Miriam Van Waters Papers. Reformatory for Women at Framingham, 1876-1970. Subseries 3. Student correspondence, 1936-1971, n.d. Correspondence: T, 1951-1953. A-71, folder 345. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

March 15, 1953

Dear Dr. Van Waters,

HMO Hald-- was there any address? MVW

Miss Cavanah has always given me straights facts and I now am giving them right back to her.

Because she had Mr. Genereau completely "Buffaloed" I had to stage a sit down strike before he would even listen. His assistant called Mike Cavanah and asked if she would accept me back as an [andateus] and if I would go back! her reply was-- no she came back with a bag full of pills. In anger I replyed, "Why that is the most damnable lie that I have ever heard. Mr. Genereau called over - why be so stubborn why not go back. My reply I "Your damn right I can be stubborn when I know I am right. I said-- you know it is a well-known fact in psychiatry that the patient alone is the only one that knows when he or she is well.

Can you imagine my going back to try to give Dr. Marten [Buenger-Jones?] Inform.

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ation which I had to learn the hard way and as a student!

On wed. eve I spoke to the manager of the Hotel Essex about a position there and he ws very interested. I explained that I wouldn't attempt anything until I had at least a 2 weeks rest. He told me to see Mr. Downes his Asst. Mgr. who would be back the following day and he said to tell him that, "I sent you." That afternonn I had to go out to Quincey to see if I could reach Mr. Gen ereau- he was not in- I owed the Hotel then exactly $7.81. Mrs. Kane his secretary suggested that I use their phone to call Miss Cavonal[?], which I did. Mrs. Kane heard me say very distinctly "Thhat right did you have to tell such a damnable lie-she backed down with" Shell [?] Elizabeth, I answered never mind that why you were so cruel as to let me pay 25¢ to check my luggage when you knew it could go along with my ticket. Her weak answer was, "Shell[?] I couldn't think of everything.

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Diploma from Lewis Hotel Exec. Training school etc.

Result Mrs. King loaned me 50¢ to get back to Boston. I returned to the hotel and after having dinner, buying a couple of newspapers etc. I went up to my room, found my bill under my door and confident that when I saw Mr. Genereux in the morning he would believe me I got undressed and was comfortably in bed with my newspapers. The phone rang and it was Mr. Downes who insisted that I come down and pay my bill. I was astounded and replied why I have already shown all my credentials - charge plates, 4 years service at R.F.W. so I meekly went down and was asked if there wasn't any friend that i could borrow from. I said I don't know and as it now 9 o'clock I would hate to disturb saying I just was so confused that I couldn't think that there was a very good A. A. member friend of mine- who was so grateful that I send her a Christmas card that she wrote me a special def.[?] back there

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just to thank me. However, I said I know and wnet rushing over to St. Jame's and to the told the Pastor there what happened he immedially gave me $4.00 and said that should take care of your room $2.50 for the nights get you a good breakfast and if you need any more come back in the morning. When I went tearing back the manager grabbed $3 gave me back $1. The priest was sure the that would take care of me for the night. I sunk back in despair and when the Asst. Mgr. asked if I would mind if he would call my sister. He told her that I owed a bill of $7.81 not even deducting the $3.00 and asked her if she would gauntee (oh my dear I am so spent so exhausted) vouch for my bill as usual because Miss Cavanah told her the same lies she told Mr. Genereau the answer was "no." and so it went on all night. At 6 a.m. I rushed back to Saint Jame's and going through a side street I happened to turn out around to see who was following

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me I turned around it was a colored man and after uttering some obscene remarks, I told him that if he laid a hand on me I would scream so loud that someone would hear - with that he shut of my windpipe sl twisted my left wrist until I could [share?] screamed grabbed my hand [rout?] agony back and because some one was coming along- he ducked down a side alley. I wondered he had murdered or raped me how Miss Cavanah would feel. Mr. Genereau saw the terrible swollen left wrist-- all the cuts on my hands-- di[?] rather with that maniac's fury.

Oh why say more I now have a lovely room in the Hotel Buckminster, opn the permanent guest floor. the manager and his family live here and I am paying only $12.50 a week and when Danny the bell hop found out that I was a veterans living on veterans benefits he is my willing slang- he came me he gave me the tip that the owner was