New York Wednesday Evening
My Dear Family,
Everyone has retired but if I do not write you tonight I fear a letter will not be written. It is only ten p.m. and I am not sleepy.
Service was very good on the B and O, but it was such a hot dusty journey. Saturday night was not bad, but as usual I could not sleep a wink. We had breakfast at the lunch counter in Chicago. We walked a few blocks from the depot but found it too hot to go far. Sunday was hot. We tried sitting on the rear of the Observation car but found it hot as well as terribly dirty. No interesting country until we reached the Potomac Monday morning. Slept well Sunday night, but had a touch of car sickness Monday and was glad to stop off at Washington. Sent a telegram to Uncle, made our reservations, and then started out sightseeing.
As it is 16 miles by river we took the 12 o'clock trolley to Mt. Vernon arriving at 1 o'clock. Walked about the grounds and through the Potomac. Had lunch outside of the grounds and returned on the 3 O'clock car searching the city at four. Took a sightseeing car about the city. Not very satisfactory but the best thing to do in the short time we had. It was too hot to walk-- 92° at Mt. Vernon and 102° in the city. We spent two hours in the Congressional Library which is open evenings. Most of the buildings close at 4:30 or even at 2 o'clock.
Got on a sleeper at ten dead tired, went to sleep and did not wake until morning. A thunderstorm rolled the atmosphere and gave us a cold breeze. Got up at 6:30 when the train pulled into New Jersey and off at 7:30. Uncle met us about ten minutes later and brought us home to breakfast.
I then took a walk with Uncle and Frances went to the market with Floss. We met Dr. Harris at lunch. He had been here over night and returned to Philadelphia in the afternoon. Looks well and very pleasant.
After lunch went over to New York, visited the Morgan collection and rode on top of the bus down fifth Ave. Arthur and Mr. Brown here for dinner. After dinner we took a car ride of over twenty miles through New York, Fifth Ave., Central Park, Riverside Drive, etc. Retired at 11:30 p.m. It had been a delightfully cool day requiring jackets.
This morning Fran and I started out with Uncle at 9 and went to New York. Met Mr. Brown who works in a brokers office and were escorted by him into the gallery of the New York stock exchange for the opening. Very interesting, plenty of noise, but was told there really was little doing. Visitors are no longer admitted to the Gallery without tickets from a broker. Then went to the Battery to see the Aquitania sail. She is a beauty. Went through the Aquarium, several churches (Trinity and St. Paul's), Frances Tavern where George Washington used to stop, and several public buildings. Uncle is very good at sightseeing.
Came home to lunch, rested and then started out again all four of us this time. Took the Elevated to Columbia University where we stepped into the Library and Avery Hall. Then visited three churches-the Episcopal Cathedral St. John's the Divine, St. Margaret's, and the Roman St. Thomas. It was a hot day but we did very little walking. Eleanor Smith invited us to tea but we declines to sight see. They wanted to take us to Coney Island tonight but we preferred a quiet evening at home.
Floss looks well, also Uncle though he has been having dizzy spells. They have a convenient apartment here in Brooklyn and a good maid. Floss does very little but have a good time. Saturday she goes to the International Polo match with Arthur. We got weighed today in a subway station-Floss 155 lbs, Jane 145, and Fran 115.
Hope to find mail on the boat tomorrow. Uncle is giving us each in the morning a glass of Hunjadi water! We leave here about 11 o'clock. Do hope I'll not be sick! If not, will send you a letter from Queenstown. Floss enjoyed the finish of the box of rocks and wants the recipe. Now write every week and we will do likewise. Has Alice had a lesson with the Ford? We have plenty of Fords here as well as enroute.
Love, Jane