1904-1905 Diary of Mabel Thomas

[See page 17 of letter for description of this church]

[artwork of sketched trees, a house, two columns with points and windows, and church with windows and cupola on top]

Nov

A sense of wild adventure in starting out for Schenectady. I was almost afraid and think I should have backed out if I had not committed myself by the wonder created by the annoucement of my intention. No one was aroused to interest in the greatest organist leaving but Miss West died to go with me. There was none to save and we started at 6.30.

The car was full of de-oxygenated air which made everyone more or less seasick. A bunch of virsy(?) cheap unrestrained girls got on. There was an answering light is nearly every man's eye.

The church was square with a tower on each corner and narrow long windows. One side of the square was altar. Three gothic arches, tall narrow, of white stucco. Three marble altars. Three stages of platform. Green carpet in

strips.

The procession came in noiselessly. Tiny boys in black trailing [crossed out] surplice in [end crossed out] cassocks minute lace trimmed surplices, black skull caps. One had curls. Fifty of them, moving in rectangular lines. Eight lads in white, caps, gowns, glove, prints in lace & in scarlet lined white & gold stiff coats. Monseignor is a crimson train. They seated themselve, the lads in white on the altar steps, half around, leaning on thier elbows, with careful arrangement of drapery. The boys in lines on the steps, the priests backed in an arch.

Every thing was sweet clean decent & dignified.

The musci, architecture, color, arrangement was of the same degree of perfection. Almost geometrically perfect.

In the stuffy car, aborthing through space (in straight line) Miss West "talked it out". Her "caring", my indifference etc. why [underlined] must [end underlined] I be signnificatn?

Nov. 8

Mrs. Copley and I went down town last night after rehearsal to hear the returns. The street was crowded, with people who watched. The borders were stationary but a moving line bent on mischief went up and down, throwing confetti & thrusting feather dusters in mouths whenever one opened. Streamers shot inconcevably great distances and hung from trees & wires.

There was a continuous roar, voices horns whistles. But even the defeated were laughing. Everyone was merry. It was like a carnival.

Mrs. Doane says the country is not excited this year because everyone feels that whichever way it goes a gentleman will be in the White House.

It is so much pleasanter with Miss [Saway?].

malarial tortocollis - spanish fly blister - much trouble.

Nov. 17 Yesterday afternoon Margaret Gardiner came and stayed. Plots, apropos of her story accepted by Scribner's. Her mother, the children. She is so wise, so worldly wise and so young in her belief in herself. She really cares for Phillip but she honestly believes that she is indifferent. With sweet cheek she proposes to call me by my first name that I may no longer be "Anne's Teacher"