Letter from Dora Giffen to her family, November 4, 1922

Girls Boarding School,
American Mission,
Tanta, Egypt
Sat., November 4, 1922

Dearest Ones:
It was such a good and satisfying home mail that came this week. I had gotten none the week before. Mother’s October sixth letter came Thursday and her October thirteenth one on Friday. A letter from Edna came on Thursday.

Mother's letters were so newsy. I also enjoyed the card and letter from Willard enclosed. He has to go away from home before I find out much about him, since he won't write at any other time. The next time you have a vacation, Willard, and find you have a little bit of extra time, sit down and right to me. I am not a critical judge of letters: I enjoy them too much. So just remember that I am here and not at home. This same I say to you all, except Mother, who has no equal as a letter writer in my eyes. I enjoy her letters so much and they come so regularly.

Mother, I do not need shoes this year, so I am glad you did not put yourself out to go to Cambridge to get any. Did Mrs. Caldwell tell me, as she passed through Tanta, that you had some pictures to send, too, besides the diploma, which of course you won't need to send now? I am still feeling badly over never having gotten that photo of Martin. Where do you suppose it got to? I want a photo of him very badly, for in the one I have of him he is still a little boy. It makes me ashamed, when people come into my room and are looking at the photographs I have stuck around in different places, to have such an old one of Martin to show them.

I guess I had forgotten, Mother, that the dress of yours that you had made like the serge dress you sent to me was of that black and white goods instead of serge. I remember now you mentioned that in a letter last spring. Yes, “those dresses” do fit and fit well, except for the waistband of my nice white dress, which is just a little too large but that is easily remedied. I do like that dress immensely. I have not worn my new serge yet. It has been keeping remarkably hot here in Egypt. Last week I believe I felt the heat as much as I did last June, when we had some scorching weather. It has been slightly cooler this week and today I got out my suit thinking that maybe I might need it when I go to Cairo next week. I am going up on Tuesday night after dinner and expect to come back on the four fifteen train on Thursday afternoon. There is a rehearsal of the bridal party Tues. afternoon at three-thirty, the wedding is Wednesday afternoon at four-thirty, and I want to shop some for myself and for the school on Thurs. Mary Thompson has a committee meeting in Cairo on Tues. and must go up early Tues. A.M. for that. She is not invited to the wedding, however. Lucia Dwight Is invited and is going up with me on Tues.

I find Mary Thompson very congenial. She is easier to work with than Nellie Smith is. The prospects are for a happy year together. Nellie Smith is fine but she is too strenuous for me and is apt to be rather impatient with people and things.

The couple you saw with Margaret Ballantyne, Mother, must have been Janet and her husband, for someone from New Concord writes to Susannah that they were there and that Janet had to make speech in chapel after her husband had led the devotional exercises. Another Bedlam Cottage Round Robin Reached us this week and Agnes's letter told us all about the wedding. It was a big church affair and they said that Janet looked beautiful. Agnes is teaching at Amelia, Ohio, where Janet taught last year, and is enjoying it. Janet and Dale White are to study in White’s Bible School until this November when they leave for India. 2) Agnes was at the New Wilmington Conference this year. I believe Faith was, too.

Everyone in Xenia is pleased over Ruth Rankin’s and Herman Eavey’s marriage. It seems that the only people who are displeased are Henry Rankin's people, who have had an unfortunate experience with a second marriage somewhere in the family.

Mrs. Finley Told Mary Thompson before she left Assiut that Elizabeth and Walker were to be married last Saturday, Oct. 28th. Walker was soloist at Janet B.’s wedding. So Leander has entered the Seminary and given up his medical course? Jack seems to be doing very good work in Assiut College.

Aunt Elizabeth and Edna keep well. They were taking care of Besse’s children, while Besse and Sanford were away for a little rest over the week-end, when Edna last wrote. Edna said she sent a small package of stockings out to me with Helen Martin, which I have never received. I will ask Helen about them next week in Cairo.

I was interested in what Mother was saying with regard to her study of Revelation. It has made my interest in Revelation more real. When I go home I want to read W. J. Reed on Revelation. He was before the day of “Pre’s” and “Posts” and so his view of things does seem much more sane and probable, doesn't it? Your opinion of things about hits the nail on the head, Mother, -according to my opinion of things, - with regard to the Near East situation.

I am certainly glad that Mr. Lytle is helping with the rooms. The B. and M. of October 4, the second B. and M. I have gotten this fall, came this morning, re addressed from Shoubra.

It certainly ought not to be up to you to see about having the address of my “U.P.” changed, but I have not done it. One reason why I have not is because those at Shoubra like to slip it out of the wrapper and look it over before sending it on. I think I will just send the subscription money straight to them (the publishers) instead of having you bother about it, this year. I also want to subscribe soon for the Youth’s Companion. It is nice to have in a school of this kind. Miss Thompson gets the Outlook, Atlantic Monthly, and National Geographic. Someone in America sends the Ladies’ Home Journal to the school here.

Our Tom at home is still a very clever cat, isn't he?

I am just noticing how hard my letter is to read. I hope to get some better ink when I go up to Cairo next week.

I was surprised last Sabbath night to be greeted by Mrs. Frank Henry just before going into Christian Endeavor. Edna and Eileen Henry are down having their tonsils out, so I went over Monday to see them all, then again Thurs. afternoon. While there Thurs. I saw Miss Witherspoon, a new teacher in the Alexandria Girls’ School, who is sick in the hospital. She is run down and to be so this early in the game is rather discouraging. Dr. Frank McClenahan Is also here now packing up his household goods, preparatory to going to Luxor next week. His family is here with him.

The Hutchisons are back and Susannah came over yesterday to give the girls their cooking lesson. The girls are behaving very well in classes these days. They made three things in class yesterday: prune whip (a dessert), boiled eggs on toast, and deviled eggs. Susannah and I help the girls eat what they have made and everything tasted good. We had what was left of the prune whip for supper last night.

Thurs. evening Susannah and Harry came over to call. When leaving they had to go over to Mr. Boyd's for a few minutes and prevailed on Miss Thompson and me to go along. We went, found Willa making candy, had some music, and stayed till ten o’clock. Mr. Livingston Gordon, who has just arrived in Egypt and was this far on his way up to Cairo, was at the Boyds. The Bells are still staying in Alexandria. They may be here next week.

Things are going on just as well here at the school as when Miss Smith was here. The school girls like Miss Thompson.

I must stop and dress to go to Mrs. Cruickshanks for tea this afternoon. Nothing formal about the tea.

Lots of love to each one from your own Dora.