Letter from M. Carey Thomas to Mary Elizabeth Garrett, May 21, 1889

Dearest Mary, Here are some odds and ends flung after you into space between the visits of my students-- 30 have been over so far and it is only 8 p.m. and among them has come our future secretary my Miss Winsor. By the way not my, nor our, the Annex one, whom we let Mr. Arthur Gilman discourage us from seeing has just received the appointment of teacher of English in the Brearley School. Shall I tell you what I did not like about that lying in hospital matter. I had not time to finish. It is not that I am not indignant with the WomanGÇÖs Medical College. I am; I know they were out of sympathy to begin with. I think however Richard puts you a fair question which you should be able to answer squarely, and if you were I believe both Colleges would accept you interpretation-- Now he asks you what you would have considered equal privileges and the more I have thought over it the less I am able to see what you can say. To give a squad from the W. M. C. its turn with every other squad seems fair and seems to be equal privileges. Of course the outpatients are the one flaw and if I were you I should say that you had been so much disappointed in the small number of patients and in the fact that in view of this and of the outpatients had been neglected and because important [sic] for them to take advantage of the outpatients (that is important in the opinion of the Faculty of the WomanGÇÖs medical college) you hoped that next year twice, three times, four times-- whatever you like as many cases would be given the womenGÇÖs squad. Then a little could be saved them for one year at least. Still after all this is a lame conclusion. I wish they had not plain reason on their side whereas we know from what they say that in spirit they tried to take the least advantage. I was only wondering if there might be no way of getting more advantages for next year. I hate to have their policy succeed for one year more. I have been working every instant since you left and this rain seems to defer BessieGÇÖs visit still longer. In any case I must go to Baltimore on Friday or Thursday afternoon and next week return Sunday evening at the latest. I thought I should like to send Kate McLane an invitation and what is Julia deForestGÇÖs summer address? Then I can send one to Gertrude with a better grace as she (Gertrude) might hear of it possibly and and regard it as true. Do you know Miss MinturnGÇÖs address? I wonder if you will have time to stop at Mrs GuntherGÇÖs Richmond near Park sometime as you are driving out and look at those chairs-- the one has arrived and looks I fear far too fat and flourishing for its surrounding. 6 of them might look like aldermen. Do see what you think! And let me know. We cannot decide between them and the basket ones. If you think them very pretty ask the woman to reserve them for a day or two. If it is too much trouble do not take it. I wish you had taken my umbrella with you. It made me very unhappy and my only consolation was that perhaps the bonnet I dislike might be disabled. I have finished my Tennyson Browning Swinburne Shelley lectures to a crowded room. Other studentGÇÖs having come in and I fear I did my mighty subjectGÇÖs discredit. Now tomorrowGÇÖs are my last lectures for this year. I am so sorry you were tired when you were here but you were a very agreeable guest nevertheless. Don not catch cold at Deer Park and get down in time for us to have our talk in your Arabian Nights sofa. Was the package of the photographs of the School prepaid and id so have you the receipt? There has been some difficulty. It was marked GÇ£paidGÇ¥ and yet the bill has come. Yours in haste, Minnie C. Th.