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U.S.Nat.Mus.Wash.D.C
8 Apr 1948

Dear Doris:

Chapin and I both got notes from Bequaert this morning, he about his contemplated visit up there the middle of this month, and I about B.'s contemplated visit down here the 2nd of May, and Mrs. Willis is answering for both with directions on how to get out to her house. I hope they get along. She is looking forward to having him anyhow. Dad wants to entertain him, and I must get the front porch painted up and the upstairs cleaned up -- Dad wants to show him fossils, and Bequaert has the sense of order that is characteristic of a Frenchman, and is terribly neat. 

We went out to dine with the Corells last night. She is a PHD from Duke Univ. tho a Providence R.I. girl, and taught at Wellesley. She now has 3 children, youngest 6 mos. and doesn't think of anything but babies and housework, a terrible waste of education for a breeding animal, alas. But the dinner was very good, and we passed a pleasant evening. She lived for a while at Auburndale and knew precisely where Lena's little shop is. In fact she reminded me very much of Lena herself.

Helen called up last night to tell me the family news from home, she is again a great aunt, one of Anna's children has a baby. Marion's in laws aren't coming after all but Aunt Esther is next week for a couple of days on her way south. 

This is Dad's day in town and we are planning to take one more look at the German pictures this noon. Maybe it won't be quite so crowded then. Before Dad just walked through. 

Are you planning to take your international out this weekend? I hope that Mrs. Barry doesn't object to his color, she might regard him as too closely related to the Africans. The one we had was as light as we. Have you done your botany notebook yet? I hope you get a decent mark in it. Have you heard from that Hist.Lit. debate yet?

We had a grand parade here Army day that lasted for exactly an hour. Barber and I watched from his open window and enjoyed the many bands and colorful uniforms. It ended with a long line of taxicabs of disabled veterans, an ironic tale of the glories of battle.

I am wearing your pinky brown suit coat today with my cinnamon colored dress. It goes very well. They predicted 80 degree temp for this afternoon but it was chilly this morning without a furnace fire and with a dampness of a rainy day. The old cat is positively miserable in such a house and weather. But the little leaves are nearly out and the flowering shrubs beautiful. I brought a bunch of lilacs down here to distribute. The apple trees and azaleas are so bright. 

Love, 
Mother.