Page 225 - The Story of My Lif

“Colomba,” and I am reading “Horace” by Corneille and La Fontaine’s fables,

both of which are in braille. I have not gone far in either; but I know I shall
enjoy the fables, they are so delightfully written, and give such good lessons in a
simple and yet attractive way. I do not think I have told you that my dear teacher
is reading “The Faery Queen” to me. I am afraid I find fault with the poem as
much as I enjoy it. I do not care much for the allegories, indeed I often find them
tiresome, and I cannot help thinking that Spenser’s world of knights, paynims,
fairies, dragons and all sorts of strange creatures is a somewhat grotesque and
amusing world; but the poem itself is lovely and as musical as a running brook.

I am now the proud owner of about fifteen new books, which we ordered from
Louisville. Among them are “Henry Esmond,” “Bacon’s Essays” and extracts
from “English Literature.” Perhaps next week I shall have some more books,
“The Tempest,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and possibly some selections
from Green’s history of England. Am I not very fortunate?

I am afraid this letter savors too much of books—but really they make up my
whole life these days, and I scarcely see or hear of anything else! I do believe I
sleep on books every night! You know a student’s life is of necessity somewhat
circumscribed and narrow and crowds out almost everything that is not in
books….

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD OF RADCLIFFE
COLLEGE

138 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Mass., May 5, 1900.

Dear Sir:

As an aid to me in determining my plans for study the coming year, I apply to

you for information as to the possibility of my taking the regular courses in
Radcliffe College.