DIARY--SEEING THE CITY
_October 2._
I HAVE been seeing Philadelphia. Mr. Lee teasingly told me that most
newcomers want to "do" the city so he and Virginia would take me round.
They took me to see all the places I studied about in history class.
I've done the Betsy Ross House, Franklin's Grave, Old Christ Church and
Old Swede's Church. I like them all. Best of all I like Independence
Hall, with its wonderful stairways and wide window sills and, most
important, its grand old Liberty Bell and its history.
Yesterday Mr. Lee took me to Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. I like the
pictures and oh, I looked long at a white marble statue of Isaac, his
hands bound for the sacrifice. The face is beautiful. Royal Lee was
amused at my interest in it and took me off to see the rare Chinese
vases. We wandered around among the cases of glassware and then I found
a case with valuable Stiegel glass, made in my own Lancaster County. I
was proud of that! We went through Horticultural Hall and stopped to see
the lovely sunken gardens, with their fall flowers.
I like to go about with Royal Lee. He is so efficient. Crowds seem to
fall back for him. He has the attractive, masterful personality that
everybody recognizes. I feel a reflected glory from his presence. We
have grown to be great friends in an amazingly short time. Our music,
our appreciation of each other's ability, has strengthened the bond
between us. Mrs. Lee sends me many invitations for dinner and week-ends
in her beautiful home, so that Mr. Lee and I are already well
acquainted. He has asked me to call him Royal and if he might call me
Phoebe. I've told him all about my life on the farm, my friends up
there, and the plans and dreams of my heart. He likes to tease me and
call me a little Quakeress, but I don't enjoy that for he does it in a
way I don't like. It sounds as if he's scoffing at the plain people.
When I told him about the meeting house and described the service he
laughed and said that a religion like that might do for a little country
place but it would never do in a city. I bridled at that and tried to
tell him about the wholesome, useful lives those people up home lead,
how much good a woman like Mother Bab can do in the world. But he could
not be easily convinced. He thinks they are crude and narrow. When I
told him they are lovely and fine he challenged me and asked if I am
willing to wear plain clothes and renounce all pleasures, jewelry and
becoming raiment. I had to tell him I'm not ready for that yet, and he
smiled triumphantly. He predicted I'll play cards and dance before the
winter ends. I don't like him when he's so flippant. I want to be loyal
to my home teaching but I see more clearly every day how great is the
difference between the pleasures sanctioned by my people and those
Virginia and her friends enjoy. There's a mystery somewhere I can't
solve. Like Omar, I "evermore come out at the same door where in I
went."
_October 29._
To-day we went for a long drive along the Wissahickon. The woods are
bronze and scarlet now. The wild asters made me homesick for Lancaster
County. I wanted to get out of the car and walk but Virginia and her
friends wouldn't join me. I wanted to bury my nose in the goldenrod and
asters--and get hay fever, one of the girls told me--and I just ached to
push my way through the tangled bushes along the road and let the golden
leaves of the hickory and beeches brush my face. It seems that most city
people I have met don't know how to enjoy nature. They have a
nodding-from-a-motor-acquaintance with it but I like a real
handshake-friendship with it. I just wished David were here to-day! He'd
have taken my hand and run me to the top of the hill and picked a branch
of scarlet maple to carry with my goldenrod and asters. Well, I can't
have the penny and the cake. I want to be in the city, of course that's
the thing I most desire at present--I really am having a good time.
In the evening we went to Holy Trinity Church. The organ recital gripped
my soul. I wanted it to last for hours. And yet when it was over and the
rector stood before us and preached one of his impressive sermons I was
just as much interested as I had been in the music. There's a feeling of
restful calm comes to me in a big dim church with stained glass
windows. We stopped in the Cathedral one day last week. That is a
wonderful place, too. I like the idea of having churches open all the
time for prayer and meditation. I'm learning so many new ideas these
days. If I ever do wear the plain dress I'm sure of one thing, I'll be
broad-minded enough to respect the beliefs of other persons.
_November 11._
I can put another red mark on my calendar. I heard the great Irish
Tenor! Glory, what a voice! It's the kind can echo in your ears to your
dying day and follow you with its sweetness everywhere you go! I have
been humming those lovely Irish songs all day.
But before the recital my heart was heavy. I have no evening gown, no
evening wrap, so I couldn't join the box party to which one of
Virginia's friends invited us. I meant to stay at home and not break up
the party, but Royal insisted upon buying two tickets in a section of
the opera house where a plainer dress would do. In the end I allowed
myself to be persuaded by him and we two went to the recital alone. When
that tenor voice sounded through the place I forgot all about my limited
wardrobe. I could hear him sing if I were dressed in calico and think of
nothing but his singing.
_November 12._
I wrote letters to-day. Mother Bab and David write such lovely ones to
me that I have to try hard to keep up my end of it. Sometimes David
tells me he is anxious to supply me with the beet juice, cream and flour
whenever I'm ready to begin the prima donna act. I can hear his laugh
when I read the letter. Sometimes he's serious and talks about the crops
of their farm and tells me the community news like an old grandmother.
Phares Eby writes me an occasional letter, a stilted little note that
sounds just like Phares. It always has some good advice in it. Aunt
Maria's letters and daddy's come every week. I'd feel lost without them.
I like to feel that everybody I care for at home is interested in and
cares for me even if I am in Philadelphia.