Letter from M. Carey Thomas to Mary Elizabeth Garrett, April 19, 1891

Dearest Mary, On Friday every moment was filled. As I wrote you Mrs. MacVeagh lunched with me and after the drill at which all the people were, the day being splendid, Anges Repplier came over leaving me no moment in which to write to you. In the evening I was exhausted. Saturday morning was taken up by a very unpleasant row between Dr. Rhoads, Dr. Perkins and myself. Dr. Perkins our Physics man has made a failure of his teaching and is so angry that his engagement is closed that he is making all sorts of charges and misstatements against the Trustees. I proved all my points of fact and made him retract his statements, but it is very disagreeable and left me very tired, so I was disinclined to books and Mamie, whose Mother decided at the last minute to let her stay this week, and I went to GÇ£4 pawsGÇ¥ circus in the afternoon. It was really splendid, especially the Japanese athletes and the Hanlon brothers seem to have made the air, rather than the earth, their element and were fully worthy of their reputation. But what with the heat and all the sawdust of the arena we returned a little damaged and more than a little tired, in spite of the soul satisfying nature of our spree. Today I have prepared my Coleridge lecture for my class, gone to meeting, and written letters that must go and now have only a half our left. I believe there are some questions I did not answer - 1st the med. sch. statement was not sent because you were not fit for it. It will get off tomorrow but I am short handed as Miss Kirk has been unable to use her hand for a week. 2nd - I have made Miss Child write twice about board but the woman refuses to allow her a dollar reduction. I never heard of such a thing. 3rd. Miss Bacon was for a little while a teacher in The PeereeseGÇÖs School in Tokio [sic] but Ume supplied most of her facts. Her name did not appear for fear of what the court would think of the liberal views. I am glad you like the book. Allright [sic] about your going home only I think you will get very tired and do not forget that Friday Saturday and Sunday are my only free times and the next week April 30th and May 1 I shall be in Baltimore and have to give my whole mind to getting Father and Margaret off. On second thought I fear Margaret would not be much good in London for the theatre for if you were to ask her to go - and that part would be right enough for the last time I saw her she was saying Alys did not care to go and she did not know whom she could get to go with her - you would be sure to be forced to see something of the rest of the Smiths because you see, they would look upon you as my friend and you might be bored, so the plan is not a very good one. Now here has come in Mrs. Derkhum and my sands have run out without any letter at all - only beginnings - I am so sorry it has been such a tedious attack. Today is charming so you have probably gone out and I hope are not too tired. I am so sorry to have been so far off - women with careers after all have drawbacks. Let me know when to stop sending letters to that careless Murray Hill and remember how delighted I shall be if you should decide not to go to Baltimore after all. Goodbye Yours lovingly Minnie C Th