Carleton College - Algol Yearbook (Northfield, MN)

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can't get me to do their mending for them. The boys come and call on me and take me places. At the reception I wore my blue dimity and I guess it looked fine. I went out to re- freshments with a fine looking young man-he talked real sensible too-and I told him all about you and Liza and Tom. He seemed real interested. He had beautiful light hair. Tom would call him a UCotton-top. He was lovely, had blue eyes and laughed at almost every- thing I said. He introduced me to a cute boy, one of his class-mates, who was his chum. I know I shall like him he is so enthusiastic. I hear that most of the girls like him. I heard someone call him Dago, but he didn't seem at all like one to me. The girls hang pictures here with brooms-we have to be in by dark. I was so scared today-some of the girls were talking of quarantine-I tell you I'll go right home if any contagious diseases break out. I forgot to tell you I need more money, don't forget to send it. Your homesick daughter. HIS FIRST LEETTER HOME DEAR PA AND MA: I got here Tuesday afternoon. A crowd of fellows was at the depot yellin' as if they was mad. I hadn't more than got off the train when a couple of galoots with yellow badges says, UAre you a new student? I can't see how they knew so quickg everybody looked new to me. One grabbed my satchel and I followed him. We hiked up the street until we got to the college, and say-the college ain't one building, it's seven. I told a drayman to take my trunk to Gridley Hall and the kids have been guying me ever since because Gridley is the hall for the girls. The fellow with the ribbon on took me to a room where there were a lot more fellows and a black-board with a list of rooms to rent on it. Everybody knew everbody except me and I felt kind of queer. Wished I could see somebody from Podunk. First thing I knew I was hustled off about seven blocks to see a room. Fellow said seven blocks would be a nice walk for me. I've got to pay 3.51.00 a week for a room with a fellow named Jones. He's a Soph and all Hred stuck up. He won't guff me much, I'll bet. I ain't so green as I look. But say, you ought to see the place where we feed. It's swell I tell you. Girls and boys eat in the same place. I got at a big table with thirteen girls. Grub was good but I wasn't hungry. Theyive got some funny ways here. The bread plate sat in front of me and I helped myself. The girl next to me said, Pass it to the head of the table first. I hadn't 1 8 '

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FIRST LETTER HOME MY DEAR MAMA: Nobody knows how forlorn I was as I stepped off the train feeling, so strange and out of place-but several young men and girls stepped up to me and said they,d show me where to go. I was glad Ihad not thrown away my lunch box and that I had enough things to give them all a chance to relieve me. We walked up through town and stopped at a place called Uncle Henry's -and as we walked up to the Hall one of the girlspointed to me and said, 'There goes a slow racef' I didn't know what they meant but I didn't want to seem ignorant so I didnlt ask. I tell you I donlt ask many questions so they think I know it all. The girls are very nice to me. They give spreads for me and do so much. I heard someone say they were working mel'-what do you suppose they meant? I tell you they I7

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seen any head yet but she sat opposite me between two pretty girls. I passed her the bread and she looked at me so I felt cheap. Jones says I got squelched but I know she's all right anyway and urges a fellow to eatplenty. Went to a pow-wow the other night and you'd think you were in a pack of Indians from ,the noise they made. We fellows all sat on the floor and then they'd yell for some one to speak or sing or do something of that sort. If he didn't do just right they'd yell Hgestures, platform, louder, hip, and try to rattle him. After telling us new fellows a lot of times how many state oratoricals Carleton had won and hammering it into us that we had to get out and play foot ball, one fellow got up and said that was a Y. M. C. A. meeting. I thought it was the funniest prayer-meeting Iid ever struck but he seemed real earnest and invited us all to their meetings. Guess I'll go if they're like that. After they'd got through yelling they took us out and fed us on melons and then we locked step and marched over behind Gridley and serenaded the girls. A The Freshmen here play a game, of ball with the Sophomores on the Hrst Monday of the term. They say the Seniors and Juniors try to rattle the teams. Hope I'll get to play for it'll give me a rep for getting on the team in the spring. They have a great way of initiat- ing the new men here. After breakfast Monday morning they commence to yell, up, up, up, and then they'll grab a new fellow and bounce him. They say they put you up so you can see into the third story of Gridley. I ain't scared but I guess I'll give them the slip Monday morning. I met a Senior yesterday. You bet, he's swell. I-Ie talked with me a lot and asked me where I roomed. I-Ie wore patent leather shoes and a collar that went to his ears, and had his pants creased so sharp they'd cut your fingers. He treated me fine though. Told me all about his literary society and showed me his society pin. I I had to pay tuition and board and incidentals all at once. It took all my cash. Can you send me some next time? I ain't been homesick yet, not much anyhow. Write often. Your loving son, Jimmy. l r' - H ,M . Q., -W - I . ' l ' l 'X ' ' 'v'if',:f'b22 'v -155'-L31 5L. ? fzrhfip ' gg , g . JV 19