July 7, 1934
St. Elmo, Muskoka

Dear Miss Sutcliffe:

I hope you are well. I am sure you will enjoy your trip to Europe.

In the assemblés soutenus do you bend your inside knee – I mean the one nearest the chair you have hold of or the outside knee? I think you bend the outside knee but Auntie Vera and Mary Ellen think you should bend the inside knee. I think that is about all the questions I want to ask you.

Mary Margaret had her tonsils out on Friday – July 6th.

We are having a lovely time here and have been in swimming at least once every day since we came.

In our final, or promotions, examinations I passed and came sixth.

I made up a dance for Catherine and Mary Ellen. The rest are singing it. It is a little French song called “Marchioness Your Dancing.” I don’t think it is very good but I guess it will do. I made it out of a number of steps you taught us – the polka, waltz, bourée chetés [jetés], hop and swing and balancé.

Last night us eight children gave a debate headed as follows: Resolved Grain Growing and Stock Raising are More Beneficial than Fruit Growing or Vegetable Raising. The result was a perfect tie.

We are looking forward to seeing Josephine who is coming soon. Just now we have an art teacher, a Mr. Winshell Price. I can’t make up my mind whether I like him or not. He goes to our church and seems very nice but there is something about him I don’t like – I just yet don’t know what it is yet – you see he only came yesterday, but he sort of gives me the jitters.

We had a picnic this week at Porcupine Rock and we are having one again next week.

It seems nice to not have to go to school or take music lessons. I will be glad, though, to continue with my dancing lessons.

Lots of love from your devoted pupil,
Barbara Davis
[later known as Barbara Chilcott]