Letter from Mary Elizabeth Garrett to M. Carey Thomas, August 09, 1889

Dearest Minnie, It was a very great pleasure to get your letter from Constantinople a few days ago, and I am so delighted to hear that you were enjoying enjoying [sic] it so intensely and so relieved that you did not find the heat oppressive. No, I donGÇÖt see how it is possible for anyone who has not been there to conceive what the glory of color can be and the beauty of the Bospholus. Europeanized as it is, you can still believe in the world there as shown in the GÇ£Arabian NightsGÇ¥. The long bridge whose name I have forgotten was such a delight to me. Of course you went out on Friday afternoon (or do they go in the evening in summer) to the Sweet Waters and I have no doubt you went not only by road as we did, but by carque as we did not and saw all the branches of Constantinople in their glory. Did I tell you that our first day there was Friday and that we arrived early (about 8, I think) and that before 10 we were up on top of the hill where there is a very large mosque just outside the gates of one of the Palaces (the names of both mosque and palace are gone) and there from the building facing the [illegible] with all the diplomatic corps and distinguished strangers (or enterprising ones) watched for the coming of the Sultan and then saw a really superb review of about 7000 troops, all in the most absolutely perfect Spring day with that glorious view in the foreground and every approach to the mosque simply swarming with people in holiday dress. I have rarely seen a more brilliant sight and it was a very interesting introduction from its bringing into such sharp contrast the old and the new. I am so glad St. Sophia satisfied you as it did me. How could it fail to, in spite of all that they have done to spoil it? One thing did disturb me, those bright green disks with the yellow inscriptions. They were so enormous that you could not help being conscious of them. I wonder whether we shall ever again see any of the most beautiful things in the world together? It would be such an intense pleasure to me, but I fear even the possibility of a voyage and two weeks on land in that other world is not likely to present itself again. Sorry as I am on many accounts, notably on the one, as things might have straightened themselves out between Mamie and me, that I could not go with you this summer, I am perfectly sure it was best for all of us that I didnGÇÖt, as I really was a very miserable and should have been a damper. It is very hard always to have to stop to think for and of a person in travelling who is not able to do as much as the other members of the party and is particularly trying when the party is a small one. As for the other thing, I think it must adjust itself with time and patience because it seems simply impossible that it shouldnGÇÖt. Not a very forcible reason perhaps except that it seems almost impossible that such a strained condition should last, when there is certainly so little cause for it and as I hope a great deal against it. But it is useless to discuss it and I can only hope for better things and try to do what I can to make better things possible. I wonder whether you remembered to ask Bessie to send me ones and I am glad to say [illegible] very kindly, so that it was a great pleasure to me to be in the house with them. The little baby who is only 7 months old is very fair and round and soft, with a very round head and pale gold hair and great blue eyes with dark lashes, and, as she has hardly ever had an ache or a pain, she is always happy and never cries unless there is a good reason. The twins are running about and are precocious, with a great many very beguiling ways. You and Mamie would have looked at me with them with amusement and perhaps with scorn but nevermind. So I nursed the babies and played with them all a good deal both on the beach and in the house and with [illegible name] (the oldest child who is 16 but still a child and a very sweet one) and Julia de Forest and sometimes the 11 year old Charles. We bathed and sailed and drove. Sometimes one of us drove alone with Julia, but oftener we all went together, and the place was lovely and the days went very quickly by and it was very restful and peaceful and a very new and pleasant experience for me. We were more or less at the de ForestGÇÖs, and you know I am fond of old Mr. de Forest, and he has always been extremely kind to both Julia and me. Tomorrow morning we get to Mt. Desert where I expect to spend a fortnight at my brotherGÇÖs and Julia is to make Kate McLane a visit at North East [illegible]. So I have given you who are in the midst of all the glories of the East all these dull and homely details. Probably by this time you are either on the way to Athens or are already there and if so are probably on your way to the Acropolis now. In that again I cannot believe you will be disappointed, nor will you be disappointed in my beautiful youth and the beautiful [illegible] who would have exulted in their beauty still more if they could but have known [illegible] it would have [illegible] us [illegible] men and women when their ashes had been cold for thirty five hundred years. I am very sure that there is nothing in the world that I so much want to see again as the Acropolis and the [illegible] and there is nothing I would so love to do as to go there in the autumn and stay until the summer heat drove me away. But we are within a half hour of Boston where we have 2 -+ hours before starting out again on our journey and we [illegible] so that I will not begin another sheet. Take care of yourself and give my love to Mamie. It is pleasant to think of how happy you both must be in what you are doing and seeing. Lovingly yours, Mary E.G.