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December 21, 1922 - Thursday
School will close tomorrow for the Christmas holidays [holidays]. I've neglected my diary as I've not been well and have been so very busy. I shall go to R. to see the M.D. and D.D.S., do some necessary shopping, and get a change of scene and atmosphere. I shall stay with Misses Campbell and Nicholas at the school for the deaf, Shan Road. Marie (nee Mahony) Ballbach, of Bethany Baptist Church, Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Penn. sent half a dozen wonderful boxes from their S.S.; three contained dolls, by far the most popular object [object] with the girls; the others miscellaneous toys and supplies (such as pencils, colored crayons, combs, toothbrushes, soap, towels, notebooks, etc.); she had written long before and asked [asked] what would be most suitable, and I do not know what we would have done without them; I am very grateful. Several others sent boxes also; some were in bad condition, so I had to go to the p.o. to examine, pay duty, etc., and refused to accept one; the others, while damaged, had enough that could be salvaged to pay me to take them. One of the several [several] men I had to interview was very helpful; he saw my Eastern Star pin and told me he, too, was a Mason; so we had quite a chat. Many of the Grand B.s are also members; I always wear my pin when traveling
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December 22, 1922 - Friday
After consultation with the teachers we arranged all the gifts on tables in the assembly hall (so called) and beginning with the Infant Standard and on up in order, let the pupils choose their own gifts; as they had never been permitted to do this before, it was quite an innovation, and it caused a lot of chatter - but they enjoyed it! We thought it only fair to put the children from Christian homes (they are in the minority as the majority are Buddhists [Buddhists]) in the front of the line from each grade as they filed up; it was interesting to watch them, as some knew at once what they wanted; some hesitated [hesitated]; some were subject to a good deal of coaching or suggestions from older brothers or sisters. One small boy chose a doll; he was urged to change by several, but he stuck to it; and we found out later he wanted to give it to a younger sister at home. The dolls gave out during the choosing of the 7th Standard [Standard] (corresponding to our 8th Grade) and some of those big girls cried because they couldn't have one. (We have no boys over twelve, only in the 2 grades primary, and middle 2 grades school); many had seen, but never owned one before. We only have through S. 10, or two years of comm. high school; college comprises what would
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December 23, 1922 - Saturday
be the last two yrs. of h.s. and Fresh. & Soph. years (jr. col. in other words; just as our 7th-10th S's are really [really] jr. h.s.). We only have a week's vacation, on account of the holiday in the fall (early Oct.) at the time of the B. feast of lights. It's an 18 hr. train ride to R. by the best train, as it is a trip of 600 mi. or more; as they carry no diners they stop for 20 min. or more for meals, which have to be ordered ahead of time or you are out of luck; there are both 1st & 2nd class dining rooms at the stations, the latter furnishing B. food largely - the former caters to E. tastes. Am glad it is cooler and dryer than the last time I made the trip. Mr. Joe Watson sent his auto to meet me; Miss C. & I always tip his chauffer a rupee each; he has orders to drive us wherever we want to go. I usually go to his and Mr. Robertson's apt. and have a hot tub bath - a real luxury.
