Will’s Obituary (March 15, 1927)

 

We Still Think NJ the Best Place on Earth

Denver, CO
June 18, 1926

From: Katherine (Gray) Pott, Hotel Auditorium
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

Dearest Mama:

This is the first chance I’ve had so far to write but I’ve been thinking of you all and
wanting to tell you all about every thing. The trip so far is a great success. These people of Denver certainly are hospitable and know how to entertain. Our time is mostly planned for us, and one could easily spend a month right here and not see all there is to see of the surrounding country at that. However, we have seen some of it, trying to pick out the most interesting.

I liked my first Pullman train experience very much, although it was good to get out
and get cleaned up here. It surely is a dirty life. We had very uncomfortably hot weather through Missouri & Kansas. Saturday night we stopped at St Louis for dinner and then danced on the roof garden of the Chase Hotel. I decided it was too late in the evening to see Uncle Bob, especially as it was necessary for us to stay more or less together. A nice windy thunderstorm blew over just as we were finishing dinner on the roof, and the air was full of napkins and all the dishes and silver blew off the tables. Quite exciting! The St Louis club received us at the station and entertained us all evening.

Sunday morning we arrived in Kansas City for breakfast and were then taken on a
tour throughout the city in Taxis. The residential sections are perfectly beautiful. We left about 11 o’clock and Pete Emmons, the Trenton minister, and an Episcopal clergyman, conducted a short church service which the whole crowd attended, packed in the observation car. There are 105 of us altogether and we are just like a big family. Everyone knows everyone else by this time. They had all sorts of schemes planned to mix up the crowd on the train. 

 

I Shouldn’t Object in the Least If You Came on Friday!

South Hadley, MA
May 30, 1926

From: Ruthy Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

Dearest Mama,
….
Naturally I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ll be doing next fall, and I’ve been
more and more inclined toward editorial work, rather than teaching. The enclosed ad which came some weeks ago interested me more than anything else I received in this line as it is brief, concise, reasonable, and trains specifically for those things which I want most. …..

Well, Robin and Ruth are Mr and Mrs by now. Do you know where they went on
their honeymoon or just where they expect to live on their return?

I was surprised and sorry to hear of Mr Pott’s condition. I suppose at his age and
condition life is neither very certain nor very valuable. 

 

Her Picture Is Right Before Me Now

Ruth’s close friend Florence, who would soon marry Ruth’s brother Bob. They had one child, Robin, then Florence died quite young of Tuberculosis.

Summit, NJ
May 26, 1926

From: Ruth (Barrell) Gray
To: Robin & Ruth Barrell

Dear Robin and Ruth,

I did want so much to be with you all on Saturday, and left my regrets until the very
last moments when I realized I could not go. I wanted to be with you not only as Aunt Ruthy but is some small measure to represent the love of Robin’s sweet young mother who was very especially dear to me all throughout girlhood days. Her picture is right before me now, and it just seems she is telling me how happy she is with you both in her heart, looking away to the happy future stretching along the years, like the quiet woodland roads I know you love to stroll together now. 

 

Time Tables Are Very Demoralizing, I Think

South Hadley, MA
April 14, 1926

From: Ruthy E Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, Box 21, Oklawaha, FL

Dearest Mama:

Have I told you when Spring Vacation comes? I’ve been so busy I haven’t realized
how close it was, but today I consulted the time-tables, and now it is hard to think of
anything else but going home. Time-tables are very demoralizing, I think. They set you dreaming. The “Recess” officially begins on the 26th but I can leave after second period in the afternoon of Thursday, March 25th — and will arrive at Summit 11 or 12 at night. Kay tells me you will probably not be home for a week after that. Monday, May 5th is the day I must go back. It will grieve me if I can’t be with all of my family for a few days at least.

Have you decided definitely yet when you are starting. Of course it will take longer by auto. Easter is early this years, isn’t it? I’ll be home for both Palm Sunday and Easter. There is a tremendous lot I want to do in those ten precious days, as usual. There are commencement clothes to think about — and a job for next year. I’ll have to be thinking about that and perhaps doing some interviewing. One thing I’ll miss at Kay’s is the piano. 

 

Charity As a Matter of Course

South Hadley, MA
April 12, 1926

From: Ruthy Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, Ocklawaha, FL

Dearest Mama,
….
I don’t wonder you’re indignant at receiving bills for coal that other people are
burning. I knew that Uncle Dave had gone ahead and ordered a lot of things, but had no idea he would charge them to you. You’d think he was doing you a great favor by opening up the house, from the way he talks. And the way he spoke of your unpaid telephone bill — as if you had either been careless or had left in such a hurry that you forgot about it. The way some people take charity as a matter of course and think they are the only ones who are ever hard up, makes me mad. 

 

A Strange Pet

South Hadley, MA
April 7, 1926

From: Ruthy E Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, Box 21, Oklawaha, FL

Dearest Mama:

You’re probably interested to know how I spent the last days of vacation so I’ll tell
all I can think of and jot down in distracted moments during the day. We woke this morning to find a blanket of snow (about 2 inches) on the ground. It has been raining all day but not enough to melt the snow, so we still have a slushy white landscape. And here it is supposed to be Spring! Also I spent some valuable minutes yesterday packing away my arctic and heavier winter things. It certainly has been a slow season — not a sign of a flower or blossom at home. I remember that last year the forsythia was blooming when I was there.

Uncle Dave and Aunt Helen seem to be enjoying life down at 249. I dropped in for a
little while on Thursday afternoon and again on Sunday night when Billy & Ed were there. Hester is having a gorgeous time with all the books. Aunt Helen was pleased with Edward’s radio. Mrs Naftzger seemed to have grown quite attached to Ed & didn’t want to give him up. She spoke of him Sunday as “my son.” Kay & Alan & I went to church Thursday night to see him join. It was a very nice service and the place was thronged. Not anything compared to what it was on Easter, however. Then, they had to put folding chairs in the aisle before they were through. It was fine to be home for Easter for a change.

Everything about church was lovely — music and flowers included. We could hardly have ordered a nicer day, either, although there was a pretty nippy breeze blowing. Kay looked stunning in her new gray & blue ensemble (gray cape-coat, blue dress & hat) which we shopped for in N Y on Wednesday. I treated myself to a few new things, too, namely a dress, a hat, and smaller accessories. I paid for everything but the dress which I charged ($27.50) at Wheelers. Its chief color is a burnt orange, and it also has green, yellow & black in it — sounds wild but is really quite becoming. The hat is a soft orange straw to match, trimmed simply with cute little quills in different colors. 

 

Update from Ed

Charles- fishing in Florida

Summit, NJ
March 30, 1926

From: Edward Gray, 249 Kent Place Plvd, Summit, NJ
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, P O Box #21, Oklawaha, FL

Dear Mama:

I am awfully sorry I didn’t write to you sooner and its been over two weeks since I
wrote to you. I have enough to tell you about to fill a newspaper. I started to write a letter to you about a week ago but I didn’t get very far. When you say you have to be prepared to go fishing or picnicing whenever the family says, we all up here feel as though we better pack up and go down there.

Uncle Dave arrived with his family yesterday and opened up 249. I arrived there
yesterday afternoon expecting to find it deserted as usual. I unlocked the cellar door and ran into the plumber. I almost started to grab for a shovel or some kind of a weapon to use but I heard someone up stairs so I ran up and found Uncle Dave and Aunt Helen and all the kids. The fires were all going and a big load of anthracite arrived. The place looked funny. Both the cats made themselves at home and Teddy went to your bed and Topey went to mine, thats the way I found them. They had some trouble getting Stanley out. They said that he went all around the house mumbling to himself about chewing upon something.

Billy and Bob came out Sunday and cousin Ruthy was there. That made it crowded
for Kay so I had dinner at Naftzgers. Later in the day I went down and found Aunt Dolly, Ray and Dot and the baby who is about as big as Dewey when we left here.

Sunday a week ago Willis, Billy and I went up to Waagaw Mountain. I guess thats
how you spell it, ask Charley. Then Monday Billy took the car down to Newark and got a whole new set of shock absorbers for nothing but the cost of labor. I guess you heard about it. 

 

Thought of Little Jack

Will and Ruth lost their son Jack the previous year.

Summit, NJ
March 15, 1926

From: Katherine (Gray) Pott, 55 Tulip Street, Summit, NJ
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, Box 21, Oklawaha, FL

Dearest Mama:

Your letter of the 4th arrived in due time and was much read and reread. Joe’s little
letter was very sweet and interesting and I am so glad he is having such a fine time in the out-board motor boat and fishing.

I do wish we could have a bit of warm weather such as you are enjoying. It seems to
me we aught to have an occasional spring day by this time, but we have not had one. We have had very clear days, but a bitter frost seems to hang in the air all the time and even the warm, bright sun can’t dispel it. Our nights are very cold and the thermometer scarcely registers above freezing mid-day.

Billy was not out yesterday but I think he was in Glen Ridge. Next Sunday we expect
him and Bob, whom I haven’t seen since the night you left. He was coming last Sunday but it poured rain all day and so he didn’t attempt the trip out.

Billy came out Thursday and put strong Yale locks on all the doors at 249. Stanley
had been getting in (broke his way in laundry door) and one afternoon Edward found two of his lady friends in the kitchen. Billy intends to bounce him if he sees him around. Some nerve these foreigners have! 

 

That Family Has Sure Had Its Troubles with the Appendix

Brooklyn, NY
March 4, 1926

From: William A Gray, jr, 55 Hanson Place, Brooklyn, NY1
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, P O Box #21, Oklawaha, FL

Dear Mama:

Your letter arrived some time Monday and I found it in the box in the evening. March started here with a balmy springlike day, clear blue sky and white clouds. Since Monday, however, the weather has turned colder and more windy. Temperature in New York today ranged from 22 degrees at 8 A M to 29 at 1 P M so I guess Florida is a good place to stay for awhile yet.

The week end of Feb 20 – 22, including Washington’s Birthday, I was out in Summit
with Katherine and Alan. Summit had just about dug itself out of two feet of snow, and the warm sun of several clear afternoons had helped to clear the roads. Sunday, breakfast at nine, (so far this seems to be a very well regulated household), then after breakfast dishes are washed, all hands to church. After dinner, I paid my second visit to 249, walking down with Edward. I believe Edward goes down quite often. After being greeted by the two cats who appear to be hale and hearty, we went in via the back door. I got some neckties I wanted and a few other articles and then we rode back with Alan and Katherine who were waiting for us.

Monday morning Alan and I amused ourselves sawing wood for the fireplace and
chopping kindling. Katherine and I had lunch alone as Alan was at the Rotary. In the
afternoon, a ride in the new Studebaker was planned. Alan wants to get it broken in as quickly as possible so he won’t have to keep the speed down. The job of deciding the route to be taken was left to me by the driver, so I sat on the rear seat and gave directions at the turns. We started at two o’clock. It was a clear day, with the temperature just above freezing. Most of the snow from the two recent blizzards was still on the ground, but I was figuring on all the main roads being open. We took the usual roads north through West Caldwell and Two Bridges to the Pompton Turnpike, up through Pompton Plains to the Hamburg Turnpike, and then left, thru Butler and New Foundland, and down, thru the hills to Franklin Furnace. Here we turned left on the road thru Ogdensburg to Sparta. The road was ploughed thru drifts so high we could not see over them in some places. It was the first time any of us had seen these hills under a heavy blanket of snow. (Incidentally while writing this I am listening to one of the finest orchestras I have ever heard on the radio. 

 

Spick and Span Boy

Summit, NJ
Feb 4, 1926
From: Ruth Naftzger, 3 Montview Road, Summit, New Jersey
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, Ocklawaha, FL

Dear Mrs Gray:

You can stay away for six months, if Edward keeps up the way he has been going!
One would hardly know he was in the house, and in all my life I never have seen
such a Spick and Span boy.

As we had about three feet of snow on the ground when we got up this morning, & a
strong wind blow & hail I kept him here from school, as I thought they would be terribly cold. When they got there, there was only half a session anyhow. 

 

Got Away Just In Time

Summit, NJ
Feb 2, 1926

From: Edward Gray, Summit, New Jersey
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, Ocklawaha, FL

Dear Mama:

It is now quarter past six and I haven’t anything to do so I guess I will write to you
as you ought to be hearing from the north (cold and dreary) by this time.
….
I am very comfortably situated here at Naftzgers, a very nice room and good food.
Mrs Naftzger sends my laundry to Corby along with hers every Monday.
….
I bought a can of samon for the kitties and they gobbled it almost all up. Teddy is
always at the door but it takes Topsey about half an hour to get around. Yesterday they were both in the box together and were very anxious to get in the house.

The plumbers said they had a hard time putting the furnace fire out.
Yesterday I went home and jacked up the car and also found the lamp smoking and
another layer of soot on the car. 

 

And I Don’t Mean Maybe

 

The Food Expert

 

The Anniversary of a Most Happy Event

 

The Expense of Living Here

Ocala, FL
Jan 22, 1926

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

My dearest Ruthy:

I didn’t get a letter from you today, and didn’t intend to write one; not retaliatory at
all but I wrote to Charlie this morning, also to McKergan and that used up my usual writing time. I had a letter from Mr Matthews, the chief purpose of which was to remind me of a note due Feb 1st, which I had already started to take care of by sending you a blank for endorsement, so I had to reply to that one also.

Have just returned to town from my room where I partook of my humble and
lonesome repast of orange juice with yeast, 3 of your adorable cookies, a few nuts and raisins. Was too fidgety to remain in the room to read and at first thought, I would blow myself to a movie, but gave that up in favor of a little chat with you.

The expense of living here is a little more than I should like — and runs between 25
& 30 dollars per week. The room is $9.00 per week, and 2 meals per day with incidentals, suit pressing and laundry amount to 16 to 18 dollars per week additional. As you said, in Massey’s cottage three of us could live at no more, perhaps less. My laundry came back today and was $1.14 for 8 handkerchiefs, 3 collars, 1 suit, underclothes, 1 suit pajamas, 1 shirt and 1 pair socks, Have two clean pairs socks with holes in the toes, so I guess I will have to send them to you for darning, unless you come down to do it here. 

 

A Chap Named Costello

 

What Do You Think of That?

Ocala, FL
Jan 17, 1926

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

My dearest Ruthy:

Sunday has gone but I don’t want to let it entirely pass without writing you a line.
I wrote Edward yesterday afternoon, practically supplementing my letter to you of
the same day. So that brings me up to this morning. One piece of news before it escapes me. I got on a scale to night, returning from supper and weighed 158 lbs, a gain of nearly 8 lbs since leaving home. What do you think of that?

The thermometer said 58 degrees upon leaving home this morning about 8:30, and
it has been another fine day, much too warm for an overcoat when automobiling.

A Mr Home of New York and Brooklyn, whom I met in the steamer coming down and
traveled with to Jacksonville, came into town last evening, and after breakfast I ran into him on the street. I had an appointment to meet Mr Massey at eleven o’clock and in the meantime, Home and I walked up to my rooming house and between us, consumed the juice of three oranges and one grape fruit mixed together. Yesterday, I bought a stainless steel kitchen knife and a squeezer, so I am all fixed to have juice early and often. We then walked back to town and found Mr Massey. 

 

There Will Not Be Much to Write About

 

Tydings of Great Joy

 

Not Particularly a Tourist Town

Ocala, FL
Jan 12, 1926

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

My dearest Ruthy:

Left Jacksonville this morning at 8:40 and arrived about noon, ½ hour late. The train
was a long one and I, in the last car, had to get off about 500 feet north of the station with my two bags, out of sight of any porter because of being around a curve. I only had to carry the grips a short distance when I was able to hail a porter who conducted me to a jitney, and thence to this hotel. This is the second best of 2 hotels in this place and the best I felt I could afford after the stinging I got in Jacksonville. It is an old barracks built by Flagler 40 or more years ago, and must compare very favorably with some of the soldiers quarters in Africa described in the memoirs of the French Legion. Was assigned a room @ $3.00 per day, overlooking the back yard littered with all sorts of rubbish. The room has a bath, but no heat and the temperature is much too cool for comfort. Didn’t spend very long in it and sauntered forth and almost immediately found friend Massey holding converse with some acquaintance on the street. He was on his way to lunch. He was expecting me since last Saturday, having received then mail directed in his care. He went back to his office for my mail and gave me yours and Ethel’s letters, also one from Harry
and Sunday’s Tribune. I then returned to the hostelry to read your letter, after which I went out and dined sumptuously in a cafeteria for 64 cents (soup, vegetables, roll and butter). Hadn’t been back long when Mr Massey called for me and took me around in his Ford coupe to show several new developments going on around here. There certainly has been a wonderful growth here since my last visit and Massey says most of it has been within the last year. 

 

Vocations for Women

South Hadley, MA
Jan 12, 1926

From: Ruthy Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

Dearest Mama:

Well, the blizzard has come at last! It didn’t take long for the inches to pile up
yesterday with the help of a fierce wind, while today it was beautiful and dazzling and quiet. ….

In reading a book on vocations for women yesterday I was very much interested in
an article on free lance writing in New York by Minnie J Reynolds. Could it be cousin
Minnie do you suppose? …. One other newspaper job appeals to me — that is the job of the “rewrite” who takes facts brought in by reporters and expands or condenses them according to the editor’s wishes. Up to 1910 no woman had ever held this position but I imagine it is different by now.

I should really be happier & more successful I think in some independent work of
this sort rather than in teaching. If I worked in N Y, I could live at home and my time in the evenings would be my own to enjoy with you and the rest of the family, whereas teaching is so indefinite and there are always papers and other worries to bother you in the evenings. …. 

 

I Would Hike Back to You in Short Order

Jacksonville, FL
Jan 11, 1926

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

My dearest Ruthy:

I should have gotten a letter off to you yesterday as I arrived here Sunday 4 P. M.,
but in the confusion of getting a room in a place all too short of hotel facilities to
accommodate the crowds, I couldn’t get settled in late and too tired to sit up and write.

My intention was to go to Ocala yesterday, but this was prevented by train from
Savannah being over an hour late and missing connection here with the Ocala train, which left at 3 P. M. without waiting for us. I tried for the same train today, scheduled to leave at 3 P. M., after waiting on board over 2 hours and fearful of getting to Ocala too late for comfort, I returned to this hotel and am again waiting for a room, none being available at this time. It seems that a car of this train was out of order and had to be taken to the shop for repairs. They were waiting for it to come back and may still do, I understand it is unusual for any train to arrive or leave here on time. 

 

Real Excitement

Savannah, GA
Jan 9, 1926

From: William A Gray
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

My dearest Ruthy:

This is the last evening on this ship, and it’s time to start a letter to mail at Savannah
tomorrow.

The boat sailed at 5 instead of 3 P. M., 2 hours I could have used to much better
advantage had I known. Bob and Chester were with me for a while, leaving long before the ship sailed.

Leaving New York was calm enough and Thursday night comfortable, but Friday morning we were overtaken by a North-east storm and the day was rough and miserable. Could not go on deck and most of the passengers failed to come around for meals. As usual I was around when the call came for each meal altho I confess to no appetite on account of being shut in and no exercise. I presume you have had a mean storm since I left and I hope it has not been too hard going.

The boat is by no means full of passengers and the majority are women. Girls apparently from various walks (and alleys) of life going to a Florida Hotel to work as waitresses. Have had all sorts of opportunities for adventure and only my age and decrepitude protects me. Tonight these girls, about 20 of them, I should say are all arrayed in their best paint and togs and they are having a dance in the parlor where they have a radio and a player piano. Last night scarcely any of these women were in sight but today has been calm and they have all emerged from their berths. 

 

Death of Ruth’s Mother

1912 photo of Mer with Robin and Robert (grandson and son). Robin’s mother was Ruth’s good friend Florence, who died when Robin was a baby.

Summit, NJ
Jan 2, 1926

From: Ruth (Barrell) Gray
To: Robin Barrell

Dear Robin:

Mer had this enclosed letter started to you and Ruth when she was taken with a chill
on Monday night, followed by severe pain in body and limbs. The Dr. said grippe with a touch of pleurisy in her right side, but she had no temperature at any time, and heart action was strong and regular at first. Mustard plasters and the Dr.’s medicine relieved the pain and she felt “quite comfortable” to use her own words through Wednesday and Thursday but I could see the growing weakness and felt yesterday morning the end was near. She was herself in mind to the last and knew Aunt Dolly when she came in early last evening. Between ten and eleven o’clock she dozed or slipped into unconsciousness, and the end came peacefully at 12:20 this morning with Dolly and I at her bedside. Our messages to your father got mixed up by Western Union in some way and he received the final message before our night letter telling of her very low condition.

We think it was just the final breaking down of a worn out body rather than any
disease. Haven’t heard from your father yet but we have planned to have the funeral at 3 o’clock on Monday Jan 4th unless he wishes it changed for any reason.

The family here is quite well. Your Uncle Will is much better but not very strong. He
has planned to start for Florida to visit some old friends on next Thursday if he does not change his plans. 

 

Isn’t It Tragic

South Hadley, MA
Dec 14, 1925

From: Ruthy Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

Dearest Mama,

It was very much of a shock to hear from Kay about Billy Barrell’s death, especially
as you hadn’t mentioned his operation in your letter. Isn’t it tragic — and I feel so sorry for Aunt Lena. But, as I told her, death can do two great things for us — strengthen our faith, and make us more appreciative and considerate of those still living. I am indeed glad that I had that long and enjoyable walk with Billy on Thanksgiving day, even though it makes it hurt worse to think that he is gone.
….
Did Papa get my pictures? You didn’t mention it or his birthday. I hope it hasn’t gone
astray. It’s too bad that Papa’s bronchial trouble bothers him so much; we are having
rather disagreeable cold and windy weather. I hope he doesn’t go to Florida before I have a chance to see him, but if it’s a case of the sooner the better there should be no more hesitation than necessary.

About Saturday — we are supposed to get there (1 own Hall, NY) at 12:30 for
rehearsal after which luncheon will be served to us there, so I imagine we’ll be free by 2:30. Three o’clock would probably be more convenient for you. Suppose I meet you there at town Hall (43rd St between 6th Ave & Broadway), I’ll be there right along and it will be easy enough for you to get to it from Times Square — easier to meet you than if I trotted down to some crowded place. Then we can go to a movie, or shop, or whatever you want. 

 

Joe Is Excessively and Painfully Egotistical

South Hadley, MA
Nov 30, 1925

From: Ruthy Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

Dearest Mama,

An unusually dull education lecture gives me the opportunity to start this letter. I’ve been very much on the go ever since getting back at 10:30 Friday night. It was altogether a very enjoyable Thanksgiving, and I had a chance to get much better acquainted with our New Haven relatives.

…. When I arrived at Willow St, Aunt Lena was having a Harper hair treatment & wave. Bill was home from school with a bad cold — had been out all week. We talked & played cards till dinner time at which Joe graced us with his presence. He actually said he considered his society a great privilege which the family was apt to under-estimate. The other boys quite frankly showed their lack of appreciation of this great privilege. The main difficulty is that Joe is excessively and painfully egotistical. As long as you flatter and oh and ah over him it’s all right, but that grows
tiresome.

After dinner Professor Longwell and his wife came down and we played bridge till
midnight, the Professor and I beating the other two. Mr Longwell said, “are you the Miss Gray I took to the movies some years ago?” — he was thinking of Ethel.

Herb arrived about half past one in his Ford special. It had been snowing and raining all evening, but that didn’t seem to bother him. They had stopped at his friend’s aunts in Norwalls and had a regular Thanksgiving dinner about midnight.

Thanksgiving Day was beautiful. I took a walk with Bill and Richard to the top of East Rock and all around the park. …. 

 

I Lived It All

Photo of Aunt Lena, widow of Ruth’s brother Joseph who died in 1919.

South Hadley, MA
Nov 16, 1925

From: Ruthy Gray, Mount Holyoke College
To: Ruth (Barrell) Gray, 249 Boulevard, Summit, NJ

Dearest Mama,

It was a great game! The finest I’ve ever seen, I think, and certainly in the most
spectacular surroundings. The weather was perfect except for a terrific wind from which we were sheltered, being in one of the lower rows of the bowl. We couldn’t have had better seats — in the center of the field, about the seventh row, right next to the Princeton band and cheering section. I lived it all — the colorful mass of seventy thousand persons, blue predominating, the bands and cheer-leaders, and the wild enthusiasm on our side.

Princeton’s man, Slagle, was certainly marvelous (with the help of the whole team),
especially when he made his now famous 85 yard run for a touchdown. It was no easy job as he by no means had a clear field ahead of him. He started by plunging right thru the center of the Yale line, in which his supporters had cleared a gap like the diversion of the Red Sea, and avoided desperate looking tacklers who fairly hurled themselves at him, by taking a zig-zag course all the way.
…..
Alice and I arrived at Aunt Lena’s without any difficulty in plenty of time for lunch.

Joe wasn’t there but the rest of the boys were. Aunt Lena and Herb went to the game too, (sitting on Yale side of course) but couldn’t have been very good sports as they left in disgust before the game was over, just because Princeton was winning. We didn’t discuss the game much with them afterwards as they insisted it was a poor game and implied that it was a mere accident, because Yale was demoralized, that Princeton won and even accused them of discourteous actions which we knew weren’t so at all. However we had an awfully nice visit with all the Barrells. Alice’s plans turned out rather different than expected. The mother of the man who was to drive up was taken very seriously ill so that he couldn’t come, and Alice’s mother and father came up on the train. Her mother’s coming was a complete surprise to Alice. After the game we were treated to the special Yale – Princeton table d’loite dinner at the Taft — seven courses and $3.50 per person according to the menus we kept for souvenirs. Mr & Mrs Dunphy also engaged a room for the night.