Ellen Axson Wilson to Jessie Woodrow Wilson Sayre
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Margaret got your little note yesterday with the little clipping about the prize; it pleased us very much. Margaret had not told us of Mr. Myerss monstrous offence (!) (knowing she said, that there was some mistake; as those things are kept secret at your college.) So we were not disappointed;—as you feared we would be. But after all you have taken the only prize there was to take!—so like the poor benighted Hindoo you “have done the best you kin do!”We were hoping you would tell us in your letter to Margaret how you got through with the examinations last week; perhaps I will hear on Tuesday. I am anxious about this catching up business,—am so afraid you will overwork; I shall be glad to hear from Margaret just how you look, &c. &c.
As she goes tomorrow she can tell you all the “news” more fully than I can write it.—Yes, we have a cook at last Her name is Elise, and she is a very superior person!—makes the other servants call her “Miss oeppel.” She is a graduate of Mrs. Rowes cooking-school. She has been here only three days so I cannot say yet whether she will “do” or even stay. I have been away two of the three days. Your father and I went to New York Friday and saw “Lear” Friday night, and “Cymbeline” Saturday afternoon, after which I came home, while he stayed to a great dinner in honour of Alden's seventieth birthday. Margaret, as you may know, was in Yonkers with Fraülein. We had a delightful time at the plays—Mantell is really quite wonderful as Lear;—his support as a whole was very bad (Cordelia dreadful,) but fortunately the clown and “Kent” were pretty good.
The “Cymbeline” was altogether delightful; Viola Allen was perfectly charming as “Imogen”; and she was well supported, except, alas! in the case of “Posthumus;”—Such an unfortunate exception, and yet such a common one! It seems to me that as a rule the part of the “hero” is wretchedly acted when the “star” is a woman. And as the lot of them are rather foolish, weak creatures as represented by Shakespeare himself, it seems a pity to exaggerate those special qualities in the acting. But Imogen was enchanting; how I wish you and dear enthusiastic little Nell could have been with us!
I suppose Nellie has written about her horse-back rides; It is delightful to see how happy she is over them. I am so glad that there is something very pleasant to compensate for all the tiresome things she must do for her health. Do you think she is enjoying the life on the whole,—in spite of her rage over the rules? After all the regular life is just what she needs at present; if she kept as late hours & disported herself as much as she did last winter, there would, I fear, be little chance of getting rid of that horrid “lump.” And alas! it it doesn't leave the doctor says it must be cut out.
Goodnight, my darling; take good care of yourself. Your father joins me in devoted love. He is very well on the whole,—has a little cold just now.
Your loving
Mother