More Reminiscences of the ' Wellesley Half-Dozen'    15

room with pictures about.' Most of them were engaged in actual
cataloguing according to the new system, which Mr. Dewey was
always talking about.

"Mr. Dewey always kept up his interest in his original six girls,
and when my mother was already advanced in years, she went up
to Lake Placid as his guest at his famous Club to renew their
friendship. Later, in rhe late 1920's, I was there as a guest of a
member, and when I introduced myself to Mr. Dewey, he made
a great fuss over me. I remember him in his big, rather bare office,
working at a high desk, the telephone being installed deliberately
at the farthest corner of the room, so that whenever it rang he
would have to walk across the big room to it. Mr. Dewey was
obviously a man who combined two qualities that were both de¬
veloped in him to an abnormal degree: proselytising zeal and a
shrewd sense of practical advantage."

The affectionate relationship which existed between Mr. Dewey
and the girls when they were actually working with him is illus¬
trated by the following two letters.

26 April, 1884.
"My dear Mr. Dewey:

We are so sorry not to have you here to-day, but hope the rest
will do you good. . . .

Alice says if she 'can administer any comfort or consolation'
send and she will be with you at once. [Dewey is apparently off
on a trip.] NeIHe says send Mr. Dewey (Love)" from us Wellesley
girls, but I want you to understand that I send that much myself.
... If there is anything any one or all of us can do, you know
you have but to say the word. . . .

Sincerely,

Mary iM. De Veny."