Hazel was a Freshman at Wheaton College in 1929, and wrote letters home to Hammond, frequently. I have about six or seven photocopied letters, but I’m sure there are more. I don’t know who has the originals, or the letters which her mother and sisters wrote to her. If you have them, please let me know!
Wheaton, IL — Sept 1929
Dear Folks: —
I received your letters this morning and was glad to get them. I was about ready to send out detectives to see if you had all died. I heard other kids talking about their letters from home and I could hardly contain myself — Last night I went to the reception. The faculty was all lined up and we had to march by and shake hands and think of something real nice to say to them. I got out of it easy. About half of the profs. would say “Henry —- why, I know someone by that name. Do you have relations there (Ohio, Ind., Ill., Calif., etc.)? I might have told them that Patrick Henry lived in Ireland but instead I would smile and say, “I don’t believe so, but if they’re real nice, I’ll claim them.” You know I always thought of professors as super-natural and absent-minded but they’re just human beings. Some of them would say, “I passed through your state this summer,” or “I lived in Indiana 6 months,” or something of the sort. Elsie introduced me to so many people that I can’t begin to remember them all. People from California, Texas, New York, and even China. (Did I tell you that that “Fresh air Taxi)” that Margaret and I rode in was driven by the son of a missionary from Africa.) I met a Chinese girl last night. Typical type – Her dress was even made Chinese Style. I guess she’s just come over here.
There’s a Mr. Horton in one of my classes – I wonder if he could be related to our Hortons.
Dillons have gone to Chicago tonight so I’m here alone with the baby.
I bought me a new pair of shoes today – Oxfords with a Cuban, leather heel. They’re about the color of my pocket-book and have an alligator or lizard tongue and trimming.
Please don’t think that I’ve suddenly gone “boy-crazy” over here — I haven’t — but I just like to rave on, especially around Carmen because she said that I disgusted her — That was because she not what she used to be — if you can guess what I mean.
I have Miss Torrey for Bible. I think she’s just fine. I’m a little bothered though because I got into an “A” Bible Group (as a reader of our bible test in Freshman Days) and they’re [sic] seem to be some students in there who have been to Bible Schools and had advanced training.
My Algebra teacher is “young and handsome.” He just graduated from the college last June but he seems to know what he’s doing — mother, you don’t need to tell me that I won’t find all things here just like they were at home, because I found that out before you wrote. If I’d only worked half as hard at home as I do here you would have been saved a lot. THis is a good way to get “broken in” because it’s either work or —– else — But it’s good for me — It will help me to appreciate home as I never have before.
It’s rather late and I believe I’d better go to bed now — I didn’t get to bed ’till about 11 o-clock last night, (that late for Wheaton folks.) so I’ll have to catch up tonight — I can’t think of anything else, so I’ll close now,
With love,
Hazel
P.S. Mrs Dillon gave me $2 for my lunch at the dorm next week. She’s going to let me eat there regularly at noon and that will save me a lot of time and energy at noon time.
Tell Jackie that I’d like for him to hurry and buy that car so that I could see all of you — If he doesn’t — I’m afraid I’ll have to some home in a few weeks — Mrs. Dillon told me I could leave any Sat. afternoon I want too and stay over Sunday —
Dear Bertie: —
The sandman’s in my room so I’ll make this short and snappy — Whose your prospect? If you were only here you’d get the thrills of your life — if it’s prospects that you want — Who knows but what you might land that algebra Prof — (for goodness sake, don’t tell Carmen that I’m writing you this stuff — she’d die of righteous disgust. Tear this up so she can’t read it — saucy –? I’ve had several thrills, but of course they were all on my side — how about yours –?
So much for silliness —
I certainly was surprised about Ruth — I know she’s talked about getting married a lot but I didn’t think she’d do it so soon. My big sister is a doll and I wish you could see her — and her goodness is a lot deeper than the skin.
It’s going to be lots of fun learning Spanish — You have to learn just how to fix your tongue to say the words and all that — I can’t think of much more to say — so I believe I’ll hit the hay. So much for today —
How’s that for a poem — at a moments notice — write again
Longingly-
Hazel
P.S. I have a 400 word theme to write for Monday “My First Impressions of Wheaton College”.
I asked Margaret how she felt after the Reception and she said — “Rather hand-shaky — that about describes it — Every time you’d turn around someone wanted to stick out his hand and say — “My name’s — (so and so) –. What’s yours?”
You know, here they call you Miss — or Mr — In algebra class Prof. Orr had our cards and was calling off the names so he could see who we were — He said Mr. Henry and I just yelled out — “No HAZEL HENRY –” I felt like a dunce when everyone laughed.
