CA1308

Letter from Charles Rudd to his mother from Rice Institute
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1308)
(Document ID #309)

[Context:  Charles attended Rice Institute in Houston, Texas.  At the time of this letter, he must have been returning to school from Christmas break, spent at his home in Temple, Texas.  'Brown' may have been a cousin.] 


        Houston, Texas
        1/4/17.

Dear Mother - 
    On account of Cleveland Lindley's death we did not have school Wednesday the 3rd.  He was a senior and got sick Christmas Day.  He was buried Wed. afternoon.
    We made the trip just fine.  It was the first time I had riden the day train to Houston in quite a while, as I usually come and go on the night train.
    About 43 freshmen flunked according to the circulating talk and about twelve upper classmen makes the total about 60.  A few are leaving school and that means we will lose about 75 students the first term.  This year is the first year that they have inserted in the lease the clause that unless you[r] board and room bill is payed in full you will not be able to take the exams.  Some of the boys sin[c]e had to hustle to get the ready money and one upperclassman failed to raise the money and was not allowed to take the exams.  He is not really an upperclassman.  He is rated as a freshman but this is his third year here.  The first year he passed 3 courses.  The second he flunked almost all of his courses and lost his standing entirely.  This year he did get to take the exams.  Now isn't that some record.
    I am very sorry I didn't spend more time with you and the rest of the family especially the last few days, but I don't really know.  I don't see how I could have been so mean and indifferent but really I didn't mean to be.  I just didn't stop and consider.
    I weighed the morning I got to Houston and I weighed 165 pounds.  That is the most I ever weighed in my life.  That is pretty heavy for me.  You see what home cooking will do for you.
    Our basket ball season starts next week.  We have a good chance for a real good team.  Brown is on probation and can't play basket ball and I heard he has quit school because he can't play basket go out for athletics until he is off of probation.
    Well I will send this letter on now and will write again in a few days when I have more to say.

                                                    With lots of love,
                                                                    Chas.