akohomban
Edited Text
Vassar College
May 24, 1908
Dear Nice Family-
Val says to give you all her best love and tell you she is pleased to pieces to think I can come to the Adirondacks. She’s ensconced at the foot of a large pine tree just opposite me and endeavoring to compose a scintillating letter to a [lawyer]!
Friday night I went up to Miss [unreadable]’s room and played with her niece awhile. She is awfully cute and attractive, and I stayed a disgracefully long time. Mary Chapin was there, too, and a whole lot more nice people. Saturday morning at eleven the College Settlement children arrived, and you never saw a happier bunch. There were about seventy-five of them, and they were all [gotten] up regardless. Most of them were “[unreadable]” or “[unreadable]” but
they were awfully cute. I had two -- Rose and Lily (!) and we had a lovely time together. I took them rowing on the lake (don’t laugh at my rashness) ably (?) assisted by “Moritz,” as [wall] boy who was most polite but who rowed even worse than I! We picked [unreadable] galore and then went and watched the second-half of the 1909-1910 basketball game. The juniors won, so we hopped around with glee. As long as we never win anything ourselves, we take our enthusiasm out in cheering the Juniors! We brought the children back to [unreadable] Parlor in time for their luncheon, and left there with a new delegation of ‘nurse-maides!” It was loads of fun playing with them, and I wouldn’t have missed it for a good deal. It was a boiling hot day - the hottest we’ve had by far.
Last night was the Junior-Senior Boatride and the Sophomore’s [Student] Party for us. Right after dinner - and
3.
it was two minutes early on account of it -- the Juniors and Seniors piled into the [Cap] at the Lodge, and 1910 crowded together, and sang and cheered the Seniors, while all of us who could got on top of the wall, and swung our feet, and the rest of us stood below and sang ourselves pink and cheered and cheered. We [sprung] a perfectly brand new song [on] 1909, and then, just as they were going, we sang their own song to them -- “We are 1909, we’re the Juniors never grave,” only we sang it “They are 1909.” They were much pleased, and clapped us mightily. When they started off we were singing it, so we waved goodbye and sang all the louder, and when we had finished, we gave a good big “Yay,” and they said it carried to them beautifully.
By that time 1910 had marched off to the Library steps singing a Senior marching song, and then we marched up toward Main singing “[unreadable] the Live of Jolly Juniors,” until we heard 1910 yelling “We want 1911!” Then we turned around and came back across the lawn singing “We are 1909” while 1910 grinned and clapped and the Faculty smiled at us benignly. Then there was a regular scrap to see who could sing the most and cheer the most. 1910 had the Seniors’ song-books and we had the Juniors, and we also did the cheers too! 1910 marched to chapel first, and then we came singing lustily. Chapel was perfectly killing, for the audience didn’t begin to be until half-way to the back, and there were more lovely damsels in the choir seats that didn’t think of belonging there.
7. [5]
Being forbidden to go on Strong, Rockefeller or the Library steps, after chapel we returned to Davison steps, and sang to our hearts’ content. There was almost nothing we didn’t sing - even a beautiful solemn song of 1909’s to 1907 at their Commencement - a farewell song! When we told the Juniors about it afterwards, they tried hard to look disapproving and shocked at our freshness, and then gave it up as a bad job, and just shouted with laughter. When it was time to go to the party in the Circle, we all marched across - singing of course, and were invited to enter by several Barkers who declared that Mrs. Anna Eva Fake would tell our fortunes and read out minds for us. There was a platform erected, and chairs set around
for the performers. When they came in, they were all “take-offs” - of Faculty and of us, “Jimmy” and “Prof. [Professor] [unreadable]” tied Mrs. Fake in her chair and then several members of the Faculty came up to inspect her. “Dr. Thelberg” insisted that the bondage was too githt and wished to know if Mrs. Fake had on her [rubbers]. “Miss [Swain]” hobbled up with her basket and squeaked out some remarks, Then Mrs. Fake began answering questions, and she would call on the different “take-offs” by name to come up to the platform. The take-offs were great, most of them, and the hits were all good. They did Julia Lovejoy and [me] together - Julia (who was Elizabeth [unreadable], Flora McKnight’s daughter) in her dark blue Peter Thomson was fine, Julia had done her hair a la her
9. [7]
Own even putting the comb in crooked behind. Charlotte [Gannett] did me, in the blue and brown gingham dress. She was pretty good, but nobody has yet come up to Elsa. They didn’t really “hit us” at all - it was mostly compliments! “Lilias” was splendid, and so was “Val,” and “Louise Hooker” too. After it was over they sang to us and then we sang a classic verse which runs:-
“[Why] we swam, we must be getting on,
Tho’ we’d like to see you do your stunts again.
You won’t be switched, tho’ our clothes you’re switched
Here’s to the jolly class of 1910.”
Then we gave them lemonade and
examined the “take-off” close, too.
By half past ten, we heard, “Good night, Ladies!” coming from the cars, so we knew 1908 and 09 were returning from the boatride. We were dying to hear all about it - just like little sisters waiting to hear about a party - so when Elsa’s head was stuck in the door a few minutes later, we rushed, and grabbed her, and pushed her onto the couch and made her tell us everything. They said they had a lovely time. The play was a take-off on “The Doll’s House,” and [Nazarova], must have been screamingly funny.
This morning we had High Black to preach and it was a
13 [9]
grand sermon on “Indecision.”
This afternoon Val and I are lazing and [trying] to keep cool - it’s been quite hot.
Oh my gracious me! I forgot to tell you two important things. One is that the Wilson House never thought of burning down. I don’t know who started the rumor. And the other is that we did get our picnic after all on Thursday and it was fine. We had supper on a ridge between little ponds and we built a fire and broiled bacon and boiled coffee and ate cream cheese and oranges and cookies and goggled and fought , and had just a grand time. It really rested us a lot getting away even for so short a time, for it was fine and quiet, and utterly
“Different” from V.C. [Vassar College].
I expect to stay here till June 10, if that is O.K. for you, but I can easily come home sooner. I am wild to see Jean. Tell her if she thinks she is missing the Alumnae Luncheon - said something about it - she is much mistaken, for it comes on Tuesday!
I must stop now for I have many other letters which must be written.
I love you, and will see you in about three weeks! Exams begin a week from tomorrow. Ugh!
[unreadable] Ever Lovingly
Marjorie
Postmark: POUGHKEEPSIE
MAY 25
2 PM
1908
N.Y.
Dr. Alexander W. MacCoy
Mrs. William P. Logan
Overbrook Ave. and 58th St.
Philadelphia
May 24, 1908
Dear Nice Family-
Val says to give you all her best love and tell you she is pleased to pieces to think I can come to the Adirondacks. She’s ensconced at the foot of a large pine tree just opposite me and endeavoring to compose a scintillating letter to a [lawyer]!
Friday night I went up to Miss [unreadable]’s room and played with her niece awhile. She is awfully cute and attractive, and I stayed a disgracefully long time. Mary Chapin was there, too, and a whole lot more nice people. Saturday morning at eleven the College Settlement children arrived, and you never saw a happier bunch. There were about seventy-five of them, and they were all [gotten] up regardless. Most of them were “[unreadable]” or “[unreadable]” but
they were awfully cute. I had two -- Rose and Lily (!) and we had a lovely time together. I took them rowing on the lake (don’t laugh at my rashness) ably (?) assisted by “Moritz,” as [wall] boy who was most polite but who rowed even worse than I! We picked [unreadable] galore and then went and watched the second-half of the 1909-1910 basketball game. The juniors won, so we hopped around with glee. As long as we never win anything ourselves, we take our enthusiasm out in cheering the Juniors! We brought the children back to [unreadable] Parlor in time for their luncheon, and left there with a new delegation of ‘nurse-maides!” It was loads of fun playing with them, and I wouldn’t have missed it for a good deal. It was a boiling hot day - the hottest we’ve had by far.
Last night was the Junior-Senior Boatride and the Sophomore’s [Student] Party for us. Right after dinner - and
3.
it was two minutes early on account of it -- the Juniors and Seniors piled into the [Cap] at the Lodge, and 1910 crowded together, and sang and cheered the Seniors, while all of us who could got on top of the wall, and swung our feet, and the rest of us stood below and sang ourselves pink and cheered and cheered. We [sprung] a perfectly brand new song [on] 1909, and then, just as they were going, we sang their own song to them -- “We are 1909, we’re the Juniors never grave,” only we sang it “They are 1909.” They were much pleased, and clapped us mightily. When they started off we were singing it, so we waved goodbye and sang all the louder, and when we had finished, we gave a good big “Yay,” and they said it carried to them beautifully.
By that time 1910 had marched off to the Library steps singing a Senior marching song, and then we marched up toward Main singing “[unreadable] the Live of Jolly Juniors,” until we heard 1910 yelling “We want 1911!” Then we turned around and came back across the lawn singing “We are 1909” while 1910 grinned and clapped and the Faculty smiled at us benignly. Then there was a regular scrap to see who could sing the most and cheer the most. 1910 had the Seniors’ song-books and we had the Juniors, and we also did the cheers too! 1910 marched to chapel first, and then we came singing lustily. Chapel was perfectly killing, for the audience didn’t begin to be until half-way to the back, and there were more lovely damsels in the choir seats that didn’t think of belonging there.
7. [5]
Being forbidden to go on Strong, Rockefeller or the Library steps, after chapel we returned to Davison steps, and sang to our hearts’ content. There was almost nothing we didn’t sing - even a beautiful solemn song of 1909’s to 1907 at their Commencement - a farewell song! When we told the Juniors about it afterwards, they tried hard to look disapproving and shocked at our freshness, and then gave it up as a bad job, and just shouted with laughter. When it was time to go to the party in the Circle, we all marched across - singing of course, and were invited to enter by several Barkers who declared that Mrs. Anna Eva Fake would tell our fortunes and read out minds for us. There was a platform erected, and chairs set around
for the performers. When they came in, they were all “take-offs” - of Faculty and of us, “Jimmy” and “Prof. [Professor] [unreadable]” tied Mrs. Fake in her chair and then several members of the Faculty came up to inspect her. “Dr. Thelberg” insisted that the bondage was too githt and wished to know if Mrs. Fake had on her [rubbers]. “Miss [Swain]” hobbled up with her basket and squeaked out some remarks, Then Mrs. Fake began answering questions, and she would call on the different “take-offs” by name to come up to the platform. The take-offs were great, most of them, and the hits were all good. They did Julia Lovejoy and [me] together - Julia (who was Elizabeth [unreadable], Flora McKnight’s daughter) in her dark blue Peter Thomson was fine, Julia had done her hair a la her
9. [7]
Own even putting the comb in crooked behind. Charlotte [Gannett] did me, in the blue and brown gingham dress. She was pretty good, but nobody has yet come up to Elsa. They didn’t really “hit us” at all - it was mostly compliments! “Lilias” was splendid, and so was “Val,” and “Louise Hooker” too. After it was over they sang to us and then we sang a classic verse which runs:-
“[Why] we swam, we must be getting on,
Tho’ we’d like to see you do your stunts again.
You won’t be switched, tho’ our clothes you’re switched
Here’s to the jolly class of 1910.”
Then we gave them lemonade and
examined the “take-off” close, too.
By half past ten, we heard, “Good night, Ladies!” coming from the cars, so we knew 1908 and 09 were returning from the boatride. We were dying to hear all about it - just like little sisters waiting to hear about a party - so when Elsa’s head was stuck in the door a few minutes later, we rushed, and grabbed her, and pushed her onto the couch and made her tell us everything. They said they had a lovely time. The play was a take-off on “The Doll’s House,” and [Nazarova], must have been screamingly funny.
This morning we had High Black to preach and it was a
13 [9]
grand sermon on “Indecision.”
This afternoon Val and I are lazing and [trying] to keep cool - it’s been quite hot.
Oh my gracious me! I forgot to tell you two important things. One is that the Wilson House never thought of burning down. I don’t know who started the rumor. And the other is that we did get our picnic after all on Thursday and it was fine. We had supper on a ridge between little ponds and we built a fire and broiled bacon and boiled coffee and ate cream cheese and oranges and cookies and goggled and fought , and had just a grand time. It really rested us a lot getting away even for so short a time, for it was fine and quiet, and utterly
“Different” from V.C. [Vassar College].
I expect to stay here till June 10, if that is O.K. for you, but I can easily come home sooner. I am wild to see Jean. Tell her if she thinks she is missing the Alumnae Luncheon - said something about it - she is much mistaken, for it comes on Tuesday!
I must stop now for I have many other letters which must be written.
I love you, and will see you in about three weeks! Exams begin a week from tomorrow. Ugh!
[unreadable] Ever Lovingly
Marjorie
Postmark: POUGHKEEPSIE
MAY 25
2 PM
1908
N.Y.
Dr. Alexander W. MacCoy
Mrs. William P. Logan
Overbrook Ave. and 58th St.
Philadelphia
