dear daddy-long-legs,

president cuyler made a speech this evening about the modern

generation being flippant and superficial. he says that we are

losing the old ideals of earnest endeavour and true scholarship;

and particularly is this falling-off noticeable in our disrespectful

attitude towards organized authority. we no longer pay a seemly

deference to our superiors.

i came away from chapel very sober.

am i too familiar, daddy? ought i to treat you with more dignity

and aloofness?--yes, i'm sure i ought. i'll begin again.

my dear mr. smith,

you will be pleased to hear that i passed successfully my mid-year

examinations, and am now commencing work in the new semester. i am

leaving chemistry--having completed the course in qualitative analysis--

and am entering upon the study of biology. i approach this subject with

some hesitation, as i understand that we dissect angleworms and frogs.

an extremely interesting and valuable lecture was given in the

chapel last week upon roman remains in southern france. i have

never listened to a more illuminating exposition of the subject.

we are reading wordsworth's tintern abbey in connection with our

course in english literature. what an exquisite work it is,

and how adequately it embodies his conceptions of pantheism!

the romantic movement of the early part of the last century,

exemplified in the works of such poets as shelley, byron, keats,

and wordsworth, appeals to me very much more than the classical

period that preceded it. speaking of poetry, have you ever read

that charming little thing of tennyson's called locksley hall?

i am attending gymnasium very regularly of late. a proctor

system has been devised, and failure to comply with the rules

causes a great deal of inconvenience. the gymnasium is equipped

with a very beautiful swimming tank of cement and marble, the gift

of a former graduate. my room-mate, miss mcbride, has given me

her bathing-suit (it shrank so that she can no longer wear it)

and i am about to begin swimming lessons.

we had delicious pink ice-cream for dessert last night.

only vegetable dyes are used in colouring the food. the college

is very much opposed, both from aesthetic and hygienic motives,

to the use of aniline dyes.

the weather of late has been ideal--bright sunshine and clouds

interspersed with a few welcome snow-storms. i and my companions

have enjoyed our walks to and from classes--particularly from.

trusting, my dear mr. smith, that this will find you in your usual

good health,

i remain,

most cordially yours,

jerusha abbott