Elma’s Back, Flirting And All

It’s a Wagner Week! I thought nothing could make me feel better about Ole Miss after the football game this past weekend but then I sat down to write my column and pulled a letter from the original Miss Ole Miss herself, Elma Coleman Meek. I knew it would put me in a better mood. My advice for reading an Elma letter is to believe every bit of it while keeping in mind that Elma is knowingly messing with you. Elma’s natural demeanor always seems to be at a base setting of “flirt” and she is the queen of sarcasm. She scoffs at the idea of marriage and laughs whenever a friend of hers succumbs to the social contagion. For anyone who wants to Google a who’s who of Mississippi society, then in this letter (besides Elma herself) we have Charlie Compton of Natchez, Dr. Wallace Leathers of Ole Miss Pharmacy, “The Rel Thing” aka Relbue Price of Oxford, and Bergie B. Beckett of Oxford – to name only a few.

Dear George,

For one long week I have been in Oxford, so you see I didn’t come as soon as I expected. Found everything as dusty and unattractive as possible, all of which made me rejoice at my homecoming. I was having a lovely time in Tennessee with no thought of returning immediately when I received two letters telling me that Mama had sprained her foot and couldn’t walk and that Irene’s horse ran away with her and she was considerably damaged. They are both much better and I am left high and dry.

Owen and I wished for you Friday night at the Chi-Omega reception. Of course it was rather hokey for me to go and mingle with the infant class but everything was lovely. Charlie Compton was there with Dr. Leathers so I felt a little more at home. The Rel Thing hasn’t even given me a glimpse of his dear countenance. It is cruel of him and hard for me to bear but I guess I can live through it all. 

You seem to be very positive about Mabel and Alice marrying — good luck to them — but excuse me. You’re right, I could tell you a good many things but I am afraid there are too many on the advisory board. There’s one thing that would surprise you very much but I’m not at liberty to tell you and can’t say I would if I could. 

Miss Ella was very much insulted at the way you treated her. She thought you were mad about something. She says if you are not, she sends her love. She is working so hard teaching. Very seldom see her and Miss Kate even less. 

The Delta-Psi’s are to have their annual Halloween reception. I have an invitation with Bob Powell for an escort. Don’t you think I had better retire from society? I hear that Julia isn’t so fond of BBB as he is of her. I don’t think her so ugly. Vic is in Washington at school and I hear Fitz is still quite devoted. 

This is as long a letter as my feeble health will allow so farewell.

Elma C.M. 

Oxford 12th 1903