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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: [1923-05-25]
Text: [27 May 1923] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The most exciting thing that has happened today was removing a box of bran, containing a live mouse, from my food-chest. I had the shivers for about an hour there-after. I'm glad it's the end of the year! Also read "Annie Christie" for my exam, proof-read my seminar topic--a matter of two and one half hours--pursued my Tolerance topic, had a fine game of tennis which Maxine, and went to Bish's "lemonade tea" in...
Show more[27 May 1923] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The most exciting thing that has happened today was removing a box of bran, containing a live mouse, from my food-chest. I had the shivers for about an hour there-after. I'm glad it's the end of the year! Also read "Annie Christie" for my exam, proof-read my seminar topic--a matter of two and one half hours--pursued my Tolerance topic, had a fine game of tennis which Maxine, and went to Bish's "lemonade tea" in the Shakespeare garden, which she gave in honor of their Lenox housekeeper and general manager, and her Eskimo dog "Husky". It is a marvelous dog. I even mastered patting it! No more or this won't go in today's mail. Love, Fannie Sunday.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: [1922-10-05]
Text: [5 Oct 1922] Thursday night Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: There is nothing much to tell you--we are working our heads off on the general subject "Resolved that Trade Unionism is Essential to the Progress of Civilization". It is a ridiculous subject, one that allows of infinite speculation, philosophizing, and oratory. From what we can gather, that is their method of debating. The debate has been postponed to next Thursday afternoon--two of them and I will debate the affirmative...
Show more[5 Oct 1922] Thursday night Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: There is nothing much to tell you--we are working our heads off on the general subject "Resolved that Trade Unionism is Essential to the Progress of Civilization". It is a ridiculous subject, one that allows of infinite speculation, philosophizing, and oratory. From what we can gather, that is their method of debating. The debate has been postponed to next Thursday afternoon--two of them and I will debate the affirmative against their third man and our other two. The latest from them is a wire this afternoon saying that they sail Friday morning, and will not be able to make it unless they complete passport arrangements today. It remains to be seen tomorrow whether they have done so or not. Meanwhile we are working like dogs--academic work being entirely outside the question--and having many sessions with Millsy and other members of the Ec department, who have absolutely put their time and services at our disposal. The other two debaters and chairman are leaving tomorrow at one, arrive New Haven at six, and return Saturday morning, to hear them debate on the League. Considering the shortness of our time for preparation and the fatigue of the trip, I have concluded that it is ridiculous to go. They can tell me about it. Will not telephone tonight, as there is nothing to say, and hate to waste the time waiting for call. Please don't leave until you are all right. In haste, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-12-02
Text: December 2, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I spent four hours yesterday doing a history topic that I thought was due tomorrow, but when i got to class today, discovered--as did most of the other members of the class--that is is not due till next week and that those of us who had started were doing it from the wrong angle. I had a conference with Miss Salmon yesterday. I had to wait wait twenty minutes and then she talked to me for about twenty minutes. Her plan certainly is to give you...
Show moreDecember 2, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I spent four hours yesterday doing a history topic that I thought was due tomorrow, but when i got to class today, discovered--as did most of the other members of the class--that is is not due till next week and that those of us who had started were doing it from the wrong angle. I had a conference with Miss Salmon yesterday. I had to wait wait twenty minutes and then she talked to me for about twenty minutes. Her plan certainly is to give you absolute freedom, to let you do whatever you want in the course as long as it interests you and she feels that it benefits you. When we were through talking about the work, she piped out, "And how is your mother?" Whereupon she proceeded to give me a long line about you. She wanted to know if you graduated. She said that she thought you must have been married before because she was looking you up in some list or other and could not find your name. We are to have a debate meeting seventh hour this afternoon, and I have lab. I don't think that I am far enough ahead in lab to do any cutting I don't suppose I'll lose any valuable information by not going. The Junior team looks quite formidable to me. Will you please let me know as soon as you have definite plans about Atlantic. Then please either send me a timetable or tell me what train to order my chair on. I think the men come out to college a week or ten days before vacation. Jo and I went to Miss Harbor's office yesterday to find out what we got on our midsemester in Ec. She was having conferences so I did not wait. Jo asked for me. She told her that we both got B and that I had been doing B work all along. Jo has been doing C with her and had an A average with Millsy. I really don't see why I didn't get A. I think I answered the questions intellingently and I don't know how I could have improved my paper any unless I had more time. Considering the number of bright people who flunked at flat, though, I ought to be satisfied. We have been having a lot of irreguliar verbs in Spanish and I have not mastered them any too thoroughly. I had good intentions of doing it over the week-end, but Miss Dennis did not take that inot[sic] consideration--we had to write today. I do not know Ruth Goodkind, Pete. She was in the catalogue last year. I don't even know if she is here this year. I don't even know her by sight and and have never heard anybody speak of her. Lucy tells me Lucille Cerf has just announced another engagement. It strikes me if I were in her place I'd be married and then announce it! Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-10-08
Text: October 8, 1920. I had a hunch that something would happen that I would not have time to get off a letter of congratulations to you, or else that I would be too busy to do so. That is why I kept mentioning the fact in all my previous letters. It may also interest you to know that I went to the Messenger Room to send you a telegram and discovered that I did not have any money with me. I considered sending the telegram collect but decided you would refuse it, so I had to come back for the...
Show moreOctober 8, 1920. I had a hunch that something would happen that I would not have time to get off a letter of congratulations to you, or else that I would be too busy to do so. That is why I kept mentioning the fact in all my previous letters. It may also interest you to know that I went to the Messenger Room to send you a telegram and discovered that I did not have any money with me. I considered sending the telegram collect but decided you would refuse it, so I had to come back for the money. The reason I missed the mail yesterday was that I accidentally slept all fifth hour and had lab sixth and seventh. I convered very little ground in lab, because it was so long since I had done any lab work that I looked carefully at everything about three times and considered very carefully before I did anything. However, I did just about as much as anybody else. I spent all last night and early this morning arranging my history topic and doing today's ec. My topic took nearer eight hours than six, but the first is one if more experimental than anything else. Next week's topic is to be on a pioneer, or several pioneers. She suggested that we take some man from the country we took for today. I will either take a Frenchman, or some Western Pioneer. Somehow or other, the latter appeals to me more. Our chem lectures are not hard to get. Professor Moulton does not expect as much. He has not the faculty of making things as clear as Windy Gorgas. Gorgas always explained everything, and Prof. Moulton always says, "Just take my word for it". I am tired of asking him why this or that is so, becuase that is always the answer I get. Ec. is still exceedingly interesting. I am not a shining light in it, but then I always am bashful at first, particularly if there are Juniors and Seniors in the class. And then it makes me so mad if a question is asked and I think I know the answer. Nobody answers and the answer that the instructor gives is exactly what I have been thinking! It doesn't pay not to talk when you think you know something. We have two days, that is the time of preparation for two recitations, to read "Kim" and one other work of Kipling. Spanish is still travelling at a rapid speed. It is interesting, but it is not going to be easy. It will take plenty of time. Mother, I think I wrote the other day that the chem book I wanted was a small gray-paperbound book of printed problems. It was originally Lester's property, so it may have his name on it. I'll try to work off some diplomacy on Dr. B. tonight in re-gard to your letter. I have quite a little typing to do over the week-end for Sophomore party. I also have a lot of reading to do and letters to write. It is a known fact that people don't write to you unless you write to them, and it is my turn in almost every case. Helen is existing very nicely. She get's enough specials and telegrams from Jake to make life bearable to her. I have not made out yet whether Miss Salmon makes any pretence of giving a course in American History. As far as I can make out, it is mainly a course in rambling talk about everything under the sun. We are to have conferences with her soon. I imagine that she takes her opportunity then of telling us where our faults lie and how we can overcome them, and by what process we can eventually read every American history book in the library. Love, Fannie.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1922-05-01]
Text: [postmarked 1 May 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I forgot to say, Pete, that I sent you the debate telegram collect because I telephoned both yours and the one home from the Lodge before the debate dinner and had no money with me. Hope you don't mind. Evan told me that Gerstenlauer told her that he had been in 24 debates since he had been in college and that fourteen of them have been intercollegiate. Miss Ellery congratulated me today, and I asked her is she didn't think...
Show more[postmarked 1 May 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I forgot to say, Pete, that I sent you the debate telegram collect because I telephoned both yours and the one home from the Lodge before the debate dinner and had no money with me. Hope you don't mind. Evan told me that Gerstenlauer told her that he had been in 24 debates since he had been in college and that fourteen of them have been intercollegiate. Miss Ellery congratulated me today, and I asked her is she didn't think they had really won. She said, she did, very franky, that she thought they were greatly more convincing than we were. And then she went on to say that she thought it would do Vassar good to have a men's college beat us once. It is now 3 o'clock. I shall work till ten with a half-hour off for dinner, on writing a psych topic. Yesterday was a day gone, as far as work goes. What is your conclusion about monkeying with the doctor after my letter of yesterday, Mother? R. S. V. P. immediately. If I do come Saturday, I guess i had better take the 8:30, since we now have daylight-saving. Love, F.1. Starbuck, Edwin Dilles Psychology of Religion (with preface by Mr. James I London, [Wallet] Scott Std. 1900. 2. James, [Hm]. The Varieties of Religious Experience A Study in Human Nature Longmans, Green + Co., 1917 3. Seratton, George [Malshew] Psychology of the Religous Life London George Allen + Co., 1911 4. Pratt, James Bissett. Psychology of Religious Belief N.[J] [Marrillan Cn.], 1907 Coe, George Albert Psychology of Religion Univeristy of Chicago Press 1917
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-03-19
Text: March 19, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I just got back from the lab--three and a half hours over there. I had to put in some extra time because of the six hours I missed last week. I worked up a scheme whereby I successfully avoided doing two hours' work over again because of breakage the last time. I think I shall have to go Saturday morning, and then I shall have caught up with the average of the class. I might not have to, but I don't want to have to do it the week before...
Show moreMarch 19, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I just got back from the lab--three and a half hours over there. I had to put in some extra time because of the six hours I missed last week. I worked up a scheme whereby I successfully avoided doing two hours' work over again because of breakage the last time. I think I shall have to go Saturday morning, and then I shall have caught up with the average of the class. I might not have to, but I don't want to have to do it the week before debate, and the Tuesday after debate comes the mid-semester. I went over to Students' right after lunch and pulled off a speech to my nurse. She criticized me. I doubt whether that system is very much worth while, but even if it isn't, fifteen minutes a day is not a very great loss. I shall have to get my brain working for the Spenser paper due next Monday. I have not done as much Spenser reading as I should have, and the little I have done, I have not done particularly intelligently or when I was in a very wide-awake condition. It is sort of hard to write a paper with such a background. Miss Dennis told me this morning that she was not going to give the mid-semester until after spring vacation. I impressed upon her what welcome information that was. I am quite sure that Millsy is going to spring a mid-semester on us either this Monday or the week following. I have devoted quite a little time lately to considering my elections for next year. The dean's office sent out slips for trial elections, which were due yesterday. There have been so many conflicts recently that they are trying to rearrange the hours. The problem is a lot harder than it was last year. I certainly have lots more interest than I had then, and in addition, the working out of my major and minor is involved. But more of that again--I have to go over to Main for dinner with Lucy now. I am going to try to get her to work out a trick debate stand with me for tomorrow night. With all respect to the slippings, I think they might indicate the first alternates. The same applies to the honorable "Miscellany News". We not only have to be prepared to take the place of any one of the three speakers, but we have to organize our side every time we are up for practice, and work up as many trick and unexpected stands as possible. Me for "appreciation of work where appreciation is due"! Please send Pete the inclosed from Miss Hamilton and have him return it to me. I explained to her that I would probably be an alternate and also that I might not be sent to Wellesley, but she seemed to choose to ignore it. Nevertheless, it is a very nice letter and I want it back.Friday before first hour! I had planned to go to bed early last night, but when I got back at nine from the libe, Kellogg was here to tell me that I would have to take her place with the regular team today, because they decided that in case I had to sub, I would be better off if I had practiced with them before. She staid till ten. They have changed the main speech completely since I last heard the stand--I mean the introductory speech. Mine will be the pleasant job today of showing how the question resolves itself into the large immigration of Russian Jews and Italians. If that isn't luck, I don't know what is. Bad luck, I mean. I have to go to a debate meeting fourth hour, work on debate fifth and sixth, and debate seventh and eighth. I have an aweful lot to do this week-end. I am glad you are getting along all right, Mother. I hope you will be better soon. How long do you have to stay in the hospital? Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-10-05
Text: Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Yesterday was a very full day. Tuesday night Br[??] Lee came up to me and asked me if I knew that there was to be a college golf tournament and that yesterday was the last day to qualify. So after fifth hour she and I made a mad rush for the car, just made connections at Market Street, got out there at a quarter to three, practiced for about three quarters of an hour, played nine holes and had to play quite slowly because the course was crowded, got a lift back...
Show moreDear Mother, Father, and Pete: Yesterday was a very full day. Tuesday night Br[??] Lee came up to me and asked me if I knew that there was to be a college golf tournament and that yesterday was the last day to qualify. So after fifth hour she and I made a mad rush for the car, just made connections at Market Street, got out there at a quarter to three, practiced for about three quarters of an hour, played nine holes and had to play quite slowly because the course was crowded, got a lift back to Market Street with Professor Riley, and just made dinner. It was most enjoyable. I worked last night and got back at ten. I found a note on my dest from Miss Hamilton, saying that she would be up here today, but that she was so busy she was afraid that she would not be able to see me. She is coming up again in November. I got special permission and went over to Miss Ann's to see, but staid only twenty minutes. I could have staid till midnight, but I guess incidentally, she was very busy, too. I got a real thrill out of seeing her. I always do, dor that matter. I certainly am fond of her. She looks better than she has for ages. She promised to write to me before coming up in November and save some time to be with me. The convention like the Bryn Mawr one is to be held here in June and she and her assistant were up to make the preliminary arrangements. She said she would like me to stay over for it--they want some of the college girls to stay. Miss Whylie called me after class yesterday to get my name straight. She seems to have great difficulty with it, so I thought I would follow your suggestion and tell her that you had the distinction of being my mother. (I didn't say that, though) She said she thought she had met me my freshman year, and I said I didn't believe so. She said, "Well, then, that's because [you were] too 'nippy'". I said probably it was because I was too bashful. She then said, "Well, you aren't any more, and you ought to be thoroughly ashamed of yourself for waiting until your Junior year to introduce yourself to me, but I'll forgive you if you come to see me very soon". She went on to say that I handed in a very excellent paper on the characteristics of the nineteenth century, and that she hoped the rest of our acquaintance would be as thoroughly pleasnat[sic] as out first acquaintance, which was through the paper". I was quite tickled, because I was beginning to think that course as beyond my depth. Phyllis wanted me to make a speech in the dining-roomlast night out I told her I might not get back in time and she should get someone else. It was to start out the campaign for the Christian association. I am going to Mohonk Saturday. I am taking Jane Rothschild. I will see that Eleanor Wolf gets there. I may have to take her also, but I am not at all keen about it. I shall see. I wrote to Jeannette Fellheimer if it was at all possible to come next week instead of this week, that my week-end was full and could not be changed. I hope she does so. I consider that too much of a good thing bouncing in on me like that. As you notice, I need a new ribbon. Love, Fannie October 5, 1921Hello Fan! Bet you never expected a visit from me tonight! [I'm] here till Friday [Alll] - at "Miss [Aui's] tea - room" (there are bedsbeside tea!) [but so in this run I may not see you]. Up again in November - Love to you [Jean Haieeelton]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1923-05-13
Text: May 13, 1923 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I finished my Tolerance topic last night. It was on the stage controversies from 1642 to 1737, and gave me some very interesting background for drama, only I am afraid that it was slightly more of a drama topic than a history topic. However, a little thing like that wouldn't bother Miss Brown. I waded through the indices of about seventy-five volumes of the Royal Commission Reports on Historical Manuscripts, and I think the history department...
Show moreMay 13, 1923 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I finished my Tolerance topic last night. It was on the stage controversies from 1642 to 1737, and gave me some very interesting background for drama, only I am afraid that it was slightly more of a drama topic than a history topic. However, a little thing like that wouldn't bother Miss Brown. I waded through the indices of about seventy-five volumes of the Royal Commission Reports on Historical Manuscripts, and I think the history department ought to tip me for dusting them. I am quite sure they haven't been touched for many years! It poured all last evening, so there was no Third Hall. After all those rehearsals and the inifinite[sic] amount of work put on it, it is a shame. And the majority of people had week-end guests. It won't be given at all until Commencement time. I am beginning to see light now. Unless Miss Brown springs an exam in the form of a "prepare in advance" topic--and I hope she won't--all I have to do now, beside a little class work--is to write three drama papers and my seminar encyclopedia. I say that as though it isn't much, but it can at least be done in two and a half weeks. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-11-13
Text: November 13, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Please appreciate the respectable paper! It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Junior debating team was victorious last night by a 2-1 decision. It was not a wonderful debate. The subject did not inspire anyone. Mr. Burges Johnson, not because he voted against us, though, gave the craziest reasons for his vote that I have ever heard. But it may interest you to know how he did it. He worked out a marking system--like a child--and...
Show moreNovember 13, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Please appreciate the respectable paper! It gives me great pleasure to announce that the Junior debating team was victorious last night by a 2-1 decision. It was not a wonderful debate. The subject did not inspire anyone. Mr. Burges Johnson, not because he voted against us, though, gave the craziest reasons for his vote that I have ever heard. But it may interest you to know how he did it. He worked out a marking system--like a child--and graded everyone for various points. 5 was his highest mark. The two things that I excelled in will amuse you! The highest mark he gave for stage-presence was 4 1/2, and that was awarded to one soph and me. Likewise I tied a soph on 4 1/2 in power of argument. He objected to the affirmative conclusion of the debate (which was mine), as a mere sentimental appeal. He said he didn't like it, where upon Miss Reed, who was strong for us, turned around to him, and said, "That's because you lack sentiment in your makeup". He got the laugh on that. C. Mildred Thompson was there in full force, pulling as hard as she could for us. Toward the end of the discussion after the debate a bunch of our squad collected around her, and in the course of her talking she said, she hoped I wouldn't allow what Mr. Johnson said about my conclusion to influence me if I went out for intercollegiate, because she considered that the weakest part of Vassar debate in the last few years has been cut and dried "We have shown, they have not shown, therefore we consider that we have won, etc., etc." She said she was very glad I had considered it a very strong point in my favor. Another bright thing Mr. Johnson pulled off was to show how I should have elaborated on one point I made in rebuttal, instead of trusting to the intelligence of the audience to get it without indefinite explanation. I was aching to say to him, "Mr. Johnson, do you realize I was allowed five minutes for rebuttal, and that it took you two to make that one point?", but I wisely refrained. Only it annoys me when people are so dumb. He siad[sic] he wanted to be treated like a stupid child and have everything explained to him. [He acted it.] To show that I am fair-minded, I must confess that Miss White showed no more intelligence than he did, in spite of the fact that she voted for us. Miss Reed had voluminous notes, and was most "efficient" in her criticism. Another thing that will amuse you--I heard Miss White tell someone that I was the only one in the debate who showed any trace of humor. But I felt as handicapped as though my tongue had been cut off, for the committee absolutely forbade my using sarcasm, and I just revel in it in debate. All I could do was to provoke a laugh twice, and I like to keep the audience laughing. I counted fifteen faculty in the audience--among them friend Bess Cowley, who amused me beyond expression when I mentioned the fact that a girl derives comparatively little benefit in the way of logical thought, when she takes freshman math against her will, after several years of math in prep school. I wanted to see her reaction when I said, and her face seemed to be saying, "That poordeluded girl. What a fool she is! And I spent two good hours her freshman year trying to persuade her to elect math Sophomore year". Pap White, head of the department, sat through it likea gentleman. Miss Wells and Miss Cummings of the math department were also there. Millsy sat in the back all by himself, and grinned all over whenever the negative made a point. He thinks the present curriculum is heaven itself. I have asked him various questions about possible changer, and he sat on every one of them. The head of the Spanish department and the Spanish addition to it were also there. The history department were well represented by Miss Ellory, Miss Thompson (who promised to grin at us like a Cheshire cat) and Miss Brown. The two people whom I missed were Miss Wylie and Miss Salmon. Miss Wylie does not believe in required Freshman English. We have been spouting Miss Salmon's ideas so much that I really think someone should have gone down-town to call for her. We have talked about "the big fish" so much that it ceased to be even funny. None of the faculty would let us quote them. There is much delicacy of feeling on the subject of the curriculum. It amuses me. I don't see why they should be afraid to stand up for their convictions. They took a rising vote before and after the debate, and C. Mildred was the only one who voted. Miss Ellory sat with some of our committee. After our speeches, before the rebuttal, she said, "You've won". And when the votes were announced, "She said, "I'm amazed at Mr. Johnson". The maddening part of it is that he has been away on endowment fund campaigning, and Bish wired him almost two weeks ago, asking him to judge. She got no answer Miss Ellory to judge in case he wouldn't. She would have made it a unanimous decision. When Mr. Johnson left, he said to Bish, "Well you have the consolation of knowing that if you had asked Miss Thompson to vote instead of me, you would have had a unanimous decision". And she said, "Yes, and if we had asked Miss Ellory, we would also have had it". So he decided that he didn't know much about judging. I think so too. The outline may interest you. I did not use it. Please return it. So much for that. I feel like a wreck today. I could hardly sleep last night. My mind has never worked at the speed it did last night, when i wanted it to stop. I am dead today. Now for real work until Thanksgiving. I seem to have left the outline in Students'. I'll send it sometime again. Also, that darn fool Mr. Johnson gave me the highest grade for rebuttal. And I was generally complimented on my flow of oratory! Hurrah! And kidded for my Pittsburgh pronunciation of the word "English" I don't pronounce the g. Do you? Love, Fannie Too bad, Father, you didn't speak at State College and get "Ella" to tell you nice things about me!JUNIOR-SOPHOMORE DEBATE STUDENTS' BUILDING NOVEMBER THE TWELFTH NINETEEN TWENTY ONEJunior Committee Beatrice Bishop, Chairman Helen Campbell Elizabeth Cannon Beulah Clap Frances Faust Phyllis Harman Margaret Taylor _________ Sophomore Committee Evangelia Waller, Chairman Helen Cheney Mary Crews Janet Fine Elizabeth Hamlin Natalie Shipman Alice Kean Stockwell __________ Judges Assoc. Prof. Amy Reed Prof. Florence White Assoc. Prof. Barges JohnsonQUESTION: Resolved, That a freer elective system be adopted for Freshman and Sophomore years. ________ Chairman, RACHEL HIGGINS ________ DEBATERS Affirmative, 1923 Negative, 1924 [3] FANNIE AARON AUGUST cLAWSON [2] LOIS BARCLAY HARIET DAVIES [1] EMMA McDONALD EVELYN KUHS ALTERNATES GRACE BOURNE ISABEL CARY MARGARET HILL ELEANOR ECKHART FRANCES KELLOGG ELIZABETH LEWIS [enc w/ 13 Nov 1921]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1923-03-09]
Text: [9 March 1923] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: You never commented on my Pinehurst suggestion, What did you think of it? If we don't do that, I'd just as soon come home as do anything else. Mother, I suppose Miss Schranz had better make the dress. I don't know whom else to get, do you? The material will be here by spring vacation, so I'll bring it home. Babette Strauss told me yesterday that she had meant to tell me a long time ago that Rabbi Stern(?) wrote to her a long...
Show more[9 March 1923] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: You never commented on my Pinehurst suggestion, What did you think of it? If we don't do that, I'd just as soon come home as do anything else. Mother, I suppose Miss Schranz had better make the dress. I don't know whom else to get, do you? The material will be here by spring vacation, so I'll bring it home. Babette Strauss told me yesterday that she had meant to tell me a long time ago that Rabbi Stern(?) wrote to her a long time ago to be sure to look me up, and I told her you had told me, too. I worked on debate seven hours yesterday. I know a little more than I did before, I think! I think the negative has the better case, but the negative is almost always the harder to uphold. Hope Harrisburg turned out all right, Father. I didn't think Maud Royden said too much, either, but she "sure can talk"! I got the enclosed note from the dean's office yesterday. Send it to Pete and return tome. I shall cherish it in my scrap-book. All is well that ends well! If another person sympathizes with me that I didn't get Phi Bet and tells me that she thought I would, or if any more congratulate me by mistake, I'll go batty. This morning at breakfast I had to listen to a dissertation on how terrible it must be to almost get it, but not quite! I'm afraid my bluff at indifference will soon give out! Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-03-20
Text: March 20, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Perhaps there are certain peculiarities about women's colleges, Pete, but one of them is that we have real college spirit. One of the splended peculiarities of Vassar is that we have perspective in judging non-academic activities. We have a field in which native artistic ability can be manifested, dramatics; one in which native physical skill can be manifested; and one in which native brain power can be manifested. And the splendid part of...
Show moreMarch 20, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Perhaps there are certain peculiarities about women's colleges, Pete, but one of them is that we have real college spirit. One of the splended peculiarities of Vassar is that we have perspective in judging non-academic activities. We have a field in which native artistic ability can be manifested, dramatics; one in which native physical skill can be manifested; and one in which native brain power can be manifested. And the splendid part of it is that we glorify them all and give them equal prominence and that we do not fall into the sad error of men's colleges and turn out by the thousands for a football game and by the tens for a debate! It is a very commendable fact to realize that the whole Students' Building was filled last night, even the gallery, which means that a great many faculty and practically the entire college except those who were away for the week-end, were at the debate. And if you could have heard the cheering and the songs which Vassar sang to Smith and Smith to Vassar I think you would have realized that the audience goes to the debate in a spirit of interest and appreciation rather than in a state of boredom. I hope you are duly squelched. As Professor Riley said when he was a judge in class debate, one of the most splendid things to him about a women's college in contrast to a men's college was that we emphasise the student as well as the athlete, and that very often we have them combined in the same girl. I hope you digest the above discourse! I wish I had time to write more about the debate, but when I think of the work I have to do for tomorrow I shiver. I was in a state of terrible suspense throughout the main speeches, because Peggy Bliss and the team had all told me to sit in the first fow and take notes for full force, because if Minerva's voice shouldn't last throughout her speeches I would have to take the rebuttal! Inasmuch as she was the last speaker on our side, I had a long time to wait! But she managed all right, although she did lack pep. I imagine that was due to the precarious state of her voice. Altogether the debate was disappointing. We were not good, but Smith was decidedly worse. There was little humor on our side and no pep at all. But Smith was pitiful. They were very inflexible. They had their three speeches, and they gave them as they had practiced weak for a negative. Their second speaker was scared stiff. She sounded like a high-school speaker who had memorized everything she had to say. She got up to speak in rebuttal, said about ten words, then quickly said, "I'm sorry", and beat it off the stage. The third girl got up and took her place and Dr. B. went scooting out after her. She finally came back and took the third speech, but did it very poorly. We wond[sic] by a two to one decision. More about that again. We went over to Senior Parlor and talked with each other and the judges tillMidnight. It was very interesting. I had to sit on the sofa between Miss Thompson and Miss Ellory and one removed from Mrs. MacCracken! Prexie was there and as usual talked a lot. Miss Palmer's ta and the debate dinner were moderately enjoyable. The team sent the alternates very cute diminutive corsages and when I thanked Minerva, she siad[sic], "Well, that certainly is the least we could do for you. We could not have won the debate without you". And I really think it is the truth because I flatter myself on having opened their eyes to quite a lot the last two days. I know I gave them a very stiff fight yesterday and the day before, even though it was mostly bluff. Helen sent me a beautiful big corsage of violets and red roses. I feel like main speaker instead of first alternate! Just recieved your telegram, Pete. I take back all the mean things I said in the first paragraph, since you seem to have gone to the debate. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1922-03-09
Text: March 9, 1922 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: This is the last letter probably, that you will see until next Friday's, so appreciate it. Debate Council is writing to Taft today. They tought it a good. Alos, listen to our take of woe. Messieurs James McDonald, Irving Fisher, and James Harvery Robinson have all expressed their regret at not being able to judge at Vassar. So Peggy has taken to State Commissioners of education. She is going to invite Finley, and if he regrets as he probably...
Show moreMarch 9, 1922 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: This is the last letter probably, that you will see until next Friday's, so appreciate it. Debate Council is writing to Taft today. They tought it a good. Alos, listen to our take of woe. Messieurs James McDonald, Irving Fisher, and James Harvery Robinson have all expressed their regret at not being able to judge at Vassar. So Peggy has taken to State Commissioners of education. She is going to invite Finley, and if he regrets as he probably will, she will invite Dr. Finegan, Do you suppose he would possibly come? I wish you had a state Board meeting this week and could tell him to come--expenses paid! If he turns us down, i guess maybe I won't recommend anybody else. We had a two and a half hour hash meeting this morning, to which we had Miss Gibson of the Ec department come and answer questions on economic matters. I fired about twenty different questions at her, and certainly from the viewpoint of ec, the affirmative has it all over us. Apperently none of our economic arguments will hold water. What I wouldn't give to be affirmative, but of course nobody will switch with me. I am not allowed to talk to any of the affirmative team for five days, until whatever negative ideas I can get into my head take firm root there! I think the best negative appeals are Irene Mott's stories of her visit there, but unfortunately anecdotes don't prove much. My slave is working hard--and so am I. Jane came to get me at twelve-thirty to introduce me to the famous Howard Wasserman who expressed his desire to meet me. I doped it out thus, he knows I am Pete's brother and doesn't see how Jane could have as a good friend the sister of such a high-brow. I certainly was not impressed. He is homely as mud, but unusually agreeable. He told me the next time I came to Philly, to be sure to have Jane let him know. That's just why I go on expeditions to Philadelphia! I put in an eight, rather nine, hour day yesterday and finished my history make-up. I still have J on my hands, and shall do as much as possible of that today. Helen is going to Atlantic Wednesday to spend the week-end plus two days with her Mother. Hane's Mother is coming east for vacation, so I guess she won't come to Pittsburgh. I still think i shall have to put in a few days here, either at the beginning or at the end, but preferably at the beginning. Let me know whenever you come to any doctor conclusions. When are you going to Boston, Father? Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-11-10
Text: Nov 10 Dear Father + Mother: I am putting in an hour on debate preparation now - getting my debet Marcel! If you knew one of the three speakers, you would realize what a joke that is. [Bisb] told us all to be sure to have marcels, that it would help us a lot in debating. I am mad - with all the white skirts I own, I have to borrow one for Saturday night, because mine are neither pleated nor flannel. [Tommysah<] I am to be the last speaker. That is of course the hardest. She has to rebut...
Show moreNov 10 Dear Father + Mother: I am putting in an hour on debate preparation now - getting my debet Marcel! If you knew one of the three speakers, you would realize what a joke that is. [Bisb] told us all to be sure to have marcels, that it would help us a lot in debating. I am mad - with all the white skirts I own, I have to borrow one for Saturday night, because mine are neither pleated nor flannel. [Tommysah<] I am to be the last speaker. That is of course the hardest. She has to rebut and sum up and make the final impression, and bring out all the main points again. It can be prepared ahead the least of the 3 speeches. Gee, I hope we win! I took our plan of elective to Miss [Ellery] yesterday and she indorsed it. She also signified her inention of coming. C. Mildred Thompson came to practice yesterday and [uiteiged]. It's a great life, this debating life! I'm so far be-hind in my work that I hate to think of it, but I have not been feeling well enough the last two weeks to risk running short on sleep. The more I think about Thanksgiving the more I come to the conclusion that I am sufficiently tired out to benefit by a change of scene. I question if I would accomplish much work by staying here. I think I would do better to come back with renewed pap and work hard in the three weeks before Christmas vacation. I would much rather be with you than visit M. W. But, Father. I am very anxious that you should not rush things and come to Atlantic a week or so early merely to be there during my vacation. Take care of your tummy, and don't do anything foolish! You know I could come home, + get Dr. B to let me take an extra day as I did last year. Or, I could work here + then come to Atlantic later + take a [prom leavel 2 days extra). R.S.V.P. I [bad] quite a shock last night - I have been vaguely going along thinking that Thanksgiving is 3 or 4 <day> wks off, + I happened to look on my calendar + realize that it is only 2 weeks from today! I don't like to tell Pete that other people beside the president of the Temple College Club are illiterate. M's letter was redundant in misspelling, was terribly sloppy, and a miserably constructed letter. I answered, and said I would probably be in A. C., with you, thanked her very much etc., + said I would let her know definitely as soon as I knew myself. We have no classes tomorrow. It's jut my luck to have only two, and lab, and to [bove] one of the 2 classes [J], from which Miss [Arylie] had given us a cut in order to require our attendance at two lectures the first part of the week! and I have to spend all Sat. morningin lab anyhow because I am behind. I shall have to work all day to-morrow as it is. Well, I'm all curled up and beautiful now! I hope it helps my brain Sat. Night! Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1922-04-20
Text: April 20, 1922 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: All I can report is my first debate practice on the opposite side. It seemed to cause considerable amusement to the committee. I told them afterwards that I had told one deliberate lie, and they all said immediately, "One, did you say?" There is a concert of some sort tonight. I know that sounds intelligent, so don't comment Pete) I shall drift over by and by, although goodness' knows, i ought to work. Founder's Day is...
Show moreApril 20, 1922 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: All I can report is my first debate practice on the opposite side. It seemed to cause considerable amusement to the committee. I told them afterwards that I had told one deliberate lie, and they all said immediately, "One, did you say?" There is a concert of some sort tonight. I know that sounds intelligent, so don't comment Pete) I shall drift over by and by, although goodness' knows, i ought to work. Founder's Day is next week, so I get out of only one class, as it is Friday! Got a note from Cousin Amerlia today, enclosing a clipping about me and Brown. Look for our picture next week and you will proabably[sic] see it. Burges Johnson told Peggy that he wanted a team picture taken for the papers, and she told him to wait till Brown arrives and let them in on it too. Nothing much new today. I feel sick of the world tonight, but I fear I can do nothing about it, but go to bed. I think a lack of that is probably what causes my distemper. Wishing you otherwise, i beg to remain, Your humble [F.]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1922-03-03]
Text: [postmarked 3 March 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: There isn't much to report in this grind's life of mine. I spent all yesterday afternoon and shall spend all of this afternoon and evening finishing my history make-up. I shall ten tell Miss Ellery that I am ready for my oral quiz. We had a debate practice last night--team vs. team. We were rotten. If only I had the time to do more reading, I would be ten times better. But I simply can't. Peggy certainly gave us the most...
Show more[postmarked 3 March 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: There isn't much to report in this grind's life of mine. I spent all yesterday afternoon and shall spend all of this afternoon and evening finishing my history make-up. I shall ten tell Miss Ellery that I am ready for my oral quiz. We had a debate practice last night--team vs. team. We were rotten. If only I had the time to do more reading, I would be ten times better. But I simply can't. Peggy certainly gave us the most complete blowing up I ever hope to listen to. I was on the point of giving up this morning, since debating means that I must stay over part of vacation and do topics, and that thought does not thrill me particularly. I can't even do justice to my debate work, keeping up with classes, much less atempting any topics. But they certainly do need me, good or bad, so I refrained. However, don't be surprised any day if I announce that I have dropped it. I hate to do a thing half-way, and wear myself out doing it. And those long history and J topics must be in before the middle of April, and three psych topics by the end of the semester. Bish had a letter from her parents saying that they would be at the debate in full force. At least there will be two people in the audience. Barnard is not famed for he numbers in which they turn out.I had to miss what was supposed to be a very fine lecture on Alaska last night for debate practice. They wanted a meeting this morning, but I said I absolutely had to go to lab. I did so, and in one more hour I shall catch up to the class. By tomorrow night I shall have finished all my makeup. The dress came, Mother, and it is great. The stuff from the drug-store was all right, too. The magazine has not come. I don't see how my account at the bank could have been overdrawn. The most startling thing I have to announce is that my friend the socialist Caroline Whitney lived true to her principles in saying that marks aren't "worth a damn" and refused to join the noble institution of Phi Beta Kappa when invited to do so. It takes backbone to do it, I think. She discussed her attitude with me quite at length, and ended up by calling to me, "I hope you will have good enough sense to turn it down next year", and I answered that I didn't think I would ever be worried by the possibility of getting the chance to do one thing or the other. Senorita Agostini got it, as did also three members of my class, two of the three being somewhat grindy as well as brainy, and the third, Margaret Cheney, being decidedly brainy, interesting, and a participater in practically all forms of non-academic activity. That is real ability, to my mind. Helen Reid did not get it. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 18-May
Text: Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: This is a borrowed typewritter, which means that all mistakes are to be excused. I was offered a fifteen page typewriting job, but I simply have not got the time for anything like that. The girl was desperate, so I lent her my machine. I am so busy and in such a constant state of sleepiness and dopiness that I get nothing accomplished and continue to have stacks to do. Thank goodness it will be over soon, or I am sure I would not last to the end of the term. I...
Show moreDear Mother, Father, and Pete: This is a borrowed typewritter, which means that all mistakes are to be excused. I was offered a fifteen page typewriting job, but I simply have not got the time for anything like that. The girl was desperate, so I lent her my machine. I am so busy and in such a constant state of sleepiness and dopiness that I get nothing accomplished and continue to have stacks to do. Thank goodness it will be over soon, or I am sure I would not last to the end of the term. I had a conference with Miss Kitchel this morning. She thinks I show considerable improvement, part cularly since I came back. I am quite sure that I can make the necessary improvement in my writing by keeping tab on myself, withouttaking a writing course. I went to see Miss White in her office hour today, but she was not there. The second language does not worry me in the least, only I don't want to take it. I fully intend to take an exam next fall. A big math quiz will take place tomorrow. Here is hoping I will soon get some work off my hands. Love, [Fannie] My clothes are all right. The only thing that it will be necessary to send is the foulard. It is very little too tight. I am sorry if I have kept you rishing with them--it was so much easier for me to send them than to walk or ride to a dressmaker, but then it was not easier for you. I began to feel much worse today. I suppose the reason is the evident one. The letters were interesting. Don't send any more medicine until I ask for it. [May 18]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-01-17 [1921]
Text: January 17, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Answers to questions:--the gifts were received with much appreciation and an increasing good-will on the part of Miss Herndon has been manifest ever since. The salve came this morning. Thank you. A package of American Stationery Company paper came also. Thank you for that too. I have been meaning to order some for myself all year, but never got to it. The things from K. B. are satisfactory. I am using the blue dress and have had to stop...
Show moreJanuary 17, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Answers to questions:--the gifts were received with much appreciation and an increasing good-will on the part of Miss Herndon has been manifest ever since. The salve came this morning. Thank you. A package of American Stationery Company paper came also. Thank you for that too. I have been meaning to order some for myself all year, but never got to it. The things from K. B. are satisfactory. I am using the blue dress and have had to stop wearing the brown. It looks like a bag, and then some. Should I send it home for you to give away? I had a very nice walk yesterday afternoon. it was a gorgeous day. Then i came home and read the New York Times for an hour! Please take notice of that, Lester. I then proceeded to read the poems of Masefield on which our Romance exam is to be based. I went to the organ recital in the chapel last night, otherwise known as "dark music". I then came home, washed my head, and studied chemisty till ten o'clock. During that time there was a very excited and lengthy interruption, caused by Ruth Bransten who burst in to give me all the particulars about the invitation she had just gotten to the Harvard Junior Prom. Her brother cooked it all up and his roommate, the famous member of the football team, is taking her. She certainly was excited. Everybody kids her about her brother's roommate, because she is talking about hime all the time. you don't happen to know any members of football teams that you would like to room with, do you, Pete? We had a fierce one hour written in Ec this morning. He asked three hard questions, one of which I had made a note of to ask about in our next quiz meeting. But that did not do me any good. I have some interesting information for you. Do you remember that wonderful looking girl who sat at the table next to us in the dining-room at Late Tahoe, whom i used to stare at all the time? Anyhow, the oone I mean is Mrs. Charles Heimerdinger, now Freshman year for Marshal of the Daisy Chain, but did not come back; graduated from Barnard with Phi Beta Kappa and won a history prize that had not been awarded for five years because nobody had been good enough for it. One of my freshman neighbors, a friend of her sisters, started raving about her today and volunteered this information. I am about to start off to lab again. [Love, Fannie]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-03-18
Text: March 18, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I am an unhappy mortal. The Wellesly crowd left last night after chapel. They all looked so nice and happy and excited and everybody was fussing over them! Honestly, I don't think I ever wished for anything as much as I wished to be sent up there. A whole crowd went down to the streetcar and cheered them off. They took the midnight train from Albany. They all went in a bunch--I guess there were about twenty-five in all. Khaki Dodge, who...
Show moreMarch 18, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I am an unhappy mortal. The Wellesly crowd left last night after chapel. They all looked so nice and happy and excited and everybody was fussing over them! Honestly, I don't think I ever wished for anything as much as I wished to be sent up there. A whole crowd went down to the streetcar and cheered them off. They took the midnight train from Albany. They all went in a bunch--I guess there were about twenty-five in all. Khaki Dodge, who lives in Boston, is taking them to the College Club for breakfast today and a '20 alum is giving a luncheon for them today, and then they are going out to Wellesley this afternoon and sleep there tonight. It certainly is going to be great. I don't believe it can be as much fun here, particularly in view of the fact I am sure we are going to lose. Our affirmative is very poor--our only hope is that the Smith bunch will be poorer. The negative is very good. I feel quite confident that we will win at Wellesley. I wish you could hear the debate out there, Pete. I am sure you would enjoy it. I am racking my brain at present thrying to give the team a stiff practice this afternoon and anothe rone tomorrow morning. I was talking to Lucy just now about Kellogg. She is very disappointing to me. Not only is her delivery so poor that one can scarcely understand her from the back of the room, but her arguments are not sound. Her speech, first affirmative, is the only one that can be completely independent of what everybody else says, and yet she has some ridiculously weak points. Lucy and I agree on them. Believe me, I am going to smash them this afternoon. She makes the ridiculous assertion--among other things, that the Jews are theoretically granted the same rights in everything as the Christians in all the countries of Europe! The Smith crowd arrive this afternoon. We are giving to have a "tea-dance" for them in the foyer of Students' tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night we are going to have a debate dinner, either in Main or off-campus. Oh, how I wish we would wind tomorrow, since I do have to stay home! I am afraid I am a rather poor sport, although thank goodness I have been sport enough to keep my disappointment more less--principally, more--to myself. Did I write that I heard a very excellent lecture on "Folk-Lore and Story-Telling" by Padrick Colum, a very interesting Irishman, Wednesday. I also had the pleasure of listening to him in Miss Peebles' other Romance class that morning. She stopped me on the way to Main to tell me that he had come early and was coming into her class, and that if I did not have a class that hour, she was sure I would enjoy it. He talked informally about Ireland at the present time. He said that there is a very terrible suppressed war going on, and that because of the peculiar topography of the country, it might go on for twentyyears or so. He said that it is very easy to land an army there, but very hard to do anything with it effectively. He knew that it was a class in Romance, and when he came in, he started first talking about Spenser, inasmuch as we had just been reading him. Then, when somebody asked him to tell us something about Ireland at present, he looked thoughtfully about the room for a minute, and then said, "Well, that is hardly romantic". Mlle. Clement whom I have heard at the Alliance Francaise at home and who I heard give a splendid course of lectures on French literature last year, is lecturing tonight, but I don't see how I can go. I have debate late this afternoon and all day tomorrow and all my studying to do for me Ec and chem midsemesters before Monday morning. It is a beautiful day. I am going to get a walk this afternoon--debate of no debate. I read the French play last night and signed up for tryouts this morning. I had a letter from Helen Diamond this morning. She informs me, among other things, and Dick Fishel also wrote it to Helen--that Maurice Baum's twin brother, the brainy West Pointer, committed suicide. Nice stuff at the age of twenty! Otherwise I know no cheerful news! Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 10/2/19
Text: Octoboer[sic] 2, 1919. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I report to Miss White in her room in Josselyn at one-forty-five tomorrow for the exam. I told Miss Smith the whole business last night. I thought, rather than ask a hundred and one people about it, I would go to one who probably would know something. She advised me to take the exam. She said she was quite sure Soph. French would be more interesting and very little harder, and shw was also sure that I was well qualified for it. I don&apos...
Show moreOctoboer[sic] 2, 1919. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I report to Miss White in her room in Josselyn at one-forty-five tomorrow for the exam. I told Miss Smith the whole business last night. I thought, rather than ask a hundred and one people about it, I would go to one who probably would know something. She advised me to take the exam. She said she was quite sure Soph. French would be more interesting and very little harder, and shw was also sure that I was well qualified for it. I don't know where she got all the dope. She also told me that she does not talk to everyone that way. Lest I forget, Pete, I got the pass for you and I will send it to Woodmere so that you will be sure to get it. I thought you might not get it if I send it to Princeton. I shall meet the 11:23 and if you are not on it, I shall wait for the 12:16. Is that the idea? If anything should turn up that I could not meet you, I will see you here. I guess the best thing to do would be to come down to Davison and ask the maid for me. She would deposit you in the parlor, so you need not faint. To come to Davison, get off the street car at Taylor Gate, walk up to Main Hall, which all its historic associations and present inconveniences, turn to your left, enter the quadrandgle, and go to the second building on the left hand side. After all these directions I will probably meet you at the station. Your letter, Pete, and Father's encolsed, case today. Keep up the good work, Father. You know there is one thing that is guaranteed to make a freshie homesick, and that is to fall in with the mob at the post-office. I would not had that experience yet, but I have been told about it. I played hockye[sic] for an hour yesterday afternoon, and then a set of tennis. I was to play off the tournament match this afternoon, but it has been raining all day, so we shall have to play tomorrow. If it rains tomorrow, I'll have to default. My recitations got along all right today. We are starting with logarithms and they are rather messy. Tell Aunt Hattie to keep on writing, even if I don't answer every letter. It is awefully hard to do my work, be sociable, write letters, and still get time to sleep. Kaufmanns were here today from non to four o'clock. They came from Lenox by auto, and will return there this afternoon. They will report to you, I think that I am exsisting very nicely. I showed Mrs. Kaufmann my room. Helen, Lucy, Jeannette Fellheimer, and I had lunch with them at the Inn--and such a lunch! We surely were fed up. They also had an old man with them named [?]rs. Ben Altheimer. He surely was a funnyold fellow. He told me that he knew Mr. Phillip Hamburger of Pittsburgh very well. So do I. He told me about the ten times to remember him to Gdpa. So please do. I just left them in Lucy's room now. I was not terribly interested in their conversation. Lucy was explaining her picture gallery to them. You know it, Mother. She was also showing her mother the letters recieved from the picture gallery, and explaining the details of each one. So I said good-bye as soon as I could, and came back here, to write to you, which is far more interesting. I have not much work for tomorrow, so I shall study ahead for Monday, and devote every minute to you Petrosky. Love, Earickello. (Did I spell it right?)
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1923-03-13]
Text: 203 davison house vassar college poughkeepsie, n. y. Dear Mother, Father, and Bete: I have my typewriter "baak at last. Here's hoping I have luck witn it for a few weeks least. I spent over two hours on elections yesterday. I got Miss Thompson's permission to take second semester of her course* In answer to your question, Pete, the catalogue makes specific exception for that course in the case of those who have had Miss Salmon's course In American History. Miss Thompson...
Show more 203 davison house vassar college poughkeepsie, n. y. Dear Mother, Father, and Bete: I have my typewriter "baak at last. Here's hoping I have luck witn it for a few weeks least. I spent over two hours on elections yesterday. I got Miss Thompson's permission to take second semester of her course* In answer to your question, Pete, the catalogue makes specific exception for that course in the case of those who have had Miss Salmon's course In American History. Miss Thompson told me she was sure I would fall into the v/ork all right♦ She also told me I could count it for four hour credit and urgently suggested taking Ec Seminar and combin^ig topics. That appealed to me strongly, but I was afriad Millsy would not let me take Sem because I have had so little Ec. There is a long story in connection v/ith the various intervieiMU^ Incidentally, I never got so many compliments from faculty dsn one day in my life before. The long and short of Millsy is that "he woiüd love to have me in the course—I am fitted in mentality, in personality, and in every way for the course except th t I haven't had enough hours in the dep't and it would not be fair to those who have had more to keep on e of them out to let me in." The long and short of it is he hated to turn one of my mentality nad possibilities down, so he told me he would let me take it if I doubled in Ec one semester next year«
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-04-10
Text: April 10, 1921 [p.m. April 11] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I actually got some work done yesterday afternoon. I worked till eight-thirty last night on some English reading that I simply could not put off any longer, and then went to hear the last half of the violin concert by Florence Stern, ten or twelve years old. She certainly is a wonder. She played in chapel this morning, too. I had planned to cut chapel this morning, but the rabbi" was Dr. John R. Mott and I thought he was...
Show moreApril 10, 1921 [p.m. April 11] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I actually got some work done yesterday afternoon. I worked till eight-thirty last night on some English reading that I simply could not put off any longer, and then went to hear the last half of the violin concert by Florence Stern, ten or twelve years old. She certainly is a wonder. She played in chapel this morning, too. I had planned to cut chapel this morning, but the rabbi" was Dr. John R. Mott and I thought he was worth hearing. I am very glad I went. He is by far the best chapel preacher I have heard since I am at college. I will cut next week instead, Pete. He quoted your friend, Dr. Enelow, Father. I have been informed from reliable sources that all the Lafayette debaters are Jews. They are sending no delegation, just the three speakers. I have spent about an hour collecting fines for absence from class meetings this semester. It is some job, collecting money from people. It is just as hard to get them to find ten cents as five dollars, I think. Let me know when you are coming, Pete, as soon as you decide. The longer the better, you know. I really am very anxious to see you. I am glad you took Miss Lally home with you, Mother. You are very obedient. I hope you will feel strong soon. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-01-14 [1921]
Text: January 14, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I believe that this is the date I have dated my letters for the past three days. Don't send me a calendar, Pete, because I have three already. I don't like to acknowledge the time I woke up this morning to study for our chem oral quiz. However, it was five-thirty, and then it was so bitter cold that I waited a half hour lettering the room warm up before starting to study. The maddening part of it was that we didn't cover...
Show moreJanuary 14, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I believe that this is the date I have dated my letters for the past three days. Don't send me a calendar, Pete, because I have three already. I don't like to acknowledge the time I woke up this morning to study for our chem oral quiz. However, it was five-thirty, and then it was so bitter cold that I waited a half hour lettering the room warm up before starting to study. The maddening part of it was that we didn't cover nearly as much as we were supposed to, and therefore I could have slept till seven. That is very hard on anyone who likes sleep as much as I do. I was so dead yesterday after three hours of lab that I finished my history topic after dinner and went to bed at nine. Miss Salmon gave a long dissertation this morning on marks. She says she hates them, hates them to the nth degree, and that the only reason she gave them and will keep on giving them is that she must conform to the rules of the college. She hates honors, too. She said she could not say that she thought that a girl who inherits a good brain and who doesn't study much deserves honors more than a girl of average mentality ho does good, hard work. The other night she had the officers of all the classes, of all the organizations of importance, and the ediotrs of the Miscellany News out to her house to discuss the question. She wants them to start a campaign of discussion in the News, in the hope of waking people up and eventually abolishing marks. She says that that is one of the chief causes for what she is constantly talking about--the falling off of intellectual interest in the student bodies of the colleges. Miss brown of the history department, who lives with Miss Salmon, told the girls afterwards that no reform of any importance had ever been brought about at Vassar which had not been instigates by Miss Salmon. Incidentally, she said in connection with the subject, that she never yet had been satisfied with a mark that she gave and didn't imagine any student had ever been satisfied with the mark she received, but she had one thing to ask of us--that we shouldn't ask her why we get the mark we do, because she would not be able to explain it. All of which is very interesting, provided she gives us decent marks! I admit I am not sufficiently developed mentally to be able to forgetthe existence of makrs. I would be a lot happier if I could, but they certainly are in the foreground most of the time to most of the people. We are reviewing in class in Ec. I certainly like the stuff. There has been skating for two days now. I had planned to try my luck this afternoon, for the first time in two years. but it snowed all night and is rainy and sleety now, and there is no skating today. The Ice Carnival was scheduled to take place tomorrow night. I hope it won't be interfered with. I shall compromise and go walking this afternoon. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1923-05-17
Text: Also put <[some]> a few baggage tags in next laundry. Can't get there at bk. store here, + forgot to get them in town yesterday.

Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 10/10/19
Text: October 10, I9I9. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Another week gone already, and I don't seem to get used to working. I am simply dead about this time every day. Nothing very startling happened today. One of the Latin instructors was not there, so her class was sent up with ours. Consequently Miss Bourne tried to show off. I don't think too much of her either as a teacher or as a person. I don't think she is in it with Miss Breene or Mattie. We had our usual Hygiene lecture...
Show moreOctober 10, I9I9. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Another week gone already, and I don't seem to get used to working. I am simply dead about this time every day. Nothing very startling happened today. One of the Latin instructors was not there, so her class was sent up with ours. Consequently Miss Bourne tried to show off. I don't think too much of her either as a teacher or as a person. I don't think she is in it with Miss Breene or Mattie. We had our usual Hygiene lecture this morning. All the upper-classmen are amused that this is to count as a readl[sic] course and that we are to have an exam on it. Doctor T. is a circus all right. She has some sense of humor. She was telling us this morning why we should eat various kinds of food, ending up by showing why we should eat everything that comes to the college table. Then she gave a little dissertation on the eggs. That is the only thing I am guilty of not eating--I cannot get them down except in omelette form. She said the only thing they tast from is the wood of the crates, the brown paper they are wrapped in, and the straw in the boxes, but we should use a little bit of brains and pepper on them. She also gave a sermon on baths, dividing the United States into two great classes--those who take a bath every day and those who don't. The place just shrieked when she said that. We had heard of all sorts of ways of dividing, but never that way. Miss Thallon, you know, mixes in a lot of good fun in her lectures. Yesterday she was describing the plan of a monastery. She said at first they had one large dormitory for all the monks, and then they decided that it did not give enough opportunity for medidation, so each monk got his own cell. She said, "They all had singles then." Just went over to see Helen for a few minutes. Her mother will be up here in two weeks. Lucy is going to New York today. I would not mind knowing is she got in on the Mohonk barge or not. I am going to play tennis soon. I hunted around about a half hour before I found company. Friday afternoon seems to be teh[sic] walking afternoon, but it is too sultry to do that and enjoy it. I am sending the two bills from Luckey Platt's. I could not pay them, that is one thing sure. Pete, if you did not get a letter, you probably got a post-card. You see when the mornings are as full as mine are, unless I have free time after lunch, I cannot get a letter off. Father, it is your duty to write to me or I will not let you call me Earickeloo any more. Love, [Fannie]10 O' VOL. IV MR. JOHNSON BACK FROM THE WEST Gives Interesting Account of Mills College Mills College students are much like Vassar students, according to Professor Burges Johnson, who returned Tuesday from Mills College, California, where he has been since August l£th, engaged in organizing a writing course and in other work for Mills. "I conducted a class there for two weeks," said Mr. Johnson in an interview, "and the girls seemed very much the same as those I have known here. Why shouldn't they be.^ There are California girls at Vassar, and Mills is now drawing from a territory as far east as Indianapolis." Mr. Johnson went on to say that Mills College, which is the- only college exclusively for women west of Denver, has a beautiful campus of one hundred and thirty acres. "The buildings are few in number, of course," he said, "and they vary in character as ours do. The older ones are not attractive architectiu-ally, but the residence halls recently built are as attractive and as well suited to their purposes as any I have seen anywhere. Olney Hall, where we were living, is two years old, and was built by President Reinhardt after a careful study of the best residence halls in eastern colleges, including our own. It is in the California Mission style, and has a system of studies attached to open-air sleeping porches. "Mills began as a seminary before Vassar was founded, and became a college in 1889, but it remained small, and practically unknown outside its own neighborhood until three years ago, when President Reinhardt undertook to establish for it a standard of scholarship and ideals of education similar to those prevailing in the best colleges for women. As a result, Mills is now recognized by the Association of American Universities. Her graduates have won some of the most highly coveted fellowships in eastern institutions, and she has admittedly succeeded in maintaining high standards at a time when the standards of higher education in her own state have been noticeably lowered. "There are 400 students at Mills today, and 190 of them are freshmen. This shows the rate of growth. It is my personal belief that co-education is losing ground, even in parts of the country where it was considered axiomatic." Mr. Johnson lectured in August at the School of Journalism of the University of Missouri. He says that this is a most interesting school. Its records Continued on p. Col. 2HALLS GIVE IMPROMPTU STUNTS Continued from p. 1, Col. 4 Lathrop Presents Melodrama The Lathrop Freshmen indeed had reason to watch wide-eyed the stunt party that this hall gave them in the Gym Saturday evening. From, the original welcome straight through to song to in the end, the performance went off with dash and color. The program was well-balanced, dancing both graceful and burlesque, clever songs and thrilling meldorama all receiving enthusiastic applause. After the stunts were over, chairs were pushed back and dancing began to the tune of a peppy band of piano, combs, and cymbals. Doughnuts and cider were served on the Gym steps between dances. "Gee, what a lot of fun we're going to have," remarked one little Freshman, "in this place called Lathrop Hall." And so thought every one who was lucky enough to see the stunt party. The Trials of Paflagonia on Strong Stage Thackeray's "Rose and the Ring'* was presented last night by an all-star cast from Strong Hall. The production met with immediate success, and was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience, which included alumnae and faculty. Stiffness and thirst were banished by the dancing and excellent punch which followed the entertainment. Being Thackeray's, the play of course had a moral. The audience arose fairly convinced that it was a bad business to offend the fairies, for Black Stick, though not physically prepossessing was powerful, and was the cause of all the misfortunes that befell the house of Valoroso, from the footman's metamorphosis, to his ill-timed return as the Countess' husband. The impressionable Giglio, rightful heir to the throne of Paflagonia, comes triumphantly through his trials to claim the hand of the fair Rosalba, erstwhile chambermaid in Valoroso's palace. The tricky countess, Gruffanuff, is suitably punished for her selfish ambition by the return of her squire husband who has meanwhile been functioning as family doorknob because of his discourtesy to Black Stick. The old fairy thus does Giglio and Rosalba a good turn, and properly rewards her ungrateful god-child, leaving us with a healthy respect for her powers and ability, not much impaired by three thousand years of existence. "Vamps" Appear in Raymond "Honest-to-goodness, cross my heart, it was wonderful", exclaimed one enthusiastic Freshman, arrayed in a creation of black cheescloth, her hair arranged in a most curious manner. The Junior smiled indulgently, at this distinctly "would-be" vamp and replied "Well you know we had a mighty good time out of it too." And off they went, to dance hilariously. That was the spirit that prevailed during the Raymond Stunt Party last Saturday night. The play was written in rhymed couplet by Elizabeth Nulson, Continued on p. 3, CoL 1
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: [1922-05-24]
Text: [24 May 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Nothing much new today, except that Miss Hamilton stopped in for a while last night. She is going to J with me in about two minutes. She is going to speak in chapel tonight, and seems nervus at the prospect! I had a satisfactory expedition to town late yesterday afternoon. Got my wathc[sic] and my typewriter, which didn't have to be sent away after all. Played tennis yesterday for the first time, and felt better after it than I have for ages!...
Show more[24 May 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Nothing much new today, except that Miss Hamilton stopped in for a while last night. She is going to J with me in about two minutes. She is going to speak in chapel tonight, and seems nervus at the prospect! I had a satisfactory expedition to town late yesterday afternoon. Got my wathc[sic] and my typewriter, which didn't have to be sent away after all. Played tennis yesterday for the first time, and felt better after it than I have for ages! I am going to play again today. I haven't time for golf. Love, Fannie Wednesday
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-01-16 [1921]
Text: January 16, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: It is a wonderful warm day today, so I decided to cut chapel and get a good walk in this afternoon instead. I did not wake up till nine o'clocl and then after I had finished with my semi-breakfast a girl in my chem class came up and alked till about eleven. She had a notion that the lab was open today, and she wanted me to go over and work today. She came up to tell me that it was closed--a fact that did not surprise me greatly....
Show moreJanuary 16, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: It is a wonderful warm day today, so I decided to cut chapel and get a good walk in this afternoon instead. I did not wake up till nine o'clocl and then after I had finished with my semi-breakfast a girl in my chem class came up and alked till about eleven. She had a notion that the lab was open today, and she wanted me to go over and work today. She came up to tell me that it was closed--a fact that did not surprise me greatly. Then she proceeded to tell me about what she intends to do in college--take two science courses every year until she graduates, (she is a Freshman now), go to John Hopkins for six years, and then specialize for two years after that. I think anybody that takes two sciences a year all through college must be out of her mind; it would wreck me to spend all that time standing in lab. She says that she is as strong as a horse, that it is her ambition to break down sometime! That is quite an individual ambition. Last night I was planning to go to bed early, but Ruth Brandsten came in with her troubles and talked till almost eleven. I don't make a practice of talking as late as that, but when it is interesting, I don't mind. The thing that amuses me is why anybody on earth should come to me for advice. I think she is a very fine and interesting girl, very much superior to most of the Jewish girls that one meets. I finished "Northanger Abbey" this morning. I enjoyed it very much. That is the first of Jane Austen's book that I have read. I remember trying to get interested in "Pride and Prejudice" quite a few years ago. I remember also that I tried without success. As I said before, i am going walking for a while this afternoon, and then I am coming home and study chem. If anybody disturbs me, she will be shot on the spot. It is great to be able to take one's time to do things, but I guess that feeling will weak off within the next week. That is what I like about cutting Sunday chapel, it starts the day off so leisurely. (Don't get 'het up', Pete.) I spent last evening in the library reading the Articles of Confederation and the arguments advanced against their adoption. It was quite interesting. We are going to spend next week in informal discussion on that subject. There was no letter from you yesterday, Mother. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-10-13
Text: October 13, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I just got back from the golf club in time for dinner. Mary Hurst and I went out to play off our match, but Newburgh was having its fall tournament up there, and that meant fifty men on the course who had the right of way, so you can imagine how crowded it was. We got only nine holes in, and she has me one up. I was up to the green in less than she was on almost every hole, but putted abominably-three and sometimes four on almost every hole-...
Show moreOctober 13, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I just got back from the golf club in time for dinner. Mary Hurst and I went out to play off our match, but Newburgh was having its fall tournament up there, and that meant fifty men on the course who had the right of way, so you can imagine how crowded it was. We got only nine holes in, and she has me one up. I was up to the green in less than she was on almost every hole, but putted abominably-three and sometimes four on almost every hole--whereas she was putting remarkably well. She is going away for the week-end and we have to play Monday after my sixth hour. If I putt half way decently, I oughtn't to have any difficulty--but then I may not. I certainly love it out there--and I feel unusually peppy and happy when I come back. There were about fifteen college people out there today. I had my first conference with Miss Wylie this morning, a group conference of six people. It was most interesting. We brought up questions concerning the work up to date. I have a great difficulty with her--I find myself watching her eyes to the extent of not imbibing what she is saying. She has the most penetrating and most interesting eyes of anyone I have ever seen. She was looking over the six before the bell rang, and saying our names to see if she knew them, and when she got to me, she said, "And I know Miss Aaron, I taught her mother so I can't forget her since she told me who she is". After the hour one of the six staid back to tell her that she had taught her mother also. She must feel like a great-grandmother. I really expect to work tomorrow afternoon. I am sorry I can't get this golf match off before Monday, but it can't be done. We are allowed fifteen chapel cuts a semester; Sunday counts two. I have taken three so far, four, if Yom Kippur counts. Mother, will you please either send me a box of the cold powders of send me the prescription. I have lost my envelopes containing the prescriptions. I enjoyed Jeannette's visit. Neither she not I said one complimentary thing to the other the whole twenty-four hours, and that is our measure of a good time together. She went down to Miss Sandison's for dinner and went home that night last night, I mean. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1922-04-29]
Text: [postmarked 29 Apr 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Exam schedules just came out. I have both Zos the first Friday, French Rec Saturday, J Monday, and Social Psych Tuesday morning. That is some rushed--I shall have to study hard for both the Zo exams, inasmuch as they are lecture courses principally. We had debate practice this morning, so as to give me the opportunity of rebutting once on the affirmative. It went all right. They just came. I haven't seen them yet. Their coach ar...
Show more[postmarked 29 Apr 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Exam schedules just came out. I have both Zos the first Friday, French Rec Saturday, J Monday, and Social Psych Tuesday morning. That is some rushed--I shall have to study hard for both the Zo exams, inasmuch as they are lecture courses principally. We had debate practice this morning, so as to give me the opportunity of rebutting once on the affirmative. It went all right. They just came. I haven't seen them yet. Their coach ar manager or whatever you call him, didn't even come along. I am all excited, incidentally, dead tired. They sent a huge box of flowers to us--I don't know if they expect us to wear cut flowers or what. Off to lunch, and I hope to sleep after that. How about coming up for Third Hall, Mother? Let me know, I can get a room for you if you will come. Love, Fannie How about the glasses? Mine haven't been turned in anywhere.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 2/9/20
Text: [Addressed to Mother @ Hotel Royal Poinciana] February 9, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The one nice thing about the washout north of you, Mother, is that I got four letters from you this morning. I gave the maid her Christmas present after I came back, Mother, and the janitor has never been around that I have noticed--besides which, there is no occasion for that. I do not need a check yet. I have over a hundred dollars left, but don't you have to pay the second semester bill? I...
Show more[Addressed to Mother @ Hotel Royal Poinciana] February 9, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The one nice thing about the washout north of you, Mother, is that I got four letters from you this morning. I gave the maid her Christmas present after I came back, Mother, and the janitor has never been around that I have noticed--besides which, there is no occasion for that. I do not need a check yet. I have over a hundred dollars left, but don't you have to pay the second semester bill? I did not send the books, Pete, because I did not think it safe to send them in a smashed case. I'll send them Wednesday. It will be time enough for the bulfinch to send it with the laundry. I was fully intending to go to town to buy a telescope Saturday when I met Lucy and she volunteered to have her Mother have their store send me one like hers--she has used hers for several years and it has not broken. It will be sent to the house. The ones Luckey's have are not a bit solid. It ought to be there in time for the next laundry. I finally found Miss Bourne at home last night, and she certainly was nice to me. She said that she had not realized that I wanted to change so thatI would not be so rushed up here the end of the week, that certainly it was a shame to have to miss all the college activities up here, etc., that it was not so very important whether or not I take prose, inasmuch as I have a solid foundation anyhow, and I should come in the morning class. She will give me the prose sentences when the other class have them, and if I have time and feel like doing them she will correct them, but I must not let myself do too much work. She said that she could tell from the little she knew of me that "I was inclined to take life rather seriously" anyway. So she was rubbed the right way. I am glad I changed both for the hour and for the fact that I think any additional prose is useless. She said she had hoped that I would continue Latin next year, that I gave a promise of doing very clear-headed and logical work, in advanced prose, for instance. I am not heading for a job as a high school Latin teacher, but I politely told her that I did not see my way clear to it, that there was so much to take, and that I did want to get Greek in. She was nice as it lies in her power to be. I recited with the morning section this morning. They are quite stupid. Miss Kitchel did not appear this morning and after thee minutes from the time of the bell had passes, the class left. Have you and such regulation that you have to wait for five minutes for a prof, four for an assistant prof, and three for an instructor, and then if he she or it does not appear, you get a cut. I am still quite messed up in this system of having no textbooks in solid geometry.Champy discussed marks with us this morning. She informed us that my B was a very, very, high B, in fact almost an A. Bless her fool heart, what good does she thinks it did the class to hear that. She stopped me on my way out of class to tell me how long she had hesitated before giving me a B instead of an A. She said she was about to give me an A when she was told that an A had to mean almost perfect, and then she decided that inasmuch as this was her first year here she had better not give an A, but if she had been giving A's, I certainly would have received one, and she did hope I would get one this semester. Poor fool! I believe in the closed mark system. What did you say, Mother? I spent about an hour and a half last night practicing the tryout parts for "the fellow who blacks the bootlack's boots". That is about how important I will be if I make the part. Helen Reid is trying for the Duke. I do hope she makes it. She had the main part in three plays at Packer last year. I worked for over an hour on Ruth Franklin's stuff last night. I have to finish it up today. I called on Bess yesterday. A Pittsburgh girl, and advisee of hers from last year, Janet Trimball, brought her mother, and we had to suffer over her tea-cups again. This old lady started hopping off on the question of teachers' salaries. She did think that some of the millionaires in Pittsburgh ought to pitch in and help those poor people out. She was very amusing. And then when she started off on what a shame it is that some women are so fat I began to think of your yarns about kidding Mrs. Cowley and I was glad that I had a tea-cup to keep my facial expression busy with. It is much warmer now, but the crust of the snow is still so solid that it holds even my weight without caving in. The paths on the walk are very narrow, and we have to trail to classes single file. Love, [Fannie] Did Harold ever make those pictures for me? There are three girls left in Phyllis' off-campus house. She is not so crazy about it anymore.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 10/7/19
Text: October 7, 1919. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I have never yet written to you in fifteen minutes, but I will see if I can manage it today. Lester wants me to make you aware of the fact that a letter leaving Vassar at 4:20 and Poughkeepsie at 5:30 reaches him in the early mail the following morning. I knew that Lean Stolz had a job somewhere in Europe. Helen Jackson's roommate from Chicago informed me to that effect. The flowers came today. They are very nice, and I think add a lot to...
Show moreOctober 7, 1919. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I have never yet written to you in fifteen minutes, but I will see if I can manage it today. Lester wants me to make you aware of the fact that a letter leaving Vassar at 4:20 and Poughkeepsie at 5:30 reaches him in the early mail the following morning. I knew that Lean Stolz had a job somewhere in Europe. Helen Jackson's roommate from Chicago informed me to that effect. The flowers came today. They are very nice, and I think add a lot to the room, which is already quite an attraction. A peach of a Vassar pillow also came from Aunt Ida. It makes Aunt Hattie's look like two cents, so I may send it home to be kept for a keepsake. It is like Lucy's if you remember hers. Lester, the seal is a foot at the highest point and nine inches at the widest. You know the shape. Yesterday afternoon Phyllis and I started out for a walk since it was too wet any rainy for hockey or tennis. I am not keep about that form of exercise for steady diet, though. We went up Sunset, the rounds of the campus, the circle, and out down the road the opposite direction from Poughkeepsie. We did not get far from college, and there were houses along the way, so we were perfectly safe. The country certainly is beautiful, particularly now that the trees are turning. She came up here, then, partook of some of Mary's cake very eagerly, and staid. She had a lot of work to do, and could only be gone an hor, so we were together from three to five-thirty only. We hashed over Peabody--Miss Breene, Mattie, and Mrs. Manley. It was good, only it was maddening to think that our Latin teachers were not like those. Her mind has been in exactly the same state that mine has been, so i guess that I am not the only one. Her sister's husband has been transferred from Plattsburg, to Columbus, not West Point. Just as she was leaving and I was going down the hall with soap and towel in hand to get a bath, along came miss Cowley. Of course I had to take her back to my room, and she staid till almost dinner time. There flew an afternoon's work. She certainly can talk your ear off. She things te[sic] picture of you on my desk is fine, Father, but nobody else does, so get another. She was looking up her faculty charges. The girl I share a post-office box just brought the hangers over. They came on the eleven-twnety[sic] mail. I am going to play hockey and tennis this afternoon, then work. I had my first class in Sophomore French today. The teacher is French, very French, and new. They are reading the "Chansonde Roland" and we had just finished it with Miss White. The reason that they are reading it, too, is that the course is [changed] from last year's and they did not get it in then. Consequently I have nothing to make up. The hour was passed in reading aloud and in having pronunciation corrected, principally. They also had to give short resumes of what they read aloud. It strikes me that that is a very elementary proceeding for Sophomore French. I understand that they have to translate sometimes too. I hope there will not be much stuff like that, for it certainly is uninteresting. We did not do it with Miss White in the Freshman work. Miss White is very fine, and I thought that she talked just like a French woman until I heard the real thing this morning again. I'll know more of the course later, and if I have chosen wrong I cannot change, so there is no sense in wabbling, as you say, Father. But that is very hard for me. I have worked my head off for English. I can see that Miss Buck is a very unusual teacher, I am afraid a little too good for Freshmen. She told me in the famous interview to stay after class some day to see if I was improving any. So I staid today. She said she would ream my themes over carefully, and let me know the next time, but she thought there was some improvement. There ought to be. But I had never analyzed myself carefully before, not even on Yom Kippur. That seems to be what she expects in English. It is quite different being in a class of intelligent girls from calmly staring in a stupid high school class wothout doing a grain of work. I forgot to tell you that I went to Professor Roselli's lecture Sunday night, only, unfortunately having to go odd campus with Lucy for supper, I missed the first quarter of it. He is a very fine lecturer, and can shoot of English at a great rate. He does not think America is perfect by a long shot. Did he give you that line down at Princeton last year, Pete. Last night we reported to our fire captains for fire instructions. I imagine we will have a drill tonight. North had one last night, and Strong had one early this morning, at least I am told so. I seem to be the only one of this floor and this side of the building that did not hear so. Otherwise I have nothing new to report. One of the Freshman is Davison is to be eighteen, or rather is eighteen, today, so there is to be a bit feed down in her room tonight. We had an age comparison at our table the other night, and I had to give it away. Again I am the youngest! What would it have been last year! Four of them are nineteen, and one twenty. Love, [Fannie] Father, I have not gotten a letter from you for a few days. Is your hand sore? Has Mother learned to typewrite yet?
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1923-01-13
Text: Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Evan showed me a telegram yesterday morning which she had just received from .....Bowers, president of the Harvard Debating Club, challenging us to a Freshman Harvard--Vassar debate for March 7. Dr. Nettleton asked the Freshmen to stay after chapel to vote and there was much laughter. I suppose, of course, that they will do it. I think it would be great, because it would probably mean a regular debate next year. We had a Council meeting yesterday to consider...
Show moreDear Mother, Father, and Pete: Evan showed me a telegram yesterday morning which she had just received from .....Bowers, president of the Harvard Debating Club, challenging us to a Freshman Harvard--Vassar debate for March 7. Dr. Nettleton asked the Freshmen to stay after chapel to vote and there was much laughter. I suppose, of course, that they will do it. I think it would be great, because it would probably mean a regular debate next year. We had a Council meeting yesterday to consider the challenges for this year, and of Williams, Amherst, and Penn, accepted Williams and Penn. I voted for Amherst instead of Penn, but I was the only one to do so. Penn doesn't thrill me in the least, but they wanted a university instead of a college this time, solet them have it. The Penn debate will be at Penn. I have almost finished writing my English topic, and then comes the boring part of copying it. My heart certainly goes out to those poor souls who don't type! The snow is wonderful--I wish I had time to coast! Love, Fannie January 13, 1923 Sorry I can't come to the meeting of the congregation, Pete!
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: [1922-04-04]
Text: [4 Apr 1922] Tuesday Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: At least I know why Barnard won the debate. I quote from LeBon's "The Crowd":--'To Convince the crowd the speaker must affirm very emphatically, and he must repeat the affirmation of the fact continuously, as emphatically as possible, and as nearly in the same words as the original statement as possible without becoming monoronous. In no case must he attempt to reason, argue, or explain. As soon as he does this, his...
Show more[4 Apr 1922] Tuesday Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: At least I know why Barnard won the debate. I quote from LeBon's "The Crowd":--'To Convince the crowd the speaker must affirm very emphatically, and he must repeat the affirmation of the fact continuously, as emphatically as possible, and as nearly in the same words as the original statement as possible without becoming monoronous. In no case must he attempt to reason, argue, or explain. As soon as he does this, his power of conviction is lost". Me for a psuchological treatment of Brown! I am installed again in 203 D. I just spent an hour putting the room in order. It is too bad you are not here to see the result. I fear it will not long remain this way! Today was not as successful a study day as yesterday, but I got some work done. I also wrote some letters, for mental diversion. I could not keep up the brain speed of the last few days indefinitely. I shall have my back topics up to date before next Monday. I can then go full speed on psych without interruption until those three are well out of the way. Would that I had been here the whole vacation--I could then spend most of my spring on the golf links. What's the use of learning, anyhow? Just wrote to Henrietta Butler telling her I couldn't make St. Love, Fannie[enc w 4 Apr 1922] Dear Mother: Please don't forget to send my green crepe de chine summer dress in the next laundry. That will be plenty of time. You need not send it in a special box. Also, will you please look in the new chiffonier in the little room and send all the white and black silk stockings that I left at home. I think I must have left some home, as I think i have more than I can find here. I will be wearing them soon again. If there aren't any there let me know, and I will buy some. Also, you never told me the point of sending the new pin-cushion when I had one. R. S. V. P.--not that I don't appreciate it. I got sick this morning. I went to the libe to work--I thought it would be just as easy to sit in one place and there as sit in bed, but after two hours the pain came on good and h[ard], so I came back to my room and went to bed. I had the janitor send over to Main for my suitcase. It is eight o'clock now, and I feel fairly comfortable, but I had as close a repetition of Glenwood Springs as I car[e] tp have for quite some time. My bladder pain was much worse ever since Sunday noon--in fact, it was bad enough to keep me from going to sleep easily Sunday and Monday nights. It let up after I got sick--but the additional cramp pain was unusually bad. I think both are over now though, so don't worry. i wrote about it simply because I thought perhaps you should know in connection with the various doctors, etc. Needless to say, I was not good for much [over]studying, but I think I shall do some in bed now. It was maddening to have my well-mapped out day thus disturbed, but on the other hand I prefer that to missing classes. The chances are I would not be ready to see the doctor Saturday anyhow, having felt so badly this time, even if room-drawing did not take place. So make the appointment for Saturday a week, the sixteenth. You can tell him, if you want, that at no time since the treatment have I felt any better, but that Sunday and Monday I felt much worse. Perhaps one treatment wouldn't have much effect. We shall see. I haven't given up hope yet--although I did yesterday! I think it wiser to give up Amherst under the circumstances. If I had been able to go to the doctor this Saturday I would still want to go, but since I can't, I don't feel that I can afford to miss classes during the week--and I don't want to put the doctor off still another week after that, lest whatever good effect might be gotten should be lost through too long a delay between the two treatments. Don't you think I'm right? As I said, I just wrote about the bad pain because I thought you ought to know. Don't worry about it, please, because it is probably all over. It is probably due to the lateness, plus the plentiful poking around I have had lately. Love, Fannie Let me know what you do about N. Y. also what Dr. Z. has to say.288 Main St. Poughkeepsie N. Y. [Mother][Mother]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 2/14/20
Text: February 14, 1920. I received your letter of the eleventh this morning, Mother, also one from Aunt Hattie. Hers are always interesting (not that your are not also, but hers don't come as often). Mother, why on earth don't you stay as long as Grandpa wants you, or at least a while longer. Now that he is getting better, you ought to get a little pleasure out of the place. Besides which I am fully convinced that if Father goes to Pinehurst, you should meet him there and get a good...
Show moreFebruary 14, 1920. I received your letter of the eleventh this morning, Mother, also one from Aunt Hattie. Hers are always interesting (not that your are not also, but hers don't come as often). Mother, why on earth don't you stay as long as Grandpa wants you, or at least a while longer. Now that he is getting better, you ought to get a little pleasure out of the place. Besides which I am fully convinced that if Father goes to Pinehurst, you should meet him there and get a good rest. Having taken care of various members of the family for so long, you are entitled to it. The air is bracing there and altogther[sic] it is a good idea. I misunderstood your telegram asking what day I was going for treatment. I thought you meant of this present week-end. As far as I know, I'll go next Saturday next week, for this reason. I had all my plans made in the New York end to go Friday, (yesterday), but when I called up for a taxi Thursday noon they informed me they could not get one out to the college. That meant that I could not make the eleven-thirty-eight after an eleven-twenty class. So I decided there was only one thing left, and that was to ask Miss Thallon to let me go early. I finally found her as she was going out to dinner Thursday night. I told her my story and she said, (Yes, there are her words), "My dear, I would just love to, but don't you know that it is against the rules of the college?" I said I thought that was just for before vacations. She said, no, all the time. And then she added in the most innocent tone, "But Fannie, if you get up and leave what am I to do about it? I would not be impolite enough to tell you to stay." I'll look the other way". She then said she hoped the train would be on time. I left at five minutes to eleven, and sure enough dropped my book out of my muff with a thump as I was reaching the door! I got the only car that passed in three quarters of an hour. It had to stop about five times a munute[sic], to let every kind of vehicle get out of the tracks. There were huge trucks every few blocks collecting snow, and the car had to wait until each was loaded. I got off once to telephone from a grocery store to see if I could get a taxi there, but the cunductor finally persuaded the truck driver to let him pass. T train was at the station when I got there, on time to the minute, so I almost missed it. I came back on the three thirty and was time. I waited till six-ten for a car. None came. Finally I got the taxi chief to order a taxi for me to take me up along the car tracks. i got there at ten minutes to seven. I am glad I got some supper at the station while waiting for the auto to come. Sure enough, after I gave up waiting, six cars came in succession. The reason that I count on going Saturday next week, is that if the snow is still so bad, as it probably will be, I could [not] ask to be excused again.Father, that was a good idea to remind me to send a special. I asked Aunt Bessie to drop two notes for me yesterday, as I did not have time in New York. I told the doctor that I am no better, worse, if anything, since the last treatment. He half murdered me yesterday. There is no improvemetn[sic] today that I can notice. It's great fun. That makes six treatments. I did not ask about skating, Mother. It would have been foolish. I am enclosing my semester bill. Please pay it, Father. It is right. I asked about the medical bill. I could not make it out. They charge a dollar for each hypo. Perhaps they are right, although i could not give five cents for their skill. I heard two wonderful lectures by Thomas Mott Osborne, one of the State prisons and the other on the naval prison. I [don't] believe I have ever heard such a mixture of sad stories and ridiculously funny ones, as he told. The first night he said, in the course of his introductory remarks that when he had the honor of speaking at the fiftieth celebration at Vassar, he shocked a good many good people by saying that he came from a similar institution down the river,--yes, they were both places of education. Of course the whole hall laughed, then stopped, looked at Proxy, who was quite fussed, and started off again twice as loud. The campus looks somewhat like a men's college campus today. I acted messenger boy for Lucy for about an hour and a half this morning. I am glad I can do something for her once. I saw Charles Rosenblook a munutes[sic] this morning. He is one boob I would not want up here for a prom, it seems to me, but I guess tastes differ. I go to the informal dancing this afternoon, from four to five. Did you read the article in the Yale Record that you gave me in November, Pete, making fun of a visit to Vassar. I could not help thinking of it last night when the ten o'clock bell rand last night, and there was a general exodus of men from the quadrangle dorms. Yes, we go to bed early. Otherwise nothing new. Whichever week you decide you will come home, Mother, I will take a week-end. Love, [Fannie]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1922-12-17]
Text: [17 Dec 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: First Hall was punk last night. It consisted of two short plays, "The Birthday of the Infanta", which was very good, and "Sabine Women" which was no good at all. I have more to do between now and Wednesday than any one human bing can do. I expect to snedmy[sic] trunk tomorrow afternoon. I also have to go to town to get my watch and return a book to the town library. I couldn't get the books I wanted for over Sunday and the...
Show more[17 Dec 1922] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: First Hall was punk last night. It consisted of two short plays, "The Birthday of the Infanta", which was very good, and "Sabine Women" which was no good at all. I have more to do between now and Wednesday than any one human bing can do. I expect to snedmy[sic] trunk tomorrow afternoon. I also have to go to town to get my watch and return a book to the town library. I couldn't get the books I wanted for over Sunday and the world is upside down in general. Wishing you otherwise, Fannie Sunday
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-01-18 [1921]
Text: January 18, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: It was so wonderful after lab yesterday that three of us decided to go skating. We chased back for our skates and then went over to the lake and skated for about a half hour. The ice was great and so was the weather, but my ankles were not. They turned terribly, but I skated alone for about half the time, which is more than I ever was able to do at home. Considering that it was the first time in two years that I have been on the ice, I...
Show moreJanuary 18, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: It was so wonderful after lab yesterday that three of us decided to go skating. We chased back for our skates and then went over to the lake and skated for about a half hour. The ice was great and so was the weather, but my ankles were not. They turned terribly, but I skated alone for about half the time, which is more than I ever was able to do at home. Considering that it was the first time in two years that I have been on the ice, I managed pretty well. The carnival is tonight. I am going over to watch it for a little while. It was very cold today--either below zero early this morning. I was the original Columbus of Davison today. Three was a notice on the bulletin board today, "No skating on Pratt Lake, (Sunset) until this evening, on account of the carnival." There was another small notice, which said, "Skating on the old Lake". So five of us went down there afer lunch, and had that whole huge lake all to ourselves. The ice was like gladd. it went a little better than yesterday. it is all a matter of practice, I guess, but certainly my ankles are not naturally any too strong; I don't think skating is going to hurt me any, as long as I don't get chilled. I was so sleepy last night that I went to bed at eight thirty adn[sic] set my clock for six this morning, intending to get up any study. But I did your trick this time, Pete. I am afraid it takes too much courage these cold winter mornings. I just say Lucy. She was on her way back from a conference with Miss Wylie, and she was in her seventh heaven. I told her that it was too bad that I wasn't able to go home and rave with you about Miss Salmon, but that she could make up for me and rave with you about Miss Wylie. I do hope I'll have her next year, but there is a possibility of her course being made into a senior course. We had another interesting day in history today. We constituted ourselves the Continental Congress, and the question before us for duscussion was whether or not to lay the Articles of Confederation before the states for ratification. I am going to study chem for two hours now. The more I look at your picture, Father, the more excellent I think it is. Seriously, (excuse the expression, Pete) I think it is fine. I guess the trouble before was that I wanted you to be very handsome, and--well, you know! Mother, are you planning the come up to college to see me here after I come back from New York after midyears. I think it would be an excellent idea. you were here last year when I was sick, so I would like you to come once and enjoy it. R. S. V. P. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1919-01-23 [1920 ?]
Text: January 23, 1919. [1920?] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: One exam behind me. It was not hard, neither was it easy, and it was very long. The strain of trying to get through in time was terrible. As far as I know, I got four out of the six absolutely right, the theory right in the other two, and part of the work right in them. I did not have time to check up on thr[sic] solutions of the triangles, and that is where I made the mistakes. One girl in Miss Smith's class left early and made...
Show moreJanuary 23, 1919. [1920?] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: One exam behind me. It was not hard, neither was it easy, and it was very long. The strain of trying to get through in time was terrible. As far as I know, I got four out of the six absolutely right, the theory right in the other two, and part of the work right in them. I did not have time to check up on thr[sic] solutions of the triangles, and that is where I made the mistakes. One girl in Miss Smith's class left early and made one hundred per cent on her exam. Miss Smith said so. I passed all right, and that is more than most people thing that they did, but I lost my chance of an A in the course, and it is the only course I had a chance for that in. I got about two hours' worth of fresh air in stretches yesterday. I also got quite a little work done. I rested up after lunch a bit--the exam did me up completely. I asked Miss Ells a question about the last problem. She told me it checked within two seconds. I told her I got mine to check within ninety degrees. She was very much amused. I was not. I shall now go for a walk. Nothing new to report that I know of, except that engaged sign are much in fashion and it is no longer impossible to go to sleep before ten. Miss Thallon smiled to me in the dining-room today. Don't get mad, Pete. I like to peeve you. Love, [Fannie]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1922-03-09]
Text: Thurs. P.M. Dear Mother: Do you suppose you could send me my brown straw hat (Aunt Hattie's) + I'll try to be spring'y for Barnard. Mr. Jordan could pro-bably pack it. Lucy has had them sent - I know - in hat-boxes with a frame of board strips to protect it. If it can't be done, don't bother. The blue winter will do then. Is Father coming? Also - if you haven't thrown away last Sunday's [Fimes], cut out the resume of the [Saceo-Veregette] trial history +...
Show moreThurs. P.M. Dear Mother: Do you suppose you could send me my brown straw hat (Aunt Hattie's) + I'll try to be spring'y for Barnard. Mr. Jordan could pro-bably pack it. Lucy has had them sent - I know - in hat-boxes with a frame of board strips to protect it. If it can't be done, don't bother. The blue winter will do then. Is Father coming? Also - if you haven't thrown away last Sunday's [Fimes], cut out the resume of the [Saceo-Veregette] trial history + send it in my next laundry. This between gym and debate. Love, Fannie< > Marcus Aaron, 402 S. Winebiddle Ave., Pittsburgh Pa.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-04-24
Text: April 24, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I worked three hours straight yesterday afternoon on my history topic and intended to work last night but there was too much excitement in the air. The freshman had just had their roomdrawing, and I had to hear all about that. Deavison did not turn out well--worse luck. It was good in the trial draw, but most of those people switched over to Josselyn so that Davison turned out poorly. I worked this morning and got a lot of Ec and Spanish [done]....
Show moreApril 24, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I worked three hours straight yesterday afternoon on my history topic and intended to work last night but there was too much excitement in the air. The freshman had just had their roomdrawing, and I had to hear all about that. Deavison did not turn out well--worse luck. It was good in the trial draw, but most of those people switched over to Josselyn so that Davison turned out poorly. I worked this morning and got a lot of Ec and Spanish [done]. As usual, I did not get all the work done over the week-end that I had planned to do. Do you remember Eleanor Wolfe, your S. Herbert Wolfe's daughter? She is up here visiting Edith Brill this week-end, and she looked me up yesterday. She will enter next fall. The enclosed clipping may interest you, Pete. You will remember Students' last Sunday. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-05-29
Text: [Addressed to Hotel Ambassador] May 29, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I finished that Spenser reading today! It has been hanging over only since before Easter vacation. I shall finish the history topic today, and then i shall be up to date in all my work. I am going to have much too much time to study for exams and to pack. It will be a funny feeling, anyhow. I just got a thought this morning--I suppose I will have to give Jeanetter, Edith Lowman, and Dorothea Commencement presents....
Show more[Addressed to Hotel Ambassador] May 29, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I finished that Spenser reading today! It has been hanging over only since before Easter vacation. I shall finish the history topic today, and then i shall be up to date in all my work. I am going to have much too much time to study for exams and to pack. It will be a funny feeling, anyhow. I just got a thought this morning--I suppose I will have to give Jeanetter, Edith Lowman, and Dorothea Commencement presents. Don't you think so? R. S. V. P. I enjoyed being with Louise Hewson last night. She asked for you, Mother. Would you ever have guessed that that girl is twenty-three years old? The "Honorable Shap" is here again, and expects to stay until Monday night. Hats are not made on Decoration Day apperently. How Helen expects to pass her exams is beyond me. I guess the heat is starting in time for exams. It was very bad yesterday, and I almost sufocated last night. I read ten pages of Spenser yesterday afternoon, and got to sleepy over it that I went to sleep at two-thirty and woke up at five. I would really like to meet someone who has a greater capacity for sleep than I have. According to my cancelled checks, Father, you paid the second semester bill and deposited five hundred dollars for me, so I have plenty left. I looked all through the Sunday Times twice, Father, but failed to find anything about your speech. Enjoyed your special very much--what did Mr. Hays and Judge Rosendale say? I don't see why you arose our curiosity and stop in the middle of the sentence. I wish i could have seen all that performance. I am going to town tomorrow afternoon to arrange about having my rub stored, get camphor, etc. How is your back, Father? Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [p.m. 1920-04-23]
Text: [p.m. 23 Apr 1920] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: So Saul Makrauer and Albert Kabet made the Freshman debating team. We have no freshman team, and I have made nothing. Altogether I feel as though I have been more or less of a nobody this year. Believe me, next year I am going to get into things or bust. Enclosed is the note I received from my neighbor yesterday. Speaking of cordiality, grace, etc!!!! I am very much behind in English Speech, in addition to being very stupid with it. I have to...
Show more[p.m. 23 Apr 1920] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: So Saul Makrauer and Albert Kabet made the Freshman debating team. We have no freshman team, and I have made nothing. Altogether I feel as though I have been more or less of a nobody this year. Believe me, next year I am going to get into things or bust. Enclosed is the note I received from my neighbor yesterday. Speaking of cordiality, grace, etc!!!! I am very much behind in English Speech, in addition to being very stupid with it. I have to go to Miss Rogers for private instruction! I asked her if she would rather have me drop it and take it next year when most of my class take it anyhow, inasmuch as most of it is gotten in class and I have missed most of the classes, but she said she thought with help I could make it up all right. I must confess it is not worrying me sick. Did you know my breath and speech are not coordinated? She tells me so, anyhow. I have no plans for leaving Metcalfe. I don't know why I always tag an E on it. I seem to be improving gradually, so I might as well stay there. The only thing that I miss there is the "college life", a much overworked expression, but I could not get it even if I were over in my room, and I do get the rest at Metcalf, so I might as well stay there for a while. Also, I can sit out on a steamer chair without sitting on the ground, which I consider quite an advantage, and which can be done nowhere else. It is not a very interesting life that I have to write about, but as I said before, either it will be next year I will bust. Such being the case, love, [Fannie]Dear Fannie, Having seen you about on campus I thought you would be returning soon. Caroline [tell us me you] are spending most your life in bed. Let me know if I can get you anything. Gertrude[enc w/23 Apr 1920] [enc w/ 23 Apr 1920] Dear Mother, I have almost finished the first bottle of medicine. That, or something else, whether it is the rest or not, I do not know, has helped me quite a little. I have been going to bed as early in the afternoon as possible, sometimes after lunch, sometimes about four. That does not conduce to getting strong, but I think it has been helping me. Perhaps the doctor does not want me to spend so much time in bed. R. S. V. P. Also, Dr. T. and Dr. B. both informed me that they are opposed to using heat. Consequently I dicontinued it yesterday. i had been using it pretty steadily before that. Find out about that, too, please. You say you want to know all about my pain, etc. I do not think that it is quite as good as when I left home, but considering that this is my third day and the pain is not bad, I feel very hopeful. Are you coming for Third Hall? I think it would be wonderful if you would, that is, if you want to. You said when I left that you would be coming in a few weeks to see how we were anyhow. Each student is entitled to one ticket. When I signed up, I was about five hundred and fiftieth. I would have to know so as to engage a room for you. Freshman room-drawing is today and tomorrow. I plan to do most of my English theme over this week-end. Then the math quizes will be left. Miss Wells said I could take two in one if I wanted to, but I preferred not to have my fate depend on one when I had the chance of dividing up.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-02-13
Text: [Addressed to Hotel Tiayole] February 13, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The snow is melting already, but it is still almost as pretty as it was yesterday. I celebrated the good weather by sleeping till almost noon--and I certainly needed it and will need to carry me throuh the next week of tryouts. This afternoon I read "Rosalynde" and "As You Like It", the Romance reading that I should have done last week and didn't. Tonight I have to do a lot of Spanish and...
Show more[Addressed to Hotel Tiayole] February 13, 1921 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The snow is melting already, but it is still almost as pretty as it was yesterday. I celebrated the good weather by sleeping till almost noon--and I certainly needed it and will need to carry me throuh the next week of tryouts. This afternoon I read "Rosalynde" and "As You Like It", the Romance reading that I should have done last week and didn't. Tonight I have to do a lot of Spanish and some American History which afternoon to do the Spanish and discovered that the books had been taken out over Sunday. That is permissible, but vertainly a mean thing to do, I spent a half hour hunting up the girl who had it, and then got her to primise it to me for tonight. I just came back from a great walk up Sunset and around the lake, then through the path in the woods that leads to the Hackensack road. It was great. I really think the beauty of campus today and yesterday could compare favorably with that of Wellesly! I have to write a bunch of letters tonight, or I won't be on speaking terms with anybody at home, I am afraid. I haven't written to anybody since I came back after spring--vacation. Otherwise there is nothing much new to report. Oh, yes there is, too. I have a pupil at the maids' club house, a girl who is very anxious to learn to type. The girl in charge of the club house work sent her to me. I took her on condition that I don't make debate. If I do, I will have my hands full. It will amount to about an hour a week. Yours in the hope of making debate. Love, Fannie The prunes are fine, Mother, and exactly what I wanted. Could you send me another jar before you leave Atlantic, if it is not too inconveniet for you? It would save me a lot of time here in the rush of present tryouts.
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1922-09-28
Text: September 28, 1922 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Helen said to be sure to tell you, Pete, that she sent the indorsed check to you at 14 Story Street instead of 4, and that you should be sure to go there for it immediately. I had a letter from Dorothy. They are suitably located, with plenty of room for me for Thanksgiving. Hope I can go. Also had a long and enthusiastic one from Helen Reid. She is to be in Edmonds Hall. Elizabeth and I walked some Freshmen out to the Cider Mill yesterday....
Show moreSeptember 28, 1922 Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Helen said to be sure to tell you, Pete, that she sent the indorsed check to you at 14 Story Street instead of 4, and that you should be sure to go there for it immediately. I had a letter from Dorothy. They are suitably located, with plenty of room for me for Thanksgiving. Hope I can go. Also had a long and enthusiastic one from Helen Reid. She is to be in Edmonds Hall. Elizabeth and I walked some Freshmen out to the Cider Mill yesterday. The weather is glorious, the place has been all fixed up, and altogether it was delightful. In view of that, we repeated the walk today with Helen. I find loafing like that much easier and much more like my summer occupations than working. It takes terrifically long to get anything done, but I ought to be back in the way of work by next week, I should think. I was with Jane for a while yesterday. She was quite grown up in appearance since last year, and she is prettier than ever. But of one thing I am sure, and that is that I don't and won't like her roommate at all. She is thoroughly New York and stuck on herself in everyway. I think most of what we see of each other this year will take place in Main. According to your present plans, will you be here two week-ends from now or one? R. S. V. P. There is nothing at all that I want from home, except the stuff from the doctor which he forgot to bring and which you said you would send, but there is no rush for that. Dr. B. is giving me the treatments after chapel. I started yesterday. I left the underwear, handkerchiefs and everything else in that drawer home purposely. I have more than enough here. I like everything about Main except the noisy dining-room, but I guess I will get used to that. Our rooms are perfect. The only thing that I would like would be to have Mart down on this floor, but for many reasons, and all of them good, she thought she had better stay where she is. I think we'll go to town tomorrow in quest of a window-seat and blinds. It may interest you to know, Pete, that Miss Smith said in Drama yesterday that all those who could procure the use of a complete set of Shakeespeare from home or elsewhere, should please do so. Professor Nettleton made a very nice and also witty speech in chapel last night about his desire to know the student-body, etc. He said among other things that after next week he and his wife would have a house in which they could welcome us, that up till now he had slept, or rather tried to sleep, in the Founder's Bed in the Founder'sSuite, and that his admiration for the Founder--particularly for his endurance--had greatly increased! When he started to speak he took out his watch, and he said he did that instinctively, because at Yale there is a very strong feeling that speeches in chapel are unnecessary. He said that once a preacher asked how long he might speak, and pres. Hadley told him they have no time limit but there is a distinct feeling that after twenty minutes no souls are saved! Probably that is old for you, Pete, but I thought it was pretty good. Gossip--Helen tells me that all is off between Leon Falk and Marjorie Klein--that Ruth had succeeded with her mean tongue at last. For particulars inquire elsewhere. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-01-09 [1921]
Text: January 9, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I have nothing of much interest to report. I spent an hour yesterday afternoon trying to get started on a history topic and finally gave up in disgust. I took Anna Howard Shaw's "Life of a Pioneer" out of the library and came home, cozied up in my Morris chiar and read for two hours and a half. it is very intersting. Lucy Salmon recommended it to us once upon a time. Then I read two thirds of "The Castle of Otranto...
Show moreJanuary 9, 1920 [1921] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I have nothing of much interest to report. I spent an hour yesterday afternoon trying to get started on a history topic and finally gave up in disgust. I took Anna Howard Shaw's "Life of a Pioneer" out of the library and came home, cozied up in my Morris chiar and read for two hours and a half. it is very intersting. Lucy Salmon recommended it to us once upon a time. Then I read two thirds of "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole (required reading). Last night I went to Dr. Granfell's lecture on Labrador. It was very good and his pictures were excellent. He was a wonderful sense of humor. The lecture was rather disappointing, though, in that it dealt more with pictures of the country and of the hospital stations than with his actual work and contact with the people. Among other things he showed us a picture the Princeton, Yale, and Harvard boats and told us that the Princeton men were anxious to give a new one because the other one was lost some few years ago. He said it might have been found, except that it was lost by Harvard men! I have been reading today from ten to three-fifteen, with anintermission for dinner. I read four hundred of the five hundred and fifty pages of Scott's "Bride of Lammermoor". I expect to finish it today. I hope I get out of this reading crazy pretty soon. It isn't particularly good for one's spirits. The library cards are in the two books I took out of the library, Mother. I forgot to leave them at home, but they will arrive in the next laundry with the books. My laundry came yesterday, incidentally. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: [1923-01-16]
Text: [16 Jan 1923] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The reception was lovely last night. Everybody including myself looked very nice. I wore my green brocade, as did also another girl! Elizabeth Dinkey and I decided to talk to Miss Cowley for a while and we were corneered for most of the evening! It took place in Taylor Hall, and was very impressive. The reason I enjoyed it--I think00is that Dr. Nettleton remembered me and introduced me to his wife! The Bryn Mawr president looks very brainy. Before...
Show more[16 Jan 1923] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: The reception was lovely last night. Everybody including myself looked very nice. I wore my green brocade, as did also another girl! Elizabeth Dinkey and I decided to talk to Miss Cowley for a while and we were corneered for most of the evening! It took place in Taylor Hall, and was very impressive. The reason I enjoyed it--I think00is that Dr. Nettleton remembered me and introduced me to his wife! The Bryn Mawr president looks very brainy. Before the reception I heard the famous Miss Maud Royden, English preacher. She surely can talk. She was exceedingly interesting. I handed my last topic in today. I have a feeling of decided relief. Must hurry to go coasting now. I have received no laundry case yet--can't send my laundry till one comes. Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-11-04
Text: November 4, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Judging by your letter, Father, you were in an accident about which i read nothing. I did not know an awful lot about it after I finished but I am glad that you were not hurt. Did the train jump the tracks, or what? R. S. V. P. I shall be very busy today. I have lab and I have to write that chem paper. I got started on my English topic yesterday afternoon, "the gods of ancient Ireland", and there surely were enough of them. I don...
Show moreNovember 4, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Judging by your letter, Father, you were in an accident about which i read nothing. I did not know an awful lot about it after I finished but I am glad that you were not hurt. Did the train jump the tracks, or what? R. S. V. P. I shall be very busy today. I have lab and I have to write that chem paper. I got started on my English topic yesterday afternoon, "the gods of ancient Ireland", and there surely were enough of them. I don't see how they ever kept them straight. We are having wonderful weather. Thanks for the clipping, Pete. Lucy wrote an article for the Pittsburch papers--I don't know whether it appeared or not. I have not time to write more, besides which, I don't know anything else. Love, [Fannie]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1921-11-10
Text: Nov 10 Dear Father + Mother: I am putting in an hour on debate preparation now - getting my debet Marcel! If you knew one of the three speakers, you would realize what a joke that is. [Bisb] told us all to be sure to have marcels, that it would help us a lot in debating. I am mad - with all the white skirts I own, I have to borrow one for Saturday night, because mine are neither pleated nor flannel. [Tommysah<] I am to be the last speaker. That is of course the hardest. She has to rebut...
Show moreNov 10 Dear Father + Mother: I am putting in an hour on debate preparation now - getting my debet Marcel! If you knew one of the three speakers, you would realize what a joke that is. [Bisb] told us all to be sure to have marcels, that it would help us a lot in debating. I am mad - with all the white skirts I own, I have to borrow one for Saturday night, because mine are neither pleated nor flannel. [Tommysah<] I am to be the last speaker. That is of course the hardest. She has to rebut and sum up and make the final impression, and bring out all the main points again. It can be prepared ahead the least of the 3 speeches. Gee, I hope we win! I took our plan of elective to Miss [Ellery] yesterday and she indorsed it. She also signified her inention of coming. C. Mildred Thompson came to practice yesterday and [uiteiged]. It's a great life, this debating life! I'm so far be-hind in my work that I hate to think of it, but I have not been feeling well enough the last two weeks to risk running short on sleep. The more I think about Thanksgiving the more I come to the conclusion that I am sufficiently tired out to benefit by a change of scene. I question if I would accomplish much work by staying here. I think I would do better to come back with renewed pap and work hard in the three weeks before Christmas vacation. I would much rather be with you than visit M. W. But, Father. I am very anxious that you should not rush things and come to Atlantic a week or so early merely to be there during my vacation. Take care of your tummy, and don't do anything foolish! You know I could come home, + get Dr. B to let me take an extra day as I did last year. Or, I could work here + then come to Atlantic later + take a [prom leavel 2 days extra). R.S.V.P. I [bad] quite a shock last night - I have been vaguely going along thinking that Thanksgiving is 3 or 4 <day> wks off, + I happened to look on my calendar + realize that it is only 2 weeks from today! I don't like to tell Pete that other people beside the president of the Temple College Club are illiterate. M's letter was redundant in misspelling, was terribly sloppy, and a miserably constructed letter. I answered, and said I would probably be in A. C., with you, thanked her very much etc., + said I would let her know definitely as soon as I knew myself. We have no classes tomorrow. It's jut my luck to have only two, and lab, and to [bove] one of the 2 classes [J], from which Miss [Arylie] had given us a cut in order to require our attendance at two lectures the first part of the week! and I have to spend all Sat. morningin lab anyhow because I am behind. I shall have to work all day to-morrow as it is. Well, I'm all curled up and beautiful now! I hope it helps my brain Sat. Night! Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 2/18/20
Text: February 18, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I am sorry that I did not get time to write a letter yesterday, but I was working on my history topic until four-ten, so I hurried over to the Post-Office in time to write postcards. I wanted to have all the book materials, in case you should plan to meet me in New York, that I would be able to finish it up without the use of the library. Your telegram came last evening. I answered it by night letter. As far as I know I can spend the week-end...
Show moreFebruary 18, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I am sorry that I did not get time to write a letter yesterday, but I was working on my history topic until four-ten, so I hurried over to the Post-Office in time to write postcards. I wanted to have all the book materials, in case you should plan to meet me in New York, that I would be able to finish it up without the use of the library. Your telegram came last evening. I answered it by night letter. As far as I know I can spend the week-end with you, but unless a great deal of the show should melt, the earliest train I could catch Friday would be the one-nine. I am going to New York Saturday morning. President McCracken's lecture was very good yesterday, but I don't think he is a finished speaker by a long shot, in fact, he struck me as laboring a great deal over what he was trying to say. He spoke on the "Value of Being a Contemporary", but more intelligibly known as the "Value of Studying Literary History". My Miss Thallon is in the Infirm, so we had a cut yesterday, but Miss Ellory is going to take us today. She is supposed to be a wonder. I am glad of a chance to hear her in class. Father, I am very sorry that the mail is irregular, or whatever the trouble is. I have written every day, a special on Saturday, excpet Friday, when I did not have time to write, but Aunt Besside promised to drop you a postcard. Also, I did not know you were going to Philadelphia, where your telegram was from. I had not the slightest idea where to reach you there, so I telegraphed to Pittsburgh. Love, [Fannie]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: Nov. 11
Text: Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: I really will have time for a real letter tomorrow. I surely am busy and there is a lot to tell you, too, if there were only time for it. I finished my English topic this morning as the bell rang to go to class. I am glad I got it in on time, because I think it makes a bad impression on the instructor when a topic comes in late. Today I have to speed up on the history one for tomorrow, but the sad part of it is that I have lab fifth and sixth and the dedication...
Show moreDear Mother, Father, and Pete: I really will have time for a real letter tomorrow. I surely am busy and there is a lot to tell you, too, if there were only time for it. I finished my English topic this morning as the bell rang to go to class. I am glad I got it in on time, because I think it makes a bad impression on the instructor when a topic comes in late. Today I have to speed up on the history one for tomorrow, but the sad part of it is that I have lab fifth and sixth and the dedication of the French tank seventh and eighth. More tomorrow. That was a great letter, Pete. Good luck to Princeton on Saturday. Also give my best regards to Grace. Love, Fannie [Nov. 11]
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: 1920-10-27
Text: [Addressed to Hotel Traymore] October 27, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: My hair is in the process of drying. I did not have time to go out and have it wached, so I did it myself, and when I was through discovered that there is no heat to dry it with. We spoke on the proctor system in Speakers Bureau last night. There is something decidedly worng with the system at present. It is a dead letter, really. There is quite a lot of fuss about it, so I hope we will arrive at some effective...
Show more[Addressed to Hotel Traymore] October 27, 1920. Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: My hair is in the process of drying. I did not have time to go out and have it wached, so I did it myself, and when I was through discovered that there is no heat to dry it with. We spoke on the proctor system in Speakers Bureau last night. There is something decidedly worng with the system at present. It is a dead letter, really. There is quite a lot of fuss about it, so I hope we will arrive at some effective remedy. The conference with Miss Salmon was awfully funny. She had something underscored in one of my bibliographies. I asked her what was wrong, and then suggested the way that I thought it probably should be and asked her if that was the way she wanted it. A second later I realized that I had the wrong word, but it was too late. She said, "Want?" Don't you know that I can get along without the topics of any one of you? It is what you want, not what I want". After the conference I went up to Lucy's room and staid there a while saying goodbye to Mrs. Kaufmann. Then I came back here and fooled around a while in the room of Henrietta Butler, a lehadnichneer from St. Louis whome Lucy seems to like very much. I thought I would see if I could see what Lucy sees in her. Then I went for a lonesome walk around the lake. It was so beautiful yesterday and i felt rather dead and pepless, so I thought perhaps a little unconversational walking would do me good. Then I came back and slept until the dinner bell woke me. I thought of not going down to dinner, but the fact that it was good dessert night made me go down. I went to bed a nine and was more tired today than if I had staid up half the night. I am ashamed to say that when Millsy asked me this morning to compare time wages and piece wages I did not realize what they meant. The class gave me the laugh. I saw Miss Landon in Strong last night. She remembered me from lastyear. She asked me how I was getting along in chem and I told her breifly. As she was walking up the stairs she said that she was going to ask Professor Moulton and Mr. Kilpatrick about me. I think that if any more of my kind friends of the faculty ask me how I am getting along in chem I shall have to say "Very well" or I will have the whole faculty inquiring for me. Four members of the Princeton Speakers Bureau are going to debate the Republican and Democratic Issues this afternoon in Students. I think I shall have to go. Perhaps Albert Kabet will hole forth. Who knows? Love, Fannie
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Creator: Aaron, Fannie
Date: n.d. [postmarked 1920-04-22]
Text: [postmarked 27 Apr 1920] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Miss Mulaly just called me up. Third Hall is Saturday evening, May eighth. She can give you a comfortable room on the first floor for Friday and Saturday nights, and move you up on Sunday in case you should stay longer. She will reserve it until I hear from you. Of course I realize that you may not come, but it is very hard to get a decent room around that time, and that is why I thought I better see about it. Which would you prefer,...
Show more[postmarked 27 Apr 1920] Dear Mother, Father, and Pete: Miss Mulaly just called me up. Third Hall is Saturday evening, May eighth. She can give you a comfortable room on the first floor for Friday and Saturday nights, and move you up on Sunday in case you should stay longer. She will reserve it until I hear from you. Of course I realize that you may not come, but it is very hard to get a decent room around that time, and that is why I thought I better see about it. Which would you prefer, that or eighter in the Inn or one of its cottages? R. S. V. P. immediately, in your next letter. Perhaps you won't be able to come at all. We have a class meeting today, I suppose to consider the important question of rings. No classes Firday, Founders' Day. Of course its just my luck only to have two that day. The two packages of medicine came yesterday, one whole and one completely smashes and nice and oozy. Dr. B. had already ordered the perscription filled once at Woods'. Why did they not pack it the way they did the last time? I was going to ask Dr. B. last night what she thought about my going back to my room when I got your letter telling me to stay here indefinitely. So I guess I shall. Their cocoa, toast, and potato diet shore" is making me fat. I will send home a few white skirts with directions for letting out the waist bands in the next laundry. If Mrs. Menges can fix them, all right, if not, don't worry about them, but send them back. All the people near the college who might do it are booked up for the rest of the year, that is why I have to send them home. I have two skirts that I can get into, and my two gingham dresses just to exercise. Don't bother about sending the blue dress, I have no more use for dark clothes. We surely do rush the season here. I don't like the cape, since you ask. I think it looks awfully sick. Don't you? Excuse me, Father and Pete, I might have put this dress making paragraph in a separate note. I was told about a pretty nasty trick that was pulled off on one girl in room-drawing. She went to North on trial draw, and a crowd that were going there told her, "If you come to North, you will be keeping one of our crowd out an we will make it so disagreeable for you there that you won't come back to college". The girl went to Josselyn. Our system is not as democratic as it sounds. How is Grandpa? What do you mean by "the same"? Is he very sick? Love,
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