then we had a valentine party at the table last night. I spent all yesterday afternoon composing jingles to the girls. Each one got a valentine from each of the nine others at the table, the verses were read aloud, and we had a huge rich chocolate cake to make our happiness complete. Thursday night I had such a good time. Miss Mann asked me to go skating with her. She declared she couldn’t skate well at all, and wanted to go at night when there wouldn’t be many people around to see her make an idiot of herself but lo and behold, she skated like a bird! I think she just wanted to go when she could skate with a good skater instead of a lot of old instructors who wabble all around. I’ve gotten such a reputation for being a good skater -- it’s quite funny. Well we had such a nice jolly skate and then she came to our room and Betty made hot chocolate for us. I hope you will like each other when you come here in May. As I have said before, she isn’t especially clever, but she is so appreciative of all my little foolishnesses, and has such a nice sense of humor. She has lots of funny stories to tell, and isn’t a bit of a fossil as many of the instructors are. She has the sense to go to New York and other places a lot so as to keep her mind fresh and out of a rut. Don’t you think it would be fun if I could get you a room at Miss Key’s? I’m already making out lists for some teas, I want you to meet such a lot of people. Aren’t you the grand lady though with your “Reader” article! Never mind, Jimmie wrote a great big “good” on my last history special topic. It’s a comfort to do something once in a while that really satisfies one of these persuickety instructors. Friday night we of the choral club gave a concert, and it was a splendid one too. We had been practicing so hard on the music for weeks, that we were pleased to death to have it go off so well, and as to dear old professor Gow, he just beamed all over he was so happy. We sang such beautiful things -- they are in my mind all the time. Last night Raymond Parrot was here and I talked to him for half an hour or so. He is a very nice boy -- exactly like Polly. Polly sends her love by the way, and so do Rudge and Betty. I got a nice note from Tom Shipp which I enclose. Please send it back immediately as I want to keep it though of course I’ve already answered it. I really ought to write a little letter to Constance now so farewell -- though I;ve much rather go on writing to you -- Have you heard this perverted proverb? When joy and duty clas Let duty go to smash Well, that’s the way I feel, but -- Adieu Slews of love Peg. I wonder if there is a word spelled right in this whole letter -- Betty feels talkative and has jabbered constantly ever since I began writing. The Hampton Institute quartette is going to sing in chapel tonight, won’t that be nice? Those plantation hymns are so beautiful. Miss Mann skating at night “Good” on history topic POUGHKEEPSIE, FEB 15 130PM 1904 N.Y. Miss May Louise Shipp 1010 North Delaware Street Indianapolis Indiana 11. INDIANAPOLIS, IND. FEB 16 430PM 1904