Letter from M. Carey Thomas to Mary Elizabeth Garrett, November 20, 1893

My Dear, Oh dear such a day! I got out of bed three times and dressed to see people-- 1st Mrs. Chase about a girl that leucorrhoea [sic] so badly she could not get up, 2nd Lawton about innumerable things and before him this and before him this note from Miss Abbot had much disturbed our composure. Then at 7 Dr. Rhoads to say someone had told the Evening Telegraph which had the announcement Saturday afternoon and bringing the notice for the ledger which I enclosed you. Read also its other side. I thought it better not to change it though it was not what I should have written. Then of course the faculty had not been told which was most annoying before it go in the papers [sic]. So we decided to hold a Faculty meeting at 9:15 this a.m and did so. Dr. Rhoads insisted on my presence and made a speech inimitable in which he was overcome by leaving the faculty and nearly wept and altogether it was a most melancholy occasion. He of course spoke in a prolonged eulogistic strain about me and expressed his delight etc. but as his ill health had an equal share it is important to rejoice. Lodge the Secretary of the Faculty offered resolutions of regret at his resignation and Gittings spoke to them. And then we adjourned and every member of the Faculty came and shook hands with me and congratulated me and many of them added the College also. Tomorrow morning we tell the students. After all it is a relief. The newspaper notices will amount to nothing because it is so long in advance although I will subscribe if you wish. All the excitement vanishes when a thing takes effect a year off. I am distressed at that resolution Father told you of. Dr. Rhoads assured me there was nothing opposed to our former policy but professed not to have the details, but if they put this in after all my efforts and statement in that outline it remains to be seen whether it will be a dead letter or not. And if it is not of course our policy is a dead letter. Also I am afraid Cope and John Garrett will not resign because they have not done so yet. Oh dear how amazed I was by Mrs. GilmanGÇÖs letter. Were you really ever on such terms with her? I had no idea of it. Tell me truly should you prefer to be here for all Thanksgiving or away-- which would be the very nicest do you think? Saturday evening is fixed because our Academic Council comes from afar-- from Boston, New York, etc. My preference for away is mostly because we are freer not to get up-- a little-- and Miss Keenan is less in our way. That you know is the only possible reason against her staying here at the Deanery-- It is such close quarters with her in the green room. Then too I fancy Lakewood would be better for you than even Bryn Mawr air. I will tell what I hope that I can go away with you somewhere say to Boston or if that is not possible somewhere for the first few days before Christmas. We close Wednesday before Christmas, or between Christmas and New Years. If I could, could you do this? I think my health will make something of the kind necessary and Mamie cannot get off possibly before I think but I will write you fully tomorrow or the day after. Do not begin your Sunday afternoons till after Thanksgiving and we can talk them over. I think it is a good idea. Please diet strictly again. That must be a little of the trouble. Then interviews all day till 1:15 and then-- I simply had to go to the architects about the color of the plaster of Pembroke. Then I called on Mr. Childs because I felt sure he would be offended. I will tell you about my [illegible] and reached home with a frightful cough at 5 p.m. It was quite a bad first day out of the house and out of bed, was it not? Your long letter this morning was a little comfort but oh I am so blue from exhaustion I suppose. It is too bad to have a victory so like a defeat from the effect of 9 months of steady fighting. Goodnight, love-- my very dear love-- I have a typewriter for you and will send her down for a weekGÇÖs trial.