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From A Maine Woman Goes South, letters transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2003. This installment contains 9 letters. Historical dates appear with each letter; the article retains the original collection’s publication date.
Nellie Pottle to Betsy Kemp, Oxford, Maine, October 1, 1926
Source: PDF page 147; printed page 141.
Heading: Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, October 1, 1926.
Dear Auntie,
We have had another hot day today, but a breeze is coming up now and it seems cooler. I suppose that our hot weather can't last very much longer.
Our table gave Mother a birthday party Wednesday night. We had the very appropriate decorations of mosquitoes-big green and yellow ones. And for a present we gave her a big bottle of mosquito lotion and some mosquito netting.
I stayed in last night and she celebrated by going with a crowd of the teachers into the city to see a show.
The big Southeastern Fair comes this next week. That is always one of the big events around here. We enjoyed it last year so I imagine that we will go again this year.
Your house must be going to look pretty nice. I really think that a white house with green trimmings is about as pretty as anything. But it must keep you busy getting meals for all of the folks who are around.
They have been digging our sweet potatoes today. They do it with a plow. The vines are so tangled that they have to go through with the plow between the rows to untangle them. We had some of the potatoes today and they are certainly good.
I guess that Stella Q. is pretty well settled at Colby. The room-mate whom she was planning on didn't come back-and so she is alone now.
Write to us as often as you find time and tell us all the Otisfield news and gossip.
Lots of love, Nellie Sam.
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, October 4, 1926
Source: PDF page 148; printed page 142.
Postmark: Atlanta, Oct. 4, 1926 Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Dear Little Brute,
This is going to be an envelope full and running over I reckon.
I went out to finish up our display out at the Fair yesterday morning. It bids fair to be good this year.
In the afternoon we went into town and shopped and then went to see Bebe Daniels in "The Campus Flirt." It's awfully good. You want to see it. You have a good picture by Bebe and see Charlie Paddock himself.
After the show we went into a little sandwich shop-run by Georgia Tech boys. We got a dandy supper except that the boy forgot to give Marjorie a spoon. Marjorie looked up at him wistfully and said, "Spoon, please!" He didn't understand her so she repeated it again, "Spoon, please!" By that time all of us including the boy, except Marjorie, saw the humor of her entreaty. It's a lot of fun to go in there. We like it because on the menus it says, "A tip is a gratuity from a superior to an inferior. Don't hurt our feelings."
I have a Sunday School class this year. It's a pretty good bunch.
Have you got any polish for your new shoes? I have some Jackson's. It is a white paste and comes in a tube. It's wonderful stuff. If you can't get any tell me and I'll send you some.
How are prospects for Freshmen? I suppose that the war is on.
Give my love to everybody-especially any of those in my delegation whom you may see.
Lots of love, Nellie Sam
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, October 17, 1926
Source: PDF page 149; printed page 143.
Heading: Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia, Sunday 17,1926
Dear Runt,
Your rushing party must have been some swell affair. I don't see how anyone could decide not to be a Chi Omega after all that, if she had had any doubts before. I'm anxiously waiting your next letter to see how everything came out. Be sure to send the pledges names and what they are like. You need a good b ig crowd to bring us back to our quota. And what is more-more folks-less dues.
I should like awfully well to know your room-mate. Tell her that she comes from a darned good class.
Ig [Grace McDonald] says that she'll disown you if you don't write to her. Her address is 15 Highland Ave., Houlton.
I'm afraid that Jane may have come at the same time as George. Probably they'd come together. Auntie wrote that Sade [Sarah Pottle, wife of Nellie and Stelle's brother John] was thinking of going up country.
What do you know? I went to see a surgeon about my Charlie Horse and he had the impertinence to tell me that it wasn't a Charlie Horse at all, but an inflamed sabacous gland (how interesting) or a fatty tumor (indeed!). He says that I should have it out, so when I get enough cash together I'm going up some Friday afternoon for the ordeal. The worst thing about it is that I shall be able to get back to teaching Monday morning.
Monday morning. We were going out to Stone Mountain yesterday afternoon. But the friends decided that I shouldn't, so Matjorie and I tramped all around over the city instead.
Mother and I got our monthly stipends Friday and have laid it all aside for your term bill-allowing ourselves only five dollars to spend for the whole month. "Go thou and do likewise." Be sure that they know where to send it (the bill).
Be sure to give my love to all the folks to whom I'd want it imparted.
If you ever have any sewing that you'd like done and it's something that we could do without a living model, we'll do our best. Perhaps I could act as your facsimile. My girt is gaining still on Southern cooking.
Lots of love, Nell
P.S. Did Otto make a fraternity?
Nellie Pottle to Betsy Kemp, October 17, 1926
Source: PDF page 150; printed page 144.
Heading: Spelman College, Sunday
Dear Auntie,
My last letter did get through to Maine in pretty quick order. For some reason they go more quickly some times than others.
We are having nice fall weather now, but we miss the bright colors of the leaves. Here they simply dry and shrivle up, and fall off.
I wish that I could see your house all painted up. When you get around to fix the sitting room and the inside part perhaps I'll be there to help. I hope that we can get our house painted next fall.
Quite a crowd of the teachers went out to Stone Mountain yesterday afternoon. It was a little hazy and I thought that I'd wait until some day when it was a little clearer and we could see away. We are going out to Kennesaw some afternoon too.
Stelle isn't much of a hand to write letters, but she does pretty well about writing to us. Probably she thinks that we will write back to you everything she tells us. She plans to come up home when Jane comes down.
Sadie will be getting up home quite a number of times this summer if she goes up again this year.
I spent yesterday afternoon down-street shopping with one of the other teachers. There are lots of pretty things in the stores, and they are very reasonable.
Ma is going to write some more to you. We are always glad to get your letters.
Love, Nellie
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, October 20, 1926
Source: PDF page 151; printed page 145.
Postmark: Atlanta, Oct. 20,1926 Heading: Spelman, Wednesday
Dear Spookindike,
Under separate cover we are sending the luncheon set started so long ago. We were planning to send it for Christmas but decided that you might appreciate having it now. Perhaps we could make you some new table runners too. How many tops do you have to cover; what is the predomenate [sic] color note; and how would you like them made. I'm making a cute little bridge set now to give to someone for Christmas. By the way, we won't have any money to buy Christmas presents at Christmas time, but if you send a list of what you'd like we might possibly make you something.
Mother is going on a picnic today. Was it hot in Waterville yesterday? It was here.
I'm awfully anxious to get your letter and to know how rushing wound up. Also to know whether you went home or stayed and entertained George-sweet child!
Glade was telling me this morning that all of our bags of potatoes have Aroostoc Maine printed in big letters across the sack. Zillie! Want to go to Orin Brook's picnic!
Ma and I have quite a lot of time to sew, and we are going to make some things for the house-table cloths and towels and so on. Have you any ideas? You and I ought to fix up a room for ourselves next summer. What one shall we choose? I think that mother is going to fix up our old playroom with her old fashioned furniture.
Marjorie met a man at the church the other day whose stenographer comes from Waterville. She is there now on her vacation, but Marjorie is going down to see her as soon as she comes back.
Will you please find out what Miss Runnel's address is and send it to me.
Write to us pretty often Iota and we will try to do likewise.
Love to Jumbo, Sam
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, October 24, 1926
Source: PDF page 152; printed page 146.
Heading: Atlanta, Georgia, October 24,1926
Dear Dumplin,
How is my sweet snookums today? I see by the Atlanta Constitution that Bowdoin beat Colby, but I suppose if George was there to witness the defeat with you, you didn't mind so much. How went the battle?
I haven't done anything very exciting since I wrote to you last. Four of us went out to Clark Friday evening to celebrate one of the teachers' birthday with her. She is the one who used to work over at the Summit Springs House. We had a dandy time. Clark is a pretty place, with a nice woodsy campus. It is out on the other side of town near the Federal Prison. It was sort of a queer sensation getting on a Federal Prison car.
We went out to the new Art Museum' yesterday afternoon. Mrs. High, a very wealthy citizen, has given up her beautiful and costly home as an art museum. It's worth going out just to see the house and grounds. Some of the pictures are very lovely, too.
I'm tickled pink over Chi Omega's rushing luck. You certainly did awfully well to get them all. Now train them up to be good Chi Omegas. Doris Tozier wrote that you all got first rank in the college last semester. Good for Chi Omega.
As for you yourself, Estelle Margaret, if you aren't careful you will be outshining your elder sister. She didn't get an A of the Lieut. Her first year to him.
How is it in Waterville? Cold? It's still hot here. I worse a coat down street yesterday and like to have roasted. Are skirts still short in Maine? I'm afraid that they're going down down here and I'm worried because most of mine won't.
Write us all of the news often sweet apple sauce. I should like very much to have a good fight with you this afternoon. I'd even submit to having some hair pulled.
Love, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Betsy Kemp, Oxford, Me., October 26, 1926
Source: PDF page 153; printed page 147.
Heading: Spelman College, October 26, 1926
Dear Auntie,
We are having a very rainy day in Atlanta today. It rained Sunday, too, but that is about all of the wet weather that we have had.
Yesterday afternoon another teacher and I walked into town. It was 38 degrees above in the morning and we appreciated a little cool weather to put some life into us.
Mother is busy turning my best green dress. It got so faded that it looked very badly, but by turning it, it looks like new cloth. I'm going to put some bright embroidery on it and it will look like a new dress. I've fixed up my old summer coat to wear for another winter, so now I'm all ready for cold weather to come.
We are going to have a birthday party at our table Wednesday night. One of the teachers has a birthday in June, after we go home, so we are going to celebrate it now. They have made a cake over at the cooking class and are going to frost it with caramel frosting and decorate it up with chocolate witches for Hallowe'en.
Are you still getting meals for the same big crowd? It must keep you pretty busy.
Stelle seems to be doing well in her studies this year. I used to think that Prof. Weber was the hardest teacher and I never got anything but a B to him my first year but Stelle writes that so far she has had an A.
Well I guess that I must go to chapel now. Love to you all, Nellie Sam
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, Waterville, Maine, October 29, 1926
Source: PDF page 153; printed page 147.
Postmark: Atlanta, Oct. 29, 1926
Dear old horse,
Perhaps we have a letter from you over in the office, but I'm at class so I haven't seen it.
I just found a girl's book which she had left here, and a letter fell out written to her sweetie at home. They aren't supposed to write letters to men, and she was going to get some girl in town to mail it. If I reported it to the authorities they might send her home, and so I merely tore it up and put the pieces in the waste basket. Among other things she wanted him to send her some Baby Ruths, and Old Nicks, and Hershey bars, anything to eat in fact, only he must sign his name, Jorden, the same as hers, or they wouldn't let her have it.
We sent for the Colby Echo today, so now we will get some more Colby news. How did the other fraternities come out with their second bidding.
When are the term bills coming out? It seems as if yours ought to be here before now.
Do you have any time at all off at Thanksgiving this year. I mean besides the day. Maybe next year we can celebrate our Thanksgiving together. Who knows?
Ma went out with one of the teachers to visit a family she knows in town and I kept hall last night.
Well old horse, my class is coming in a moment. Farewell sweet Onion, Love to Jumbo, Sambo
Nellie Pottle to Estelle Pottle, Waterville, Me., c. October 31, 1926
Source: PDF page 154; printed page 148.
Heading: Spelman, Sunday
Sweet Sugar Babe.
Did I tell you about "Sugar Babe"? Some of the teachers were going down to West End quite late one night several weeks ago. We have to go through a rathr undesirable part of town to get there. The teachers saw part of this and heard the rest of the story.
Down at one of the shacks a little ways down there's a rather pretty flippant negro girl. That evening a drunk negro man came by and called for her to come down from the piazza. She didn't come and he started up after her. As she ran through the door he grabbed her feet and she fell full length on the floor. She got up and talked to him so violently that he was going away and she was contented with that, but her mother, a great big fat ol' negro, came out and they had a pitched battle, the girl helping out by hitting him over the head with a broom whenever she had the opportunity. By that time all the colored folks of the district came running out of their houses shouting "Big Black Man after Sugar Babe," and then someone hollared that he had a knife. The man got away from the woman and wanted to know who it was that wanted to fight with him. The big fat old lady puffed up to her full expansiveness and said, "It's me." By that time the men started back for their guns and the offender backed off down the street calling that he was coming back to bum up the old woman's house. But it still seems to [be] standing and "Sugar Babe" is still sitting on the piazza every afternoon with her black little baby. Just a bit of local color. Don't think that they are all like that.
Well "Sugar Babe" I guess that I haven't written to console you on the sudden termination ... [Letter breaks off at this point; probably a sheet is missing.]
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.