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everything else except Physics, in which he was conditioned, receiving ‘E’. This result was not unexpected, as he had in the latter study a poor teacher, who finally broke down with nervous prostration.
    He would still greatly prefer to attend Milton Academy – I was, however, so discouraged by your last letter that I took steps to hire rooms at Cambridge. If Mr Eliot approves, however, I will see what steps can be taken to dispose of these (they are in a private house on Mt Auburn Street), provided you are still willing to take him on his ‘one condition’. He had intended to take German this year, which is on your programme.
    How early is it necessary for you to know results of my Cambridge inquiries regarding disposal of rooms?
Yours sincerely,
Charlotte C. Eliot
    You are probably out of the city, but I address this to Milton.
    23 July 1905
    Eastern Point, Gloucester
    My dear Mr Cobb,
    I write a line to say that if you are still in Boston or Milton, my son and I will make an appointment to call on and confer with you. I want to be sure he can go to Milton Academy, before taking active steps to dispose of his rooms.
    I greatly prefer to have him a year at a Preparatory School, rather than to enter college this year. I am officially informed that his certificate of admission will hold good next year, making up physics.
Yours sincerely
Charlotte C. Eliot
Mrs Henry W. Eliot
    26 July 1905
    Eastern Point, Gloucester
    My dear Mr Cobb,
    I have just learned from your secretary that you are out of town, but will return on the 1st of August. As soon thereafter as is convenient to you, Tom and I will visit Milton Academy, and confer with you. Mr Eliot writes that he approves of his going to Milton rather than Harvard this year, and thinks it will do him good. As soon as I have perfected arrangements with you, I will close matters at Cambridge.
    Tom’s certificate will admit him to college next year with only an examination in Physics, and any extra study will be a gain.
    We should be happy to have you spend the day with us at Eastern Point, if you care for a fine view.
Yours sincerely,
Charlotte C. Eliot
    28 August 1905
    Eastern Point, Gloucester
    My dear Mr Cobb,
    I have been considering with my son-in-law, Mr Alfred Dwight Sheffield, 1 who has had considerable experience in past years in a Preparatory School, the best course of study for Tom to pursue at Milton Academy this coming year. Mr Sheffield thinks, and I agree with him, that it is better to take studies other than those in which he has passed his examinations. This would exclude Latin, Greek and French, and perhaps English. Attendance at these courses would mean the reading again a second time much that he has already been over. This, Mr Sheffield believes, would induce a mental ennui. It certainly would not act as a stimulus.
    Among the elective studies is Advanced History, upon which Tom could spend considerable time. Is this course always included in the curriculum, however small the number of students desiring to take it?
    There are reasons why it would be better for Tom to take Chemistry at Milton than at Harvard. It would be more interesting and less technical and abstruse. Would it conflict with his Physics?
    Physiography Tom does not care for, and I do not consider it worth while for a boy who reads and easily acquires general information.
    As to the German, Tom is going through with Mr Bierwirth’s Thirty Lessons, 2 and recalls much more than I expected – he could easily enter the Third Class were it desirable. German is still an open question.
    Mr Sheffield, who is, I think, known to you, has offered to go to Milton on Saturday for an interview concerning Tom’s studies, but I am loath to accept his kind offer as it would shorten his stay here by a day. I should like however, in any case, to visit Milton again and ascertain more definitely what programme of studies can be arranged without conflict; all that I have written is merely preliminary to a