Flunking Preferred Over Cheating And Never Use Initials When Naming A Baby
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Hill Country Living
By Coulter Fussell
It’s a Wagner Week and Jessie references a horrific train wreck you can read about online. She also opines about a new baby’s name which is always a fun activity. And I’m concerned for Mabel! What happened with her secret marriage?!
Feb. 4, 1903
My dear old George,
I’m so glad the box was received in good order and that you liked it. Kalista and Evelyn helped me fix it. Kalista picked nuts faithfully. Evelyn made the round cake, parched the almonds and baked the biscuits. Be sure to write her. Fixing the box was a pleasure to us all and we are so glad that you enjoyed it.
Please tell Pat that I appreciate his note intensely and considered it quite like a Southerner to write it.
We all agree with you about cheating on exams. I know the men at universities make it a matter of course, but we should prefer a flunk from you than a set of false, though complementary, grades. I never feel any fears, though, about you and Gene.
Yes, it was dreadfully sad about Mabel. I’m certainly sorry for her. Poor girl! How foolish she was to keep the marriage such a secret. We don’t seem to do that so much down here as they do up the country. Aunt Coralie was married so, as well as Clara and Emma.
They have named Will’s boy “William Buford, Jr” and I hear that he is to be called “WB” — not by me, though, because I detest calling a boy by his initials, don’t you? I can’t tell you about him from personal observation because I have not seen him yet having been either busy or ill ever since he was old enough to be called upon.
Evelyn gave a bridal breakfast last Friday to Mrs. J.C. Wilson. There were 16 covers and a little doll-bride at each place held the place cards. Everything was in white and yellow for the whole affair. It was a great success.
We entertained the club last Wednesday. Each member brought a guest so there were about 20 of us all. Both programs and refreshments seemed to please them.
Dudley is very busy helping to get up a concert at school. He is planning to sing “Mr. Dooley.” I’m afraid his lessons are suffering in the meantime. Mabry comes up and takes supper almost every night. He is a case.
Learns more new songs with Kalista than you could shake a stick at. You should hear him sing “Friends, Romans, Countrymen…lend me your ears!”
Did you hear about the railroad wreck between New York and Plainfield? Corinne had intended taking that very train but happened to leave five minutes earlier. A great many Plainfield people were killed or injured.
Your asparagus fern — the tiny one which began in the fancy pot — is a beauty now. It’s growing fast. I wish you could see it. Our violets are beginning to bloom pretty well now and most of the bulbs are keeping up. We should have bushels of violets within a week if it does not turn cold.
Love from all of us to you especially from,
Jessie
P.S. George, tell me if this ink is black when it reaches you.
