4th February
Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,
Jimmie McBride has sent me a Princeton banner as big as one end of theroom; I am very grateful to him for remembering me, but I don't knowwhat on earth to do with it. Sallie and Julia won't let me hang it up;our room this year is furnished in red, and you can imagine what aneffect we'd have if I added orange and black. But it's such nice,warm, thick felt, I hate to waste it. Would it be very improper tohave it made into a bath robe? My old one shrank when it was washed.
I've entirely omitted of late telling you what I am learning, butthough you might not imagine it from my letters, my time is exclusivelyoccupied with study. It's a very bewildering matter to get educated infive branches at once.
'The test of true scholarship,' says Chemistry Professor, 'is apainstaking passion for detail.'
'Be careful not to keep your eyes glued to detail,' says HistoryProfessor. 'Stand far enough away to get a perspective of the whole.'
You can see with what nicety we have to trim our sails betweenchemistry and history. I like the historical method best. If I saythat William the Conqueror came over in 1492, and Columbus discoveredAmerica in 1100 or 1066 or whenever it was, that's a mere detail thatthe Professor overlooks. It gives a feeling of security andrestfulness to the history recitation, that is entirely lacking inchemistry.
Sixth-hour bell--I must go to the laboratory and look into a littlematter of acids and salts and alkalis. I've burned a hole as big as aplate in the front of my chemistry apron, with hydrochloric acid. Ifthe theory worked, I ought to be able to neutralize that hole with goodstrong ammonia, oughtn't I?
Examinations next week, but who's afraid?
Yours ever, Judy