Preparing for medical exams; modesty of Theatrical Ladies

Postmark: Philadelphia

Postmark: Baltimore Md
Feb 21

Mr. George “W” Gleaves
Buffaloe Ford
Wythe County
Virginia

Philadelphia
Feby 19^th 1848

Dear Wythe 

            If you have written to me I have not received it.  It must have been misplaced or intercepted.  I write merely at present to let you know I am well & am sorry to say I can’t come home as soon as I anticipated,   My examinations will commence on the 13^th of March   I will come before Dr Horner on -  Anatomy first & then Gibson, Chapman, &c. until I finish  I of course fear as any one the results, yet it must & shall be done  good or Bad. 

            I don’t think I have any news   Henry Clay will be here about the 22^nd .    I‘ll try & see him though my anxity  is greatly diminished)  as regards seeing  “Big Bugs”  They have become too common & with some exceptions they have no more sense than anybody else. 

            Wythe I suppose Col Boyd has given you the news & so upon this presumption I’ll not detail the “Random yarns” 

           Wythe I suppose Aunt Caroline

Crockett has Received my letter in regards to her Breast pin If so tell her to write & let me know the Style and Price she will give

      I will be at home as soon as I can get away. I can assure you I'll not appoint my time least I'll disappoint you.

     We will have some 180 candidates for graduation

     Look out for S. Gleaves!

     Give my love to the family & respects to all friends.

     Dr Tyler has returned home & Dr Preston of Abingdon is now in the same room with me-- he is one of the cleverest men I ever saw & particularly Kind to me_

     The students are fast by these who have attended one course

Yours Respectfully
S C Gleaves

G. W. Gleaves

     Some two weeks ago we had two Theatrical Ladies (both dancers) boarding with us assuming I thought more dignity & modesty than is common to Theatricals. One so retiring as not to eat at the same table

     This reserve drew forth an argument at the Table, with some 8 or ten boarders. The other girl remarking Miss So - - So was always bashful & diffident I thought this was not the case. I Remark in a peculiar Rustic style. This modesty was a precious gem. But why so reserve when by paying 25 or 50 cents - you could go to the Theatre & see all they could do. (& almost added) all they had.

     It had the desired effect

                                                                               S C Gleaves

This letter was folded so as to use part of it as the envelope, and the address was written there.

Samuel Crockett Gleaves wrote this letter to his younger brother Wythe while a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He entered the school October, 1846 and graduated April 17, 1848. Samuel would have been 24 years old at the time and Wythe would have been 20 years old.

Aunt Caroline (Minter) Crockett was the wife of Allen Taylor Crockett. Allen was the younger brother of Samuel's mother, Malvina Crockett Gleaves.

Samuel's comments regarding the Theatrical Ladies is similar to comments he has made in other letters regarding the conduct of women in Philadelphia compared to Wythe County.