IARY--SEEING THE CITY

_October 2._

I HAVE been seeing Philadelphia. Mr. Lee teasingly told me that most
newcomers want to "do" the city so he and Virginia would take me round.
They took me to see all the places I studied about in history class.
I've done the Betsy Ross House, Franklin's Grave, Old Christ Church and
Old Swede's Church. I like them all. Best of all I like Independence
Hall, with its wonderful stairways and wide window sills and, most
important, its grand old Liberty Bell and its history.

Yesterday Mr. Lee took me to Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park. I like the
pictures and oh, I looked long at a white marble statue of Isaac, his
hands bound for the sacrifice. The face is beautiful. Royal Lee was
amused at my interest in it and took me off to see the rare Chinese
vases. We wandered around among the cases of glassware and then I found
a case with valuable Stiegel glass, made in my own Lancaster County. I
was proud of that! We went through Horticultural Hall and stopped to see
the lovely sunken gardens, with their fall flowers.

I like to go about with Royal Lee. He is so efficient. Crowds seem to
fall back for him. He has the attractive, masterful personality that
everybody recognizes. I feel a reflected glory from his presence. We
have grown to be great friends in an amazingly short time. Our music,
our appreciation of each other's ability, has strengthened the bond
between us. Mrs. Lee sends me many invitations for dinner and week-ends
in her beautiful home, so that Mr. Lee and I are already well
acquainted. He has asked me to call him Royal and if he might call me
Phoebe. I've told him all about my life on the farm, my friends up
there, and the plans and dreams of my heart. He likes to tease me and
call me a little Quakeress, but I don't enjoy that for he does it in a
way I don't like. It sounds as if he's scoffing at the plain people.
When I told him about the meeting house and described the service he
laughed and said that a religion like that might do for a little country
place but it would never do in a city. I bridled at that and tried to
tell him about the wholesome, useful lives those people up home lead,
how much good a woman like Mother Bab can do in the world. But he could
not be easily convinced. He thinks they are crude and narrow. When I
told him they are lovely and fine he challenged me and asked if I am
willing to wear plain c