To C.C. Ballou from Bertha – April 6, 1913
Dear Papa,
There is a boat going with mail in a few days as I want to get a letter off tonight. This has been quite a strenuous day as I did not leave the League [Note: Her art school] until nearly half past five and last night I want to hear Caruso and _____ and _____ in _____. Several of us went and stood – also standing in line from six till seven thirty to begin with. It was well worth the fatigue however for it is a very beautiful opera having it at the little theater, which I think is a good thing. We have a platform built in the dining room now. It’s a perfect nuisance but will be down in two more weeks, thank goodness. In general, the Club is running fairly smoothly now – better than last year and Miss Newman’s nerves are greatly improved which is good thing for her and for us _____ for she is much more popular and has much more loyal support from the girls. I have not heard from Mrs. _____ since I was out there.
My roommates and I are planning to make the boat trip up to West Point some Sunday when it gets a little warmer. Neither of them have ever seen West Point and I think the boat trip will be fun. I was expecting a letter from Mamma yesterday as I noticed that there were two Philippine mails yesterday but none came. I hope you are alright. We are having constant rehearsals our play now so that most of our evenings are taken up. They have given up and both _____ and _____ sang beautifully thought _____ had been sick and began to cough as he came on the stage so that I was afraid he was going to have to give it up.
Sunday evening I spent with Nell _____ and enjoyed it very much. Miss Blossom’s father was visiting them and he is quite an interesting old man – a Civil War veteran and – to me – a typical New Englander.
…
…last. She was quite sick then as a result of food poisoning a year ago. Spring is really here and I hoped to spend part of the day in the park but now it is clouding over so much that I’m afraid it will be impossible. Seven Columbia students are coming down to see my roommate this afternoon and I believe I am expected to entertain one of them so I hope it won’t rain so that we can go out for a walk. I’ve only heard only recently from Reba. She says Riley is not very interesting for a married woman without her husband and I suppose that’s true, so she doesn’t find very much to write about. I have had several invitations to visit on my way West but doubt I’ll be accepting any as my change of time will upset the plans of _____ I was counting on and some of the others are too far off my route. Mrs. ______ has been so ill that I doubt my being wanted in Washington even as late as August and the Gandy’s will have left long before that for the summer. I thought of stopping off a few days at _____ _____ and a new baby and _____ Guthrie is away as that I expect I’d be a bother.
This Mexican scare has certainly upset Army _____ plans a great deal this year but things seem to be quieting down a little more so I hope the troops may be recalled from the border before the summer is over.
Love to all.