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From A Maine Woman Goes South, letters transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2003. This installment contains 11 letters. Historical dates appear with each letter; the article retains the original collection’s publication date.
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, November 2, 1925
Source: PDF page 43; printed page 37.
Heading: Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2, 1925
Dear Stelle:
You all owe me a letter yet, you heathem, but I'll be very kind and write again instead of correcting] papers as I would love to be doing.
I had a wonderful time yesterday. A lady whom Alice Kemp knew in Spain lives here in Atlanta. She used to have Ruth out last year, and when she found that I was here she asked Ruth and me both out yesterday. We took the car as far as Terminal Station, then transferred and road [sic] for a long way out into the aristocratic section of the city. It was about half past ten when we got there. They took us right in, in front of a lovely open fire, and got breakfast for us. I never breathed a word of the fact that I had eaten one breakfast. All the forenoon we talked and had a nice time. Mrs. Campbell is Spanish and looks like Theresa and talks like her. Mr. Campbell is a Georgian, a real typical Southerner and very very nice. They have the sweetest little baby about two years old. Mrs. Campbell cooked a Spanish dinner for us. It was wonderful. In the evening Mr. Campbell brought us back in the car. They want Ruth and me to come out some time and cook them some down East dishes. They never speak of us people from New England as being from the North but as coming from down-East. We are going to bake them some beans-they have never had any-and make some brown bread etc. Next time they want us to come out for the whole weekend.
I sent fat old Frank B. Hubbard the balance of your term bill today, so don't let him kick you out of college.
What for in the world did you ever let Maine give you such a licking? I noticed the score by the Atlanta Constitution yesterday. I was expecting Colby to get quite badly beaten up, for I didn't see what we had for a team-until I found that we had beaten Bowdoin. Perhaps we will wipe out the goaling slur yet.
I saw by the Colby Echo that you are a theatrical directer now. Quite an important lady, aren't you, putting on plays and everything.
Is Erick back this year? Whom does he take out? What about Dinty Moore Littlefield? Have the ATO's a good bunch of freshman? Say is Parson Fowlie quite a sheik now? I notice that he is class president.
What are some of the new songs up home? The latest thing that I've heard down here is "Yearning." They are only about a year behind time down here.
I had a dandy letter from Servia yesterday-no, last week. She sounded just the same as ever.
Have you had any new clothes this fall except your coat and hat? I haven't bought a single thing. I guess that I may have to buy a new dark dress-silk, with my next paycheck.
I must get to work. Write often. Remember me to all the good Chi Omegas and give my love to them all, bless 'em.
Much love, Nell.
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 3, 1925
Source: PDF page 45; printed page 39.
Heading: Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, November 3, 1925
Dearest Mother,
I haven't heard from you yet this week. I hope that I will get a letter tomorrow. I probably will for I get one almost every Thursday.
I had a letter from Fred [Pottle] this morning. He gave me some good advice about marking. I think that perhaps I marked to[o] hard for the last six weeks.
Ruth [Kemp] was coming over for dinner and to stay tonight but she sent word that she couldn't. One of the others in cooking has invited a bunch of us over tonight to learn how to make divinity fudge.
Did I tell you that I took out an insurance [policy] for Leota Schoff for John [Pottle]? I rather like being an insurance man. Incidentally, I have had two letters from Uncle George Ellis.
Yesterday was a warm day, so warm that we didn't need coats, but today is colder. The weather is very changeable. I doubt if we have very much warm weather for a while now. The roses are still blossoming, but I should think that they would feel a bit chilly at times.
I saw by the Atlanta Constitution that Maine beat Colby by a big score. It never seems to do for the team to win early in the season. They get too confident.
I have been helping some girls on geometry since school hours. They are my brightest students and it is fun. I love that geometry class. It is funny but all of the bright ones seem to be in that class, and all of the dull ones in my other division.
Stelle must be in quite a few activities this year. I noticed by the Echo that she has charge of some plays for Christian Endeavor.
Will you have a big crowd there for Thanksgiving? It comes three weeks from tomorrow, doesn't it? That is one of the four holidays for the whole year, here, so we are looking forward to it. I suppose that we will have a Thanksgiving dinner. You know, I'd be the happiest white child in Atlanta if you should send me a piece of your fruit cake.
Did you find it hard about this time of year to plan what to have for meals? I suppose that you have vegetables which came from the garden, however. We are yet having fresh vegetables. Lately we have had yams quite a bit. I love them. There is just one thing-ochre okra] (I guess that's how it's spelt) which I can't eat. It is slippery, very slimy, and rather tasteless.
I haven't yet sent the bulbs which I bought for you. I'll send the package when I get time to go down to the post office. I hope that they aren't all dried up.
I am wondering if you went down to Winifred's. I hope so.
Hope I'll get a letter tomorrow. Loads of love, your Sammy
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 8, 1925
Source: PDF page 46; printed page 40.
Heading: Spelman, November 8
Dearest Marmie,
Your letter didn't come until Friday this week, and I was rather worried, although I suspected that you had gone down to Winifred's. I am so glad you could go. It gave you quite a vacation. Winifred's people are so nice that I know you must have had a wonderful time. Mrs. Thornton is wonderful. You had a real party there didn't you? I am awfully glad that you could go. Just to have a real vacation where you can forget your work for a day or two is surely nice.
Marjorie took me out to dinner the first week that we were here so I took her out Friday. We went to the Britling Cafeteria. It is cafeteria style but is the nicest one which I have ever been in. The place where you get your food is all separate from the dining room and the dining room is beautiful. There are waitresses there so it is just like any restaurant. We had a splendid dinner for sixty cents apiece. Then we went to a movie show. It was The Ponv Express- a picture of Civil War times and we wondered just how the people would act. At first there was a rather strained silence when the Southern men were called traitors, but when the Union troops appeared, they all clapped, even when the orchestra played "down with the traitor, and up with the stars." I wonder whether we would be as gracious or not.
I heard something the other day which tickled me. Some of the girls say that the Southern people believe that all of us Northerners who come down here to teach have negro blood. I don't think that they do believe any such thing, but it's a good joke anyway.
I suppose you have heard from Auntie that Carl Peaco died last Sunday. It must have been very sudden.
I haven't had very much mail this week. Stelle hardly ever writes and Carl doesn't write very often. I don't write to him very often either, so I don't expect him to. Fred is very good about writing. I look forward to his letters every other Wednesday.
Marjorie and I bought our Christmas cards Friday. They have lovely ones at a very reasonable price here. We are beginning to think about Christmas presents too. Why don't you let me get the presents which you and Stelle and I would get together, and send them right from here. You wouldn't have the fun of doing them up, but I would love to. I think that it would be nice to give Moult and Winifred and Fred and Marion silver. You probably know what pieces Winifred had rather have, and we could find out about Fred and Marion. If the whole family chipped in we could give John and Sade money enough for a nice floor lamp. That is a suggestion; perhaps something else would be better. Had you thought of anything for Stelle? A guard for her pin would be nice. I thought that I would give her money for her mem book. I could order the guard. I don't know just how much it would cost.
The wind is blowing this afternoon and is taking most of the leaves from the trees. The trees on the campus are mostly cork elms and oaks so there haven't been any pretty colors in the leaves. It is nice to have the magnolia and holly trees stay green... There is a beautiful little pink rose bush here in front of Giles. It climbs high up on the walls but yet it doesn't have flowers like a rambler but like a real rose.
I haven't heard that he received the fifty dollars yet but I sent it to Mr. Hubbard. I am sending my insurance money too, so I have been able to do quite a bit with my October saleiy [sic].
The paper says that a storm is coming-that the temperature will drop to thirty tonight. I must put some more blankets on my bed. Someway I mind thirty weather more than I did zero weather up home.
I am going to answer Marion's nice letter now.
A lot of love to you Marmie dear. Nellie
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 13, 1925
Source: PDF page 47; printed page 41.
Postmark: November 13,1925, Atlanta Heading: Spelman College, 11 P.M., Thursday
My dearest Ma,
I have been spreeing and now at eleven o'clock I will start my usual midweek letter.
Tomght it has been a food show. Anna and Leota, Marjorie and I went in. We paid a quarter to enter and then we went around to all these booths where various things were being advertised. At every booth we were given samples. Of course the samples were small but even at that, with twenty or thirty booths, I can understand why my stomach feels a little strange at present. Among other things I have had about a dozen little biscuits advertising flour, cakes, pancakes, butter thins spread with jelly and jams and butter and cheese and sausages and hot dogs and pickles and whip cream and three cups of coffee. Some way I don't feel very hungry just now.
I am so glad that you went to Waterville. Stella Q. must have been pretty tickled to see you. I know that I would have been. It was so good to hear you tell about things at college. I wish so that Stelle would write to me. I was thinking that I would get a lot of college news from her, but she never writes. You must have had a wonderful ride don and back. I was glad to hear that the Lee boys won again. They seem to be doing wonders for so small a school.
I had a most wonderful letter from Winifred today. I was surely tickled to death to get it and all of the news.
Are you feeling all right now? You mustn't ever stay around where burnt fat is. That was what started you in being sick at Winthrop. I was scared when I read that you had had a spell [asthma], but was quite relieved at the end of your letter to see that you were feeling better. I hope that you are all right now.
I had a letter from Carl today. He says that he is working awfully hard this year and from his courses, I believe it. He has an English course which requires a two thousand word theme eveiy week, a philosophy course for which he must write a thesis every two weeks, economics which takes a lot of study every day I know, and his two geology courses which have heavy lab schedules too. Besides that he works in a restaurant eveiy morning and is out for football until six every afternoon. He went home last week and their apartment is up on the top floor of a house and he plans to go home often enough to carry up wood and coal so his mother won't have to do that. It isn't far from Providence to Groton.
I had a letter from Auntie, too, today. She writes me almost every week.
We went up in the cupola (you know what I mean) of Giles today. That is very high and we had a wonderful view out over the city and away to some mountains in a distance. Away toward the horizon in the distance the colors were beautiful. The leaves a falling now.
Sunday afternoon we went in to hear a talk on the World Court. According to people in these parts, Robert Lee and Woodrow Wilson are the only real Americans. The man who spoke had some ancestral connection with Lee. He did condescend to say that "Harding and Coolidge are Republican Presidents, though. Thank God, they are American Presidents"-as if it were hardly possible that both could be true. Later he said that according to his opinion, there had been no president since Wilson who had voiced the desires of the people-which however true it might be, was rather near to treason to the President.
I have been helping some of my children outside of school hours and that takes up most of my afternoons. They are improving, however, so it is well worth the effort.
I must hop into bed. It is about twelve now, and when another blue day dawns I must be up and doing.
A whole lot of love, Nellie Sam
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 15, 1925
Source: PDF page 49; printed page 43.
Postmark: Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 16,1925 Heading: Spelman-Sunday.
Dearest Marmie,
Another rainy Sunday. Sunday is a good day for it to rain, however, because that is the day we have to be out least, and it isn't much fun to be out in these rains.
Yesterday was a beautiful day. It wasn't hot enough to be uncomfortable... Anna and I went out to Grant's Park. It is quite a ride out so we went into town in the forenoon and had our lunch there - then took the car out to the park. The park is beautiful... one could almost imagine it to be a New England hardwood grove. The most wonderful thing there is a large cyclorama of the battle of Atlanta. A whole building-as large as the Waterville Post Office is given to it. There is an old Confederate soldier at the door. One walks in through a passage-way and up a few steps and comes out on a small balcony. All around is this magnificent painting. I have no idea how large it is but it would be much larger I think than as if the inside walls of the Waterville Post Office-the main room-were painted. The ground is left in its natural state except that old broken wheels, and cannons, and ammunition and guns and hats are strewn about. The picture is so nicely done that one would imagine oneself to be standing in a spot-able to turn and look away in every direction. The picture shows the union troops near at hand and the Confederate soldiers in the distance. The old soldier who explains the painting knows who each of the officers shown are. It is an awful thing but is really wonderful. I never before had such a vivid conception of how horrible war is. We talked with the soldier at the door on our way out. It was an awful nice old chap. Most soldiers like to tell of how much they were wounded but this man said, "Yes, sir, I went through that whole thing and didn't get a single scratch." He said that it was just about that time of day that the worst of the battle occurred. He was very much interested to hear that we came from New England. In the register we found the names of some Portland people who had been there that day. The painting was done by three Germans. We were in there for nearly two hours so we didn't have very much time to see the rest of the Park. There is a zoo and many other interesting things there.
Marjorie's people sent her up some grape fruit and oranges from their trees. They were good. The Everinghams have found an apartment. Mr. Everingham has bought another lot and plans to build to sell next year. They leased the house in Kittery for enough to pay their rent in Florida, and are letting some of the rooms there so they are making money on that transaction.
We had something last night which they called baked beans. They were rather large light colored beans stewed or cooked some way with catsup. They tasted good, though. The food still continues to be good. They have fruit every morning. Did you ever have any eggplant? I love it fried, and I like the stuffed peppers which we have too.
Friday evening we went over to Morehouse to a violin recital. Mr. Harreld, the music teacher there is a remarkable player. He studied in the North and abroad. He gave the most of the program, but Marion Guthrie, soprano, the music teacher here, gave a number of songs, and the Morehouse Glee Club sang. They were wonderful. They sang A Moorish Serenade that is "She Sleeps My Lady Sleeps," "Just You," and "The Bells of St. Mary's." There were some beautiful voices and the chorus singing was the best that I ever heard. They looked nice too. They didn't have dress suits but wore dark suits with white shirts and ties. Some of them were white and some black, which gave a variety to the scene. Morehouse has some wonderful looking men. The President looks a lot like "Parmie." You would no more suspect that he is a negro than you would suspect "Parmie" of being. I have heard that he was brought up in a white family and didn't know that he was negro until he was ten or twelve years old.
Sade [Sarah Pottle, wife of John K.] sent the buttons for my serge dress. I bought a giddy tie to wear with my other blue dresses, so now I am all set for cold weather. I haven't gotten around yet to finish that grey dress or to fix my grey skirt. I am quite tempted to buy a winter coat when the sales go on. They have begun to mark them down already and in a month or two there will be some wonderful bargains. I could probably get a good coat for half the price it would cost me next fall. The only thing that I am thinking of is that it probably wouldn't add much to its appearance to pack it in a trunk and tote it from Atlanta to Otisfield.
How are you feeling now? I shall be a little worried until I hear from you for fear that you may be having a real sick spell. Be awfully careful not to get into any dust and look out for burnt fat. If you feel a bad attack coming on you had better pack up for Waterville or Hebron or somewhere else until you aren't afflicted.
The flat tire delegation paper came last week. Only Elizabeth, Elsie, and Amy had written then, but they gave quite a bit of news. Amy has her hair cut. They seem to think that Chi Omega has a good bunch of freshmen this year. I don't suppose that you had a chance to see any of them, did you?
I am so glad that you could go to Waterville. It was good for you and I know how glad Stelle was to be surprised. Please surprise me and call some day. I'm glad to hear that Stelle is doing so well in her studies this year. She can all right if she decides to do it.
Sade wrote me a letter at the time she sent the buttons. She is very happy to be in her home
My youngsters in study period the other day tried to get me to talking evolution. One of the teachers in a social science class is teaching it, which I'm afraid is more or less of a mistake. Some of them came to me and said she told them that Adams was a monkey. Taking it up as hurriedly as they are and being so young they do not at all understand it.
A week from Thursday is Thanksgiving. We will have a good time here and it will be nice to have a holiday. Did you have Armistice Day off? We didn't, of course, but we stood for two minutes, with bowed heads at eleven o'clock. That was right in the middle of a test which I was giving, and while I devoutly bowed my head the kids exchanged papers and cribbed in grand style. I am going to write to Winifred now.
Very much love to you Mother, Your Sammy
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 18, 1925
Source: PDF page 51; printed page 45.
Postmark: Atlanta, Nov. 18, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Tuesday.
Dearest Mother,
I will write a little bit before I go to Christian Endeavor. I have to go to the meeting in Morehouse South every Tuesday night. The girls have devotions Sunday morning, Sunday School in the forenoon, church in the afternoon, prayer meeting at night, Christian Endeavor Tuesday night, and regular prayer meeting Thursday night, and Y.W. meeting Wednesday night. Do you think that anyone could complain that we do not teach religion?
Ruth came over for a little while this afternoon. She has a rather bad bum from acid on her arm. It is not serious at all but it is rather uncomfortable I guess.
I had a letter from Dorothy Hannaford today. Everything seems to be going well at college. Everyone says that we have a wonderful crowd of freshmen. I had a letter from Mr. Ellis. Leota has to have an examination. No, John will get all of the [life insurance] commission. I have really done quite a bit of the business, though, filling out the application, etc. But as long as it is going to John I do not mind. I will send you the letter which I had from Sibel [Lamb, in Otisfield]. Do you suppose that she really will go away for the winter?
I asked one of my children this morning to read 2 - (X - 3) and she read, "Two minus the Corinthians X - 3." She thought just as much as anyone else did, that it was a good joke when she saw her mistake.
Ig McDonald is still at home. She feels pretty badly to think that she is doing nothing.
Every Tuesday night we young teachers have a party. We sew and gossip-gossip mostly-and have a little something to eat. It is a good chance to get sewing done and we always have a good time.
The Jaelines must have a wonderful house. It isn't as nice, though, as your and my apartment will be next year. Won't we have a nice time together?
I must get busy. Much love to you, Your Sammy
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, November 19, 1925
Source: PDF page 52; printed page 46.
Heading: Spelman, Thursday
Dear Brute,
I'm sorry that you have never received the last six letters I've written. Mother writes that you say you have answered every letter from me, so about a dozen have been lost somewhere. I shall speak to the United States Post Office about it.
I haven't done anything very exciting lately. A week-no, two weeks ago Sunday, Ruth and I went out to spend the day with a Southern family. I guess I wrote to you about that. We surely had a good time. They were wonderful. If I haven't told you about it I will sometime.
I've had a lot of letters this week-from Auntie, and Sibyl [Lamb] and Evelyn and Ig and Mother and Carl and Fred. Does Fred write you every other Sunday?
Did you know that next Thursday is Thanksgiving? I shall weep bitter tears as I eat my chicken and watermelon. How sad that we will be apart! Don't you feel badly about it? I suppose that you will dine at Foss Hall-what? Did I tell you that I had lost ten pounds? That was a long time ago. I took up eating again and gained it all back. After Thanksgiving I shall be more portly than ever.
The round robin on our delegation has come this far. I will send it on to Doris Hardy and so you may get the news from that.
One of my youngsters said that X - (X + 3) is X minus the Corinthians X + 3. I get a lot of information like that.
If it's a good day Saturday we are going out to Stone Mountain. We've been planning to go all the fall but have done something else each Saturday. We will plan to take a picnic lunch and eat up with Robert Lee and the horses.
I have made mother some napkins for Christmas. We haven't any good ones at home so I bought some nice ones and hemmed them. What are you going to give her? If you would like to have me I will get something here in Atlanta-if you tell me what to get. Or I will send the money to you. What do you want? Name anything under ten cents and I will buy it for you.
Tonight is prayer meeting night-but that doesn't mean much because we have them most of the time. Tonight, though, Anna is leading. Everyone on the faculty is supposed to lead, but there are sixty of us and only thirty-six or so weeks, so I hope that it won't get to me.
Honest, if you knew how much I would like to hear from you you'd write once in a while. Tell me about fraternity and all the girls and everything.
Tell Irma that I had a letter from her today. I bet that she didn't know it. I'll answer it sometime.
Perhaps Charles Carrol[1] is going to stop off to see me on his way to Florida.
Yours until Old Madge [the horse] and I grow old and defimticate. Nell.
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, Lee Academy, November 22, 1925
Source: PDF page 54; printed page 48.
Postmark: Atlanta, Nov. 23, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Sunday morning.
Dearest Marmie,
A beautiful Sunday not made for a lazy person like me who has just got up. There are some of the nicest people here. Whenever anyone wants to sleep over, she doesn't have to ask someone to bring her breakfast from the dining room-someone always does. This morning three different teachers brought over portions so I had a regular meal. This is the first morning that I've slept over.
Yesterday was a perfect day. We had been planning for a week to go to Stone Mountain... We spent most of the morning getting our lunch ready. Anna and Leota had college classes until ten. Win and I went out to West End to get material for the sandwiches, etc. We made ham and lettuce and nut, peanut butter and marshmallow and chocolate sandwiches-eight apiece. We took fruit, olives, pickles, etc. and were going to have a cake but that didn't come. Each one of us took her thermos full of coffee. We started from here about half past ten and took the Stone Mountain car downtown at half past eleven. It is about fifteen miles out and so it was twelve-thirty by the time we reached the base. There is a sort of a trail up the sloping side of the mountain. By the trail it is quite a bit over a mile so it was past one and we were rather hungry when we reached the top. Such a view! The leaves have turned now, and we could see miles and miles and miles of fields and woods and towns. There are no other mountains of size about. So I presume that we saw into Alabama, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The fields are terraced, and for that reason the general view is much different from the views at home, and of course we could see no water except a tiny lake at the base of the mountain. I suppose that there is no other mountain like Stone Mountain. It is a big boulder, quite a big one. It is not faulted or jointed like granite at home, but except for the places where granite is taken out for commercial use, it is very smooth from weathering. A few pathetic, stunted trees grow on the sloping side, mostly pines, and some like the little sprig I'm sending. This piece came from as near the top as trees grow. What thrilled me more than the Confederate memorial or anything else was the sight of some real dirt, not red clay but real honest dirt. It was the first that I'd seen since I left New York.
The day was cool enough for us to wear our heavy sweaters. You should have seen the people stare at us on the car. I don't suppose that it would ever enter a Southern girl's foolish head to climb Stone Mountain, or, if it did, she would go in a satin dress and French heels. The sun was so hot on the top that we took off our sweaters. We found a rock for a table and another beside it for a bench and spread [out] our feed. It didn't get spread far before it began to go down. Gosh, we were hungry. I ate seven sandwiches without flickering an eyelash and stopped on the eighth only because I was ready for my fruit. After we had eaten we were all so tired and full that we stretched out on the rock and recuperated. Once in a while one of us would rouse up to laugh at the sight of what appeared to be five lifeless corpses stretched about. A flock of great black birds flew over and we decided that they were vultures coming for us. Whenever I think of Stone Mountain now it won't be Robert Lee and his men which will come to my mind; it will be the thought of us all lying up there in the burning sun-too lazy to move.
About three we got up and picked up our stuff. And then, of all the dark fool stunts in the world-we decided to go down over the other side of the mountain. Of course, we couldn't see down, but, for that matter, in the direction which we came up ten rods away looked as if it were the edge of the world. Well we started out. It was a rather queer sensation to see those in front apparently step off over the brink. We kept on for perhaps a quarter of a mile. It was awful- we had no idea what we were coming to next, and if we had started sliding there was nothing whatsoever to stop us for on that side there were no trees. 1 Finally we decided that discretion is the better part of valor and all but Anna and one of the other girls started back up, to come down as we went up, partly because we knew that within an hour it would begin to get dark. Going up was a whole lot worse than going down, but we got there and in another half hour were at the foot. Then we went around the base to the side where the carving is. The carving is a stupendous project, even if it is, to my reckoning, a foolish one. All that is finished now is Lee's head (partly) and the heads of two horses. You probably heard about the trouble which they had with Borghum and how Lukeman is going to begin work on it next week-there has been no work done since last February. I don't remember about just what the trouble was with Borghum but the man who took us into the studio seemed very bitter toward him. He saw that we were interested and took us into the place where Borghum had his models. When Borghum left he was so disgusted with the whole thing that he took a hammer and mutilated all the models. Poor old Robert Lee is noseless and earless and the horse's head is ruined. Of course the complete model is intact. These ruined models are the ones which Borghum took up there with him.
Lukeman has changed the design entirely. I like Borghum's much better. Probably Borghum was entirely or partly justified for doing what he did. There are stairs up the side up to the carving, and he said-the guide said-that when the engineer came he would see if he'd take us up to w[h]ere the carving is. But of course we were just about petrified all the time as to what had happened to Anna and Stella, and it was beginning to get dark so we knew that we should be heading toward home since we had to walk way back around the mountain to take the car . I am very sorry that we missed the chance to go up the stairs. It is right up the face of the cliff and they usually do not let people go up. Probably few would care to.
Anna and Stella should have been there long before this time for they would come to the base nearly over to where the carving is. After we had almost decided to see about a searching party, they arrived. They had had a wild time. They were quite a bit ahead and out of sight of us when we left them and started back up, although by shouting we could make each other understand. They told us that the reason they didn't go back was that they couldn't but found it easier to go on than to come back. By going diagonally they made it all right for a while then they came to a place where they thought that they could go no farther. They both slipped and thought for a moment that they were goners, but that gave them an idea, and then they sat down and worked along in that manner the rest of the way. They were a sight when they reached us. Their hands were all bleeding and their clothes were torn all to pieces. They had pulled up their skirts so they were all right, and they weren't indecently dressed, apparently, to go home on the car, but their underclothes were mostly missing. We were pretty glad to see them coming through. I guess that they have had enough excitement for a while.
The cards which I'm sending show the Gutson Borghum design and the mountain from the other side, I think. We went up the gently sloping side. The pamphlet shows Lukeman's design.
We came back in by trolley, made hot chocolate and toast and were ready to go to bed.
I sent Carl some fudge for his birthday Friday. It will probably be hard as brick when it gets there, although some of the teachers have had it arrive in very good condition from the North.
Ranks go out again in two weeks and at tht time the year will be a third up. The weeks go very quickly here. I never knew tme to pass so rapidly. It won't be long before I'll be back with you again. A holiday Thursday will make next week fly.
When will Stelle's next term bill be due? If it is after the first of February I can pay that all right.
Have you finally recovered from the burnt sausage fat? If you should start being sick in Lee that would be rather discouraging.
The girls have just come out from Sunday School and are all out on the campus enjoying themselves. The wind sounds cold but the sun is warm.
We are going to have rabbit for dinner. It is considered to be quite a delicacy in these parts. I heard yesterday that for the two hundred and fifty girls in the students' dining room, there is only one cook. Of course she has a lot of student help and I presume that it is a rather meager fare which the girls have, although they use a barrel of flour each day.
A happy and glorious Thanksgiving to you all! Think of me as you eat and I'll think of you as I eat.
Lots of love to you Mother and to the rest of the folks. Your, Sammy
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 24, 1925
Source: PDF page 57; printed page 51.
Postmark: Atlanta, Nov. 25, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Thursday
Dearest Marmie,
Your letter came this afternoon. It was nice to get such a lovely one. I had a letter from Marion, too.
I have written Stelle again tonight. I've written three times since she has but I'll try again. I should like to hear from her. I'm so glad that she is doing better in her courses this year.
It was nice that Chilton could come out to see you. I always thought that he is nice, although I don't believe that I ever met him or talked with him. Margaret Turner wrote Marjorie that Marjorie Kemp was to be married and that about a week before the time of the wedding she decided that she didn't want the man. I wonder if that's true.
I don't know whether Marion Merriam would be able to teach in Winifred's place or not. She isn't a brilliant student but I think that perhaps she could teach the subjects. The discipline would be her greatest problem. I am beginning to think that that is the biggest part of teaching. My hoodlums surely make me step lively. Although I think that probably Marion M. Could do it, it would be well to look around for other teachers a bit first.
I had a nice letter from Auntie today.
I am glad that John has sold the place at Lovell, so now I suppose he owns his house at McFalls [Mechanic Falls]. I am anxious to see it. I will price some floor lamps when I get around to go into town. It would probably be better to give them the money for it unless some of you get out to a place where you could order one and have it sent.
If you do decide you want me to get things tell me as soon as you can, and I can get them before Christmas prices go on. Then too they often tear open the packages at Christmas time to inspect them. Don't bother to send the money. I can get them all right.
I'll mail this on my way to prayer meeting. Much love, Nellie Sam
Nellie Pottle to Annette K. Pottle, November 28, 1925
Source: PDF page 58; printed page 52.
Postmark: Atlanta, Nov. 29, 1925 Heading: Spelman, Sunday.
Dearest Marmie,
Even if I should go abroad, or marry a millionaire, or do any equally exciting things, I will never again get the thrill I had from your Thanksgiving box. You can't realize how wonderful it was to have something which I knew you, yourself made. Even if it hadn't been good, I should have eaten it just the same, and it was wonderful. The cakes and cookies were just as fresh as if they had been cooked the day before. It came on Wednesday so it really wasn't on the way so very long. It was tied up so well that it wasn't in the least crushed. I invited Matjorie and Anna and Leota and Win in, Wednesday evening. We made hot chocolate to go with the cake, and even though we ate all that we could hold half of each cake was left for me to consume at my leisure. Both cakes were delicious. We had an awfully good time together Wednesday evening. I wish that they grew apples like those here in Georgia. Tell Mr. Curtis that he had better come down and teach them how.
I really had a very happy Thanksgiving Day. I'd planned not to be homesick anyway and to enjoy myself, but I enjoyed myself without trying. We had a service in the forenoon which was quite inspiring, all the girls told what they were thankful for, and they all seemed to be thankful for a lot, although I imagine that many people in their circumstances might find it hard to be grateful for their lot. At noon we had a real New England Thanksgiving dinner almost. We had soup first, then chicken and yams and rice and peas, and cranberry sauce and mince pie. Of course it wasn't as good as you would have given me, but it seemed like Thanksgiving at least. It was a warm rainy day here, but that isn't as bad as it sounds, for we made merry inside. In the afternoon we collected in Anna's room and Marjorie read plays to us. We got our own suppers-they furnished food from the dining room. In the evening we were invited over to Morehouse South to an entertainment which the girls were putting on. It was The First Thanksgiving and was very, very good. The costumes were very realistic, and they had the whitest girls for Puritans and the swarthy ones for Indians so it was very effective. The girl who took the part of John Alden is one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen. After the entertainment we played games. They certainly know how to play, and the way they work jazz into good old orthodox games is remarkable. Though few of the teachers recognized it, I'm positive that they were doing the Charleston in tucker. They gave us a wonderful time.
It is a shame that you had a crowd at Thanksgiving time. I am afraid that your Thanksgiving wasn't a holiday. I know that Marion would help you a lot. It made it nice for Winifred and Moult that they could go to Southwest. I hope that they had good warm weather. I never minded cold weather so much in my life, as I mind a day when it goes down to forty here. We haven't had many of them, but because of the sudden changes in weather, a day like that feels like the North Pole. I am anxious to know whether you had snow for Thanksgiving.
Has your affliction passed? I hadn't heard of Mattie Crawford, but think that if I were you and I thought that I had the itch coming on, I'd try her. If faith could cure the itch it could cure most anything. Probably it was something else, however. I hope so and that you are all right now.
Mr. Buden's Bible class must be very interesting. What are you studying now? I don't blame Winifred for getting mad at the priest. And speaking of him, I had a letter from Mark the other day. It was a very nice letter, but I didn't exactly understand what he meant when he said that he was glad I had found the man of my choice until I had a letter from Elsie yesterday. Elsie said that she saw Mark in Portland and that they had quite a talk together. Mark thinks that I'm engaged to Carl, and Elsie didn't see fit to tell him otherwise. Poor old Carlos! He would fall into a fit or a faint if he knew that anyone thought any such thing but since there is no chance of his knowing it, the situation seems to be ideal. Mark is principal of the High School at Appleton, is preaching and is very happy, so he says.
I'm glad that you wrote about Christmas presents. Yes, I had a letter from Stelle last week and she gave me even a longer list than she did you. I think that I will order the guard for her fraternity pin for her birthday. She might not get it by Christmas. I had planned to give her money for her mem book, I think that I will do that just the same, and get her some other of the smaller things too. I am quite sure that I could get hr a good looking dress in jersey or flannel for ten dollars if you would like to give her that.
They are having sales here now. I could get one and if it happened to be something which she didn't like I would take it for myself. I will get the things sometime this week, and send them before the Christmas rush begins. I like the idea of giving silver to Winifred and Moult and to Fred and Marion. I will send four dollars to Fred, two for himself and Marion and two to get spoons for Winifred and Moult. It is good to have something which one is sure a person will like. I guess that the floor lamp would be too e xpensive to send to John and Sade. Probably they would enjoy more picking out things for themselves, as far as furnishing the house goes, so I think that I will send them money to get what they want. I will get something for Auntie and Uncle Fred and Uncle Sid.
I haven't thought a whole lot about what I myself want. I should like some nice gold fasteners to go with a ribon for our wrist watch. The link bracelet is getting loose. I should like a guard for my pin, too-one of the smallest jewelled ones. I should like a nice leather notebook, one of the medium sized ones, with my name on it. I'd like some more ivory-a soap dish especially. I'd like some grey stockings for every day-some like what Marion gets in the medium grey shade. Then 1 always like handkerchiefs and writing paper and stock presents like that. Remember that I'm making money now so don't try to send me too much for anything which you give me will mean an awful lot to me.
I shopped yesterday all day long and bought things quite recklessly. I had planned to buy me a dress when I first came down but had made my black one do. Although the prices in the windows seemed very reasonable, when I began to look the good looking dresses over I found them quite expensive. For a dark satin dress such as I had planned to get, I found that I would have to pay about thirty dollars. They were lovely material though and if they had been just what I wanted I probably would have bought one. But in one of the smaller stores I found one which I liked very much in a soft green shade. It is a perfect fit, has long full sleeves gathered at the waist, a kippy high collar with a little embroidery on the flated skirt. That doesn't sound so very pretty, but it really is. The shade is soft enough so that it doesn't emphasize my moles and freckles, and it fits very well. It is a flat crepe and cost only fourteen dollars. I think perhaps it as better to get a lighter dress, since we will be wearing summer things here again before the first of February they say, and it is dark enough to wear now. I bought me some one strap patent leather pumps and a nice pair of stockings to go with it, all for the price of what one of the expensive dresses would have cost.
Marjorie's people are coming back up here to Atlanta for the winter. Mrs. Everingham was very homesick in Florida. We found a nice apartment for them out at West End only a short walk from here.
If I don't get time today to write to Winifred and Marion thank them an awful lot for the candy and cookies. I want to learn how to make them.
I have had three nice letters from you this week. It was wonderful to get everyone of them. An awful lot of love, Your Sammie
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, November 29, 1925
Source: PDF page 60; printed page 54.
Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Dear Sweet Pickle,
I wish to order a whole set like the volume which you sent last week. Please send them separately one every two weeks or so. You must have been thinking about those hour quizzes for you mentioned them three times. I suppose that they are all over now.
So you have to write a thesis on Customs in the Old South and want some local color. There is plenty of local color about these parts-about a half of the population in fact. I can give you a lot of information about that but that's about all that I can do.
It was quite horrid of you to write a letter during Bib. Lit. class. But that's nothing compared to what some of the people do in my classes.
Well did you pile on the fowl Thursday? Ma sent me an awful nice box and it surely warmed my gizzard as well as my heart. I guess that she sent you one just like it. Didn't it taste pretty good, what? It was warm and rainy here all day Thursday but we didn't mind for we were amusing ourselves inside most of the time.
You want altogether too much for Christmas. What do you think we are-millionaires? I shall give you a handkerchief, and possibly, if I thinkt hat I can afford it, I will send you a one-cent postal card. Besides, folks down here don't wear long bright colored bands around their heads, so I don't know what they are like. No one down this way ever wears any sports clothes but always silk dresses. I have seen some turtle-necked sweaters in stores, though. As I said before I shall give you a handkerchief. You mustn't be humored.
A week ago Saturday we climbed Stone Mountain. I guess that I haven't written to you about that. Five of us teachers went. We took the car out to the base and then climbed up in the mountain and had our dinner on the summit. It was nice and warm and we had a wonderful time. But, like darned fools, we tried to come down over the other side when we started home. It is awfully steep-worse than the front side of Streaked [Mountain, in Maine], and there in nothing to stop you if you start sliding. Finally we found that we would have to come back, so we did. But Anna and one of the others had gone so far that they couldn't come back. We climbed back up to the top finally and went down as we came and around the mountain to where the carving is. We were scared to death about Anna and Stella, but they finally arrived. Weren't they a sight! Their clothes were all torn to pieces, and their hands were cut and bleeding. They had had to sit down and wiggle along that way. They had taken off their coats and pulled up their dresses so they weren't torn, but their pants were seatless by the time they reached the foot of the mountain, and they slept more comfortably on their stomachs that night, they said. All of the carving which is completed on the mountain is Lee's head and the heads of two horses. It is quite wonderful. We had an awful lot of fun that day.
I'm pretty tickled about the home news too [Moult and Winifred Pottle are expecting a baby]. He is going to be a wonderful youngster-can't help with such a mother, father, aunts, uncles, and grandmothers etc. Albanus Jacob is a good name all right, but I think it is rather too bad to let the old Kemp family name of Ebenezer die out. How about Ebenezer Albanus Jacob?
I took your suggestion about my enjoying clothes now more than I will when I'm fifty, earnestly and bought me some yesterday. I got a silk dress-flat crepe, a dull green, flaring skirt, high collar, long sleeves, little bit of velvet on the sleeves and collar, a little embroidery on the skirt. It is really pretty good looking. Then too I got me some shoes and a pair of stockings. The shoes are patent leather, one strap. They look something like this [Nellie includes a sketch], No, they are better looking than that.
My dress looks something like this. [Nellie has sketched a dress.] Now, I ask you, isn't that a thing of beauty? Please don't tell me to get any more clothes until another payday arrives.
I'm glad to hear that the ATOs have a good bunch. It's too bad that Dinty Moore isn't back. I wish that you would nab Erick. He's a nice boy. He has been playing footb all this fall, hasn't he. I'm surprised to hear that Parson Fowlie is no shiek.
Friday evening they had a concert of harps here. Marjorie and I decided that we would get a greater thrill out of ours in heaven if we waited until then to hear them, so we went into town to see Gloria in Stage Struck. Probably you have seen it. Most of the pictures go around the world before they come back here. It was good. Not a bit though like the pictures in which she usually plays. I like the man who plays with her.
You must have an awfully good freshman bunch. By the way, would you send me their addresses, where they will be at Christmas time. I guess that I will send them a card. How many are there in fraternity this year not counting the freshmen. Does Irma like her job. Does Ducky like hers?
I would gladly send you a chicken except that the kind they grow down here are all skin and bones so there wouldn't be much to send, and the nights are getting too cold for me to send the kids out to swipe watermelons.
I'm surely glad that you didn't take the wild transfer. You need a little bit of wildness in a fraternity to keep it alive, but too much is not so good. Caroline Herrick sounds quite nice.
It was too bad that the girls didn't get to Freshman Banquet. I managed to get there all four years, and had a pretty good time most of the time.
I had a nice letter from El the other day and she wanted to be remembered to you. She was talking with our friend Mark in Portland. Mark thinks that Carl and I are engaged and Elsie didn't see fit to tell him otherwise. Wouldn't poor old Carlos have a fit though, if he knew that anybody thought that?
I guess that I'll freeze to death when I get back home. When it goes down to freezing here I nearly expire. We haven't had many such days though. The year is a third up when next week ends. I wish that I was going to Lee with you for Christmas. You must see that mother gets a vacation. Don't let her work all of the time. Will you go with the butcher knife to collect a Christmas tree? Don't let Verd Maxwell buy you too much oyster stew at the K. of P. New Years Ball, and don't let Taylor walk off his shoes for you.
Do you ever go down to see Mrs. Marriner? I suppose that Junior is just as much of a terror as ever.
This letter is a little thin. I guess that I'll put something in to inflate it. Don't break the town by buying it all out.
For Christmas I want a guard to my pin, a nice leather covered note book with my name on it, gold catches for my watch, a plaid scarf with browns and dull greens especially or greys and blues, writing paper, ivory soap box especially.
A nice pair of small scissors for one thing would be good to give Ma.
Write again sometime piciune. Love, Nell
Source and transcription
Original complete PDF, transcribed by Jean F. Hankins, 2003. Original spelling, bracketed notes, and omissions marked with dots are retained. This web edition was extracted from the scanned transcription; consult the PDF when an exact reading is important.