Jane Addams to Mary Rozet Smith, September 17, 1908

Dearie

We have been cleaning like a house afire all day. The plantation has never seemed so in need of plain washing before, and it is really responding.

Mrs Smith, Gertrude and Helen Rice arrived yesterday but have not yet begun to move in. Helen has been staying here and is very nice. She goes to the hospital a week from Monday.  Your father according to all reports and appearance is unusually well, Miss [Fahesbloom?] was in a most cheerful state of mind today over the telephone. I wish all the time that you  were in this big town which you have a strange power of  transfiguring.  Love to your household, always yrs

Jane A.

[page 2] P. S. I am sending you an awfully nice letter from May [Pitkin]--don't save it.