Dear Papa,
It is about time to go to bed, but I guess I will have to write to you. Our lessons have really begun now, that is we have been to all our classes, but we can't do much work until our books come. Please don't think I am crazy if I ask for your old Latin dictionary, But all the girls have big ones and I thought Mamma could put it in the hamper when she sends it. They say the old ones are nicer than the new, because they give more idioms. Please tell Mamma to put my old blue bedspread and my blue curtains in the hamper too. I want to put the curtains over the trunk. Then if either you or Mamma will look in my bookcase, in the far left-hand shelf you will find my "Mimma von Barenheim", I think it is by Lerring. It seems that we have got to read it. I think it is
very funny, for I have read it once, but I suppose the other girls have not. The Fraulein is so funny, she is quite big, and talked to us steadily for a whole hour in German yesterday. But she talks so much more distinctly than Fraulein Euple, that I could understand almost everything she said. We are going to study a history of German literature.
I am sure I don't see where we are going to get much time to study, for we are busy now, just racing from one building to another. Yesterday Mrs. Kendrick addressed all the students. She spent about an hour telling us the rules of the college, and before I forget it, she wants all the new students to send home for letters saying that we can do what the college allows us to do. I think Mrs. Kendrick is awfully nice, tell Mama she always looks as though she had a headache.
There is the funniest little
daughter here. She comes from somewhere in Pennsylvania and never speaks that everybody does not laugh. Her name is Beatrice Daw. The other evening Marie Kays, Beatrice and myself were hunting up some rooms in the main building. And whenever we would ask where anyone roomed, they would laugh so hard that they could not tell us. Then a senior has come into the room across the hall from me. She has just graduated from a [train crossing course?] and is awfully cute. She is very nice to all the girls, although they are several years younger than she. Marie Kays is awfully nice and every body likes her. Last night, after dinner most of the College girls sang college songs for about an hour and then we studied. Yesterday morning we all had a hygiene lecture and sometime within the next few days we have all got to be examined. We are on the campus all day and just go back for our meals --
We can study between times in the library and that is where I am now. Mamma will be glad to hear that for our second lesson in English we had to write a composition. Our English instructor is quite pretty and does not look a bit sarcastic.
The other evening after chapel, Mrs Kendrick got up to address the girls, and had hardly begun before the electric light wire broke and the whole chapel filled with girls was left in pitch darkness. Some had to hold hands so they would [...] get separated and come out that way. It was quite exciting. I was with one of the girls I met in Physics. I think Physics is going to be quite nice. The professor is terribly stupid & slow but there are some awfully nice girls in there and we have two hours experimental work every two weeks. I have just found a note on my door from a senior who used to be at Dana’s, Miss Newell wrote to her about me and she has invited me to a big entertainment. I am going to get dressed and go out rowing
Dear Papa,
It is almost time to go to bed, but I guess I will have to write to you. Our classes have really begun now, that is we have been to all our classes, but we can't do much work until our books come. Please don't think I am crazy if I ask for your old Latin dictionary; but all the girls have this, and I thought Mama could put it in the hamper when she sends it up. They say the old ones are nicer than the news, because they give more idioms. Please tell Mama to put away my old blue bed spread and my blue curtains in the hamper too. I want to put the curtains over the trunk. I hope if you or mamma will look in my bookcase, in the left-hand shelf, you will find my "Mimma von Bonnheim," I think it is by Lessing. It seems that we have got to read it. I think it is
Mr. David Q. Ryerson
23 Franklin Street
Morristown
New Jersey
Morristown
N.J.
Oct. 10 6-AM ‘05