Virginia and Paul V. Galvin

Memories

Carol and Virginia,
"Miss Rose and Miss Tyler"

In a letter dated September 15, 1924, Cora Higley wrote to her thirteen-year-old granddaughter, Virginia, "Now dear, take your stand and be awake. When you start school, make up your mind to be satisfied and expect to do your work, not because your teacher tells you to but because you want to be a scholar and make your mark in the world. Virginia, I can't tell you what a brilliant future I think is ahead of you with your many wonderful gifts, but remember, dear, not one of those gifts will ever amount to anything unless you put forth your best effort to unfold them."

Carol Critchfield, Virginia's younger sister, fondly recalls a favorite children's game invented by Virginia in which both sisters placed their combined dolls in rows in an imaginary classroom and pretended to be schoolteachers. Virginia called herself Miss Tyler and Carol, Miss Rose. Miss Tyler and Miss Rose educated their silent little class of pupils, though as Carol describes, "Oh, yes, sometimes they could be quite naughty!"