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If anyone says there's no spirit at Syracuse, they don't know –Letter Home Oct. 10, 1920


 

[Headlines from The New York Times (page 1, above the fold) to place the letters in context of the world around them.]

INDIANS DEFEAT BROOKLYN, 5 TO 1, AND EVEN SERIES

HOOVER SAYS PARTY IS FOR A LEAGUE

DESERVES TRUST

Declares Republicans Should Receive Authority from Electors to Carry Out Pledge.ASSERTS DEMOCRATS FAILEDName of Organization Immaterial—Some of CovenantArticles Should Be Dropped.CITES LARGE TASKS AHEAD And Holds That Question of PartyResponsibility is Really theBig Issue.


 

Sunday, October 10, 1920


Winchell Hall


Dear Louise,

You sure did write me a nice newsy letter about school, and I was awfully glad to get it. Be sure and do it again, and I'd love to hear Frank side of the subject to. You Frosh are coming fine, I should think. Glad you like Latin so well. You just ought to visit my Latin class. You would love to hear Dr. Place, read it and teach it. I have it Monday at 10:10 so maybe when you come up for the “week” end you could stay for Monday morning. When are you coming? I'd love to have you anytime. I wish you would all decide to come up for the Colgate game. The Pitt game is going to be the really big game and if Buster [ her brother Frank] can't come up for both and would like to come for this, it would be great. It is next week and let me know at once about it. I think Laura and I have decided to be home for the chicken pie supper, but isn't that after Thanksgiving? And when does Uncle Frank come? I just heard today that he was coming sometime the first of November.


Are there some new pictures home that I ought to have? Hazel was going to have some camp pictures finished for me. Ask her about them.

This morning and Emilia, Laura and I went down to the First Baptist. It was Rally Sunday and a very nice service. Mother, you ask Aunt Amelia to tell you how Clausen led the singing. This afternoon I had planned to spend writing letters, but we Frosh had a meeting fixing up a stunt for our baby party, and then Grace and Helen Fielding stayed and we lopped around playing the Uke and Glad doing some Grand Opera singing. I finally did get a long letter off to Marion and then went up to the House for lunch. I like all the pledges very much. Just now I'm in with Helen and Grace as my sweet room mate is not in yet. She has my scarf and feather hat, so probably she's made a hit. Ha! Ha! She's a cute child.

Last night we had the nicest freshman dance. Mr. Hickernall, Marion’s red haired favorite prof, the one that wanted to know what relation I was to her put up the $75 for it. They made good, so we will have more. It was in the Men’s gym and everyone introduced everyone else, so it was very nice. We had 18 chaperones. I went to the Johns Hopkins game yesterday with all the pledges. There were some marvelous plays and it was really exciting, but 45:0. Wait until Colgate comes. Rah! Rah! Yesterday morning at about 11:30, Glad and I went downtown to get some gloves for her and a tam for myself. I went in every store from a block above Deys to about six below. I wanted a tan one to match my scarf and they were out everywhere. We had lunch down there and continued our search until 1:30. When I did see one on a shelf, I was so afraid it was going to be taken right before my eyesI didn't know what to do. It was only $1.95. It would have cost much more to make one. Virginia paid $2.50 for hers. Friday night we had the most wonderful celebration for the crew and the Olympic races. You know, we won out in the races. The band started through the fraternity section, collecting crowds at 7:15. There was a huge platform decorated with flags on the old Oval in front of the library. The library steps were crammed and for miles around. It was thrilling, and if anyone says there's no spirit at Syracuse, they don't know what they're talking about and that's all. This Sam Cook, graduate manager of athletes, was toastmaster, as it were, and he was great. Just kept everyone roaring. They had numerous speakers, cheers, songs, etc. I saw Mr. Loomis, Carri and Annabelle there.

The Midi party the night before, Thursday, was awfully impressionistic. All the orange, blue, red and best of all, green ties. We had a big grand march, 4 abreast and then divided into classes for a sing. The stunts were the cleverest things. Remind me to tell you about the athletic wedding sometime. It was killing. They had numerous other stunts besides this one.

Wednesday night Alpha Chis entertained the DKEs. Everyone was terribly disappointed in their pledges. They weren't at all what you would expect, and terribly common. I wore my organdy dress if you would be interested. Everyone thinks it's a wonder, so clap yourself on the back, mother.

I think I've completed the news. Don't rush the laundry, mother, but if you could send some of the shirts and corset covers. Don't bother about the white skirt. Wish I had time to do them myself, but I just can't keep everything up. This morning I felt sleepy, so slept until nine. It was great. Then I had an apple and 2 cookies and felt great. Those sugar cookies absolutely melted in your mouth. They were great. We’ve been having good cake this week so I guess I've gained the flesh I lost last week. Tell Dad I enjoyed his letter Just loads and loads and hope he will write again. He’ll have to take this for his [return letter?] because I can't keep track of him.

I want to go to “Mary” tomorrow night awfully bad. It is wonderful, everyone says. Love Nest is from it, if you know and I haven't been to anything like that. The formal dance for the pledges is Thursday night, and Tuesday night is our baby party. Don't know how much time I'll have to write this week, but wish you would write or have my laundry come so I get something at least every other day. Had letters from everyone this week and only one day yesterday that I didn't get anything.

Lots of love

Betty

Haven't cashed the $15 check yet. Ain't that grand.


 



Editor's notes


Betty seem to be thriving at college. I'm surprised at her clear expectation for her mother to write 3-4 times a week, visit, send her other two younger siblings to visit, do Elizabeth's laundry and send it to her. I love her remark that she just doesn't have time to do her laundry and that she got up at 9 a.m because she was so tired. Meanwhile, Sue is home with two teens, a house and farm to care for, bills to pay, others to write to, cooking, cleaning and her own laundry. Ah, college life!

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