Dear Girls of 1903-

Our Robin is a bird of Revelations interesting, compelling and inspiring.

I have never used a typewriter but I want my letter read, because I want you to know me better as also I know more of you better than ever I did before, so I will try to write as legibly as I can.

Under the Railroad Administration my husband was ordered on short notice to Balt. as manager of the Embargo Department of the B&O RR. My husband's family are Marylanders and my family, also, and my happiness at the knowledge we were to 'go home' to Balto. Was regarded as hardly decent by our good and valued friends in Cincinnati- valued more than some of them were then tempted to believe. It was a War position and we arrived in Balto in March, 1918 - the car containing our household goods followed us soon there after. Only seven months after our happy return to Balto, my husband registered as a patient at the Hopkins Hospital and on Nov 17, after an abdominal operation ( the 2nd desperate operation in 3 weeks) his heart gave out. And my honored father - he left us in 1915.

I have ridden twice in that carriage nearest the hearse. And, I confess to you, I came dangerously near the breaking point. Now I have left off thinking immortality- I fell in mortality.

Since our home was broken up, I have lived with my mother, and I am grateful I have her and the two single sisters at home.

I have been visiting at the noon hour, two factories a week for the past year and a half. I meet different conditions in the different concerns. There's the managers who sometimes have to be approached with considerable tact. In some industries (such as a printing establishment) , I meet a class for advanced & skilled labor. In others (such as the sewing trades) ambition is low. When I go into a factory, I can always tell the employees on piece work. Doesn't that make me advocate profit sharing schemes (from the viewpoint of both the employer and the employee)? Then I am Club Advisor of two Girl's Clubs of the YWCA. I am a member of the D.A.R and of the College Club, where I was a dinner guest many times last winter. One memorable dinner was given to the speakers for the Endowment Campaign for Colleges. Miss Hoover, Mrs. Rosenberry (Pres. Of the ACA) Mrs. Edgerton Parsons (Pres. Of Smith Alumnae) our Mrs. Guth, Miss Solter, etc- were present. After dinner we all met at the Syceium; there the *** were draped for Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Bryn Mawr, Vassar, Wellesley, Goucher, etc. and reserved for their various alumnae. It was a real meeting.

Last Wednesday night I attended the Republican meeting and heard Senator Harding speak and witnessed the dramatic incident when an auditor from the gallery demanded an answer as to whether Harding intended to 'scrap' the League of Nations, to which he replied in the affirmative (Previously he had not committed himself). I anticipate hearing Governor Cox Friday night. Now I advocate the League as a forward looking measure, but on the other hand, I follow the Republican party on the tariff question. Indeed, my voting privilege threatens to be very perplexing to me.

I missed Helen Davenport's letter, but will look forward to her next one.

You, who look deep into the starry eyes of your children- have sounded the depths of love. As also Charlotte, who adopted what small baby brother and Letitia who joys in her little namesake. I love that letter of Eda Briggs- it is so self revealing.

We spend the winters in town, but for 7 or more moths a year, we live on a 300 acre farm (119 acres of which are now in the limits of Balto City) and the successful management of that farm is a difficult achievement- in these days of labor troubles.

I am glad my husband was painstaking with me and talked over business matters with me and for me. I have these things now to manage for myself and in these times, particularly, when in best *** are all, more or less unstable and the income tax a complex puzzle - it is not easy for the inexperienced to maintain results and even go farther on to a little enterprise. I am trying to measure up to my responsibilities.

I have written much more than I intended when I began and I'll stop right away before I am seized with another idea.

With best wishes,
Faithfully yours,
Florence Carmine Bankard (Mrs. Henry A.)

Handwritten Excerpt (32 KB)