University of Virginia Library

Of course I am terribly glad that you and father are thinking of coming to visit me here at school next week, but don't you think it would be better if, instead of your coming all the way up here, I should come down and stay with you in New York? The railroad trip up here will be very hard on you, as the trains are usually late and the porters and conductors are notorious for their gruffness and it is awfully hard to get parlor-car seats and you know what sitting in a day-coach means. I should love to have you come only I wouldn't want you or father to get some terrible sickness on the train and last month there were at least three wrecks on that road, with many fatalities, and when you get here the accommodations aren't very good for outsiders, many of the guests having been severely poisoned only last year by eating ripe olives and the beds, they say, are extremely hard. Don't you really think it would be ever so much nicer if you and father stayed in some comfortable hotel in New York with all the conveniences in the world and there are some wonderful things at the theaters which you really ought to see. I could probably get permission from Miss Spencer to come and visit you over Saturday and Sunday if you are stopping at one of the five hotels on her "permitted" list.

However, if you do decide to come here, perhaps

it would be better to leave father in New York because I know he wouldn't like it at all with nothing but women and girls around and I am sure that he couldn't get his glass of hot water in the morning before breakfast and he would have a much better time in New York. But if he does come please mother don't let him wear that old gray hat or that brown suit, and mother couldn't you get him to get some gloves and a cane in New York before he comes? And please, mother dear, make him put those "stogies" of his in an inside pocket and would you mind, mother, not wearing that brooch father's employees gave you last Christmas?

I shall be awfully glad to see you both but as I say it would be better if you let me come to New York where you and father will be ever so much more comfortable.