Letitia E. Ricaud

Letters

September 1, 1920
February 12, 1930
August 20, 1937

Handwritten Excerpt(84 KB)

1904 Program:

Instructor, Darlington Seminary, West Chester, Pa., 1903-.
Present address: West Chester, Pa.

Letitia Ricaud is teaching in the Garrison Forest School, Green Spring Valley, Maryland.

July 1929 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud is still interested in her work at the Mission School in Yancy, Va. She writes: "My 'short and simple annals' read still the same- or as much the same as intensely human work can be. We are trying to prove that our mountain girls can be fitted for as a useful a life work - chief preference, nursing - as any other girls. The side issues for the teacher vary from a sudden demand to drive an antiquated horse up the mountain side, all the way to the post of acting principal, or response to a call to represent the work in another state."

July 1930 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud has been teaching at Valle Crucis, North Carolina. She had planned to return but was ill at the time of reunion. We regretted her absence and hope for a speedy recovery.

November 1930 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia E. Ricaud writes from the Valle Cruce Mission School in North Carolina: "Buried in the mountaints-yet loving more all the time these Southern Highlands, it is, perhaps, hard to 'see ourselves'-especially when former pupils begin recommending books on How to Grow Old; and then, on a hike, a peppy little high school freshman exclaims, 'Why you are a regular Tom-boy!'"

November 1938 Alumnae Quarterly

Letitia E. Ricaud writes that she has no recent news. "I think of my nineten years in college preparatory schools, nine in the domestic mission field, and the remainder more literally domestic as roughly corresponding to our symbolic Goucher triangle."

July 1939 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud joined us at the Alumnae Banquet. She left on June 14 for California.

November 1939 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud writes of her trip to California last summer:
"I had a glimpse of the World of Yesterday when I visited a colony of Russian peasants across the Mexican Border. There the chief punishment is to forbid one to attend religious services, and a bride's 'dot' consists of a feather bed, two pillows, and a cow.
I seemed to be dreaming of a very different past when in Cpistrano. From an acquaintance there I was given a modern footnote on the old story of the perfectly timed migration of swallows to and from this Mission on March 19 and October 23. Nowadays, there is no unmolested reign of swallows until the balre of radio and accompanying songs have ended. The literal broadcasting of the event has sharpened whatever swallow wits there be, and the wary birds now alight first in a huge pepper tree, and not until all is quiet, do they take up their abode in the nests on the side of the ruined tower.
Not many miles from Capistrano is the extremely modernistic home of Richard Halliburton. Even after the tragedy of his death, I believe his sense of humor was so great he would still expect the jokes of his place to be mentioned. It is so strangely inaccessible that arrival seems a test of friendship. The name HANGOVER is so placed that to read the letters right side up would mean to hang over a rocky ledge. And if the curious intruder peeps into a certain point of the front door, he sees only his own eye!
As many of you know, a stay at Laguna Beach in midsummer means the joy of their Festival of Artists. I loved being in a resort of artists. To make the living pictures realistic, many of the men devoted weeks to growing just the required mustache or beard."

November 1945 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud has made Florida her winter home and loves it there. Her address is 312 Colonial Court, Deland, Fla. Lat summer, with a friend, she did real practical Christian social service work, with some of the Tennessee mountain folk.

November 1949 Alumnae Quarterly:

" 'Some day' has dawned! That is the day when I would have a little leisure to do some of the many things that had been put off or pushed aside. But such little interests do not make entertaining reading for even a sympathetic audience. Chiefly I now have opportunity to give a good deal of time to correspondence with 'the children of my heart' (now grandmothers) -an increasing tribe, as other boarding school teachers could testify; and visiting some of them was the objective of my three delightful trips to the West Coast. But now my health makes such trips only a memory.
Living in the shrubs I find as fascinating as did a character in an old novel who said, 'Sometimes the compass of my soul turns toward the country, and sometimes toward the city.' I enjoy the forest trees and old-fashioned gardens of Arlington, Virginia; yet a short drive brings us into the heart of Washington and to a symphony concert or a National Geographic Lecture-the 'us' referring to the three friends with whom I make my home. One of these is secretary to our rector and I occasionally help in the church office, and my chief interest is in church activities. Also I am one of the hostesses at our local hospital.
All success to those of you who accomplish great things in wider fields!"

Spring 1951 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud sends word from Arlington, Va.: "It has not been neglect that has kept me from sending news to the QUARTERLY- just did not consider I had anything to contribute of interest. My 'annals' are so simple that I imagine they may be guessed at in a general way. A certain amount of church work, and what former student of Dr. Thomas could fail to take some little part in social service work? The local hospital and jail offered an opportunity; the former being in need of volunteer helpers, and the latter has only recently taken on rehabilitation duties.
After a hospital experience which still has some aftermath, I have been glad to concentrate on my correspondence with certain former faithful pupils. My interest in them and their families was the motive for my three trips to the West Coast. Now I find myself 'Aunt' to an increasing number outside of my family circle and try to specialize on those in training camps."
Letitia, you always were too modest! We could well take a leaf out of your book. You didn't say just what was included in the rehabilitation service rendered. But we know that wherever you are you serve in your own quiet way and bring joy and blessedness to others. -Claire Ackerman Vliet

Spring 1953 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud writes from Arlington, Va. "Growing old and liking it seems to be the sum of my present life - though 'old' is so much of a taboo that I whisper it softly. But I do like it - 'specially the independence and the reviewing my past experiences (mentally). What amuses me is being so unrealistic that I am surprised by the deference unexpectedly shown me.
My long years of teaching now yield a small harvest of correspondence. My church work is still a part of me, I trust, and brings even now some added responsibilities.
I have outlived almost all of my nearest relatives, and live with three other oldsters who hold much the same views as I do, and I am content. Prophetically enough, I enjoyed De Senectuate in faraway college days and if I could recall a sentence or two, I could end this ona classic note."

Spring 1955 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud is now living at the CHurch Home, West 6, North Broadway, Baltimore, and says, "The Home gives perfect freedom, pleasant surroundings, and a friendly atmosphere. I was well acquainted with several residents before moving here myself and have now found other congenial spirits, another Goucherite among them. With visits in the city, helping those who are disabled, and teaching in a Chinese Sunday School, I keep busy enough to be content. After supper we have T.V., canasta, or scrabble and frequent entertainment furnished by church groups. Then there are drives, lunches, concerts, etc."

Winter 1956 Alumnae Quarterly:

"I still feel the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places as I enjoy more freedom than I should with watchful, affectionate, relatives, who, being of another generation, would make me constantly fearful of restricting them. Here, I am free to come and go as I wish, and I enjoy the companionship of other retired teachers and others who have led useful lives both in and out of their homes. We seem to live by the unwritten rule of courtesy and common sense. The faculty of adjusting oneself seems to be the principal requirement of the life here, as it is everywhere. Of course we have a few queer ones who seem to enjoy their own "queerities," as I once heard someone say. I am sorry I have nothing of interest to report; I was sorry to hear of the serious illness of May Jones. Best wishes to all."

Spring 1957 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud says that writing something for the Quarterly is more than she feels able to do - no news, but she makes a beautiful contribution, as you may read. "A clever book has been written about this almost century-old home, entitled Ensign on the Hill. In my thoughts I find myself on a hillock of my own as I glance back over the way already trod and discover so many blessings that were taken for granted at the time. I suppose almost any oldster could do the same. In this over-all view you see quicksands and hollows that you escaped unknowingly and furthermore, tiny threads and filaments suddenly stand out, - before unnoticed - that really have gone into the warp and woof of the mystic pattern that we call life. Not a sombre, but a grateful old age.
The repeated mention in the last Quarterly of prayers for peace reminds me of a talk I heard while living near Washington, emphasizing the thought that the emphasis should be on the living of our religion, so that we could hope for peace as a blessed result and the reward the sad old world so sorely needs.
I was not altogether surprised to hear of the death of Louise Lawrence Miller, for when I had a long talk with her at our reunion, I felt that she was failing."

Winter 1958 Alumnae Quarterly:

"Thank you for your Christmas Card,"writes Letitia Ricaud,"and its surprising news of Thyra's second marriage. I shall send her a few lines. I think Mr. Burton must be a very good judge of character. A telephone talk with Emilie supplied a few details. A few weeks ago I saw, but did not at first recognize Charlotte Jones; nor did she at first know me. Alas, for the years! The one big event of my quiet life has been a recent visit to a school where I taught 37-44 years ago. I advise a similar experience to any one who has allowed herself to be a bit pleased by hearing, 'You have not changed a bit.' Very different you feel when your erstwhile sweet girl graduates come before you chatting about their grandchildren. But withal it was a great pleasure."

Spring 1958 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud writes happily from the Church Home in Baltimore that a distant cousin, with whom she has always been congenial, has joined her there and she says, "I am more content than ever. Only my penmanship staggers."

Spring 1959 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud, in another church home, tells me that she has developed a cataract which may be operated on later; she is just as cheerful as ever, which partly explains the fact that everyone is good to her. (She didn't say that; I did.) -Eda Briggs Frost.

Spring 1960 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud, writing from the Episcopal Home in Baltimore, says that the doctors assure her that she will retain the small amount of sight which she has left. She can walk on the street unaccompanied and she has her talkie books; she has even done some work in the hobby room; but I think Letitia finds her greatest comfort in helping those in the home who are real invalids.

Fall 1961 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud, sent a postcard telling about a visit in Arlington where she has many friends. Apologies for postcards are not necessary; in these busy times a card is better than no word at all. So send your cards, my classmates.

Spring 1962 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud says the 44 oldsters at the Church Home are quite congenial - that she takes a walk every day, and finds life tranquil except for regrets for the things which she might have done better. But since Letitia never slacked a thing in her life, I wonder how she could have done better!

Fall 1963 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud, out of the hospital now, is getting back some of her strength, but the going has been hard.

Winter 1964 Alumnae Quarterly:

Letitia Ricaud, with failing eyesight, managed to choose a lovely card on which to send her greetings - you should see it, for it is as modest and dainty as she is.

Summer 1967 Alumnae Quarterly:

Deaths
Letitia T.E. Ricaud '03
Last Updated 10/14/99.
Copyright 1999.