1930. From Daughter Alura to Mother

January 26, 1930. From Daughter to Mother.

In January 1930, as the Roaring Twenties drew to a close and the Great Depression loomed just months away, a boarding school student named Alura counted down the final days until she could see her mother again. What follows is a lively letter full of train schedules, basketball scores, and the delightful drama of not being invited to the formal Cabaret—which she insists doesn’t bother her one bit.

Dean Academy
Franklin, Mass.
Jan. 26, 1930

Dearest Mother,

Thank goodness this is the last week and before I will be home! Just think! It is or will be four weeks since I have seen you! This is the longest that I have ever endured. I haven’t minded it half as much because I have been so very busy. I have a few little surprises for you when I get home. Ask no questions.

It is now Sunday afternoon and Ethel and I have just finished figuring out what trains we were going to take. At first we thought of taking the bus to Prov. but then I decided that you wouldn’t want me to with this weather. We are each planning to take our term cuts. She is cutting Economics and I am going to ask to cut French. If we didn’t do this it would be 5 o’clock before we could leave Franklin and that would spoil the evening. So far as we know now we are taking the 12:41 from Franklin and arrive in Prov. at 1:31. We will have our dinner at the school. We then plan to take the 4:06 express out of Prov. and arrive in Westerly at 4:57. Could Daddy come to meet us then? If, by any chance, we missed the 4:06 we would take the local 4:12 which stops in Mystic. From 1:31 to 4:06 that will give us about 2½ hrs. to go to the stores in Prov.

Do you mind if we do this? Is there any errands that you would like me to do for you and I would gladly do them? Zilla is leaving on the 12:41 train with us.

Please don’t forget my permission to be in by Wednesday by all means and to put in about Ethel.

The score of that game that I left blank in the letter to Dad, was Bradford Junior Sybil 24 and Dean 52. Friday night I went to another game which was a very exciting one. The score kept tying but Dean didn’t put in some of its best players. The score was Dean 54 and Northeastern Fresh. 46. I saw Rudy Vallée’s brother who was on the N.E. team. Tell that to Erasine.

By the way, I was quite surprised to hear that Erasine went sliding. Wow, back did she go on? Pity the poor guy! She is getting rather frisky in her old age!

Last night before we girls went to the show with Mrs. Gayland, Mrs. Bryant, the picture was “The China.” It was much better than I expected it to be. It was quite a bit of fun as the boys were in studying while we were at the show.

Miss Harrison was away for Friday night and Saturday (so she took her meal at home).

Thursday night is the Cabaret which is a formal bid affair. Zilla and I are going to stay in & clean the room instead as we don’t care about going to the Cabaret. The trouble is that we are too popular for this school! They know we’re good and so that’s why they don’t pick us. Ethel has a bid and also E. Davis! Ducks! I should worry!

“Liz” Moon is back after taking her regent examinations. She arrived Friday night.

Friday night Ethel came down and slept with me as her roommate is away and Zilla went up to sleep with “Liz.” Saturday night I went up on the third floor and slept with Elizabeth Davis. Oh yes, I must tell you—I wore my new mules for the first time and everybody remarked about them. They are now back in tissue paper.

Zilla is now wishing that her folks would drive up about now.

Zilla is sitting here like a good little girl stringing beads. That should go down for history.

It was as cold as the dickens when I went to church this a.m. Is it real cold at home?

It seems as though I am half starved most of the time. Zilla and I are now eating a box of crackers. Yesterday I ate a regular dinner and from 1–5 I ate a chocolate milkshake, ice cream, box cookies, 2 bars of candy, one eaten and spent all the surplus that they gave me. I think I must be getting fatten as my dresses are very tight again. My hip measure is the same as Zilla (now). She has a great laugh over that.

Have you got anything planned as yet for Ethel & I for Friday and Saturday night? What dresses and shoes should I bring home?

Why don’t either you (or Daddy) tell me what to do about that Camp Mystic idea before it is too late?

I don’t know as there is anything that I have forgotten to tell you so I will sign off.

Heaps of love and kisses, Alura xxx