Karl K. Darrow to Ruby J. Splitstone, June 28, 1905
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Chicago, Wednesday, June 28, 1905.
6036 Jefferson AV.
Dear Ruby:
This is the second time that I have been late with my letter, but I congratulate myself on having a better excuse than on the first occasion. I have been sick. No, it was not because I ate too much Ice-cream Saturday evening, nor because I ate too much candy, from 201 63d St. It is car-di-ac asth-ma. You notice that this is a technical name. That is because it is a stylish disease, like appendicitis. It is for sale. You can have it free.
I can
not
hardly begin with the future this time, as I did last, because there is no future to begin with. My cousin is coming from Altoona this evening. -- The almanac gives several planetary happenings for next week, but none of them happen in the evening, which is unfortunate. The earth will be furthest from the sun Monday. If you should feel cold, this is why. The moon will be new next Sunday. Look at it over your right shoulder. Talking of stars, some of the youth of our country will probably be hovering among them next Wednesday.
Last Thursday Aunt Mary held her graduating exercises. So did many of the other schools, including the Wendell Phillips. Aunt Mary's exercises commenced about 8.30. The hall was crowded. So was the stage. Aunt Mary graduated 65 pupils -- a larger number than I remember ever having been graduated before. The largest part of the time was taken up with vocal music. The only words I could distinguish, however, were in one song, about a milkmaid who sat on a three-legged stool. This was rhymed with "a fellow who went to school". After the songs and the boys' calisthenics (in which several boys dropped their Indian clubs)
the diploma was presented. A colored boy got
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both the first Foster diploma (a diploma awarded for best scholarship, deportment, etc., during the year) and the medal for the best essay on patriotism. I wish you had been in the class. I think you could have defeated him.
The Phillips high also held its exercises Thursday. 91 pupils were graduated. I send you the program. I would send you one of Aunt Mary's programs, but I did
even
not even see any. The visitors snapped them all up.
Saturday evening Aunt Jessy, Jessie, and Paul were here for supper. We had a gigantic brick of ice-cream. He was brought at 7.30. Suffice it to say that at 8.00 he was no longer. Jessie went home yesterday.
The operation on Uncle Hube was performed Saturday instead of Wednesday. The vermiform appendix was removed, and the stomach connected with the middle portion of the intestine. It had become much distended and had so pressed on the pylorus that this opening was reduced to a small size, thus causing the food to take a long time in passing from the stomach to the intestine. They found nothing the matter with either liver or intestines; and no ulcers in the stomach, although there were the scars of some which had healed. They say Uncle Hube is getting along as well as could be expected, and that his chances for recovery are very favorable.
I hope you will not injure yourself next Tuesday. Do not spend more that $10 on fireworks, so that you will retain enough to keep the doctor's bill. Father is going now, and I will let him mail my letter, so I must stop.
Karl.