Journal 
Anne Cora Southworth, '82, Vassar College Poughkeepsie New York. 
Journal 
Vassar College, Sept. 19th '80. 
Back Again. 
Juniors! how queer it seems. To think that I've only one more long vacation! Fannie Bird came back with me. She is to be preparatory. She is awfully homesick but I think she will get over it as soon as the studying begins. She says however that she shall go home next week. We got here Thursday and Hattie arrived soon after. At night, just before we were going to bed, who should come up the hall but May. We did not expect her till Monday. We thought Madge was not coming back and mourned for her. May had the outside room, I the double and Hat the single inside. Friday as we were going to Chapel, we ran right into Madge! Weren't we astonished? And weren't we glad? So the next day we changed around, and finally May and Hattie took the double inside and I took the outside. They are going to have two bureaus and fix it up so there will be room for their things. At first Hattie said they never could stand it, two in a room. She went to Mrs. Ray to be changed to a room alone. But Mrs. Ray said there was not one room that had not been applied for. There are lots and lots of new girls this year. That will be very nice for the College. Carrie has not arrived yet. I am afraid her eyes trouble her. Louise has a boat. Miss Withy is back as [post]. She could not be separated from her [smash] Miss Stockwell. I am writing up in Fannie Birds' room, as I haven't any ink myself. 
Fannie has got over being homesick. She is as lively as can be now. Her father came here last Saturday, after she had telegraphed several times to home. She said she would stay if he wished her to. He said of course he wished her to stay. 
I really think she would have been a little disappointed if he had wanted her to go home. She cheered right up and was as jolly as could be. Hattie has moved. She went into the parlor with Ella Varnes, and Miss Wilkinson went with her. Carrie has not come back yet. Her eyes have been very bad indeed. She will be back as soon as she can. Delta. There are only 17 or 18 old members 
in Delta I hope we will get lots of new girls in the chapter for upon that its prosperity depends. Last Friday Julia Meeker and I were on the entertainment committee. Jessie M. and Jessie W. made real pretty programmes. I spoke "Here she [Was] and There she Goes," and I was Tom in the Charade Domestic. We had ice cream and cake after it was over. Madge and May are going to join Delta. Miss Nicks, an '82 girl, used to belong to Delta, but she was sick and left last year. Her sister is here this year and is going to join Delta. 
Sunday, Oct. 10th 
Fossils 
Friday Jessie and I went to Cedar Ridge after ..., but it was rather too early and so we didn't get many. Jessie showed me a large boulder with fossil sea weed, and we found a small piece of the same, which we calmly broke in halves and appro.
-priated. We found another kind of fossil, too. We also found some maiden hair ferns and I dug up some roots which I am going to send to mother. Last night I went to [Exoterie] It was very nice. There was a reading and a song, and Miss Chapman was [blacked] up and sang "Dem Golden Slippers." It was very cute. The last was a farce, "The Silent Woman." We hailed Miss Dean's first appearance this year with great delight. I am going to [Ailigious Inquiry] tonight. Prof [Professor] Backus is going to address it. I never went [hit] once before. That was the first year I was here, and the president addressed it. So of course it was awfully dull. I have joined the Floral Society. I have[...], 49 & 50 West. They contain 17 rose bushes. I have had one rose out of it already and I hope to get lots next Spring. I also belong to a Reading Club Twenty Minutes in the Reading Room. Missus Barrlett, [Lexarned], [Arradhead], and myself. [Madgr] is going to join. We are going to have Clio again this year. The officers are Miss King, pres. [president]; Miss Nickerson, vicepres. [vicepresident]; Miss Learned, sec. [secretary] Miss Fridenberg was first nominated and then Miss Brittan. But both resigned. Sunday, Oct. 17th 1880 Delta Last Friday night, Delta's meeting was very short. I had to read a critique. The Senior Parlor was opened to Seniors Thursday and Friday night they invited the sophs [sophmores] up there. Saturday morning I went up there. It is perfectly lovely. They have an upright piano. 
The first [elase] that has had one since '73. Monday, Oct. [October] 24th '80 News from home It seems as if I had nothing but bad news from home. First, the [...] mill at home was burned and their French and Ward's mill and now the last thing, father has been hurt. He was running along beside his wagon which had 2500 lbs. [punds] of grain on it, and he fell and the whell went over him, bruising his leg terribly and also his shoulder some. That was a week ago Saturday. Last Saturday I recieved my last letter from home, and his knee was not getting along at all well. I have had Company from home. Mrs [...], whose sister lives in town and is the wife of the high school teacher Mr. [Mister] Buck. Mrs. [Missus] [...] came out here Tuesday and Thursday her sister and some children came with her. It seemed [...] very pleasant to see some one from home. Beta's Hall Meeting [came] off last Friday. The chapters are allowed to have only literary and musical entertainments this year. It was very nice for that kind of [...] meeting. I went to Exoterie Saturday night, Fannie Klongs. They had a very pleasant meeting. I ram so angry at Mrs. Ray She does not want us to have any more [...] at chapter meetings, and [rom] programmes have to be submitter to her. It is half the work to get up a farce, and I think she is very disagreeable. 
Oct 31st '80 Delta We had a real nice Delta meeting Friday. Miss Platter read a very good critique. Misses Varnes and Easton read last year's class essays. Miss Munro and I read prices. I had a dreadful cold but managed to get through. Miss Varnes sang also. I read The Brother of Mercy by Whittier. That afternoon I read the same in elocution. Elocution We meet at the tenth period Tuesdays and Fridays. Miss Brace has been very nice so far. But they say she has been horrid in the other divisions. Hollowe'en. We were going to have a spree [and] Mrs. Ray said we might pair [...] for it. The Sophs [sophmores] were going to have Society Hall, the other studentsthe gym. Saturday night the last [...], Mrs. Ray wouldn't lit the preps go to the gym because it was raining and told the Juniors that we must finished by 8 p.m. so the preps might have Room 
J. We were pretty well disgusted. We had a show first and got through with it by 8 by hurrying and then took up our chairs and fled to the back [...] where we were regaled with coffee and sandwiches. The show was splendid. Miss Glum led the orchestra, and was too cute fod anything. Laura Gross recited Byron's piece about [...] slaying her daughter with a very tragic air brandishing a butcher's knife. She blacked her eye brows and put black lace around her head so it looked like black saratoga wave, wore a long dress and did not look a bit like herself. Miss Easton, attired in a short white dress and pantalets, with her hair down, recited ""Twinkle twinkle little star" for our edifica.tion. But I think Miss Varnes outdid them all. She was fixed up like a negro, and the way she carried on rolling her eyes and showing her teeth! Miss King read an essay on spring. H [...] [...]. After we had out spread, we began to play games. But the back parlor was too small. So some one went to find Mirs. Ray and get permission to take the front parlor. She was not to be [...] and we knew no other teacher woudl feel at liberty to give consent, so two girls went to the President. Then we played Blindman's bliff and the circle. Then Miss Coleman propoled that we go through the Catacombs. So we all formed a line, each putting her hands on the shoulders of the one in front. It was great fun. It was dark all the way, except just in the centre. Then we marched through the kitchen where the servers were making candy, sing.ing "Here's to '81, for we know she's having fun." Then in the second we sand "Here's to the president, for the [...] the parlor lint." Then we returned to the parlors. The preps in Room J sang to us and we sand back and then we danced the Virginia Reel and departed. Fannie and Jessie Clinton staid [stayed] here all night and the girls were going to get up and eat an apple at 12, but they didn't. Some one served up my night-gown and fixed my sheet; but they did not bother me for I always go to bed in the light. Covering the Sofa I covered my sofa Saturday. It looks real pretty. Bright red and old gold. A week ago I covered my chair [...], too. And May is going to cover her [her's] like it. Analyses. We have had to write just lots of analyses in Rhetoric. I don't like to do it but I see that it is doing me good. I have made a great fuss every time. Sunday Nov. 7th 1990 Hallowe'en We had a jolly time Hallowe'en. Out class had an entertainment in- but there I have written all about that, so I think I will leave the subject and talk about elections. Election. Tuesday nights great excitement prevailed in College and party-spirit ran high. The girls were all putting out decorations and signs. Madge hung out red, white, and blue skirts, May a white shawl and red and blue [sachel]. She is a Democrat. Then I draped some old curtains etc. over the alley-way and put up my red handkerchief and some blue ribbon and white [illusion] between the doors in the alley. 
Then out in the corridor I draped my red and white shawl and my blue stockings and some blue bows. Then Madge and I painted a little flag and [set] it swinging over the entrance to the alley way. We were busy in study-hour and Miss Kaskell came out and said tha really we ought to keep in our rooms, but that if we would be real quiet, we might stay and decorate. Just think of that from Miss Kaskell! The senior corridor was decked out beautifully and [lighed] up by candles. There were effigies of Hancock and Garfield in various postures of ignominy or triumph. Teachers and professors with smiling faces promenaded the corridors and examined the decorations. A blackboard by the senior parlor stood waiting for the first alums. [...] was a scene of gaeity and festivity. The Sophs [sophmores] and Frosh [freshmen] Republicans formed a torch light procession and were marching triumphantly along [when] as they reached the Senior Corridor, out came Mrs. Ray with flamming eyes and angry looks and said "Young ladies, put out your lights and go to your rooms immediately." She called it imbicile and childish and gave as excuse that she had a headache and did not like the noise. Flat! Well, this procession broke up, but as for quiet, that was out of the question, there was continual clatter up and down the corridors and a stir and excitement in the air. Mrs. Ray sent word to the Seniors to put out their candles but they would not do it. About 9 came the first [...], and Miss Fardner wrote up on the board "5th District Poughkeepsie 187 majority for Garfield." "Pooh, Poughkeepsie always does go Republican," remarked a poor Democrat, scornfully. Miss Jaskell came around to all the rooms after the last bell and gave us all the latest news, which was so cheering that we went to sleep in a very happy state of mind. The next day Mrs. Ray sent word to all the girls to take down their decorations. But the seniors did not and for several days they staid up in all their glory. I heard that Mrs. Ray appologized to Miss Fitzhugh for something Mrs. Ray said to her. We were all much disgusted with Mrs. Ray and expected to get a lecture from her, but did not. The next day Prof. Backus talked to us in class about politics. Sunday, Nox. 14th '80. In Jessie Clinton's Room. Yesterday Jessy C. got a bunch of oranges from her father's plantation. They are the nicest I ever ate. I suppose because they are fresh. Some of them are very large, and some are little "mandarins" with the nicest flavor I ever tasted. She is going to East Bridgewater Christmas and is going with Fannie and I. She is going to Stoughton with us and there she is coming to Stoughton to come back with us. I expect we will have a very jolly time. Alpha's Hall Meeting came off Friday night. It was very nice, I thought. Venis Abbott had the critique and it was splendid. Poetry and very cute. Miss Miade, an elocutionist, a friend of Miss [Hartinarm], was here this week and read to us between dinner and chapel. She read "The Bugh Song," King Henry V and Catherine, and A Countryman's account of some fine music he had heard. I did not like the first very well bit the last 
two were very good indeed. I enjoyed the second most of all. I would like such a treat oftener. Dec. 12th 1880 Fanchon Any amount of things have happened since I last wrote. In the first place, the first hall play came off. It was Fanchon. Miss [Shove] took the part of Laudry; Miss Darling, Didier. [Miss Aollinson] was Fanchon. They all did well, very well, and it was great fun rehearsing. I took the part of Fadet and enjoyed it immensely. There were lots of nice girls in it, Misses Lane, Crate, Lloyd. And Miss Erekine was head of the committee and Miss Pinfield was also on committee. I think Miss [Shove] is lovely. 
Phil. Day A week ago last Friday was Phil. Dat. Cassie came Thursday and went away Monday. I enjoyed her visit so much. She staid [stayed] to Mr. Wheeler's nights and came over here day times. We had a real nice time Friday night. Prof. Bachus addressed us and he was very nice. However he had to refer to his notes and that was quite painful. I heard he had stage fright, which seems scarcely possible. Delta Hall Meeting came off last night. I was on the committee. Miss Pratt was head of the committee. Mis Brace read to us. A selection from Queen Mary, and [Persimmons]. She was very nice. She was an old Deltan. Miss [Mieher] read an essay about a "Modern Romeo and Juliet." It was very funny. I had the critique. Miss Annes was bride in the Mistle.toe Bough. She looked very pretty and acted lovely. May and Madgr were lady and lord in it and looked ever so nice. Jessie was a lord also. In the last scene we had the two little Dwight boys and their little Norris children and they were just as cute as could be. Jamie and Benny wanted to rehearse all the time and they all did splendidly. I guess the whole was liked pretty well. Thanksgiving I forgot all about Thanksgiving. We had a lovely time. We skated all the morning. Dinner at three. Then we danced and played games in the parlors. Then we went to the Hall where there was quite a nice entertainment. Miss Brace recited a piece about Thanksgiving and [Bobo'link]. Then we returned to the parlor for more dancing, games, and for ice cream and cake. Prod. Bachus, Prix, John Guy and Matthew Vassar, and Ray danced the Virginia Reel. John Guy and Matthew played Jacob and Rachel, too, and other games. Everybody was very jolly and I never had a nicer Thanksgiving day here. First Essay was about the view from the top of Blue Hill at home. Miss Hiscock liked it very much. There was a great deal of imagination in it through, because it was so long ago I went up there. Jan. 18th 1881 Christmas Tree. I went home the Friday before vacation began. The Friday after vacation we had a Christmass tree in our room. The girls took the out of the hall decorations just before Christmas vacation, and kept it in the closet over vacation. May went home with Madge and Jessie C. went to East Bridgewater and came over to Stoughton. We tied the tree to the gas jet and propped it up by books. Then we had candles on it and cornballs. I took of the presents and compared some poetry in honor of the occasion. Jessie W. made the programmes. I gave all the girls scent bags, except Jessie W. I gave her a pair of silver pins. We [chubbed] and gave Madge a braver hat. I had a Japanese tray from Jessie F., an inkstand from J.P.C., a pack of visiting cards from Fannie, a glass of crackle ware from May and a vase of rainbow glass from Madge. Then we had a feast of crackers, pickles, presents, fruit cake, oranges, doughnuts, candy. We had a lovely time. 
[Coasting] is lovely. The hill is steep and croocked, however, and the crust is very hard. I have been out twice. Jamie Dwight has a bob and the girls go down on it. Two girls went down on a shaky sled against the advice of Miss Fitzhugh, who had been using it and they upset and scratched their faces quite badly. Delta Meeting was quite pleasant. Miss Penfield read a selection from the "Tramp Abroad". We had programmes which were very pretty. Then we had refreshments, crackers, oranges, and macaroons. [Clio] met Saturday after Chapel. Jessie read a paper about Cardinal Wolsey, and Miss Cecil talked about the last part of Henry VIII reign. Misses Thove and Semple read a scene from Shakespeare and that ended the library part. Then Miss Buttam gave in a spread, consisting of Coffee and Rolls Lobster salad, Ice Cream and Cake, Oranges. We had a very pleasant evening. Essay. I got another week on my essay, as it was due a week ago yesterday. But I could not finish it quite yesterday on account of the spread. So I finished copying it today. I don't know what Miss Hiscock will say, but I guess nothing very bad. My subject is "Why Should Not Women Be Lawyers?" It all consists in a repetition of the "Not Be" arguments. I was up in Jessie's room all day yesterday. She and I both wrote on out essays, and when we wanted advice we asked each other. 
Miss Hiscock "The Divine Helen" or "Little [Bell]" called on Jessie, who was sick, this morning. She said she had a great love for cats and whenever she saw one, she wanted to take it up and caress it. She said that she supposed she had the love for cats that other women have for children. She said she saw the loveliest picture of a cat in New York and if she hadn't felt the pinch of poverty she should have bought it. A New Regulation for the dining hall has gone into effect. We can leave dinner at half past five instead of a quarter of six as formerly. It is splendid. The Mystery. There is some mystery in the air. Some announcement is to be made that is to have a great influence on us. It will not affect the music students but will affect the seniors. Many conjectures have been made. But I think it must be a change in the system of honors on the abolishing of [...]. Feb 13th 1881 Christmas Tree Poetry I should think it was time I wrote, when so much has been going on. But first I will put in the poetry that I read at the Christmas tree We welcome you all To this noble hall, Out Christmas tree To see. Its grand old branches, spreading above Are hung with tokens of our love So faithful and so true. And now le me say, In this joyous day, A wrord to each of you. 
For Madge, out sole Quaker maiden May this New Year be laden With joys, as bright as electric lights! Fannie, may you still be happy, And as gay and as sappy, As you have be before. But carless and thoughtless And full of naughtiness, May you be no more. Of all things tonight, either horrid or nice, The best I can give you is this good advice. Jessie the little, Jessie the slim, Jessie the the sober and jolly, What word shall I say To you today, Of either wisdom or folly. May you grow very fat And have always a hat As becoming as your black one. And may you see 
Many a Christmas tree, Such as this, where you'll have as much fun. We hope that the coming year will be As bright for thee, Dear May, As the Christmas holiday, Just passed away. And we hope tonight, That you may be On society, A star so bright That you'll dazzle all, And make many fall Before your brilliant light. Jessie, may your days be full of light, May each hour be golden bright, As your oranges. May your purse ne'er be flat, But may it ever be as fat As your oranges. May your heart e'er be as mellow 
May your face ne'er be as yellow As your oranges. For Carry, the naughts and perverse, Whome we expected here, I'll try not to hope for anything worse Than, may she have a good working year! Now to you, with a sigh, I will say goodbye. And if my lines are not to your mind, Another poet you'll have to find. Coasting. The coasting was elegant for a long time and the girls were devoted to it. The bob and the small boy to guide it were in special favor. Jessie and I invested in a cutter which rejoises in the name of Globe. The girls got a good many bumps bit it couldn't cool their ardor. The weather has been very, very cold, but the thaw 
has set in and the snow has most gone. Examinations. We had any amount of examinations. One every day for two weeks in Physics and several in Rhetoric and one in Astronomy. I got about tired out with them. Lessons. This semester my lessons are the same as last, except that I have Logic instead of Rhetoric. I don't know yet how I like it. I miss the analysis in learning it. Delta Officers were elected. Miss Harison, pres. Prutt, vice-pres. May, sec. Varnes and Meeker [crities]. Mrs. Buck Fannie and I called on Mrs. Buck she is going to invite us there to tea some time. Hall Play. We had another hall play, Jan. 28th "Money." It was hardly as good as 
usual taking all things together. Miss Stanton made her first appearance and was very nice, very nice indeed, as also was Miss Sharpe. Misses Semple and Glenn, as hero and heroine were also very nice, and they had hard parts. New ministers. Rev. Mr. Judson of Orange N.J. preached her [here] Jan. 27. His subject was Repentence and I enjoyed it intensely. He makes such a clear analysis and is so enthusiastic that it is impossible not to be interested. Mr. Patterson of Albany preached here today and I liked him too. Lectuer in Town. Feb 4th Prof. Bachus lectured in town on "Leisure Hours." It was very nice. It was of historical interest, I believe, but I have only heard rumors as to the real story attached to it. But that he got his main points in the first place from senior essays is pretty well authenticated. Prof Bachus lectured to our class upon Interoceanic Canal The first day of the semester, giving us a very clear idea of it. The next day he talked about the Monroe doctrine and its connection with the canal. Miss Hows says she wishes she could have him to clear up every subject of that sort. And Mary King says she wishes they would clear up everything and start anew. Trig. Ceremonies Came off last night. I went to the dress rehearsal. There were more at the dress rehearsal than at the regular play. At the play they waved a red flag with joke on it after every joke. I give Miss Walsh's acount of it "Last Saturday the Sophs buried Trig. All day the wore the somberest hues and most melancholy (?) looks they could 
scare up. If [comse] they took pity on the poor verdant Freshies and invited them to witness the last rites of their dear departed friend. So at 7.15 pm we started toward the lycium with our most melancholy looks and four handkerchiefs apiece. There we were recieved by our mourning elder sisters with great solemnity, and were handed the sad emblems of which I send you one (programmes). We listened to some fine music, and there the curtain rose and we were allowed to listen to the prologue of the sad tragedy. This was recited by six girls sewed up in red cambrie bags. These girls were the authoresses of the play. As each one was mentioned she dropped her head with be coming modesty, and smiled a mournful smile. First Act introduces Sophie M. Are, Bluebeaset (Trigons Metrie) and Guardie (Prod. [Braisliss].) 
three of the girls was dressed to represent Prof. B. It was Miss Page. The likeness was pretty good. Everybody recognized it and clapped, oh ever so much! The by no means least amused person was Prof. B. herself, who had come over to witness the ceremony. After much hesitation and coyness as well as befits a Vassar girl Sohpie accepts Trig and recieves the blessing of [Gaudie]. Act II. The wedding of the "howling swell" Trig and the "... beauty", Sophie M. Ire. As the minister with due solemnity asks her if she will have Trig, he says "Wilt thou take this howling swell to thy arms and cherish him forever." Where upon Sophie faints dead away. After she has recovered Guardie says "The idea of your not knowing so simple a question as that!" and the ceremony proceeds. The minister, "Mr. [Alney]." has a immense trig for a pulpit, The wedding ring was a girl isoseles triangle which was hung on her left ear, and triangles and circles were thrown about as flowers in her pathway. Act III. Trig goes fishing trying to catch some Freshies and intrusts[entrusts] his keys to Sophie but forbids her to use a small one about 2 feet long. Sohpie with all the curiosity with which a Vassar girl is capable, uses that identical key, goes into the chamber and sees the heads of Trigs six slaughtered wives-77-78-79.81-82 strung upon on the wall by their hair and staining the wall by their blood. She gives a most unearthly shriek and faints. (and I must say Miss [Bostinck] takes the cake on faintint.) I don't wonder at her fright for of all horrible things those girls were the most horrible. Their faces were chalked and darkened till they looked like dead. The wall was made of two sheets so arranged that only the heads show.ed and you really would have thought that there was nothing of them but heads. When Sohpie has fainted, the heads sing in a most dolorous strain and at the end of each verse give three most unearthly groans. Act V. Scene I. Trig returns from fishing. Sohpie is mad through [frar] and all her efforts to wash the key are unavailing. She becomes sane when she hands they key to Trig. He glares at her and then gives her 10 minutes 5 1/2 seconds to prepare for death. But Sohpie sends her sister Ann (H.J. for '84) to bring [Semester] to her rescue, and Semester comes riding on a pony. Semester conquers and chokes Trig and then proposes mainage to Sohpie, where upon Trig springs into life and demands his wife. But the Semester says the marriage was not legal as it was a put up job between Trig and his [erony] [Ihsey]. So Trig 
begs A.J.Fove to marry him and with reluctance she acceps, edding to come off in September. So they are all once more at peace. There was a chorus of six persons dressed in nightgowns and crowned with hate expressions of the mournful occassion, who sang at appropriate times. The characters were taken as follows. Trig, Miss Lathrope. [Alney], Miss Ponier Sohpie, Miss Bostrvick. Ann, Miss Patterson. Guardie, Miss Page. Napier, Miss Swift. Geo Metrie, Miss Curtiss. Semester, Miss Curtree. Programme on the next page. Miss Bostrick wrote the Choruses. " Swift " Epilouge & Prologue " Meeker " I Act " Ponier " II " " Lathrope " III IV Act. " Sharpe " V " 
[Left key reads:] Committee C.L.Bostrvick Trigonometrical Bluebeard A.H.Lathrope '83 Complimentary Performance to 84 J.M.Meeker Lyceum - Vassar College A.B.Ponier, M.Sharpe Feb 12. 1881. S.F.Swift 
[Right key reads:] Closing Performance of the Mathematical decision! Farewell Think! Positively the last appearance (unless we'er dropped) of the Class of '83. In the Role of Trigonometry. The Cast. TrigonoMetry, Blue Beard Sohpie M. the [Fatima] Guardian. 
A.J.F. the Fatima's Sister Sam Mester - 2 Fatima's Deliverer Incidentals Prologue, Epilogue, & Choruses After the manner of the Greek tragedy. 
N.B. After each joke a red flag will be waved on the stage. Dancing between the Acts Movie of the Spheus Mar. 6th 1881 Delta and Prof. Braislive. Feb 11th we had Delta in Prof. Braislin's parlors. The President was there, and Miss Durand, pres. of Phil., Prof Mitchell, Miss Whitney and Miss Slover. We had a lovely time. Prof. Braislin was lovely. She gave a spread of lovely chocolate and chicken salad, crakers, oranges, bananas, and cake. I read "Robert of Sicily." Delta met again Feb. 28th. May and Madge were on committe and they didn't have much time to get it up in. But it was real pleasant. Jessie Meeker had a very cute critique, wherein Prog. Braislin figured as the good fairy who was always contriving to make folks have good times. Ella Vame's critique the meeting before was was cute, too. It was short and sweet, referring us for details to the minutes of Delta's last meeting. Miss Jones, a Deltan has returned to College. She is going to join '82. Clio. We have had two meetings of Clio since I last wrote. The first was in my room. I forgot all about it till I heard the announcement given at dinner. Then I had to fly around lively, I can tell you to get the room ready. The week before that, I got my room all ready, and Miss Leamed forgot to call the meeting. Mis Nickerson had a [presentiment] that was forgotton, so she called it in her rooms, as she did not know where it was to have met. I read a paper on Mary Queen of Scotts, which was to have been read the week before. I forgot till I was nearly through the paper that I was to have read in conclusion a passage from Abbot's life of Mary, and so was [improvdsed] with the book. But I got along pretty well, afterall. 
[Exotene] I went to Exotene last night. It was quite nice. There was a play, "Thirty Minutes for Refreshments". Miss Chapman the younger, as a darkey, was capital. Inauguration. Miss Hiscock, Miss Desaussme, and the Japs have gone to the Inauguration. I expect they will return tomorrow. The Japs were in the Smithsonian Institute, when an old lady came up and said to some one with her, "Are they stuffed?" She thought they were stuffed curiosities. Weather has been horrid. Snowing every morning and thawing every night, and not a single good night for observing for a long time. We had one thunger storm. Susie Swift is a Sophmore and such a funny girl. Dr. Webstin says that anyone has to get up the night before if they want to get ahead of Jessie Swift! 
She is a minister's daughter, and was going to school in Connecticut where she got hold of Drapier's "Conflict between Religion and Science." Her sister heard of it and was so shocked that she went to Connecticut to remonstrate with the principal of the school; for the girls had to obtain their principal's permission to read any book whatever. But, of course, [Susie] had read it by that time. She said that, by the time she had finished the book, she had come to the conclusion that "Drapier was altogetger too orthodox." Miss Swift lent Jessie U. Tom Paine's "Age of Reason", and we read a part of it Friday. I have sent to the publisher's for one, and I am going to send it to Aunt Mi. I wrote Aunt Mi a letter of 2 1/2 sheets of essay paper today. Tables have been changed. Madge has gone to the French table, and May and I sit at Miss Hackell's, next her. But tomorrow when the Japs come, they will sit between Miss. H. [...] 
Sunday, Mar. 13th 1881 Miss Brace's Reading Miss Brace read to us in the hall Friday. She read some old ballads and some from Chaucer, then some modern [fueies]. We enjoyed it very much. May's Bad News. In the midst of it all, Mrs. Ray was called out and by and by Madge and May I was afraid that something had happened and thought of May's blind sister, who had a little boy only a short time before. But I would not come over, for Fannie wanted to come, and I know if anything had happened, May wouldn't want the whole of us coming in upon her. When we returned, Madge was in the hall to meet us, and it was as we thought: Her sister was very, very ill and she was to go home on the eleven o'clock train. The girls went to their rooms and I came in. May was in her room. Everything was nearly ready. Madge had packed her valise and was marking it. Jessie came down, but there was nothing anyone could do. Mrs. Ray came in to see that everything was all right. She had told May in the mesenger-room, when they came over, and was very kind. Poor May! She is so quiet about anything of that sort? She staid close in her room, till at 10 o'clock the carriage came, and Madge and Miss Hashell went with her to the depot. They saw her in the train all right. She will be at home sometime today. I wish she would write. P.B.'s Lectures. Prof. Bachus lectures to us every Monday when there is not a holiday dining the week. We have had a lecture on the Canal, one on the Monroe doctrine, two on the Irish Question, and one on the President's Cabinet. They are very interesting and instructive. I take notes and copy them out. 
Mr. Herrick a lawyer and a friend of P.B. read a paper on the subject "Women Before the Law," Wednesday night between dinner and Chapel, to the Juniors, Seniors, and teachers. P.B. said he was quite unwilling to come and read it for fear he would bore us. But he need not have feared that. It was intensely interesting. Everybody liked us. P.B. has been puffing us up about our attentiveness to anything worth listening to, and our faithfuness in work. He said concerning the former, that we were always very attentive whenever any one had anything worth telling to give us. He said he had always noticed it himself when he was teaching to us! Of course we laughed at that. And he said he meant almost always, whenever he had anything to say. He said, take away the few independent College boys, those who hadn't much of any resepct for Prof. or any one else, and who were altogether different from College boys in general, 
and for the rest we could beat them all down to the last one. The Japs of Washington The Japs got back Tuesday. I went in before and after Chapel and Miss Haskell came in. So I asked if I might stay in there a while. I stayed all study hour, and they told me all about their visit, the inauguration, the senate, and everything. They didn't like [Conkling]. And he was such a dandy. Thirinan was nice and he pitched into [Conkling] well. [Conkling] spoke severely of Hayes. They visited the ship Saratoga and saw the "handsomest man in the Navy." They were invited to Mrs. Haye's but didn't get the invitation in time. They had a nice time generally. They have a picture of the Japanese minister's little twenty-two-year-old baby. He is just a cunning as can be. 
Sunday, Mar. 20th 1881 Infirmary I was sick Tuesday all day, and Wednesday I went to the Infirmary, where I stayed all day. Miss Philips and Miss Henek were there. Miss Ward is sick or not very well, and is out of College, so Miss Dunham has charge of it. Thursday I staid in my room all day and read Marlitt's "In the Shillingseourt [Schilling Scourt]." Dr. Lord lectured in Chapel about Hildebrand (Gregory VII). He was a funny old man with a queer voice, and he used very decided language. So he amused us very much. Besides the lecture was very nice, nicer than I should suspect from such a subject. Sermon today was very nice. It was about Paul. The president changed with the Baptist minister in town. Vassar College, Apr. 3rd '81 Sundays I have been enjoying myself all day today. I wrote two letters and since then have been reading Colonel Ingersoll's lectures out loud to Jessie W. I am reading "The Book of [...]." Last Sunday I read the whole of "Barnaby Rudge". Dr. Lyman Abbot preached here last Sunday. He addressed the Society of Religeons Inquiry in the evening. Mis Hashell asked Madge at supper if she wouldn't go with Miss Ludduth, as it might do them good. After supper, she came in to call on us and we knew she was going to try to get us all to go. Jessie P. was here, I would rather have liked to go, but was anxious to finish Barnaby Rudge. Besides, such is the perversity of my nature that knowing Miss Hashell's intentions, nothing could have induced me to go. Miss Haskell talked about various subjects, especially ministers. Madge made herself agreeable. I sat on the soda under the window with my book on my knees, and shivered and longed to read. She went when the bell rung and asked each one separately if they were not going, me first. Thern she asked me what I was going to do. I said read and write letters, and she asked me if I thought it would do me more good to go. Ah, well, Auntie is akind-hearted old soul too. She is real good at Table I like to sit there. It is more free and easy than any table I ever sat at. But that is the girls and nothing else. Miss Curtiss is too perfectly funny for anything. She keeps me [convulsed] with laughter, and I like her first rate! 
Astronomy Lectures These are very intersting. We have begun to have two at a time. Prof. Mitchell sqaid that Miss Shove's lecture so far has been the most scientific. Her subject was Neptune. I intend to write mine during spring vacation. My subject is Venus and Mercury. Honors have been assigned and there were several great surprises for us. Abbott, A.M., Durand, Barmam, Burke, Fitshugh, Freeman, Gardner, Glem, Lyon Penfield, are the ten. Miss Abbott, I believe is to be Salutatorian. Miss Gardner was elected Valedictorian and was overwhelmed with astonishment. She declined it? Her health is poor and I think she is to be excused from her essay. Miss Freeman is to be Valedictorian. I believe the Class petitioned to the faculty to let them have no Valedictorian. Their Class Day nominations are, Miss Shive, sybil, Miss Stockwell, historian, Miss Lyon, Spadeoratorm Miss White, mottorator [moderator], Miss Pratt, marshall. People rather thought Miss Shove would have a Faculty honor. Miss Abbot (Venus) is very smart but they say lazy. Annie Lyon, too, is remarkably smark in the English department but is so lazy. Miss Yamakawa says while in Biology Miss L. didn't have a single one good lesson. We have Miss Varnes for Spade. Miss Coleman was put up against her, but Miss Varnes got it first ballot. English Class has begun. Attendance in compulsory, so I wear a card on Tuesdays and Fridays. I am not going to forget it as I did last year. Miss Hiscock [brains] severely and P.B. sits and listens lazily. The first day he was late and when asked to be excused Miss Hiscock said, "If you I had written an essay to that effect last year. "Yes'm, I think so," said I, and I did agree with all she said, but not with all she implied. Then she asked me if I couldn't make some criticisms. I stared at the analysis in stupid silence for a full minute, and then said I didn't think I had anything to say. When she criticised my essay Friday, she happened to speak of it, and she said she knew it wasn't for want of ideas about it that I was silent! And so it wasn't! For I thought Miss Buckland's essay thourough and treated in an excellent manner, since she first showed the need of a study whose effect would be upon the mind the very effect of classical study, and then showed that no other thing could be substituted, and then that classics was just adapted for it? Some how or other Miss Hiscock does know a great deal about one's character She told me that I didn't talk a great deal with anybody that I didn't know but that I did with my friends. Well, she might find out that from my own experience with her. But she is sometimes mistaken. She told me I was not one whom she would suspect of liking to write stories. 
to her uncle's to spend vacation. April Fool's Day The girls played a cute trick on me. I was going to have my essay criticised the fourth period, directly after Logic. I left it on the table and came in post haste, seized it and started up the hall. I got nearly to the firewall when I thought it felt pretty thin and opened it to find it was some of Jessie P's old exercises. So I came back and got the right one. What a joke it would have been if I had gone way up to Miss Hiscock's with it! We played a good joke on Jessie P. and Fannie. They each sent May a comical valentine and May wanted to pay them off. So May fixed a letter to each of them. To Jessie she wrote buck-handed, "You are one little April Fool." In Fannie's she printed, "Do you like Boston Girls?" I got Miss Yamakawa and Miss Nagai to direct them and sent them to mother, asking her to post them in Boston. When Jessie got hers she was perfectly astonished. She didn't know the writing at all, and then it was posted in Manchester N.H. She knew a girl there and concluded that that girl sent it. By and by Frannie told about hers. "It was the funniest thing! She didn't know a soul in Manchester and she never saw the writing before. But the queerest thing was that the sentence that was in it was one that was known only to her and one gentleman. The gentleman swears he never told it, and she was sure she never told a soul! But she had told May. When Jessie heard this she thought hers must be from the same person and she was completely mystified. My Boudoir. About the end of the second semes.ter, I got fearfully tired. We were having so many examinations that I was nervous with continual expectancy. Not that I studied hard. Fannie was so noisy! She liked to have driven me crazy being up here all the time, especially with Jessie P. Then she used to take particular pains to annoy me in every little thing she could. Besides, I was completely disgusted with here [her?]. There was no longer anything pleasant, or bright, or kind, or in any way agreeable about her. Madge shared my disgust. One Sunday when her noise had driven me to Jessie W's room for refuge, I determined to ask Mrs. Ray's permission to have a single room, if she could get me one I liked. Afterwards when May knew why I asked, she said she would have done that but would have done away (so to speak) with Fannie. But I could not do that very well, as May was then thick with her and used to invite her up her [here], when (as I then thought but I may have been mistaken) she knew Madge and I didn't like her. Well, Mrs. Ray gave me a choice of two rooms, neither of which I liked. So she told me should would let me have a room to go to whenever I wanted to be quiet! The room is opposite Jessie W's and it is lovely to have. I did go there a very great deal at first but now go only when I have an essay to write or some extra hard studying to do. I call it my boudoir. Some time I will tell how I was relieved of Fannie's company. Freshman Party came off last night. The Seniors were invited. Madge took Miss Meeker and Miss Hayes the latter's escort being sick. They had a lovely time. The hall looked very pretty. The spread was lovely and the toasts very funny. Mrs. Ray responded to the Student's Manuel. Her speech was very cute and she ended by saying "If the young ladies had any convictions to make, please drop them into [...] [...] the box at the door of the Lady Principal's office before 9 o'clock tomorrow morning." Prof. Braislin responded for the Faculty. They were called the nine digits. So Prof. B. said then there was nothing left for them so they must be the naughts, and they must remember that they were only valuable when they were placed on the right side of the digits, so she hoped they would always keep on the right side of the faculty, and so on. Prof. Bachus was called upon and he said he was excused by the Lady Prinvipal. But Mrs. Ray said it was a health excuse and it would have to be refered to the doctor. So then P.B. got up and made a nice speech. Prof. Hinkle had a nice speech about Latin and Prex made a very nice speech. Phil Play came off last Friday. It was the nicest of the year. May was on the committee and took two short parts, a servent and a sentinel. There were two short plays. "A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing," was perfectly lovely. Miss Lyon was the hero and was grand. I don't believe it could have been done better by a professional actor. And she looked so handsome! Miss Shove was splendid as the heroine. But I think Miss Lyon is the best of our actors in a man's part. Little Bertha Bachus took part and she was so cunning and did so nicely. Miss Darling did well too, and Miss Julia. Meeker was perfectly splendid in a hero part. Altogether it was a grand success. The other play, "The [Critis]" was very funny. Mis Rollinson as Mr. Puff was excellent. Miss Sharpe the heroine looked perfectly lovely, and did well. Monday, April 11th Vacation is here at last. Madge has gone but the rest of us are all here. It is the most heavenly weather that you can imagine for this time of year. Warm and lovely. We have been improving our time by taking tramps. Friday J.F., the Lelands, and I went to Cedar Ridge. I never went so far over the ridge before. We went through the fields and came back by the road. We were all in high spirits. We tried to find hypaticas, but it was rather too early. Miss May and Jessie each found one. Coming back we saw a lovely peacock at a farm house. Jessie and May went up to see if they had any tail-feathers to sell. Such a place as it was! Turkeys, hens, of all kinds, and every time they turned around, another dog came out and barked at them, till four were collected at their heels. Ada and I sat on the stone-wall and watched them. There were two diminutive children in the yard who looked on as if they didn't know what to make of it, and tried to call the dogs off. The girls knocked for a long time at the front door and then extracted from the children the news that they must go to the other door and after knocking for sometime at the other door, the children said there wasn't anybody at home. There [they] didn't have any feathers, they said, they didn't save them, didn't expect to have any, and finally the girls retreated in dispair. The next day we contented ourself [ourselves] with a walk to the Cider mill, where we got some very good cider. Cova Wheeler went with us. Then we, that is Jessie and I, went to the hay loft and scrambled into it. It was lovely insider. By-and-by some girls came along and we heard themy trying to look in the upper door, which was open, not knowing there was a lover door. They were wondering "if there were any dogs in there." So Jessie barked. By that time some one had scrambled up and was considerably astonished to see girls instead of dogs. They had been told that there were some little dogs there and they came to show them to Bessie and little Harry. Sunday the two Jessie's, May, Miss Easton, and I went over the Brandman's. It is about three miles off, and we were not quite an hour going. We lazed around the grounds for a long time. It is lovely there. We tried to measure the depth of the spring for we had a dispute. J.F. and I said it was over the heads of any of us. The rest were sure it wasn't over five feet. We measured it with the trunk of a small tree that lay near, and each one 
was very green and the shimmering of the light on it was beautiful. There were lots of birds out and I distinguished several different notes. The little ground sparrows ran along the banks among the dried leaves as I passed. The brook at the head of the lake never looked prettier. It was a[s] clear as crystal and its surface was cut into a thousand shapes by the waves and the light shining through looked beautiful. You could see every pebble on the bottom and the sides of the bank and the big stone in the centre was covered with the long fine wavy green weed. Moss was green upon the edges and a piece of moss-covered wood lay against the stone, and broke the little patches of foam that came scurrying down against it. And the brook really babbled. If I was musical, I believe I could have put it into music. I am reading too this vacation. I have read Countess Gisela and Robert Falcon -er. I think that last is the best book I ever read, yes the very best. I am reading Black House aloud. I have made my corrections on my class essay and am going to copy it during vacation. I am also going to write my Astronomy lecture. I have begun it. P.B.'s Lecture on Matrimony Last Monday was my twentieth birthday. Well, I feel as young as I did when I was 16, perhaps younger, and I am sure I don't feel as if I know so much. For two weeks Prof. Backus has been talking about purpose in education. He surprised us a good deal by his talk that day. His subject was the things that women could do, her occupations. He gave us a little preliminary talk in which he said he despised the idea that man and woman are equal. They are not, they never will be. Woman has certain limitations arising from her nature, and man is subject to limitations arising from his nature. He said the least of us could do today what, twenty years ago, the most talented and anxious of women could not do. Occasions were constantly arising in which it is possible for women to work and to work well. He told us a personal anecdote. He said when the College was founded, it was a perfect experiment, and it needed some one to guide it who had bravery to go forward, and at the same time a large amount of caution. Such a man was Nathan (or Nathaniel, I forget exactly what he said) Bishop, and in the first years it was not Pres. Raymond, but Mr. Bishop that lead it. When Prof. Backus was engaged to come here, he was a mere boy, 24 years old (he is 40 now, [Stematz] says), and he had never taught in his life and some of the students here were a good deal older than he was. He told Mr. Bishop that he didn't like it and that Mr. Bishop had got him into the scrape and must get him out of it, and that he wanted advice as to how he should conduct himself at first. Well, Mr. Bishop thought it over and the result was that he told Prof. B that he wanted him to surprise them all by an intelligence feat which was merely to be able to call them all by name before a fortnight was out. So P.B. acted upon his advice and had all the students put into some class in his department and requested his teacher to seat them in alphabetical order. During recitations he would come in and sit down by the teacher, glance over his list of names and over the class and study his lesson, and before the fortnight was out, he was able when he met Miss Lefurge and Miss Lefevre on the walk to say "Goodmorning Miss Lefurge and Miss Lefevre." And it was astonishing the find how well it worked. 
To be able to call them all by name established a sort of personal relationship between them. It was really a very bright thing, not to do it but to be able to think it out. Well, at this rate, I shall never reach the main body of the lecture. Prof. Backus said he was going to speak to us on a subject that probably no man without perhaps our fathers, ever talked about to us. We were all dumb-founded and wondered what could be coming. He passed his hands over his face, smiled a peculiar smile, looked very sheepish and continued. He said, of any company of women it was probably that the greater number would marry. Anyone who was not wholly selfish, didn't feel a constant desire to be alone, didn't take offense at slight things and then feel incapable to forgive, was eligible to marriage. And then he went on to talk about the business side of marriage, a side 
which is of great importance and is not considered enough. Marriage is a business contract, and no business man would enter any contract without mature deliberation. This too is a contract that can be broken only by death without bringing infamy upon one or both. It is for life. He spoke about equality. Said a woman should look out that the man was her superior. He need not necessarily know as much Latin and Greek as she did but he ought to be at least her equal in brain power. I believe Timothy Titcomb takes an opposite view, but I agree with Prof. Backus. Well, I can't tell what all he said, but I have it in my mind. I knew it all before. Mother and he would agree pretty well about it I guess. But I liked his talk, he put it in a new light and gathered it up nicely, as he always does his talks. Several times he said he didn't want us to think , and he knew we didn't think, that he meant to depreciate the sympathetic side of marriage. And he thanked us for listening in such a nice way. I am sure I felt as sober as could be. But I did want to smile when he passed his hand on his face and smiled and looked so sheepish! And I laughed outright and indeed, the whole class roared, when, in saying that young men almost invariably fell in love for the first time with ladies much older than themselves because they were always open and natural towards them, he said that the first lady to whom he offered his heart and hand was twenty-four years older than he was! Of course he was telling a story. He wouldn't have said it if it had been true. But i don't mind his telling that kind of a story and I don't think he expects us to believe them. He thought, so he told some of the girls after class, that he had made a fool of himself. 
I think, however, that nearly all of the girls liked it. Some, however, did not. I don't think Prof. Backus would have held so much influence over us, if he were more reserved towards us. I like his openness. If Prof. Cooley was not so distant he would have more influece. I think Prof. Cooley has a very great many admirers, but I don't believe any of them look upon him in the way they do Prof. Backus. Prof. B. has more [fantrs], but after all I believe he has more devoted friends among the girls. There are lots of things I would like to say; but I will put it off, for now I am tired of writing and I have yet considerable to do. English Class At last English Class Miss Fridenburg read an essay entitled "Do Circumstances Make the Man", argued affirmatively. It was very thoughtful and judicial. Miss Shailer read a true story "Aunt Caroline". Her grandmother told her the first part of the story how she came as a governess to the children. She said she had broken with her relatives several years ago on account of her marriage, and now her husband had been dead two years. She was English. The grandmother always thought that Caroline had not been quite frank about her former life. She always believed there was some mystery about it. She had a younger brother Steven who used to come there often. Finally Caroline went back to England and soon afterwards Stephen went there to become partner in a mercantile house there. He did not return for 25 yeras, and, although they knew that he was married, they did not know till just before he returned that he had married Caroline and had a daughter Helen nearly twenty years old. Then Cora's mother takes up his story and she says that one summer when they were at the seaside, they were going to have a surprise party for her uncle, and they sent him out for a sail while they completed their preparations. She and Helen walked down to the wharf with him. On their way they found a bird with very brilliant plumage on the ground. Uncle Stephen took it up and warmed it in his hands and presently it flew away and sailed about his head singing a plantive melody. While he was out a storm arose and his body was washed ashore. The next year as Helen was at her father's grave a bird fluttered down into her lap and died. The next day she was brought in with both legs crushed. She had been thrown down and run over by a run-away team. Aunt Caroline lived to be quite old. One day she was brought home from Church by an Englishman, who said she had fallen down the steps. He had not noticed her at first but he saw a bird of very brilliant plumage circling above her and singing a plaintive song. Just then he heard her cry, "Oh, save me!" and she fell. In a few days she died. The mystery of her early life kept up our interest all through and when we came to the Englishman we thought it was surely going to be solved. When she was through, Miss Sanford said, "Do I understand Miss Shailer to vouch for all three of the birds?" Rutger College Glee Club gave a concert in Poughkeepsie Wednesday night and it came out here the sixth period and sang for us in the Chapel. The leader was splendid. He sang an imitation of an Italian opera and of a [cornet], both of which were splendid. They went around the grounds and came into Physics just as class was out, which so frus 
trated Prof. Cooley that he forgot to tell us to have an examination the next day. So he spent the next day's period in showing us pretty colors of the prism on the wall. Madge's Departure. Madge was going Friday morning, and she went down to take a 10 o'clock train. When she got down there, there was no such train, so she had to come back. Saturday I walked in with her past Bull's Head and got back before breakfast, and May and J.P. walked way in and bought sandwiches and doughnuts for breakfast. J.P. and May went in today to Smith's Restament and got their supper. Sunday Apr 17th 1881 Vacation Days drag by. It seems ages since the vacation began, yet I haven't accom.
plished anything to speak of, and I haven't had any delightfully lazy days. I have copied my class essay and taken all the notes I am going to for my Astronomy lecture and done a little mending and that is all. I haven't been on any more tramps yet, and the weather hasn't been very good until today. I have read Robert Falcones, Wilfrid, Cumbermede, and Bleak House. I like them all, and think the first is about the nicest book I ever read. May has got her dress done. She wore it to church today. She and J.P. went in. They had the awfulest time ever was getting a machine. They had engaged Mrs. Norris, but her little boy was sick. They wanted to ask for one at the Lodge, but May wouldn't because she didn't like to, and Jessie wouldn't because she asked the first time and May acted so funny about it. They tried to get 
J.F. to ask. Then they teazed [teased] me. After about two days they compromised and asked together. The couldn't get one then, so they waited another 
day and asked at Fligler's. I began to think they never would get one. Our room had been cleaned and we have a new carpet which is real pretty. We have arranged the room differently with the big table in the corner and nothing in the centre of the room, which makes the room seem much larger. We have the drop light on the small table by Madge's door, and the pipe passes into M's room. I hope she will like the arrangement when she comes back. Sunday Apr 24th '81 College Hill Jessie W. and I walked into College Hill last Monday without premission. There was a big dog on the hill that was dreadfully savage and barked at as every time we stirred. When we came back we stopped on a bridge that was over a stream. Then we went down and sat on the stones under the bridge and skipped stones. 
which was a very dignified thing for two dignified Vassar juniors to do, especially when the bridge was almost in the midel [middle] of the town. We found the queerest kind of a willow tree and picked some of the [catkins]. Palm Branches is the name of a book which is now out of print, but several volumes of which have been resurrected and are now going the rounds of the College. It is perfectly rich! I never enjoyed a book (for fun) more. And what is more, its fun isn't meant for fun. Oh, the punctuation, the grammar, then paragraphing, and the simile! Several exclamation points for each would inadequately express my sentiments concerning it. The high-flown expressions which she uses in description is made noticable by contrast, when a most common place exclamation follows closely a "high-falutin'" descrption. She makes her man say "Oh dear! I wouldn't have lost this fun for anything." It must be an old maid, sentimental, uneducated, well-read in trashy literature. Her name is Sallie Mills. Her hero and heroine were in the conservatory. There was magnetism. She was dizzy. She reeled. His arm was around her and they "melted into one kiss." "They kissed as if they had been born to kiss each other." And she sat up all night for fear she would speak his name in her slee, and she slept alone. In the last chapter he hadn't seen her for a long time. He had been abroad. It was the night of her reception. He saw her father and got permission to marry her. He invited the wedding-guests. He brought a clergy-man. Her persuaded her maid to dress her in white silk. Then he told her that he was going to marry her and they were married "Daisy, I think I shall have to marry you; now." A man on an island, apparently uninhabited except by a prince and his dead lady-love, whom he kept on a shelf, went into a temple and spent the night asleep on a privet tomb, just for fun. He saw a big serpent and shook a stick at it, and when the monster saw the stick he lay down quiet! He (the main) frightended a mess of aligators around his boat and threw a stone at them and away they all went. We also saw a piece of poetry of hers, called "The [Savtour's]" First Miracle" and the wedding guests were dressed in velvet trains and had "sunk, within their veins," and many absurdities. School Again. I was tired of vacation. I neither had a very lazy time nor succeeded in accomplishing very much I kept saying how glad I was the girls were coming back Tuesday, and the girls all squelched me for it. Madge brought candy and some cheese which she had promised May. Miss Hiscock heard me say that I was glad school begin and smiled sweetly on me (ahem!). Wednesday morning Prof. Mitchell lectured to us. She lectured on thirty years ago. She met Father [Secchi] and wished to visit the Observatory in the monastery with him. The time she had getting permission! And she probably wouldn't have recieved it at last if she hadn't known the nephew of Cardinal Artonelli. It took about as much manuvering and diplomacy as to make a treaty between two countries. The permit was written on parchment and was about as long as a page of this book. They would only let her stay two hours before sunset and could not take her maid with her. She was the first woman that was ever admitted, and very likely no one has since been admitted. Prof. Backus dismissed us instead of lecturing to us, which we did not like. I hear that he is going to bring 25 West Point cadets here Founder's Night and distribute them among the girls. Wednesday he gave us an oral examination on the last six chapters in Logic. Rollo's Journey to Cambridge I borrowed it of Miss Hiscock and read it aloud to Jessie Wheeler and Jessie Meeker. Delta Metting, last Friday. I was [Sain] Weller, and Jessie was Mary in "Incomprehensible Letter". May was Little Nell in another scene from Dickens. Miss Easton brought out the echo. I gave my discriptive essay to it! 
Sunday, May 8 1881 P.B.'s Talks. 
P.B. talked to us about other women's occupations besides matrimony, teaching, story-writing, doctor's and [Canvyer's] professions. It was a very pleasant talk. A few days after that we had this sentance in Logic to point out the fallacy. "The laws of nature must be ascertained by Deduction, Traduction or Induction; but the former two are insufficient for the purpose; therefore the laws of nature must be ascertained by Induction." He called upon two or three girls to do it and they couldn't. So he said. "Well, Miss Southworth looks serene. We'll see what she has to say about it." "Well," said I, "I think its division," and I went on to explain the division of the term "Deduction, Traduction, and Induction." No one else had thought of it. All the others had thought it composition of the term "laws of na.nature." I admitted that but liked my own version best. Whereupon P.B. said the other version was the most natural, but that he liked mine very much. He thought he liked it better than if I had taken the other. Mind was very ingenious. Usually I object to being told that a thing is ingenious. It looks as if you had passed over the most natural explanation and gone out of your way to make an unnatural one. But in this case, P.B. evidently meant it as praise. Then he said, "Yes, I like that very much. It was very ingenious. I don't know but you'll make a lawyer!" He said it half as if he had not intended to say it, and immediately asked another girl a question and took no notice of the commotion in class. Mary King nudged me, I blushed and we all laughed. I think Miss Hiscock must have told him that I was going to be a lawyer. He 
would never have said that otherwise. In his next Monday's lecture he talked to us about the stock exchange. He distributed any any amount of [Tribune's] and explained the Money Market column. He told us about the little tricks and some in especial about Vanderbuilts. Explained "keeping your margin," and said he lost all his property in this way once. "And I'll tell you in confidence, that was three weeks before I was married." He is very fond of giving confidences, which we believe or disbelieve as we take a notion. Miss Jordan thinks that is true, for he told her the same once in a "pirate interview", and Mary King says "he is too versatile a genius to make use of the same lie twice." I am inclined however to doubt that. He is too lazy to take too much trouble in inventing stories. Madge's father has been here. He was very pleasant. 
May and I went with him and Madge around the grounds and to the laboratory. Mr. John Murray read to us in the hall Apr. 27th. He was from California and is an acquaintance of Prof. Backus. 
P.B. told us about him and said he was the finest reader of Scotch dialect he ever heard. He prevailed upon him to come out and read to us. His programme was Tennyson's "Speaking [Clak]", a piece of [Bret] Harte, Jeannie Deaver. I didn't like the first very much, as he had a sort of hesitating way that worried me. But the others were splendid, especially the Scotch one. When he had finished, he said that he had been reading oer the hour and the thought we had had quite enough. But P.B. arose and said, "Won't you please favor us with a short Scotch ballad, and then we'll '[cuddle] down'". 
So then Mr. Murray recited that ballad, and we clapped so much that he said, "I think there must be some Scotch blood in this assembly." Then he recited the "[Tiva] Dogs". Well, it was all nice. The "Cuddle down" was splendid. I liked his reading because it was so quiet. No "theatrical put-on" about it. Founder's Day I expected Dean Founder's Day. He asked me to meet him at the depot, but I did not know what time he was coming. I went down to the four o'clock train, though. He did not come. Lizzie Brown did however. When I came back to the College, I found a note from Fannie saying that her Aunt Allie was here. So I went down stairs. Allie was there, and Mrs. Fred [Uridship]. They had given Fannie a surprise. I imagine I would have been gladder to see him at most any other time, for she was expecting a gentleman, and one whom she had never seen, but had become acquainted with through letters by Miss Walch. However, her gentleman didn't come. I wonder what she told Allie about him. It had cleared off beautifully. The morning had been a drizzly rain, and May, J.F., and I walked in to the green-house without any sacks. May and Jessie went on to town. I dressed and hung around the reading room, watching for my name on the bulletin, then occasionally taking a promenade through the hall and parlors, as some had been overlooked. Then I hung around the hall in front of the door for another half-hour. At last he came. He was so late, however, that we did not get a [bit] good seats in chapel. Mrs. Humphrey Allen sang beautifully. Robert Collyer addressed us about George Elliot. Miss Yamakana was marshal and she looked beautifully. She had a dress of white satin and blue Japanese figured goods. I enjoyed the evening ever so much. I brought Alice and Mrs. Windship into our parlor, and then brought Dean in. I was glad to have a chance to show him our room. He asked me to go to ride with him, and I said that I would try to get permission. But I was very much afraid I should not as I knew some girls had not been able to get permission at other times. However the next morning when he came out, I boldly marched up and asked permission to go ride with my cousin. "Your own cousin?" said Mrs. Ray. "Yes'm," said I. But it all [depended] on the meaning she gave to "soon". If it was a white lie it does not hurt my conscience in the least. "You may go, Miss Youthworth". And I went and it was lovely. I hadn't had a ride since Christmas, and I never went around Poughkeepsie so much before. Dean went as soon as we got back to College. He didn't go around the buildings any. June bugs have come and already I have begun to pin the containers together and to jump when the stray ones buz past my head. It is really summer. Several girls wore white dresses. I had some other things to write, but I am sleepy and it is Silent Time. Thursday, May 12th 1881. Weather. Winter has dashed right into midsummer, and we are all [punishing] by inches with the heat. It is really perfectly awful. Astronomy Lecture I lectured in Astronomy May 2nd I had the period all to myself, as Jessie, who was to lecture at the same time, was not able to go out. My subject was "The Planets, Mercury and Venus." Prof. Mitchell said, when I was finished, "If anyone doesn't think that is a nice lecture, let her speak up, and we'll dispose of her first!" Then she went on to make some criticisms, objectures to my calling Venus "her," for she doesn't like the mixing of Physical Science and Mythology, and to my calling the human race, "inappreciative." She suggested that if I had given a short sketch of the life of Schrotes whom I mentioned, since I had plenty of time, it would have been well. That amused me very much, for I didn't know till that morning that I was going to have time and I didn't think we were expected to know the biographies of every observer we mentioned. 
Jessie lectured next week. Her subject was "Mars and its Satellites." Her lecture was very nice. Prof Mitchell met her in the walk and said, "You did splendidly, I am going to get my marking book and fix you up." Prof. M.'s fuming. Her criticisms are often rediculous [ridiculous]. She is kind of getting into her second childhood in some respects, I think. In class sometimes she don't understand what the girls say and so declares it wrong. Then she will explain her way and it will be the same thing in different words, but we can't convince her. She always has to have a thing stated in her words and her way. Class Essay I read my essay May 5. Prof. Backus was not in class. He was out of College, so I didn't have to hand in my essay or anything. If comes I was delighted. The girls laughed in the proposal scene, as I knew they would. I had just finished it and taken my seat and Miss Hiscock had said, "Any critisisms?" when the bell rung. Another fortunate circumstance. The time before, Prof. B. wasn't there and Miss Shove and Miss Pick read. Subjects "Thomas Baily Aldrich", and "[Fhishing] Bay". In last English Class, Miss Pimple read a very nice character sketch, "Savanarola", and Miss Nickerson read a very deep discussion "Culture versus Originality." P.B. said he wished we had an audience. He asked Miss Hiscock to invite Prof. Cooley and the President and some others. "If you don't, I shall, that is, if you will give me permission". Miss H. replied that she should be very happy, and the girls who haven't read are scared to death. 
Napoleon Bonaparte I have been writing an essay on the "Sources of the Napoleonic Illusions". Isn't that a perfectly awful subject? I had to read a great deal, but the trouble of it is that after reading so much the whole of the essay has to be "evolved". Mary King knew that I was going to write about him, so she made me be one of the speakers on the subject in Clio. I spoke about his private life and character. I was thinking my essay didn't have to go in till next Saturday, but I knew all the time it was May 14th. Thursday I hadn't done a thing about it except to read nearly all Abbott's Life of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Memoirs of Madame de Remusat. I hadn't a single well-defined idea on the subject. Thursday Jennie Patterson came to me for Madame de Ramusat, and said that she had not written a word on hers but was going to send hers in on time. I said I shouldn't attempt it, I should take as much time as I chose, and I hadn't any idea I should get it in before next Saturday. But she stimulated me to work and I thought how nice it would be to have all essay work off my hands, so I began to write and I got a little done. Friday I lazed around all day feeling conscience.striken but incompetent to write on my essay, and reading a "Fair Barbarian". Friday night I succeeded in writing quite a good deal. Saturday I got it nearly ready to copy and I shall hand it in tomorrow. Miss Patterson sent hers in last night. She had only 7 pages. She says hers is fearfully bombastic. So is mine, and flat, too. I never wrote an essay that troubles me so much or that I spent so little time in the writing of it. I usually have it dragging along half-written for two or three Saturdays. Miss Hiscock let Jessie hand in her Astronomy lecture for an essay. Jessie carried in her analysis and Miss Hiscock criticised it, although she said she knew "nothing whatever" about astronomy. She objected to Jessie's position of the topic "Satellites," and when Jessie failed to be convinced, sent her to me to have me criticise it. Miss Hiscock knows that we are great friends. So she gave it to me to criticise and I made the same objection as Miss H. which was rather funny. More essays have been read. Miss Wander read a character sketch about Raymond Roger, and Miss Vames one about a little boy named George, which was "awfully cute". 
French Play came off last night. I went with Fannie. There were two, "La Miaise de St. Flour" and "Le Malade Imaginaire". The second was very much the best. Madge made her first appearance in the hall as Beralde and looked very handsome. Miss Menick as Argan did splendidly, and Hattie as Toinette was very nice. Miss Harker was a little girl and came in with a baby carriage, with her hair down and a short dress. She did splendidly. She looked very little and she has a childish voice. Mademoiselle gave the actors a spread after it was over. She worked very hard to get it up and says it is the last for many years, although the other day she said she wished I would take French for she wanted me for her play next year. She is so funny! She told her class that she wanted them to clap after the first scene because it would encourage them, and she would like to have the singing encored. So we clapped till the principal actors had to come before the curtain after the first play, and the singing was obediently encored. Tree Ceremonies. The Sophs had their Tree Ceremonies Friday. First the exercises at the tree, then a ride, then a [collation] at the hall. They had a lovely time. May 22nd 1881. Editors for next years Miscellany have been elected. Miss Howe, lead editor. Misses King and Sanford, senior editors. Miss Nickerson, business editor. Misses [Boskwich] and Swift, junior editors. Miss King had a lovely essay about Keats last week. I was not in English Class, but she read it to me afterwards. I think it is the nicest one we have 
had yet. She had one such nice thought, which I never heard of before, the question whether the man should drive his idea or the idea the man. Shakspeare [Shakespeare] was of the former class. Keats of the latter. I think the little verse about Keats is cute, "Who killed John Keats? 'I' said the Quarterly, So fierce and so [tarterly], 'It was one of my feats.' " 
P.B. spoke highly of her essay. He also said that because a young lady was on the board of editors was no reason her essays should not be published in the Miscellany. The other editors ought to ask for her essays. The essays of Misses Howe and Sanford, which we had that week were also very nice. Miss Sanford lead with John Brown, the Hot-headed Demagogue' and Miss Howe followed with John Brown the Frar sighted Patriot' They each took the side that each believed. I think if anything I was inclined, without giving the matter any thought, to Miss Sanford's side. The action seemed more the action of a 'hot-headed' than a 'far-sighted' man. But Miss Howe succeeded in convincing me. They were both very nice. But I think Miss Howe's was more finished. She is such a nice writer. There were very many people in class Mrs. Ray, Miss Jordan, Miss Brown, Fitzhugh, Freeman, White, Burke, and some others. Miss Brown afterwards said to Mary King in the hall and said that she wanted the next Miscellany to publish those three essays, Misses Howe, Sanford, and King. But Mary said that wouldn't do very well, for the editors to publish their own essays in the first number they published. Miss Brown hadn't heard the new editors till then. Prof Backus thinks lots of Mary King. The other day she was excused from preparation and he told her she didn't know what a relief it was to him to have her unprepared once in a while. One day last semester, something was said about genius and talent. Mary asked if "genius wasn't merely talent only in a higher degree." Where upon P.B. said, "I don't know, Miss King. I was just thinking of asking you that question." Which was meant for a compliment. "P.B." There is a little joke on me about those letters, which is too good not to tell. We all call Prof. Backus "P.B." when we are talking about him, and I talk about him so much that I use them a great deal. The other day in Astronomy class, I had to explain a figure in which one of the [...] was designated by P.M. 
I kept calling it "P.B." which very much amused the girls. Poor Miss Whitney couldn't imagine what was going on that was so funny. As for me, I was unconssious [unconscious] of it all till I went to my seat and Jessie told me about it. Mary King said that she was going to put that among College Notes in the first Miscellany she brought out and also that she was going to tell that to Miss Howe when P.B. could hear her. For this last she had an excellent opportunity, but she waited carefully till she had an opportunity to tell it so that he would not hear. The Junior Party came off Friday. It rained all the week, and as day after day passed and there was no sign of a clearing, our faces began to get long. Thursday I was sick all day and you may well believe I was blue, for I was afraid I should be unable to go. I spent the evening in Mary King's room. About 9 o'clock I started to come down and I said, "Let's see what is the state of the weather is." "Yes, see if there are any stars out," said Mary in her most sarcastic tone. I looked out, and behold, there were stars. I cried out in astonishment. Mary gave a howl of delight and rushed out to alarm the tower. "Stars, stars!" we cried but no one was in sight. Presently we heard a rush in Miss Patterson's room and the cry was taken up there. We went to bed rejoicing. At 5 o'clock when I walked it was quite clear. At 6.30 when I got up, it was cloudy again. Well, I got up and dressed and determined to go at all costs. The previous day when I was at class meeting and had suggested staying at home, all of the girls had cried out against it. And Miss Howe had said, "Now, look here, you're not going to stay at home. You've got to go!" and some of the committee said, "The rain won't hurt you." The committee didn't seem unreasonably disturbed at the thought of a storm. We were all wondering where we could be going. We weren't surprised however when we were told to assemble in the parlor at quarter of eight, for there was no moon and for that reason we thought we wouldn't be out late. At quarter of eight were [we] were in the parlors and the carriages were at the door. We piled in and started. Mrs. Ray saw us off. We had quite a jolly ride, but it had been raining and looked every minute as if it would begin again every minute. We passed Prof. Cooley on the corner of Main Street, and he raised his hat very politely. Some of the girls thought we were going to the depot, but we passed it and went on to the wharf. Then some conjectured that we were going across in the ferry, for the Mary Powell was being painted and we could not have her. Well, we waited. Poor Miss [Henck] wasn't there, and we had very "little faculty," that body being represented by [Prex] and P.B. At last the steamer Thomas Cornwell arrived at the wharf and we all went aboard. We were handed painted ribbons with cards attached. There was a piece of poetry on the cards that contained clues to our journey, if any one was smart enough to discover them. Soon we were off and '82's glee club sang the greeting. 81's responded with the cutest words and most rollicking tune ever was. "Hunny, hunny, '81 waits," and "What is you quid, your quid, your qui, qui, qui, quid, what is your [vaunted] quid." They were anxious to see our quid in this, our [...] party. Then we went out in the bow. Miss Braishir was my girl. Up the river to Roundout, and there we stopped. What now? We gathered up our bundles and left the boat. Lo, a train! We got into the Observation Car with Mary and Miss Hodge. The scenery was lovely! The cinders flew, and the wind blew. But we were happy. Three hours we rode. We made, however, three stops. To get up steam, I heard, it was so up-grade. 770 ft. to the mile. By and by Miss Baldwin sent me into the other car, it was so cold in that one. I obeyed dutifully, and it was well I did, I guess. I talked with Miss Whitney and Miss Hayes. We all hailed with delight the first mountain, as it loomed up thro [through?] the mist. Mountains ceased to be wonders to us long before we reached our destination. We were in the heart of the Catskills. At last we stopped for good at Summit, on the highest mountain of the Catskills, 50 miles inward, I heard someone say, from the river. There were carriages there, but not enough for the whole party. I however was fortunate enough to get a ride. The road was rough and muddy. It was [coideulty] now, and P.B. who was standing up in the back of the wagon, said that the house was called the Grand Hotel, and that we were to be the first guests ever sustained there, for it was not yet done. We were wise enough to stop at the end of the road and walk a few roads up the hill to the door. Those who did not, seemed in imminent danger of an upset. But they all came out right. The hotel was yet far from finished, and the carpenters were busily at work. We wandered about the [piazzas] and gazed at the scenery, which was lovely in spite of the fog. Some of the girls danced and the band played. The committee got things ready for dinner. About half past two we were called to dinner, which lasted three hours. It was perfectly lovely. [Their] menus came from Paris. I guess Miss [Semple's] sister brought them. Every thing was lovely, but the last part was rather hurried as we had to go to the train. Miss Shove made a speech and was answered by Miss Bryan. Miss Howe, in whose favor Miss Baldwin resigned her position as chariman of the committee a few days ago, proposed toasts. [She] was responded to by Prex who ended with "The Junior Class having reached the summit of their hopes, there are no more words to offer." Misses Durand and Shaw responded. P.B. only said about six words when he was called upon. When we slapped him till he rose again he only said that the train started in five minutes. 
We were quite provoked with him for not making a speech, for he can make such nice ones when he chooses. Miss Glenn toasted out "chairman Rose" and also Miss Howe in a piece of poetry and Miss H. responded in poetry. We hurried off at last and I rode to the station. Miss Braishir and I were with Misses Durand and Harker, and we all thought it would be nice to have a ride on the engine. So I asked P.B. if we could. So when we stopped he came to see who wished to go. As but two could go we sent Misses Braishir and Durand, of course, for they were our guests and we wished them to. P.B. came back and asked why I didn't go, which was very silly, and said he would try again for me. But the train did not stop again, so I did not have that treat. The sun came out beautifully now and there was a lovely rainbow. 
The sun came out some when we were in the dining room, and the girls clapped. When we got on board the boat we find that it had been raining there. The river trip was lovely. The fairwells were finally sung, we landed at Poughkeepsie, were bundled with the waiting carriages and at last landed at the College, where we were treated to coffee, egg, potato, and the remnants of ice cream and strawberries. Well, it was over, and it had been lovely. The hotel people were real nice. They had lovely bouquets for all of us and they invited us to come up between the 13th and 22d of June and spend a night. Everything was to be finished then but it was not to be opened until the 22d. There were any amount of natives around, and we could not imagine where they came from, as scarcely a home was in sight. Some of them came and sat in on corner of the dining room while we were at dinner. But they went out just before the toasts and came in just after. The Pres. said that the Pres. of the road told him to bring the whole College up there, when the foliage was nicest next fall, and he would take us up as far as we wanted to go. And I guess Prex means to do it. Saturday Mrs. Ray said, "Well, I'm very glad to see you back alive from that Junior party, Miss [Southworthe]. I heard that it was terribly cold there and that a great many of the young ladies were ill." Which [...] rumor was the result of Miss Laurence having a chill. But Miss L. has been subject to chills for several days and it was not all the result of the cold among the mountains. Miss Howe said that she was glad Miss Ray wasn't there, for she would have kept her (Miss H.) in a contin. 
state of [foment?] all the while. Miss H. also said that P.B. was any amount of help to them. They ran to him for everything while they were planning. He likes to do such things but it is real good of him, all the same. No one else would take the trouble or be half the use to them if he should. Miss Meeker says that he helps those girls that need assitance in going through College, a great deal. He goes to private persons whom he knows can afford it and enlists their sympathies and their money in the cause. She says he does more than any one person in this way and she thinks that at least half who get help from private individuals get it through P.B. Well I think it is awfully nice in him, too. He is interested in us somewhat besides our progress in the English Department as a teacher ought to be. 
Sunday May 29 1881 Rooms We are having an awful time about rooms. We handed in our choices Monday night. Tuesday all those who wanted single rooms went to her. I had agreed to parlor with Helen Warren, if Mrs. Ray wouldn't let her room with Miss Gunnison. We asked Miss [Munro] to go with us. She will not be admitted to our class till fall, for she has Zoology to make up. As I thought I must say something to Mrs. Ray about rooms, I went to her and applied to her for the corner room, but said that I would like to go into a parlor. I said nothing about Miss Warren, for she did not wish Mrs. Ray to known till she asked about Miss Gunnison. The next day Helen went to Mrs. Ray about rooms. She did not get permission to room with Miss Gunnison, so spoke about Miss [Munro] and me. Mrs. Ray assigned us a room on the Senior Corridor. Soon after, I heard that the same parlor had been assigned Miss Shove's parlor. There are four long rooms on the Corridor, and six sets of young ladies applied for them. Among others Miss Shove's parlor of four. But they gave it up, so Mrs. Ray had an opportunity to pur four girls in a parlor, and did so. I do not wonder at that, or that we were the ones to be put out, for Miss [Munro] has not yet joined the Class. Well we went to Mrs. Ray and she explained and I explained and she said she would see what could be done for a parlor off the Corridor. I departed. I was to go to her the next day at her office hour. I believe it was that afternoon she made an offer, through Miss Jones, to put me with Misses Easton and Jones. But I prefered the parlor I had made. And where was Mrs. Ray to put us? The Senior Corridor was full. I think Mrs. Ray's chief idea was to dispose of Miss Jones, for she is quite a spunky girl to deal with, and has left College once on account of the trouble about her room. Otherwise I can not account for her trying as she did to force Miss Jones to accept the Corner room, the only single room on the corridor, which she did not want and which Jessie had applied for. She told Miss Jones that it was a very nice room and she wished her to have it. "Well, what are you going to do with Miss Wheeler?" asked Miss Jones. "Oh, Miss Wheeler would just as soon have the room on the fifth It would be nice and quiet for her. But Miss Jones did not want a single room. She wanted a parlor. Then she tried to get me to give up Miss Warren and go in with her, which I refused. Miss Sanford advised us to call a class meeting and send a petition, asking to have the double alley-way on the Second Sourth transverse. Which we did. And I made my first little speech in class meeting. Miss Easton also made known Mrs. Rays little action concerning Jessie, which excited some indignation, as the class have all been anxious to have Jessie in the corner room. So the petition was sent [to] Mrs. Ray. The next day I went to her, as did Jessie. She told Jessie that no one else had applied for the corner room, but that some of the young ladies had applied for things that it was "utterly impossible" to grant and she might be "compelled" to give it to some of them "to satisfy them". She tried to force it on Miss Jones. I went in, and Mrs. Ray said it was impossible to give what we had asked. Then she offered me all sorts of things for single rooms on the first and fifth and double rooms, with Miss Warren, in the same place. Which I refused. Then I asked if we could not have a parlor on the Third North. No, that was "ex-clusively a preparatory corridor!" She kept telling me that it would not be hard for me to make up my mind to go into a single room, and everytime she said it, I said, "Mrs. Ray, it is very hard for me." And I told her that I should never be satisfied if I was not allowed to go into a parlor,-- never! And she said it was impossible, and somebody had to give up. (Give up what? I had found no fault at not being able to go on the Senior Corridor.) And she kept saying "My dear girl." And I kept wanting to say "you old fool." And she got excited and jiggled her foot. And I kept outwardly calm but my voice trembled. And at last I got up and said it was no use to talk longer, I should not be satisfied with any such arrangement. As I went out she said she had offered me a parlor with Miss Jones and Miss Easton. And I said that I didn't see what difference it made if I preferred to room with two other of my classmates. Besides, which I didn't [out] ought to have said, where could she have put us, all the same. Turn out some of the other girls? Oh, I forgot to say that she told me how good she had been to me. I had never asked her for a favor but that she had granted it. "But I have asked for very few favors, Mrs. Ray." Favors! I ask to go to town about six times a year. I have been home twice early; but was sick and had Doctor's permission. I went to ride with Dean. That is every identical thing. Then she said I had always had such nice rooms. Yes, I was on the first two years. I had the outside room the first year, expecting to have a room-mate. The next year, both my parlor-mates were lower and new students. I had been so favored in being allowed to go on the second south. And she had let Miss Miller and Miss Sudduth go too, "especially to keep me company because we were such an amicable parlor." As if there were not plety of Sophs and Fresh on this corridor! As if she didn't put Hattie and Miss Wilkinson the latter a new girl and a prep into parlor with Miss [Farnes], whom they did not know at all. Bah! Well, I left, and now I must stop writing and go to bed for it is Silent Time and I am sleepy. Monday, May 30th First Period When I got out in the hall, I raged, and I alone can rage when I get angry. I was so angry that I didn't care to controll [control] myself. Jessie, Helen, Miss Sanford and two or three others drew me down the hall where the underclass girls -and Mrs. Ray- couldn't hear me, and I told them the result of my interview. Miss Sanford said that was a shame. And "call a classmeeting". So I set about calling one, and succeeded after many difficulties, for Mrs. [Dessansure] wasn't then to read the notice. I succeeded in eating a little lunch and telling the girls about it between mouthfuls. Well, I ranted around till class met. And then I made my second little speech stating my grievances. I haven't an idea what I said. But the girls said it was sarcastic and funny and I did it in such a way. Then Miss Sanford made a few remarks and moved that a committee of three be sent to talk it over with Mrs. Ray and that Miss Shove act as chariman. Some one nominated Miss Sanford, but she said that, owing to a personal feeling she had for Mrs. Ray, she should injure the cause if she went. Then Miss Howe, who declined for reasons similar to those of Miss Sanford, but said that she should like to go. Miss Sanford also said that she should be delighted to go but feared injuring our cause. Then Miss Semple, who is a great favorite with Mrs. Ray, was nominated. Not long after Physics they came to report. They had utter.failed to move her, although they had said everything. Mrs. Ray declared that she would never do for another class what she did for '80. Finally the girls asked if after every girl in College, down to the last Sophs., had chosen her room, she would allow us to chose one of the parlors that were left, and Mrs Ray said "No"! Mrs. Ray gave no reason except that we would crowd the Preps. Poor Preps! We have to take up space somewhere, and why should it crowd the Preps any more to put us into parlors than single rooms. What makes it more disgusting, is the fact that never since I have been here have all the parlors been full, and never has the supply of single rooms equalled [equaled] the demand for them. If we had wanted single rooms, she would have forced us into parlors. But we did not want them, so she is trying to force us into them. Well I spent the rest of the afternoon in the calmness of despair. I thought the class would do nothing more. I was thoroughly mad and I hated thouroughly Mrs. Ray. At dinner, to my surprise, a class meeting was called. Mrs. Ray looked daggers at me when I went out. Miss Shove reported from Mrs. Ray and said that Mrs. Ray said that the Pres Dr. Webster and herself were one in agreeing that the young ladies should have singles rooms, not parlors. Miss Easton said Dr. Webster told her that she said no such thing. That she saw the petition and agreed that it would not be fair to give the seniors the transverse second or fourth, as those rooms ought to be reserved for sick girls. But she didn't see why we shouldn't have parlors anywhere else we wished. June 3rd, 1881 The thing is all settled now, but I am calmed down and I'll begin where I left off. In Class meeting, these two facts were intertwined, and Miss Shove reported the result of the interview. Miss Howe rose with her supreme deliberation and calmness and asked Miss Shove what Mrs. Ray said about Dr. Webster. Then she turned to Miss Easton. "And what did Dr. Webster tell you?" Miss Easton repeated. "Well, there seems to be some discrepancy in the two statements. I think it would be well to carry the matter further. We might bring out that fact, if we accomplish nothing more." So the matter was discussed, and finally it was decided to send the committee to the President, and, if necessary, to the faculty. Miss Shove resigned the chairmanship, and Miss Howe was nominated to fill her place. We were in a somewhat agitated state, but soon cooled down. In fact, I was completely worn out, and did not have [animation] enough to keep it up. I believe that was Friday night. Saturday afternoon Mrs. Ray sent Miss Jones word that she might have either the corner room or one of the rooms on the fourth made out of Room 
O. That those were the only rooms that would be offered her and she was to send her answer immediately. Miss Jones could not accept the latter, as it has a bad draft and she catches cold very easily. Dr. Webster says if she has pneumonia again (she has had it twice) she will go into quick consumption. So Miss Jones was forced to take the corner room. Then Mrs. Ray sent word to Miss Easton that she could have one of the rooms on the fourth (O Rooms) and she was to send her word immediately which one. Miss Easton, by Miss Howe's advice, answered conditionally. "If no arrangements can be made in regard to the parlors, Miss Easton will ac.cept Room --." Mrs. Ray had previously had Miss Easton up, "giving her taffy," which is really the only expression for it. "She wanted the young ladies to be perfectly satisfied in the matter. She didn't want to separate the class. Those rooms were near the senior corridor, and they were very desirable. Now she could give one to Miss Easton and one to Miss Wheeler, and Miss Easton could have her choice, she would give Miss Wheeler the other." The sick girl was to be put off to the last. She also told how she had made up her mind as to who Miss E. would room with and had reserved a parlor for her, etc. But every time she spoke of Miss Warren or me, she acted as if she would like to have us there and choke us. "She had offered us everything and we had refused." She also said that she had offered to put Miss E, Jones, Warren, and I in a parlor on the Senior corridor where we would each have a single room! That was the very first we heard about it. The room could only be the fire-wall, and what could she do with Miss Morrill's parlor? Well, Saturday Miss Howe went to Prex. and reported favorably. He had not said that he did not think we would better have any parlors. He desired to have all the young ladies satisfied. Miss Howe stated the case very clearly and forcibly as she always does. Sunday in Logic I heard a new thing. One of the [present] Sophs went Monday to Mrs. Ray and applied for one of the rooms on the fourth that she wanted us to have. Mrs. Ray said "The seniors are to have those rooms." The Soph hinted that possibly the Seniors might prefer some other [others]. Mrs. Ray brought her fist down emphatically on the desk. "The Seniors shall have those rooms." She called up Misses Warren and Munro. My heart had gone down since the last report and I was thouroughly disgusted with the whole affair. Well, I hung around impatiently till Helen came out, and could I believe my ears, Mrs. Ray had offered Misses Easton, Warren, Munro and I, the fourth south fire.wall! I know I jumped a yard, and I ran to tell Miss Phillip's parlor. Then I saw Misses Patterson and Sanford in Room N and called them out and told the news. "Well, don't exult!" said Miss S. the moderate, and I [promest] the most abjectly humble gratitude. Wasn't it a concession. Weren't we pretty happy, though? Helen said that Mrs. Ray tried to get her to take all sorts of single rooms, etc. first, and said that we must conform to all the rules of the corridor about lights etc. Never mind, we beat her! But we have been good and as quiet as any one could reasonably expect under the circumstances. I expect however there was an air of elation about us for a day or two, and a sort of sympathetic smile when we met. I have lots of things to write about but must go to bed now. June 3rd '81 Essays Miss Yamakawa's essay was entitled the English in Japan and was very nice indeed. There were little touches of satire in it that were very nice. Prof. Backus liked it and told her that it ought to be disposed of where it would do some good to her cause. Afterwards he spoke to her privately about it. She has copied it for him and he is going to send it to the Harper's Magazine. I hope it will be published and I guess it will. There is a good joke about the first sentence. It was Miss Hiscock's and she had worked the word paradoxi.cally in it. Prof. Backus didn't like the sentence, especially the paradoxically, and asked Miss Yamakawa to change it. Miss Hiscock helped her, but still kept paradoxically, and Miss Yamakawa, not daring to retain the objectionable word, was forced to change it for herself. Miss Y. told me of the Harper's scheme in strict confidence. There is another thing she told me about that I will write. She wrote an article about Japan and sent it to the Atlantic. Howelle, who was then about to resign from the editorship, said he had so much matter on hand that he could not accept it. But he spoke very highly of it, and recommended it to the Saint Nicholas, where, however, [Seematz] had little hope of its being accepted because it was not illustrated. Now it is to be published in Good Words and she is to recieve at least $25.00 and is to write another for it. 
Miss Patterson read her Napoleonic essay and I was particularly struck with the similarity of the ideas. I liked her analysis ever so much and her style was not so bombastic as mine. When she spoke of the "Glory of France" and how dear it was to the people and how Napoleon seemed the one to win it, I wanted to laugh, it was so near like mine. I wish Miss Hiscock would hand it back. Misses Warren and Morrill read at the last English Class. Miss W's subject was Lorrell, his Claim to a Lasting Fame. It was very nice and of course P.B. liked it, for she thought his claim was good. 
P.B. thinks there's nobody like Lowell. "Trust forever on the scaffold" etc. Georgie's essay was "Addison's Character analyzed as a Type". Addison is another of P.B.'s "smashes," and Miss Morrill took an unfavorable view which was not well for her peace of mind. When she got through, P.B. asked why she wrote on that subject, if it was because her teacher told her to. She said no. Miss Hiscock asked why he asked, and he replied that he was afraid he might hurt Miss Morrill's feelings, but as long as she asked he would reply. He thought that Miss Morrill had to be interested in a subject to write upon it, and this essay, with the exception of two sentences, which he quoted, didn't have her usual fire. The rest of the essay seemed to be pumped up, sentence by sentence, and the whole was not well-welded together. He said that he didn't think Miss Morrill believed it. Georgie said she did, she didn't like Addison. P.B. said "Yes, you do." Miss Vames came to the rescue and said she thought Miss Morrill did believe it. Miss Hiscock agreed with her. 
After class we all said we thought Prof. B. was unjust. Georgie must have felt dreadfully. I know just what it was gave the "pumped-up" impression, her delivery which is labored. Probably P.B. had not read the essay, he don't half the time. He has puffed her analyses, though, everyone of them got brought up for praise, in Rhetoric. I didn't agree with Miss Morrill in placing the calmness of Addisson among his faults, although she admitted that at the time it was effective. I like enthusiasm, and I have contempt for anybody that hasn't it; but the same time, I think calmness is one of the greatest advantages in the world, if not a [vixture]. Look at me, and Miss Morrill herself! A touch sets us off, we are so excitable. Consequently we don't accomplish half what we might. I do admire and envy the coolness of Miss Howe, and Miss Sanford, and Miss King! Cutting Chapel. The other night Prex. made the startling announcement that he had found out that many girls didn't attend Chapel who didn't report for it, and for two Sundays he had found out the exact number. There were two questions to be considered, first why the young ladies had remained away, second why they did not report. He had their names and would be pleased to receive explanation either by note or personal interview. 11 seniors were absent. On the seniors part, there was an indignation meeting, and they sent to the president a statement of what they thought their senior rights. Not that it made any difference to them, who were so soon to leave, but for the future classes. The Pres. replied that the seniors had assumed for themselves prive [leger] to which they were not entitled. They had no right to remain away from Chapel without reporting. Well, well, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to go oftener than once a fortnight, and I don't now. The doctor yet exists and is a refuge. Went to Town Last Saturday with Madge. Walked both ways. Bought a hat which is very becoming and Madge and I trimmed it. Went to Vails and I got some pictures for Ella Irving, and a list ot the pictures that I wished to send for in the summer. We bought strawberries and had a festival which was great fun. We walked both ways. Class Officers have been chosen. [Buttain], pres. Coleman, vice-pres. Cass, sect'y [secretary]. Vames, Treas [treasurer]. Miss Cass is also our marshal Class Day. 
Jessie Wheeler is real sick. She never had an attack before in warm weather, and I am greatly worried. She is so herself, too, I think. She is having night sweats, which weaken her very much. I don't believe she will be able to come back in the fall. If her folks knew how low she was, I am sure they would not allow her to return. But the way she has kept her condition from her mother, is wicked. She never tells her when she is sick, and, as she is not sick in the summer, her folks think she is getting better. It will be a great blow to them. Delta We were going across the river today instead of having a meeting, but it rained and we could not. I was glad we did not have a meeting instead, for I had promised to read, and did not want to. 
Sunday, June 5th '81 Officers, of Philalethia, Miss Yamakawa, pres., Gross, vice-pres., Sharpe, sec'y. [secretary], Ponier, tres. [treasurer], of Students Association, Miss Stanton, pres. Taylor, vice-pres, Boyd, sec'y [secretary], Sanford, crier, Curtis, vice-crier, of Religious Inquiry, Phillips, pres, Buckland, vice-pres, Raymond, recording sec'y [secretary], Bostwick, coresponding sec'y [secretary]. Exotic Play came off last night. It was rather a queer selection, but it was so funny and the characters were so well suited to the actors. "Engaged" was the play. Miss Dean, who was the hero, was, as usual, inimitable and kept us laughing all the time. Miss Alcorn was well suited to her part, and strutted around theatrically. Miss Stevens was herself Minnie with her "simple little head," but not in the least artless in reality. Miss Baldwin, as the 
Scoth Meg did very nicely. I was as much impressed with Miss Ramsey's acting as anybody's. She was the awkward Scotch Cover. The talked the Scotch dialect very nicely. Tuesday, April 7th 81 Political Economy We had lectures in Political Economy all last week and yesterday. It was only a breif outline of the science as there was not much time. Prof. Backus has gone now to Chicago and Cincinnati to give examinations. We are very sorry to miss the two weeks lectures. Stematz and Miss Nagai spent the Sunday at Prof. Backus'. He thought I worked hard, which strikes me as funny. He said Dr. Webster told him some time ago not to work me too hard. I know that must have been when I asked permission to change my room to escape from Fanny-ism. 
Chapter Officers. Miss Jones, pres. Easton, vice-pres. Wilkinson, sec'y [secretary]. of Delta. Warden, pres. Buckland, vice-pres. Menick, sec'y [secretary]. of Beta. Case, pres. Koontz, vice-pres. of Alpha. Rooms again. Mrs. Ray has been to see Jessie and says she can give her the corner room if we would take Miss Jones instead of Miss Munro. She asked us, and we consented, because we didn't like to have Jessie worried. We wouldn't have consented on any other ground. But Miss Jones hasn't consented to go in with us, because she knows we don't want her. The corner room has been assigned her already. Thursday, June 9 '81 Essay I had my Napoleonic essay corrected Tuesday. Miss Hiscock thought there was an improvement in style. It was more fervid and consequently the diction was better. I asked her if she could correct some essays for me next year, if I wished to write some extra ones, and she said that she would be delighted. She is going to give me a list of books for my reading next summer, which I think I shall like very much if I have the opportunity of carrying it out. Monday, June 14th, 1881 Rooms Still I am sure I don't know how the room question is settled. Miss Jones said she did want to go into a (--She was just in now, and says Mrs. Ray has sent word to know if she is willing to go into that parlor. I am very much interested as to the result. 
The Eclipse I was very much interested in the eclipse Saturday night, for we calculated it in class; besides I never saw one to watch it with interest. It rained all the week and I worried for fear we should not be able to see it, and Madge laughed at me. But Saturday afternoon, greatly to my delight, it becan to clear. I was going up to Mary King's to look at it; for it could not be seen from my window. I lay down on my bed to get a couple of hours sleep, after silent time, before I went up. But I heard Mary King asking for me and so arose. "Aren't you coming?" "Why yes." "Well, come now, won't you. Bring your night-gown and stay all night." I gathered up my things. "Now run, so we'll get past Miss Jordan's door before the last bell." But just then the bell rang, and away we went up the tower stairs. Miss Learned, Broadhead, and Semple were also in Mary's room, and we sat up, talking in a low tone. No corridor teacher appeared to tell us to put out the light or reprove our little gathering. Mary read Poe's "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemir," which was just the kind for such a lark. At quarter after twelve we started for the ladder that led to the loft and [theuee] to the roof, and in the Junior parlor met Bijou King and Miss Hongate. One by one we crawled up and scrambled out on the damp roof. Miss Semple, Hongate and myself ensconsed ourselves snugly on the top of the chimney. Bijou came up last and utterly refused to stir from the opening, it was so dark, and the other girls stood around on the wet roof, regardless of slippered feet. By and by Miss Semple went down and got rubbers and more wraps. She turned the corner of the opening up-side down and Bijou sat in that which was "just as dry". We waited and speculated as to the umbra and penumbra, and saw lots of meteors. Bijou asked what caused the eclipse and Miss Semple entered into a discussion of eclipses-- their number, their kind. Mary and Miss Learned pointed out different stars, and I tried various contortions of head and body to see them, but was so wrapped up with Miss Hongate that it was impossible. It was great fun on the chimney. It seemed where we looked up as if we were suspended in mid-air. It was fun to hear Bijou King worry. "Ethel," to Miss Hongate, "Is that chimney right on the edge?" A pause. "Ethel, are you cold?" Five minutes silence. "Ethel, you be careful and don't fall off." "Ethel, isn't it too damp for you?" and so and and so Between one and two we came down and saying "goodnight," separated. I staid with Mary. We talked awhile and then fell asleep. I waked up some time afterwards and looked out. It was very misty, but the moon was still visible but nearly out of the shadow. I didn't get up till silent time but was not entirely starved, for I went to see Jessie and she treated me to bananas. We had no Bible class. I think it was a nice lark, to say nothing about the real interest in the eclipse. My only regret is that none of the party were artists, so we could not have drawings of the picturesque scene. The girls said Miss Hongate and I looked like owls perched up on the chimney. Thursday June 16th 1881 Vacation Begins Well, everything is over, I'm glad to say, although I have been in no hurry for the end. Indeed, I have made Madge and May utterly disgusted with me, by saying I didn't care to have vacation come. "I shall be glad to get home, but I have just so long to stay here and so long to be at home. I'm enjoying myself here and I like to have the time pass slowly," I would say. And the girls would say "Oh! Put her out!" I haven't enjoyed the last few days so particularly, though, for we have had so many Physics examinations. I was groaning in spirit today, for the topic was Polarization and was both long and hard. I found also lots of places where I didn't understand it, and Stematz and I mixed each other all up with our questions. We couldn't get any satisfaction out of the other girls, either. As I told Miss Howe, I don't care if a thing is hard, but I like to have good and sufficient reasons for things. Not that I am not willing to take things for granted, to accept facts, yet when an explanation pretends to be given, I want it to be an explanation and adequate. And that isn't true of all places in polarization as given us by Prof. Cooley. However, I am willing to be easy on that, for I suppose nobody knows so very much about it yet. I don't like that sort of thing very much, though. I'm not satisfied till I get to the reasons. I don't mean this as grumbling, I wouldn't miss our Phyics course for anything. It is excellent. And it is well conducted, analytical, and goes into the theory. Prof. Cooley has been very nice too [to] us lately. He has thawed some, and on two or three occasions been indeed quite facetious. Today he told us that he wanted to congratulate us on the excellent work we had done in his department. We were really quite overwhelmed. It was such an unusual thing, praise from Prof. Cooley. He always keeps off from you and smiles in his superior way as if he knew so much about it and we, poor ignoramuses! He is nice, though. Almost everybody likes him, I think, in a mild sort of a way. The sentiment is seldom [impetuous]. I never knew a [single] to have that sort of fascinated devotion to him that so many have to Prof. Backus. And really, he is so much nicer, and has so many less faults. But he never seems to touch you, that's the whole explanation. Eexaminations [examinations] were held as usual at Boston, Chicago, and Cincinnati. Prof. Braisbin went to Breton and had but two applicants. I don't believe they advertise enough. They insist a notice in the advertiser and let it go at that. Prof. Backus went to Cincinnati and Chicago. He had six at each place and a promise of more to come here. Oh, Georgie Morrill says P.B. has a regular salary for getting help for girls from private individuals. I don't want to give him too much credit for doing so much of it. But I will say, they showed good judgment in selecting him to do it. Prof. Robert Raymond read in Chapel Friday night and Saturday of last week. He read Twelfth Night and King Henry V. I never saw anything like his impersonation of Falstaff, Sir Toby Belch, and Sir Andrew. How he could take of those drunken men. Nellie Raymond says it is actually painful to hear him he does it so naturally. But you could detect the difference in the different char.acters of the drunkards. I liked his personation of the fool of the steward in Twelgth Night very much. His facial expression is best of all. His reading of women's parts is not so pleasing because his voice is not adapted to them. His laughter was "catching". I don't know why, but I had expected to see a younger man and was quite astonished to see so white-headed an old gentleman. He had a large, jolly face and white side whiskers. His fat form and rather red face came in excellently when he played Falstaff. June 18th Rooms Settled at last, I suppose, and I'm glad of it. Mrs. Ray sent word to Jessie by doctor that she was to have Miss Palmer's room and only one teacher is to be on the corridor next year. I guess Jessie likes it pretty well. It was the best way out of the trouble, I think, though its [it's] too bad J. couldn't have the corner room and Miss Jones the other. Clio had a spread tonight, for which we were taxed six cents apiece. It was very nice. Strawberries, cream and cake. Officers were elected Thursday. Misses Sanford, Warder, King, Hongate, and myself were standing talking about officers. We had decided on Miss Wanen for president. "I'll tell you what," said Mary, "you'd better have some one for vice president with a good deal of--" and she gave a long word ending with ality. "What!" we all cried. "Why," she said, "some one that has a good deal of go-ahead and some one who is kind of cross, you know." "Like yourself, for instance" said Miss Sanford. "No, oh no, not at all like myself!" "Like Miss Southworth, for instance, then" said Miss Warder, laughing. And so they all joined in, I with the rest. "Yes Miss Southworth's just the one. She is so cross." Then a lot of other girls came in and the meeting was called to order. Miss Wanen was unanimously elected pres. Then Miss Stanton got up and nominated me for vice-pres.! That just convulsed us girls, who had been talking about it. We all laughed and they all looked at me. Miss Stanton could not imagine what was the matter. The Miss Hongate was elected sect'y [secretary] and treas. [treasurer]. She said they elected her because they knew I was so cross, they needed someone quiet and mild, like herself, to hold me back. And all those who had been talking about it before, declared that the whole society must have recognized the necessity of a cross vice-pres. and so have elected me . 
June 19 '81 Dome Party Friday we received our little cards for the dome party, and soon after 9 yesterday morning we were all assembled in her parlor. Soon we passed into the dome. Little tables were arranged all around the dome and in the meridian room. The alumnae were in the meridian room. We had a very nice breakfast, and, after it was over, the tables were moved back and everybody came into the dome. The choir sat on the steps. Miss Meeker led in Prof. Mitchell then brought in a basket filled with colored paper rolls. Each contained a piece of candy, and nearly every one a piece of poetry. There wasn't quiet enough poetry for each one, for Prof. Mitchell only writes poems on those girls who are now in her classes. Some one read her poem, then the girl who was referred to in it, responded with her poem. After every ten poems we had 
a song. After all these poems, others were read, some long and some short. Mine was among those. Prof. Mitchell was so nice and jolly. She kept us laughing all the time. The poems were many of them very cute, too. Before any of them were read, Prof. Mithcell repeated a warning which she gave us several weeks ago. "You mustn't believe what these poems say about you. You're always told you're angels and all that." The poem about me was "Of Paris' Worth, the less, the better, their judgment and good sense to fetter. If worth in wit, we'd like a treasure, If worth in gold, a goodby measure. But there's one Worth that we can [brash] of, And while we can, must make the most of, For when it's gone, what shall we do, Without South-worth of eighty-two?" I think Miss Whitney wrote it. Prof Mitchell said she didn't. The person I had to read was about Miss Whitney and ran thus: 
"In Wallthan, Mass., there lived a lass Under her feet there grew no grass, And every muster she could pass, For she was educated at Vas.sar. "Neuro." Prof. Mitchell says, "Bring out the rhymes strong." She read a poem sent us by Julia Ward Howe, and her niece, Miss May Dame, one sent by a lady in New York, where Prof. Mitchell used to board. In it, she spoke of P.M. as being "great among women." "She ought to have said greatest" said Prof. M. "But then--!" And we all were convulsed. Prof. Mitchell said, when one of the poems in [enlogy] of her, was read, "I don't mind. I'm used to it." This is my contribution. There was a bring Junior at Vassar In Astronomy none could surpass her. Both early and late, This young lady sate, And poured over Godfrey at Vassar. 
159 But when her lesson was o'er, And she needed to study no more, She was sure to be found Kneeling down on the ground, The little MacDonald before. One day her dear professor, Professor M.M. (God bless her) Said: "Look out for a comet. A matter of moment, Would a comet be to your professor. All day very hard at her lesson, The subject of which was precession, This bright Junior worked. And nothing she shirked; But she mastered the subject precession. This Junior then made up her mind To attempt a comet to find, And as then 'twas quite late (The belle had struck eight), She went out, a comet to find. The little MacDonald before 
160 She knelt for an hour or more, And scanned the sky With anxious eyes, But was no wiser than before. Then the silent bell called her away. No more observations that day. So in sadness she went, But with firm intent To search for a comet each day. That night, in her dreams, she found Herself kneeling down on the ground; And her anxious eye A comet did spy. At last the comet was found! The Professor, this bright Junior dreamed, Pleased with the discovery seemed. Declimation [declamation], twenty one; Eighteen, right ascension." Said she, as this bright Junior dreamed. "To find it's [its] true place for me, now, For what will you have to allow?" 
161 For parallax aberration, Precession, refraction, mutation," Said the Junior, "you'll have to allow." Then said Professor M.M., "Since you've learned how to find them, To do it for me Good practice it will be. I expect you tomorrow to know them." In her room this bright Junior sate, With Astronomy, Trig., and her slate. "What nice problems they'd be!" And she laughed in high glee, As she took up her books and her slate. But alas for this Junior's delight! It was doomed to be banished that night. It was sad, sad indeed, She should badly succeed In working her problems that night. [...] she carefully worked out refraction. And quite to her own satisfaction. The barometer that night, 
162 Being at standard height, She was sure this was the refraction. The problem for parallax done, Three degrees was the answer that come. "Dear me, oh dear me! How near it must be. Parallax of the moon is but one! "A body so near as all that The eart cannot fail to attract. In eighteen eighty-one, The end was to come Of the world,- think of that! "To go on with my calculation, What's next? Oh, yes, aberration." Though she found the earth's way, She e'en then dared not say Whether six or sixteen was the aberration. But when she came to precession, Though the subject of her last lesson, No point could she find That was clear to her mind, 
163 In the whole of the subject precession. [Antation] was in such dire confusion, That she thought it was all a delusion. How the pole moved, and why, Draco and Bradley, their place in the sky, Filled her mind with most fearful confusion. "Oh, this horrible, horrible lesson, Aberration, mutation, precession! That it's driving me wild, Is a statement too mild To describe the effects of precession!" Just then she heard a great sound, Felt a trembling of the ground, Saw the whole of the sky Lit up far and might, Felt a rushing and whizzing all round. She ran to the window in fright. Yes, the comet she discovered that night Was coming, indeed, At a terrible speed. Right toward her, she sivered with fright. 
Now near and nearer it came. She felt the hot breath of its flame. Only one moment more And all would be o'er, She'd die in the midst of the flame. Then she felt the earth rock, And there came a great shock. She fell with a scream, And,-- 'twas only a dream! The silence of night her lesson did mock. Every after, this Junior at Vassar, (Though still in Astronomy none could surpass her.) The mention of comet, precession, mutation, Filled with dire trepidation This once confident Junior at Vassar! They clapped after-- 'twas only a dream," so I guess they liked it. I called this "The Horrible Dream of the Junior at Vassar". Marks I was in Slematz' room last night, and 
Here is a poem that Helen Warren wrote for the Dome Party, but it was lost and not read till the next year. I think it is very cute. It's certainly the way Prof. M. would be affected if she tried to drop anyone. It was the grim Professoress, That knit her angry brow, And said that Junior must be dropped, And sealed it with a vow. And oh! it was that poor Junior That fell upon the ground; And oh! it was her sad classmates, That quickly gathered round. 'Twas one that loved the dropped one, then, Her voice was broke with sighs, And with her pocket handkerchief, She wiped her little eyes. All young and ignorant was she, 
But innocent and wild, And in her soft simplicity, Out spoke the tender child. "Oh, dear Professor, [best] to me This poor girl has been sick; She has been dropped in Logic, too, Her troubles come too thick." It was the cruel Professor, then, That laughed as she would die. "A girl that's dropped from out every class 'Tis sure, did never try." 
M.M. did sleep, and dropped girls Were busy with her dreams, Loud rang their wild unearthly shrieks Unbearable it seems. She started up,-- the telephone With firmest hold she grasped And shouted o'er its ringing wire "Oh tell that girl she's passed!" 
Mary King came in. She asked us if we could keep a secret and then said that she asked Prof. Mitchell about her marks. She is always worrying about her marks. Prof. Mitchell said they were high, average about 4 1/2 (the highest is 5). Warren's and Sourthworth's might perhaps be above them." Of course that made me feel pretty good. She called us Warren and Sourthworth in the most practical manner possible. She amused us one day in class by saying, "When I want to know the pronunciation of any of those words, I generally ask Hinkle!" One day she called Miss Whitney "Mary" and then added "I didn't mean to call her that before you." Baccalaureate Sunday today. May and I were going over to the Ridge this afternoon to get roots of ferns; but May proposed to go this morning, so we went and didn't hear the sermon. But can read it in the Class Day Books. We had a lovely time and got lots of roots. July 4th 1881 Commencement Concert Monday, June 20th was Commencement Concert. I had to pack in the morning and finished my trunk except what I wanted to use. The concert in the evening was jammed. Miss Hongate and I sat at the door most of the evening and I never saw such a crowd. They came faster than they could be seated during the first half of the concert. Class Day Tuesday was Class Day. I don't think I enjoyed it as much as last year, for the novelty was gone. But it was very pleasant. The history and prophecy were both very cute. Miss Shove has a very nice delivery and Miss Stockwell looked very pretty. I was a little disappointed in Miss Lloyd's oration. Miss Varues was cute as usual and "just gave it" to the Seniors. It was cold at the Promenade concert, so I did not enjoy it, and being very tired went to bed before it was over. Mrs. Wheeler and Edith were there. Commencement. The exercises began at about 11.30 am. As Miss Gardner was excused, there were only nine essays, and only six minutes were allowed for the debates, five for the others. Of course the debate was the most interesting. Subject Has the Negro a Future? Negative Miss Fitzhugh. Affirmative, Miss Lyon. Miss Lyon had the advantage of attractiveness and good delivery. I think she prevailed with the audience, except the students. I didn't like it so well. It was very cute, and all that, but it wasn't so good an argument. It was full of arguments ad hominem. The only two real arguments that I remember, are "he has imitated us so perfectly." Why whouldn't he and what does it prove? And "what are you going to do with the Caucasian blood?" It seems to me that is an argument on the other side, that it is the Caucasian, not the African blood that is going to hold the supremacy here in future. Miss Lyon's beginning, "Flat.nosed, thick-lipped, and worse still, thick-headed," did not much for her. It captivated her audience and after gave the impression of fairness, in acknowledging the things that were against her. Miss Lyon called the negro the most "picturesque element in out landscape." I was pleased with Miss Lyons essay and thought it a masterpiece in its way. But Miss Fritzhughs was the fair and square one. What a lawyer Annie Lyon would make! 
She could be a success in most anything if she wasn't too lazy to make any effort. May's brother-in-law was on east. He had been going to Europe; but he backed out, and came to Poughkeepsie to go house with May. Jessie Clinton went home with Madge for a few days. Jessie 
W. and I didn't go till the next day at ten o'clock. We spent the rest of the day in saying goodbye. I staid all night with Mary K. She had Miscellany work to do, so didn't get to her work till about 2 
a.m. and of course I didn't sleep much before. Then she got up and five, and I rose soon after, to see the Mary Porrell girls off. I was a week with Jessie W. and had a lovely time. Review of the Year. Well, my Junior year is done, and I am sorry. No more lazy Monday mornings, lectures our only lessons but solid hard work for every day. Well, our lessons have been the nicest and we have had lots of jolly times, too. I am pretty well satisfied with my years work. I feel as if I had done a great deal, for all I have worked so little, and as if I had developed a great deal. I think my standing has been very good, too, especially in Astronomy and Logic. I must tell about the Logic. I scarcely know how it happened, but Prof. Backus got early in the semester an excellent idea of my clear headedness and ability in Logic, and he used to refer everything to me. I think it must have been because I used to get so interested when he was trying [to] mix the girls on the validity of A.E.I.O. The first thing that happened, especially, was about the rule "No term must be distributed in the conclusion that was not distrib uted in one of the premises. Miss Semple stated it, no term must be undistributed in the conclusion that was not undistributed in the premise. P.B. made her say the rule at least ten times, and she started it all sorts of ways, once in a while getting it right, and oftener getting it wrong. It was funny. Everytime she said it, P.B. made her asked me if it was right. Finally he asked me to state it, and I did, giving both sides of the question. Then Miss Stanton began. She didn't see why a term could be undistributed in conclusion and distributed in premise, if it could not be distributed in conclusion and undistributed in premise. "Why don't you see", said I, turning to Miss Stanton and ignoring P.B. The girls laughed a little, and I stopped and looked up to him. "You're all right, go ahead," said he. So I went ahead and by and by 
between us, we succeeded in convincing her. That day I saw P.B. in the elevator and he said, "Well, Miss Southworth, you rather pitched into that Senior this morning, didn't you?" "What senior?" I asked. "Why, isn't Miss Stanton a senior?" "Oh, no, she's only one of my own class-mates," said I. "Well," said P.B. "I have been treating her with extrordinary consideration because I thought she was a senior." After a moment he continued, "You seem to have a pretty clear head." "I haven't got mixed yet," said I. "I hope I shan't." "Oh, I guess you won't." Three of four times afterwards he stopped to congratulate me on my work in Logic and to say how much he was pleased with it. "I guess you are pretty well satisfied with it, too?" "Oh yes indeed. I like it better than 
any other study I ever had," I replied. If anything came up in class that wasn't understood, if any of the girls got confused, he would almost always call on me to straighten it out. One day when Miss Glenn had made an extra good recitation in regard to some example, he passed it and called for the next question. Then, "Oh, wait a minute," he said. "I can't pass that without Miss Southworth's approval. That's all right, isn't it, Miss Southwort?" Of course that was in fun; he is always saying just such rediculous [ridiculous] things. Once in Rhetoric, we were talking about the difference between genius and talent. "Prof. Backus, isn't genius just the same as talent only in a greater degree?" asked Mary King, with the little drawl she sometimes uses. "Well, Miss King," said he, "I was just thinking of asking you that question." And one day when she was unprepared he said, "You don't know what a comfort to me it is to have you unprepared once in a while." He is all the time saying such things. He likes to give compliments. But I don't think he would have said so much to me if he hadn't meant it, and my answers always seemed to suit him. There were a good many girls that knew just as much as I did about it. Of that I am sure. But he didn't happen to begin asking them so I suppose that was the reason he didn't refer to them so much. I am right sorry to finish essays under Miss Hiscock, too, she is such a nice essay critic. I asked her if she would correct essays for me if I wanted to write some extra ones next year. She said she would be delighted. She said if she were me she would keep a "Commonplace book." I didn't tell her about my journal. Wouldn't she be shocked if she knew the way I rushed through it, and neglected spelling, punctuation, capitals, and all that, to say nothing about giving no attention to my manner of expression. Well, well! July 5th 1881 Miss Alcorn and P.B. There is such a good story about Miss Alcorn and P.B. that I must tell it. Miss A. met a gentleman in Washington, whom she liked pretty well and flirted with considerable. Christmas he sent her a card and Miss A. was greatly troubled. She didn't know whether it would be proper to write and thank him or not, and if she wrote she didn't know whether to begin it "Dear Mr ..." or not. So she went to Miss Jordan and told her all about it. Miss Jordan said certainly write and thank him. It would be perfectly proper. It would be proper also to begin "dear" as that was merely a conventionality. But still Miss Alcorn was troubled in her soul. Not satisfied with the "Grandfather's" advice she went to "Little Nell," and to her imparted her troubles. Miss Hiscock repeated Miss Jordan's advice, and Miss A. departed. Miss Alcorn was walking down the corridor with perplexity still harasing her soul, when she met her friend, Miss Mame Koontz. To this sympathetic heart, she poured out the story of her woes, together with the information she had gained from Misses Jordan and Hiscock and the fact that she was not yet satisfied. "Well, I'll tell you what," said Miss Koontz, "This is Prof. Backus' office hour, you go down and ask him. He'll know." So Miss Alcorn went. What passed between them at that interview is not known with certainty. I have heard two reports. One states that Prof. Backus listened very gravely while she gave a detailed account of the affair, just how much she knew the young man, how much she'd flirted with him, how much she thought of him, how much he thought of her, and various other minutiae; and then 
P.B. said "I am very glad you came to Me, Miss Alcorn. No! under the circumstances, I should say it was not appropriate to address the gentleman 'Dear Mr. So-and-so! Under the circumstances, I think it would be better to say, "My dear Mr. So-and-so!" The other report says that he gave some very fatherly advice and winked at another girl who was in the room. I hardly think the first can be true, though it is very like him. The second is quite probable. Must'n't [Musn't] P.B. have been pleased. I bet he laughed over it with his friends afterwards. I know that the whole story is not made up, for she told Miss Easton something about it, and Jessie Clinton, too. Fannie I am disgusted with her. She tells such lies about the College, etc. She has circulated the report that she run [ran] away and Mrs. Andrew's, Mr. Bird's house-keeper, hinted to Mrs. Hazelword that Fannie got out of the window when she came away! Fannie is not going back. She hasn't done very well there. I washed my hands of her long ago. Many a time have I wished she never went, merely for my own personal comfort. We got awfully sick of her soon after Christmas. May was the only one that took any notice of her, and she didn't like her at all. At last she and Jessie Clinton fell out, and Fannie felt rather uncomfortable to be with J. and J. was always in our room. Then May went home, and Fannie lavished all her affection on Madge till Madge was obliged to snub her. We continued a judicious course of snubbing after May returned, and it was long before Fannie took them. Before she used to complain often but not take the hint. She didn't have much to say to me any of the time; for I had stopped talking to her long before. At last she left us. After she had left us for some time I began to take some notice of her again; but not much. It was such a relief to have her gone. There is one episode that I can't pass by. Fannie's flirtation with the porter. George was quite nice looking, but he must have been half-fool or he would never have acted so. But I think Fannie begun it. At any rate, George would never have acted so toward any other girl in College. He used to whistle to her when he went by her window and she answered it. One would have thought that she would have had more self respect that that. But. J.P. 
says she thinks Fannie was proud of it, quite slated at the porter's preferance. However that may be she certainly encouraged him. One night when F. was in J.P.'s room, George passed by and threw a note into her open door. It said "I think I seen a cat go in your room. I may be rong [wrong]." And when they went down they found notes there and conversation [losenges]. It went on for some time. Fannie didn't tell me about it but I soon heard about it from the conversations she had with J.P. and May. At last Fannie began to be sorry, to wish it stopped. She was afraid the teachers would find it out as she began to realize from what the girls said to her that it was rather a disgraceful matter, a flirtation with a porter. At last she got Jessie to speak to George for her and tell him that if he threw any more notes in Mrs. Bird's win.dow, she would report him. But Mrs. Ray found it out. Miss Myer's was in Fannie's parlor and wanted to get her room changed, and this was her excuse. Of course Mrs. Ray investigated. She came to see me and asked me a good many questions. I told her all I knew except that Fannie encouraged him at first. I think indeed, I rather lied about that. She asked a good many other questions about Fannie and her folks, etc. George was dismissed. Character Sketches I wrote a good many character sketches of the girls, in poetry. Some I wrote last year and some I finished only a few weeks ago. I didn't spend much time on any of them. They are only rough rhymes, but in some of them I hit on just the weak points of the girls. All of them are pretty hard on the girls. I write them in the order in which they 
182 were composed. Jessie Wheeler. Who was it banged her pretty hair, Although afraid her ma would care, And fixes it in twist and puff, And then thinks she is fine enough? Who, though short and like a rail, Wears a great immense long trail! Who leaves her things in other'r rooms, Uses their blacking and their broomes? Who over everything makes merry? 'Tis January Feburary [February]. May Sudduth Who is that rolls both her eyes, Puckers her mouth and looks so wise, And utters words so very sage You'd surely think her twice her age? Who is it drawls, in tones so dreary "Oh, I am sick of life, I'm weary?" And then doth add; in doleful tone, "Goodbye, kind friends, I'm going home"? Who leaves the buttons off her shoe? Who will persist in wearing blue? Who is it hasn't any brass? 
183 Who is it always out of cash? Who never can her pencil find But uses those of friends so kind? Who is this heroine of mine? Of course 'tis Mary Catharine. Carrie Rausom. Who comes here with face so meek You'd think she'd mind each word you speak; But soon you find so very perverse, You're sure you've never seen one worse. If you like anything or it pleases your eye, "I think it is horrid!" this young lady will cry. Whatever you think, whatever you say, She never was known to think the same way. When the greatest disgust she wishes expressed She thinks measley's the word that expresses it best; And when with astonishment she is confounded, Then straightway she cries, "Oh I'm astounded!" So very very smart is she That Valedictorian she surely will be! Now from this sketch of mine, You'll surely know her to be Caroline. 
184 Louise Cornwell Who comes here, with a red Alsaeian [Alsatin?] bow upon her head? Who receives, most every day, A box of candy? oh how gay! Who dispenses to each friend Cake and chow-chow without end? Who, how very sad to say, Talks in slang the live-long day? And when affected with surprise, "Oh my goodness me!" she cries. Who is it makes enough of noise For half a dozen common boys? Who is it that will have her way, No matter what the others say? I'm sure that you can guess from that It is the Hateful Little Cat! Miss South. Who comes here so very gay, With hoop-skirt newly bought today? Who the same brown dress would always wear, Till it was stolen and hid with care? Who, in winter weather, without compassion Opens the windows in murderous fashion? 
Who bores each and every friend By discussing subjects without end? Who is going to study the laws, But will uphold only an honest cause? Who will believe whate'er you say, E'en that 'tis raining a pleasant day And when you're joking can never tell? Who has always stamps to sell? Who is it cannot learn to [shate] Although she practices early and late? Who is as tall as any tree, And as big round as a bumble-bee? It's surely is Miss Tatty C. Hattie Walsait Who comes rushing down the hall, Like a whirl-wind, scattering all? Who would dance all night and day, If she could only have her way? Who to study did never pretend, But used to read novels without end? Who is it says "Shut up, Miss South!" If her room-mate opens her mouth? Who is it that Sam comes to see As many times a month as three? 
Who receives so many new rings, And so many painted things? Who is this young miss so fine? Who can it be, but Hattaline? Fannie Bird. Who is that dreadful homesick girl? Who often tries her hair to curl? Who is it never tells the truth? Who has love-letters from many a youth? Who every day long letters sends To all her most intimate friends? Who is it all her fortune spends In crackers and caramels and treats her friends? Who's caught more times than I can tell In other's rooms, by Miss Haskell, After the fatal silent bell? Who changes her dress, I well can day As much as twenty times a day; But who is yet most often seen Clad in hoopskirt and wrapper green? 'Tis she to whom when chatter's heard, We quickly cry, "Be quiet Bird!" 
187 Jessie Clinton. Who often sleeps the whole day long? Who whistles and sings the same old song, Until we're all so sick of it We wish to goodness it never was writ? Who wears her dress so very tight She cannot hook it with all her might? Who scarcely stays at home at all? Why, that must be Miss Jessie Paul! Madge Miller Who was it promised to stay here, And spend vacation with us this year, But changed her mind when the time drew near? Who is it that will never do As the others want her to? Who pretends discussions to hate, And yet will argue early and late? Who, whenever you call her a name Just turns about and calls you the same? You can't guess who this is, I bet, For it is meant for Madgie Pet! 
Vassar College Saturday, Oct 1st 1881 Senior Year. You can't imagine how strange it seems to be Senior. For the first week I kept looking around for the older girls. Then you are so thrown in with your class, what you scarecely know a new girl unless you take special pains to look them out, as most of the Deltans have done, for we are in sore need of new members. But its awfully jolly being seniors. I enjoy it immensely, more than I ever have any other year. I like our room very much, it is pleasant and pretty but not so elegant, of course, as many of them will be. My parlor-mates are very pleasant, but what I enjoy most is table. The girls at my table are Missus Morrill, Nickerson, Shailer, [Bucklaus] Macadam, King, Howe, Hongate, Phillips, Yamakawa, the four last-mentioned being nearest me. I like them all so much that I am rendered perfectly happy. There are so many changes that the strangeness of the Senior Year is inhanced greatly. I can't realize that we have a New Lady Principal, and that Mrs. Ray will no longer sweep around the College in her "royal-highness-ism". Miss Goodsell of '69 now fills her place and though she lacks the beauty and majesty of Mrs. Ray's appearance, she has a far more lasting dignity, and is capable of inspiring us with a great deal of respect. Imagine anyone being saucy to Miss Goodsell! Ah, though, we've got to behave. She says her particular hobby is obedience and I guess she means to have it. She is strict, but you can be sure she will be just. Our Senior priveleges are defined this year, we know when we are breaking rules. There is a new Students Manual and Miss Goodsell has supplemented it by a little talk. For Chapel, Bible Class, attendence at meals, keeping lights [up], we have to get excused by the doctor, or by her, and then we need not report. But if we have no excuse that she or Dr. might not consider valid, we are to report. If these delinquencies are not of too frequent occurrence they will all stand excused; but if they get to be too many, something different will have to be arranged. Now I like that. It is treating us like rational beings, considering that we may have deficiencies that ought to be allowable when the excuse is not a Dr. 
or L.P. sort of one. Doctor Allen. We were very, very sorry to have our dear, good doctor go. Jessie wrote me about her in the summer and a great many of our class wrote to the President protesting against his accepting the resignation. But ah, it did no good, and when we came back we were confronted by a new doctor, who struck terror to our hearts on the first glimpse. But it didn't last. When we knew that she was a Quaker, it accounted for the straightness and rigidity of all the lines about her; and, on a little acquaintance, we found that the prominent eyebrows did not mean sternness. Indeed, I think I shall like her very much; but I cannot helping being sorry that our dear Doctor Webster is not here. Sunday, Oct. 2. '81. Studies I have [condensed] German, Mental Philosophy, and Senior Astronomy. German is great fun and Miss Hinkle is lovely. It is comic to hear us spell words in German and try to converse when she asks us questions, guessing at her meaning. Pretty soon we are going to learn the multiplications tables. Mental is very interesting, I think, though hard to learn. I am very agreeably disappointed in the President. So far he has been quite interesting. Astronomy is very easy. Mostly, Prof. Mitchell gives little bits of lessons and we recite with our books open. One day she announced that it was too hot to study or recite, so she only kept us about fifteen minutes, the period is first lunch 
period and only half an hour anyway. Miss Patterson drew a figure wrong and Prof. Mitchell said, "Well, you shall have your bunch of grapes all the same." Then she dismissed us all with some grapes and sent a bunch to Mary King who was absent. Chapter Meetings. The chapters met last Friday. We had room J. I had to read. Miss Goodsell gave the whole society a spread afterwards in the parlors. She was very lovely to us. She reviewed the Chapter badges. Ours is blue, and she gave badges to all of the members of Philalethea. She is a member of Alpha, and one of the original twenty who met to form the society. She was the first vice-president at the time when Dr. Raymond was president. 
Our Country's President I did not return to College till late. Harry was at home and I wanted to see him as long as possible. I started Monday, the nineteenth of September. The bulletins gave the president very low. "He is sleeping his last sleep, I guess," said mother. That night on the boat, I dreamed all night the President and Dr. Bliss in troubled snatches. In the morning, the first thing we knew I heard a gutterman say, "Aren't those flags at half-mast?" Ah, surely yes! Then we all knew. We soon reached the dock and the newsboy sprang aboard the saloon, the men stood around, each with open paper, reading the sad news, unmindful of anything around. Ah, it did not need the broad black lines down the pate to tell that the last struggle was over. Ah, the poor wife and children. It was the thought of them more than the Country that brought the tears to my eyes as I read, almost alone on the desk of the river boat. Last Monday, the 26 of Sept. [September] he was laid to rest and teh day was one of prayer all over the country. At three in the afternoon there were services in the Chapel, Prof. Cooley and Prof. Dwight both taking post, but Prof. Backus delivered the address. He spoke to us of the great struggle that began twenty years ago, he led us up to the martyrdom of our noble Lincoln, he spoke of the terrible distrust felt then, of mobs that raged, and of our second martyr's rising to quell it, and the words he spoke at that crisis, "God reigns and the government at Washington still lives." It was masterly in its effect. Then he spoke of the sympathy that had been manifested on all sides for the bereaved family and for the country and of the lesson drawn therefrom. And he spoke so fervantly of the heroism of the poor wife and of the last moments she remained with the dead in the rotunda of the Capitol [capital]. We were all deeply affected. If he had kept up the notion a second longer in some places, I think I should have been unable to keep back the tears. It was a beautiful tribute to the memory of our dead President, one that could scarcely be surpassed in its eloquence and pathos. The year may roll by, but I do not believe I shall ever the memory of the day of the cruel shot, the long days of sorrow and suffering, the I asked the old one for it, I never speak to the young one if I can help it." "Who?" said Prof. Van. "Why, the old one, I asked the old one for it. I never speak to the young one if I can help it." (She meant Mr. Dean and Daisy) "Oh, you shouldn't be so cruel," replied Prof. Van. Perhaps the latest is the message she sent Miss Goodsell. The girls told her at dinner that she had an express package come, and she was very anxious to go an see what it contained. She was told she couldn't go till the bell of dismissal rang, so she sent to Miss Goodsell, asking her if she wouldn't please ring the bell as Miss Shirley wanted to leave the dining-room. It seems to me there are more funny things told about the new girls this year than any other. And what of them are not referred to Eva Shirley are put to the credit of Miss Broodus, a new girl with glasses and a tremendous lisp. She is the girl that thought she could not go to her truck without taking a teacher, and who took Miss Wiley and Miss MacIlvane both down one evening at different times. One night Miss Glesan was sitting alone in her room in a dressing-sack, back to the door. Some one knocked, and thinking it one of her friends, she called without looking up. Some one came in and said, "Will you pleath tell me if there ith anyone near here that thuddies Thophmore Latin?" Miss Gleson replied, "No, I guess not. This is the Senior Corridor," where upon she withdrew. I should judge that she had a propensity for getting into rooms where she didn't belong, by the stories I hear. One day she marched in here, but seeing me, she said "oh" and was about the withdraw, when she decided to make some explanation and said, "Thith ithn't Mith Carterth room ith it?" The other night she went to every room on the second floor to see if anyone had a Jones' composition book to sell. But the best of all was her little speech to Miss Wiley. Her propensity for entering the dining hall late is well known. We [estime] it almost a miracle when she is on time. One day when she came liesurely in some time after the meal had begun, Miss Broodus said, "Mith Wiley, do you get [...] of Mith Goothell every time you come in late?" 
Sunday, Sept. 16. '81 Our Excursion. We thought we were to be invited to go up among the Catskills this year. And sure enough, the invitation from Mr. Coykendall and Mr. Corvell came last week, and we were given Friday for a holiday. If the weather had been made to order it couldn't have been more delightful. It was quite cool, but so clear. Everything was perfectly arranged for our comfort and enjoyment. We had the Rondout Band and danced to our hearts content, those who could. Soon after our arrival at the Hotel, a spread was served. It was perfect in all its appointments. Pres. Caldwell announced that a plenty of everything had been provided but waiters, so it would be necessary to detail one from each table to serve the [oys] coffee and desert. The person might be appointed either by voluntary offering or by popular election. The president made a very cute after dinner speech and announced that there would be but one speech, by Miss Stanton, who then arose and made a very happy speech and moved that a vote of thanks be give to Mr. Coykendall. The Pres. then arose and said asked all who agreed to signify it by clapping hands. Immediately a long storm of applause signified our unanimity. When it had subsided the Pres. called for "contra minded." It is needless to say there was no response. After dinner almost every body ascended the hill behind the hotel which commanded a magnificent view of the two valleys, between which Grand Hotel is situated. Then we had to go for the train. It was dark long before we reached Rondout. Stematz and I sat together, and, being very tired, put our heads down upon shawls on the back of the seat. We had a long nice talk. On the steamer we sat near Mrs. Backus and had a long and quite pleasant talk off and on. I had never met her before, and was not then introduced, as Stematz thought I knew her. I was very tired when I reached home, but oh! such a nice time as I had. Anecdotes, etc. Miss Goodsell was very kind all the time up there. I like her. Dr. Allen is snippy about some things. She won't excuse the girls from exercise on stormy days and she is horrid about giving meal orders. I'm glad I'm a Senior and don't have to report on exercise. Dr. Allen sent word to a girl who wanted toast because she had a headache that, "Toast wouldn't help a headache." She told Jessie it wouldn't hurt her a bit to go out in a rainy day to exercise. The idea! Why rain makes Jessie's lung ache then she don't go out at all, and sometimes even makes her sick. Miss Broodus the other night sat near me in the reading room. She asked me if I "thpothed the Dr. was in her room now." I said I guessed likely, as it was her office hour. Then she wanted to know if I "thposed the [she] would know how to get an eye lath out of her eye, she'd got one in it?" Frauline Hinkle says we shall begin to translate in about three weeks. She wants to get over the simple exercises. She says, "I get so tired of the thimbles and canes. These exercises are so easy the make me mad." Miss Fulton was sick Friday. 
morning, very sick and about the whole corridor was in commotion. She went from one faint into another, and they sent down for the doctor. The porter was sent for her and he evidently imagined that Dr. Caldwell was the resident physician, for he sent the Prex up. Miss Hiscock was flourishing around in petticoat and dressing sack, her hair all plastered down with bandolnee [bandoline]. Miss Shirley had just come from the bath and was attired in flannel vest and short skirt, or, as some say, night-gown. Some others were present in various stages of dishabile. Imagine it! Really I think it is about the funniest I ever heard. Oct 31st 1881 Mother's Visit? I was a happy girl last Satuday, you may be sure. The messenger-girl came to me just as we were going out of dinner and said that there was a lady in the parlor who wished to see me. I thought it was Mrs. Buck and was lamenting because I hadn't changed my dress. I had on my gym suit. I was perfectly astounded at the sight of mother there! She staid at Mrs. Norris' and I spent the night with her. We had a very cozy time the next day and I staid away from all College duties. Mother was intending to leave Monday morning, but I persuaded her to stay till night. So she visited Mental and Lit and I took her over to the Observatory and we called on Prof. Mitchell. She didn't leave Po'keepsie [Poughkeepsie] till 9 p.m. so about four p.m. we went down town and called on Mrs. Buck, who kept us to tea. We didn't leave there till nearly eight, and Mr. Buck took us down street. By good luck, I got a car for Vassar immediately. I was absent from elocution, dinner and chapel. I had been previously excused from elocution, and I didn't report for dinner and chapel. It is the first time I ever omitted such a thing. But I was afraid they wouldn't like me to be out so late and might make a fuss, and I thought if mother wished it, it was none of their business. Hallowe'en has gone with its good times. I guess every class had a spree. The Juniors and Sophs had a Kate Greenaway masquerade in the Gym. As for the Seniors, we were to go to the Lyceum at 7.15 p.m. We had no idea what it was to be, tho' Flora, a committee-women flourished around in a ferocious mustache and a long whip, rubber [water] proofs were in demand, and Flo went to town for a bottle of brandy. Eva thought there was to be a farce and I was to be in it, for she heard me spouting in my room and I frequented the Lyceum, besides she thought she heard me say my name was Charlie. When we reached the hall, we found most everybody there seated in a half circle, and in the centre of the floor a chalk ring with a star in the center. Around the room were chairs and beneath them animals, toy ones running on wheels. They were labeled a la Menagerie, The Arabian Steed, Balgam's Quadruped and others. Soon they were paraded about the ring, while the audience were treated to peanuts. Then came the circus. Flora was ring-manager ad a good one she made to [too]. Ella Varnes was extremely cute as clown and her costume was unique and beautiful. Miss Has 
ker was the Infant Prodigy who had appeared as rope-walker before all the crowned heads of Europe. Miss Taylor performed the marvelous feat of leaping over the elephant. Miss Koontz performed wonderful equestrian feats. Miss Stanton figured as the wild red man. The cutest of all, I think, was the three trained dogs, girls with rubber circulars, hands sticking out, bull-dog fans for heads. After the performance was over we had a Viginia reel and a waltz, then we adjourned to the Senior Corridor where two long tables were spread and lit with candles. We had oyster soup and rolls. Just then the girls who had been to New York arrived and treated us to candies. Then Miss Stanton announced that the cakes would be passed around, there was one each, and in one of them was a ring, the girl who got it would be the first to be mamed. Also that, as the right ring didn't come in time, another had been baked in instead and would be changed when found. Miss Case was the lucky girl, but we tell her she will get the wrong man as she did the wrong ring. The right ring was a plain thin gold band with a yellow stone. Then a surprise was announced in Miss Stanton's room and we adjourned thither. We found a large platter filled with burning brandy in the centre of which was a bowl containing cards cut in the form of interrogation points. We snapped for them. I got Miss Howe's and the verse on it was "H is for Howe, of one thing the Queen. Down in the Sanctum, she reigned supreme." Mine was "S is for Southworth, she is tall and thin But there isn't a subject you can stick 
her in. Then we all read ours, and after that, as the ring had started the girls, some one propsed that the young ladies tell their experiences. They called on Miss Brittan and Miss Glam, both of whom I think are engaged; but they put us off. Miss Sanford was called on and Miss Easton who made up one. Mary Sanford informed us that she wasn't engaged and moreover there didn't seem to be any prospect of it. Then she called on Miss Howe, head editor of the Miscellany and Miss King, second editor. Some one suggested she was coming to Miss Sanford, third editor, which charge she indignantly repelled as she had already spoken. Then she called on Miss Nickerson, business editor. Now she is engaged, and only this summer, and once might have 
feared it would be too personal; but Abbie's card had said, "N stands for Nickerson, our business editor, She attends to money matters, and nothing more." So Abbie arose and said calmly, "I attend to business matters, and nothing more." That brought down the house. Nov. 13th '81 Senior Parlor The Senior Parlor was opened last Friday at 4 o'clock for the Seniors. I think it is perfectly lovely. It is furnished Turkish style, the colors king Turkish blue and crimson. The floor is carpeted with Turkish rugs. The furniture is ebony with Turkish blue upholsterings, the inside curtains are T. blue and on one corner is a piece of T. blue plush and an old gold star and crescent. On one of the tables we have an old lamp, Alad 
din's lamp and a Koran [Quran] with a crimson plush cover and an old gold star and crescent on it. We have lots of beautiful pictures and some lovely plaques that Niva Buckland painted. There is a large brass relief representing the Bible passage about the head of John the Baptist, which Cora Glenn brought from Europe. Also a lovely square mirror on which Miss Buckland painted passion flowers. The [ripper] panes of the window and the glass in the door is covered with window glass paper, which looks very pretty. It is so cozy and nice. They say it is the handsomest senior parlor there has ever been. Certainly it looks nicer and richer for the absence of bric-a-brac. Between dinner and chapel we took the Freshmen to the parlor. We sang to them and gave them flowers and pretty programmes, but no refreshments. We were going to have lovely things to eat, and all was to be given by individual members of the class who had asked to be allowed to give them. But Miss Goodsell called us up to talk to us. She said she wanted to cut down the class expenses, so she would not allow us to give anything to the Fresh unless it were apples and cheap grapes. We don't blame her for wanting to cut down expenses, but it was rather hard to cut us down altogether when we had made out preparations. Miss Goodsell said when she was here '69 gave a party to '68 and to some outsiders. There were 75 people present and the whole entertainment cost less than $10.00. Think of it! 75 people for $10.00. So when just we Seniors were let into the parlor we were treated to "refreshments a la '69," a plate apiece with a colored candy wrapper for a napkin and one small piece of candy. Class Play. Last year we decided to give a class play to '83 to propitiate her for her anger at our not giving Trig Cerinonies [Ceremonies] and to '84 because we didn't want to leave her out and because we wished to show we bore no ill feelingon account of some unforgetable occurrences connected with her Freshman party. The play came off last Friday. It was Masks and Faces. Miss Glenn was Peg Wolfington. I took the part of Mr. Triplet. All but about 8 girls were in the play or on the committee. They say it was a great success, and indeed they seemed to like it. 84 sent us a lovey basket of flowers and '83 some nice flowers on a beautiful plaque, which we have put up in the senior parlor. The seats in the hall were all numbered and there were tickets for admission. There were two boxes made, one for the class presidents and one for the vice-presidents. We had lemonade between the scenes, and Jay Gibson, Jamie Dwight and the Flenn boy distributed opera glasses. Our guests were partly dressed as gentlemen and they carried out the idea of the theatre and were very nice. No professors or teachers were present. Prof. Mitchall wanted us to observe Friday night and she was quite indignant when we said we could not come. She scolded away at us and said our readiness to give up observing for dramatic entertainment, showed that we did not appreciate the difference between the infinite and the infinitesimal. Finally Helen and Misses Broadhead and Learned said they would come over some time during the evening. We think Prof. 
M. repented afterwards for she told Helen they needn't come over, it was too cloudy to observe, but the air was clear as crystal! She remarked casually that she had received her invitation to Alpha for Saturday, but she had not received any for Friday. She was completely astounded when she heard that she was not to have any, that no teacher or professors were invited, and said "Well, Miss Goodsell has a right to go. I have no right, I admit, but Miss Goodsell has." Alpha and Beta. have had their hall meetings. Alpha's was last night, and Beta's I think two weeks ago, perhaps but one. I didn't go to Alpha, but sat in the senior parlor with some other girls and listened to ghost stories, etc. 
Sunday, Nov. 20 '81 The Creation. The Poughkeepsie vocal [union] gave the [ovatorir] of the Creation in Po'keepsie Tuesday! I wanted to go, but I neglected to get my seat in time. But Miss Patterson very kindly gave me a seat at the last moment. Mrs. Glenn and Cora had seats together and Mrs. G. was away, so Cora wanted Miss 
P. to sit with her, and Miss P. gave me her ticket. I enjoyed it ever so much. Better than I should have thought. 
P.B.s Lecture. Prof. Backus lectured to Phil Friday night on the subject of the Philosophy of Collegiate Education. It was very nice and very exhausive. Of course we enjoyed it immensely. The purpose of the College was not to give facts but the power to think. It is for 
the development of the mind. Latin grammer [grammar], being the finest grammer [grammar] in the world, is especially fitted to the development of the analytical faculties. In Greek you find the finest shades of meaning and it tends to develope [develop] the power of reasoning, and the other studies are added that you may learn to use these faculties in different directions. Sunday, Nov. 27th '81 Thanksgiving Day. It went off about as usual, and I enjoyed it very much, althought I was sick all day. I went down to dinner however and down in the evening. Miss Brace gave a reading over in the hall but I did not attend that. Jessie's mother and John came down in the evening and I took John down and introduced him to Jamie Dwight and some other children and he had a beautiful time playing with them. A good many went to N.Y. during the vacation. Jessie went down with her mother and had her pictures taken, but they were not very good. Sunday, Dec. 4th '81 Phil. Day. I have been so sleepy all day. I haven't got over Phil yet. The evening went off very pleasantly, although there was no speaker. It was very funny about the speaker. The committee applied to Oliver Wendall Holmes first, and then to several others, but without avail. Finally Dr. Bevan consented to come. Thanksgiving day Dr. Bevan telegraphed that there was a preparatory lecture at his Church Phil. night, and he could not possibly come. He had fogotten it when he consented to come. Friday Misses Howe and Sanford went to New York to remonstrate. It was useless. Then they tried to obtain some one else. Just before they left for Po'keepsie, they interviewed their 17th Choice, and after much teasing, he consented to come. But they had hardly reached College when he telegraphed that at home he had been reminded of an engagement and he could not possibly come. Monday Miss Sanford spent in New York without avail and the plan of having a speaker was given up. But the exercises passed off very pleasantly. Miss Hattie Shell sung very nicely and Miss Fridenberg played. Stematz looked so pretty, but she forgot the first part of her opening address. 
However she recovered herself beautifully and went on. The poor child had enough tribulations for coming down the steps, she stumbled, though not many noticed it. The heel of one of her slippers had come off. Afterwards Mr. Bacon took her back to chapel and cut off the other for her. I didn't have company but early in the evening I took Eva and her guest, Mr. Fred Wright, to the Senior parlor and then we went and sat in Room J until we thought the rooms would be clear enough for us to go through the Prex's rooms. We had hardly finished our inspection of the parlors when the bell rung. I was very much astonished as were we all. The evening passed so pleasantly and quickly. Mr. Wright was very sensible and very pleasant. 
Sunday Nov. 11th '81 Interviews with Authorities. Miss Goodsell forbade us the use of the corridor for slippers and such things, because she said it wasn't for such purposes. It was a thoroughfare and we had no right to shut it up. As we protested, she finally granted it, for once more. The class was disatisfied and a deputation was sent to her, but not until we had decided not to make much of a fuss, but to use the candy kitchen she fixed up for us (the whole body of students) for our bowls. Then the motion was reconsidered, and Miss Colman, Mary King and I were appointed to talk about it. We went first to Miss Goodsell and she appeared utterly disgusted with the whole affair, said she had not changed her mind, and advised us to go to Prex. So we went last night. He was real lovely to us. 
He said he would consider the matter. But it is of no use. He is going to talk to Miss Goodsell. He said he thought very likely no one would want to go thorough the corridor the nights we would want to use it, but then there was the principle, it wasn't a legitimate use for the corridor. Stuff! what is the use of the principle if it hasn't any practical application, what's the use of letting it spoil the pleasure of the whole class. The Kitchen It is a very nice idea. Miss Goodsell has had a room fixed up with gas stoves, pots pans, etc. for a kitchen where the girls can go and make candy any time out of study hour. Our class christened it the Wednesday before Phil. Miss Finkelstein. Jessie knows a lady in Pough.keepsie who is a Russian; her family left or escaped or were exiled or something, and she is teachng in Po'keepsie. She was out here last night to a lecture given in Chapel and some of us girls had the felicity of hearing her talk about Russia, nihilism, etc. We were much interested. Dec 15th Thursday 10 P.M. Our Tragedy I am all ready for bed, and tomorrow morning start for home but I must sit down and write about the sad occurence of today. The girls have been missing money and they have been trying to find out who took it. I believe $160 in all was taken. A day or two ago it was reported that the thief had been caught, that it was one of the students. Some of the money (it may be all) was returned. At anyrate one of the girls who had lost $3 [overs] a purse, received it from Miss Goodsell with a note saying that the purse had been disposed of. We thought then that the one who stole it had confessed but had destroyed the purse, for Miss Lane had not reported her loss. Her name was on the purse. Now we think that it was discovered among the girls things and left there so as not to let her know that she had been discovered. This morning at mail some girls were standing in line, Miss Magmis among them. [...] [orse] exclaimed, "Oh, girls, did you know the thief had been caught?" Miss M turned very pale and went away. Of course for such things as this, we must make allowance for some drawing on the imagination. Later in the day we heard that Miss M. was the culprit and had been taken to the Infirmary. Later that she had taken poison and was raving and very sick. 
At any rate a doctor was out from town and there was a great time. Miss Lu Morrill was in the Infirmary to have her [felon] attended to and heard her raving. First she went over a lot of numbers. Then spoke of poison. "Did I take poison? Am I so stiff because I took poison? Will the poison kill me?" Then we heard that the crisis would be over at 3 p.m. After Chapel that in two hours all would be decided, either death or hopeless insantiy! At 8 p.m. Miss Goodsell summoned everybody to the Lecture Room. She spoke very nicely and said that Miss M. died very suddenly the morning before 12 o'clock. Then she mentioned the rumor about poison and said, "But I want you to understand that the doctor from town and Dr. Allen have both concluded that she died of paralysis of the heart." We noticed particularly that she did not deny the girl took poison and if it had not been so, she would have been emphatic in her denial. Probably paralysis of the heart brought on by poison. Her parlor-mates are reported as saying she came out this morning and said she took poison and repented it, and that they think she went to town yesterday and bought the poison. Miss Goodsell said her father was here. He was coming on to take her away for the vacation and arrived this morning. We heard her father had been telegraphed to [too]. She belongs to a very nice family and her mother was devoted to her. Ah, it is so sad, so sad! The College has been so still all the evening. I hope the whole thing will not get out. 
Jan 22d '82 Bogardus. Sallie and I came back together by the Fall River Boat and went immediately to Bogardus' where we found Helen. Soon after Flora and Carrie Griffith came and by and bye Stematz. I sat 10 times. We had a very enjoyable time there too Mr. Bogardus was very nice to us. Our pictures were nice, at least we liked the proofs. I ordered from four proofs, but the pictures haven't come yet, it has been so cloudy. Christmas Tree. The Friday after I came back we had a Christmas tree in Jessie Meeker's room, and after it a supper in Madge's. We had a jolly good time. I gave Jessie M. a knife, May a basket, Madge a knife, Rebecca, Beth and Lida 
penwipers, and Jessie Wheeler Judge McCarthy's History of our own Lines. May gave me a pretty dish, Rebecca and Madge their photo taken together, Beth an inkstand and three little dolls, Jessie 
M. a cotton-batten lawyer. It was very cute and the following stanza accompanied it. "Sallie Southworth, L.L.D. A learned Lanister you see. She's six feet ten and rather slim, But full of logic to the brim." Jessie F.N. gave me several things. On [One] thing on condition that I read the marked article all through. That was a paper with the first story of a chapter by Mrs. E.D. E.N. etc. Another was a lovely card she drew and put fringe in. Another a birch bark pen wiper in shape of a palette. And two lovely College views of Notman's. Lida gave me 
a very pretty fan just the color of my new dress. I wrote some poetry about each of the girls for the occassion. As I had to do it in a very short time, it is not at all remarkable. But here it is. Jessie F.W. A nice little, slim little Senior, A highly particular Senior, A super-astute, Most awful accute [Olfactory]-nerved young Senior. Rebecca A silent and shy little maiden, Not a bit of a chatterbox maiden, Such a never-unnerved, Such a super-reserved Such a highly reflective maiden. May Such a cute little bit of a Junior. Such a fly-away mite of a Junior. Such a given to society, Fond of variety, Devoted to dancing young Junior. 
238 Madge. Such a dignified, sober big Soph, Such a babyish talking great-Soph, A very persistent, Not at all non-resistant, A not to be put off big Soph. Lida. Such an undecided young miss, Such a don't-know-her-own mind young miss, A never-know-what-to-do, Never-know-how-to-do, Never-know-when-to-do Miss. Jessie Meeker. Such a highly artistic Junior, Such a very poetic Junior, A useful in all things, A learned in all things, Universally talented Junior. Beth. Such a curly-headed maiden, Such a very cherubic maiden, A jollity exciting, Merriment inviting, Laughter-convulsed and convulsing maiden. 
Delta Hall Meeting came off a week ago Friday, and it appeared to be successful. I was dreadfully busy till it was over, for Flora was chaiman [chairman] of the committee and I helped her about it. I spoke the Hat, a monologue published in the Dee Harper's, dressed in costume. It was such a funny experience. Before I went out I was terribly frightened and when I had made my bow, I couldn't think of the first line of my piece. Just as soon as I found that I had forgotten it, I became perfectly calm and wasn't in the least troubled about it, and went on as soon as Flora prompted me without the least fear of forgetting again. The last thing on the programme was Leaves from the Album of a Flirt, the plan of which was concocted by the committee from some sug gestions they had seen in books. But there had to be something for the Flirt to say and Thursday night just as I was going to bed, Flora said, "Nan, I think you might write some poetry for it." At first I thought I couldn't then I said I'd try. So I took some paper and a pencil to bed and actually wrote out half of it in the dark and finished the last half the next day before I went to bed. Oh, wasn't I glad when the thing was all over! Patience. Phil. gave Patience Friday night, and it was speldid. The girls looked beautifully in their aesthetic costumes, and the dragons were capital! Miss Curtiss, who took the part of Bunthorne, was perfect. She went to see the opera 5 times this vacation, just to study the ac 
ting of Bunthorne. I like it so much better than Pinafore. Miss Goodsell invited the Seniors to her parlors last night to meet her brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Hubbert. Their daughter used to be in our class. All the professors and teachers were there. We had cake, cream, and chocolate for refreshments, and the evening was very pleasant. Jan 27th 1880 Day of Prayer for Colleges. As I have a few minutes before Chapel, I think I will write out the poetry I wrote for Delta. Leaves from the Album of a Flirt. Twenty five! Just to think twen.
242 ty-five today, And it seems scarce a year since that other birth-day, When I stood by the sea, with Jack at my side, And we faithfully promised for [aye] to abide By the vows of true love we had long ago made, When, as children at school, together we played. But- ah! that bright time was so long ago, Then I was as pure and as fresh as the snow. And how little I thought that, when eight years had flown, I should here in my boudoir be sitting alone, I should never again have seen his dear face, While dozens of others should have filled his place. But I'm now twenty-five, twenty-five today 
243 I've turned the first corner, I'm well on my way To be an old maid! Who'd have thought it of me, Whom surrounded by lovers, you always would see. But today, when dressing, I found a gray hair, And I see there's a wrinkle, in spite of my care To keep my forehead fresh and fair. And now I am treated as almost the last Of a set whose youth is over and passed Perhaps they think I cannot see But I know very well how they're thinking of me. An old maid surely I'm fated to be. Though I've counted my lovers by the score, And thought [though] I never could wish for more 
244 I've sent them, one by one, away, And I sit and think it o'er today. So I turn to my album now once more. And look again their portraits o'er. Dear Jack, he looks as dashing and gay As on the morning he went away To join the army in Texas. I'm sure I was very fond of him And faithful to him would have been, If he had not staid in Texas. Ah! Mr. Walter Holinshed, He was too fast, so mamma said. He used to come most every day. Oh those old times were very gay! But I didn't care for him at all, Except that he took me to every ball. I sent him away from me at last. He really was so very fast! 
245 In the country I John Woodward met. That glorious summer I ne'er shall forget. How earnest and thoughtful he used to be, But ever so kind a pleasant to me. Ah, John, you sometimes made me wish, too, That I were as good and as learned as you! John was devoted to me, I know, But then, he was too awfully slow! Count Henri Gustave Montagu, I do not like to think of you. I gave myself up so completely, And you, you took me in so neatly! I should now be Countess and be abroad, If you had not turned out a fraud, And brother Ben had not found out That you were a barber, instead of a Count! 
246 Mr. Oscuro Wildeero was too utter by utter! Just to think of him sets my heart in a flutter. Just conceive him if you can, A super-aesthetical, ultra-poetical, la-di-da young man. He was quite too fine in every way; But papa didn't like him, and sent him away. Lord Darby, for you with your fine English ways, What words are sufficient to speak in your praise. Ah, you were nicer than all the rest. For you I tried always to be at my best. But it all was useless, for, you see, I didn't suit him, though he just suited me! 
247 Here is another stanza I've added to the "Leaves". William Wallace Fitzherbert Froude Little Georgie used to call a dude. He wore his clothes so very tight It made him look like a perfect fright. He carried a slender little cane Which Georige said was weak as his brains He wore a single glass in his eye, And talked in a tone 'twixt a drawl and a sigh. Which really was so very absurd That George would laugh at every word. He could not stand little George's tricks, So he went and married Luella Dix. 
Jan 28th 1882 Day of Prayer for Colleges. Rev. Mr. Robinson, a Presbyterian from New York was here. He was the most earnest person I about ever saw. He shook the desk so the lamp shades rattled. I thought once he was going to ask all those who were not going to take up the cross to rise and leave, while he would go on to speak of the crown to the others. Mr. Freeman the English historian, lectured in Chapel Friday night. He is a queer little man who limps with gout. His whiskers are long and are all over his face. He chews his words all up before he succeeds in getting them out, which is not very agreeable. In fact he is a very dull speaker, but I was glad I went. I got a few points to think about. 
Sunday Feb. 3th '82 Mabel Dart. The College authorities of Madison University have been corresponding with those of Vassar, about a Miss Dart, who was senior there but couldn't graduate merely because she was a girl. So yesterday she came. They say she is very smart and I should think she must be for she will not be ninteen [nineteen] till June. Miss Semple, as class baby, is deposed. Such a joke! Miss Dart is small, and pale, and thin, not pretty. But she seems quite pleasant and self-possessed. She lives near Madison University, and I heard that she was daughter of one of the profs. Blue Ribbon. Miss Glenn had an anonymous letter yesterday signed "Prep", which said that the writer had long admired Miss G at a distance, etc. 
and asked that she would please wear a blue ribbon at her neck if her admiation was not distastful. So we all wore to dinner blue, ribbons, the whole senior class, except Miss Glenn and she wore Mary Sanford's blue dress. We thought that we had discovered who the writer was, and were going to serenade her with the song, "Bunch of Blue Ribbons", and take her a bouquet of paperflowers. But we were mistaken, so we had to put off the serenade. Monday, Feb 6th. Miss Howgate. The girls expected her Saturday on the evening train, but she did not come. We thought perhaps the storm delayed her, and she would take a later train and Misses Patterson, Phillips, and Howe, sat up till after 11 p.m. in Jessie's room waiting. 
But she was delayed so she had to stay all night in New York. She came up at 3 o'clock Sunday, and Miss Howe never told anyone, not even Miss Phillips who was out, till she brought her into supper. Then a regular shout went up, and it was great fun to see Mrs. C's anger and Miss Howe's merriment. Sunday, Feb 12th 1882. Mr Blaikie, a graduate of Harvard and a lawyer in New York was here this week. He lectured to us in Chapel about how to care for the body and make it strong. He was very nice. He also visited the gym class which was held at the ninth period for his special benefit. Stematz bought his book, "How to get strong and how to keep so," and are going to be very good and follow out his rules. 
A revolution has occurred in College which astounded us all, but at which we are very happy. Just think Silent Time has been abolished and rising and breakfast bells ring half an hour later. Oh, it is delicious. A pleasant Saturday. Yesterday the four [torments] of Stematz life were in New York, and we had a nice time. We worked all the morning at our respective quilts. In the afternoon we were going to town. I was waiting for Steam at the Lodge when Mr. Buckingham was driven up to the College, and the old servant asked me if I was going to town and if I wouldn't ride. He waited for Steam, and Miss Shinton and Miss Patterson came along to go to the green house, so they rode, too, and Miss Hongate went with them. So we had a lovely sleigh-ride to town. When we got back it was dinner time. After dinner came Clio. Then Stematz and I read Blaikie's book and called on Miss Hongate. Then the girls came back and they had had no supper and couldn't get any and the store was closed. So Steam and I went to Mr. Gibson and got some chocolate, crackers, and olives, and by and bye came Misses Patterson and Hongate and got sardines and potted chicken. So we had a feast. Steam made the chocolate in her room and then we carried the things into Miss Howe's room. They were so hungry and tired, it was good to see how they enjoyed it. We didn't get through eating till after 10 p.m. Feb 19th 1882 Gymnastics. I am going to begin a thorough course in gymnastics today. I should have begun last week but I was sick all the week. I measured myself last week with the following result. Largest part of left fore-arm straight, 7 3/4 in. Largest part of left arm above the elbow 8 5/8 in. Largest part of left leg beow knee 12 1/4 in. Around the waist 24 in. Around the chest, just below the arms 30 1/2 in. I am going to see if I get any bigger. I am not taking any special exercises for any part except the chest, outside of what I get in gymnastics. I hope I shall grow larger. Steam and I are reading Mr. Blaikie's book. It is very interesting. Mar. 4th 1882. My journal has lately become a source of great disquiet for me. I let Jessie read it when she was in the Infirmary and since then other have been teasing me for it. Miss Howe asked me to do her a little favor and I promised, and come to find out it was to read my journal. If she insists, I am going to let her read the following. 
March 4th 1882 I snatch a moments time, at last, from the busy round of duties, from the arduous labor that is the lots of the student of condensed German and Quaternions, to confide in you, oh my Journal, the sorrow that is weight on my once joyous soul! What is the force that has the power to cast such deep gloom over my once buoyant spirit? Alas, my journal, it is you, ever you, the solace of my lonely hours, the friend of my friendless days, that were first cause of all my present sorrow. Through a promise, made in an incautious moment with thoughtless levity, you, my journal, brought me to the depths of dark dispair. Shall I soon forget the day, the hour, the moment, when the fatal promise was exacted? No, it was stamped indelibly upon my memory and each particular of the scene will ever reamin fresh in I had uttered, yet on it hung my fate! Ah, if it had but been that other monosyllable, so closely allied to it, yet so different in [import], the patrick of negation! So near and yet so far, but the word had been prounced, no more my fate trembled in the balance, all was decided. Trembling with eager longing to know to what I had thus rashly pledged myself, I hastened to formulate the quetsion that was uppermost in my mind. "What is it?" Ah! the anguish of that moment of suspense, before she spake again and gave the answer in a tone in which the feeling of triumph was disclosed, "Let me read your journal!" - - - Ah, my Journal, I pass over in silence the momements that followed these words of my too minutes! The flood of agony inexorably pushed between me and all hope and sweeping me up with my despair, threw us out as a pasture to the stars. There was no refuge in all the world. I had given my word, my sacred promise, I could not [forewear] myself, for I was of too tender years to lay such a [heary] crime upon my soul! Ah, my Journal, words are useless, tears are useless, go forth to your fate, reveal to her "coldly critical" mind the inmost secrets of my soul, the dear treasures of my heart, and where she peruses those pages with scornful contempt, say to her, "Never mind. She whose hand has written all herein, has not stained her soul with perjury. She has kept her promise, though in doing so, her inmost soul was torn with deepest anguish, such as you, Unfeeling One, have neer experienced. If you have contempt for all else, Scoffer, you must admire the streadfast courage and high honor of the soul. 
which would not stoop to break a promise ever thus deceitfully exacted, although her own heart broke instead; and you must shrink when you think of your own cruelty in insisting on the fulfilment of what brings such agony to another's soul!" Go, my Journal, while I remain and suffer as a martyr to the cause of Truth! Sunday May 28th I saved this space for the purpose of recording the effect of the above passage which was written especially for Miss Howe's benefit. But as long as she didn't insist, I thought I wouldn't show it to her. However, it was brought up again to night by some of my friends who had read it and were anxious for Miss Howe to have the benefit. So she read it tonight and also the following entry. 
Sunday Mar. 19.'82 Honors Cont. I haven't written for a long time, but you may be sure not because there has been nothing to say. This week, especially, has been full. We had been expecting the honors for some time. Finally it was rumored that there was to be a Faculty Meeting on Tuesday for the special purpose of giving honors. But P.Braislin [said] it sometimes took one, sometiems two faculty meetings, so we were by no means sure. There was a stir in the air at dinner. We all looked at Miss Case, our secretary, but she had received no note. Mrs. Desausure sat at the faculty table, so we judged that faculty secretary was not yet out. Every time the dining room door opened we looked to see if it was a message for Miss Case. At last read. We adjourned to the parlor and looked at the Class pictures. P. Hinkle came along and informed us that the honors were all decided, read Miss Sanford's list, told her it was "clever but not literally correct." More excitement and Chapel. Then we loitered again on the corridor a little again. Finally, Eva and I came up to read our German. Soon we heard that Miss Brittan asked Miss Goodsell about the honors and she said that they would be out at eight. We finished our German and I made out a list as follows, Easton, Glenn, Howe, King, Patterson, Shove, Warren, Yamakawa. I couldn't decide on the other two. A little before eight there was a grand collection in the parlor. Some waiting to summon abset ones. Miss Brittan read the note to herself and then aloud. Breathless attention, except as to Miss Sanford who sat on the floor writing down the names and calling to Miss Brittan to read "Slower." "Coleman, Easton, Howe, King, Patterson, Semple, Southworth, Stanton, Warren, Yamakama." Then Susie Coleman burst out crying and left the room and the silence was broken with questions, congratulations, and wonderments. I scarecely remember a thing but that I sat in the corner chair and tried to make out a list. I couldn't seem to get it right. I found the next day that I had numbered two persons with the same number. Then we sat around and discussed things a while and then I went to a rehearsal. There were two great astonishment for us all. Misses Shove and Glenn. I don't believe there was a single list that didn't have Miss Shove on it, or more than two without Miss Glenn's name. I can't understand it yet. There was a new proposition in the Faculty's note, concerning the Valedictorian. P.B. Prex and Miss Goodsell had been appointed to discuss the matter with the class. That aroused considerable discussion. The next day between dinner and chapel, the following appointments were made, Glenn, prophet, Sanford, historian, Shove, spade orator, Taylor, orator, Kormtz, chairman of Class Day committee. It was as I thought it would go and wanted it too. Indeed I think most of the Class preferred it that very way. Miss Gross was our marshal. Then we moved to ask the Faculty to explain their plan to us, and Prex and Miss Goodsell met us at 8 p.m. P.B. being sick. Prex tried to explain but was not very successful, as seniors who have been in his class out [ought] to have expected. The thing as it appeared to some of us was that the Faculty thoguht that there were often hard struggles in the classes about it and also hard feelings. So they thought perhaps the class would like to leave it in their hands to decide. In that case the Faculty would abolish the Valedictory or elect to it the girl with the highest standing or some one else. Some came out of the meeting perfectly rabid, declaring that the faculty had already made up their minds what they would do, and they might say that they would give it to the girl with the highest marks, but how would we know. "Would you trust them?" etc, etc. The next day the moderate ones concurred with the rabid ones in asking the Faculty to let us elect our own valedictorian, because we were unanimous (almost) in wishing for Miss Patterson. All other names had been dropped and we rallied about her. We will probably be allowed to elect her and she will be very much astonished. She is a lovely girl. We are all so sorry for Misses Shove and Glenn. I can not understand why they did not get honors. Little P. Hinkle told Miss Sanford that he didn't get honrs for but one girl on his list, which must have been Miss Easton. He must have had all his senior Latin girls on and two others. 
He said, "I hung on to the very last for Miss Taylor. And I voted for you, too, Miss Sanford, and oh! Miss Shove!" 
P. Hinkle called Flora up and said "Miss Easton, I suppose you know you are to be my Commencement salutation." "No, sir," said Flora. Whereupon P. HInkle was almost beside hismelf with fright. "Why! Aren't the lists out yet?" Poor little man, what a scare. We had a scare a day or two before, for he said in class, "Monday bring your pencils and paper to take down a piece which I wish you to put into Latin. For you know, Miss Laurence, you must get up you [your] Latin composition for the Commencement Satutation [Salutation]." P. Mitchell told some of the girls that Helen stood first on the books and I second. 
Mar. 26th 1882. Honors Again. We were called up Tuesday to P.B. all the honor girls and Class day spearkers. We were told that Commencement speakers must and Class Day speakers might have elocution after the holidays. Then the Class girls went and the others staid to be talked to about our special departments. Before P.B. began to talk he mentioned to me privately that I might have the history if I would like it, and he said that he would reserve it for me if I chose. I said he might. He said that we might select any department we liked and apply for it, that there was to be no compulsion about it. He said it was suggested in Faculty meetng that Miss Warren might like to write an essay on some san itary subject, Miss Coleman perhaps in the department of Metaphysics, that Miss Easton he believed had been offered and had accepted the Salutatory and Miss Southworth the department of History. Was it not so? I said it was, and soon he dismissed us, telling those who wished to talk privately with him about it to remain. Of course I went up and soon after I met Miss King and asked her what she was going to take. She said she should represent the English department. I was very much surprised, as I supposed she would have the debate with Miss Howe. I went up stairs to study my German, and soon some one knocked and in walked Miss Howe, saying she wanted to see me. I began to ask her about the debate, for we girls wouldn't think who would have it if Miss Semple didn't now, and we imagined Miss Semple getting up against Miss Howe! Miss Howe said that she did not know as anything was decided, but P.B. wanted to see me immediately. So after that I wasn't very much surprised when he offered me the debate. I deliberated and he gave me till the next morning to think it over, but told me not to talk it over with my friends, as, in case of my refusal, it would be very embarassing for the next one. I said I didn't know as I should care to talk with but one person and he enquired who it was and finding that it was Miss Howe gave his consent, saying that if I accepted, she would have the other side. I hardly know what to make of his offering me the history in that open manner, but the most plausible explanation is this. Of course he wanted Miss Howe, and he did not know but she might not wish me as an opponent, or I might refuse. In either case, as I had accepted the history so openly, there was no embarrasment for the one who was next selected. Either that or I was his third choice. But I know he did not offer it to anyone else first, and he said that he handed in to the Faculty a list of three for the debate, and I was one of the first two. He had no occassion to say it if he didn't mean it. And P. Mitchell told Helen that she supposed that I would have one side of the debate. Well, I talked with Miss Howe and she said decidely "Take it!" so finally I did, But I am dreadfull afraid of Miss Howe. I expect to get crushed. She laughs at me and says she is afraid of me, too. The queerest thing is, that as yet I can't really bring myself to want to beat. I don't want to. But I don't want to be beaten, by no means! I hope this feeling wont keep me from doing my best work, and I don't believe it will, for I am enough afraid of her to feel that I must do my very best to come out even, as I would rather we should. I would rather debate with Miss Howe than anybody else, yet I am more afraid of her than of anyone. I can't help thinking how astonished I would have been if this had come a few weeks ago. The posibility that I might get the debate never entered my head till Jessie Meeker suggested it and I hooted at the idea. She asked me if I would bet a sixpence and I said yes indeed. I came up stairs and told the girls and they said they shouldn't wonder a bit if I did. But I didn't think I should for I thought Mary would have it and enough girls in the class thought so, too, to make me feel certain I wouldn't. So it was really a surprise to me. What a lucky girl I am any way. Things almost always come out better than I expect without seemingly much exertion on my part. But perhaps I'd better reserve that till I see whether I get crushed on Commencement Day. Miss Patterson is our Valedictorian. The Faculty decided to let us elect our own, as we all watned to except Misses Shove and Harker, and, I believe, Miss Coleman. But she was not there. The whole class wanted Miss Patterson, so we who wanted Miss Yamakawa gave her up. We thought Miss P. would be unanimous, and would be so surprised. But Miss Shove put up Mary. We were so disgusted. But Miss Patterson got it on the first ballot. I think it was mean of those girls to put Mary up, for they knew she could not get it and I don't believe they wanted her especially. Miss Sanford thought they did it on principle, on the supposition that Mary had the highest marks (which she didn't). But in that case why did Miss Koontz whisper to another of that set, "If they don't get it, put up Lillie." Surely they didn't think "Lillie" had the next highest marks. Before I heard that, I said I guessed they had wished a tie and then were going to put up Miss Stanton. Mary was lovely to Miss Patterson. It was too bad she had to be put up to loose [lose] it. 
Cassie. came here a week ago Thursday. She was here to the dedication of the organ on Friday afternoon, and the play Esmerelda Saturday night. I was Mrs. Rudgen and made my last appearance on Vassar stage. Monday we went to town and called on Mrs. Buck. Cassie was going to take charge of her mother, Mrs. Maynard, a blind lady, when she went home. Cassie went Wednesday night. I went to town with her and we took tea at the Buck's and I went down to the depot with them in the Carriage and thence returned to College. I enjoyed Cassie's visit immensely. She gave me a 10 dollar gold piece for my honor and debate. Harry sent me 30 not long ago. Delta Miss Whitney addressed Delta Friday about "Scientific Openings for Women." She read the paper, last summer at the Woman's Convention. Miss Jones treated us to sandwiches and chocolate. I forgot to tell about Washington's Birthday, how Miss Brittan gave us a lovely spread and we had a fortune cake and Miss Patterson got the ring, Miss Coleman the thimble, and Miss Gross the 10 cent piece. April 9th '82. Vacation Vacation is almost gone and I am very sorry. I never had such a nice time. I haven't done anything in particular. I've read a little, sewed a little, painted a little, and talked a good deal. I've talked especially about subjects for debate. We've been deluged with them. All sorts. At first Miss Howe liked one best and I another. We each read on our favorite one and then decided neither would do. Then we were in dispair for several days. We concluded we must take "a man" but couldn't think of any appropriate one. At last Miss Howe was seized with a brilliant idea. Alexander II of Russia. We both like it and can agree as to the sides we will take. It is a topic suited to both of us, it is of interest but not worn threadbare. I should attack him. Miss Howe thinks all the arguments are on my side, but there is more opportunity for pathos, rhetoric, etc. on his, and probably she will have the last say since she defends him. It only remains to be seen whether P.B. likes it. He would better! Then I've walked and bowled this vacation. Have taken ever so many long walks. A week ago I went to Boardman's with May and Lida. We measured the pool and it is over my head. I [It] rained almost all the way back and we didn't have any umbrellas. I don't seem to get any more skillful at bowling than ever; but I don't care. It's good exercise any way. I am getting up a good deal of muscle. I haven't staid at home a bit this vacation. Lately, even, I've slept out, staying with Mary King. One night Flora, Miss Patterson and I staid at the observatory to look for the comet. There were some clouds in the way but we managed to do some observing. We didn't find it, it is needless to say. Day times I have spent almost entirely with my friends, Miss Howe's room being my favorite [resort]. I have had such a nice time. 
My twenty-first Birthday was last Tuesday. I fared so well. Stematz before she went gave me a little box to be opened on the 4th. It contained one of those dear little dog [salt]-collars. I had been trying to guess what it was all the week but didn't succeed in the least. Miss Morrill, before she went away, left me a lovely plate of flowers, and on my birthday Misses Howe and Phillips gave me some beautiful Marechal [MarŽchal] Niel roses. The flowers are not gone yet. And Mary gave me two of those Little Classie series, Schiller, and Byron and Hord. I did not expect so many thing. Sunday. May 7. 1882. Essay I haven't written lately, as northing in particular has happened. Essays, I might say, are the chief and almost only topic of interest. P.B. approved out subject altho' [although] he still clung to his favorite topic of the Chinese Question. I have been going through all stages of experience. I began with fight, then got over it and commenced to dispair [despair]. My dispair [despair] got so great that Helen was frightened and Miss Howe got alarmed. "Do you really wish you hadn't taken the debate?" she inquired with anxious counenance. And I hastened to assure her that if I did I shouldn't in a few days. I read till I read every idea out of my head. Then I stopped and began to write to see if I could clarify my ideas. Then I began to make out analyses, but couldn't suit myself. I made five and think now it stands about as I shall use it. But I am not satisfied. I can't do it as I wish. My idas are not the kind I want and the argument is more against a false system than Alexander per.sonally. I am dreadfully afraid the first part of my essay will be stronger than the last part. And one important point that I wish to prove, Miss Howe says I can't, for she can overthrow it. And I am foolish enough to believe her. I wish I had more confidence [in] myself in this line and less in Miss Howe. She likes to plague me by telling me how near vacation is and how many good points she's got. But in her sober moments she says she's afraid of me, which she surely aughtn't to be. She's not so afraid as I am. I think the class as a rule think [thinks] I'm going to get beaten. It speaks highly for my own opinion when the rest of the class back it up. Founder's Day. Friday was Founder's Day. Dr. Vincent spoke on the "Law of Construction". It was very good but rather long. 
Mr. Thomas, a singer of St. Thomas's Church, N.Y. sang gratis. I never enjoyed a [Oollation] so much, for some of us girls went out behind the flag in the lower end of the dining roome [room] and ate there in comfort. Was with Eva and her guest Dr. Herbert Wright, Miss Hiscock's cousin, a good part of the evening. Danced the lanciers with Dr. Wright. Went around the grounds with him and Eva Saturday and beat him at ten-pins. Dancing The whole Class laugh at the seniors, especially Steam and I, who dance so much. We are devoting ourselves to learning to waltz, and I think I shall finally learn. I am improving. We took six lessons and now practice in Room J. every night at quarter of nine, [enveighing] all our friends who play or lead into coming to help us on. If I can only get it well! 
May 21st 1881 The Junior Party was Friday. We had a lovely time. I went with May. We left here at 12 in Carriages and took the Mary Powell. Had a very nice lunch on board. Left the Powell at Cornwall and took carriages nine miles through the mountains to West Point. It was lovely all the way. We walked up some of the hills. Part of the girls walked about 7 miles. At West Point we walked around and saw the half past six drill. Then we took the Powell, which came down for us, and had our dinner. General Howard was at dinner, so we couldn't start back till it was over. We all had lovely tambourines with painted silk tops. The collation was very nice. We had strawberries. There were nice speeches. In the evening we had ice cream and 
cake. Reached College about 12. I had the loveliest time ever at the College. Essay. Gave my essay to Miss Hiscock Thursday. It was over 11 minutes, read deliberately. Miss H. returned it with condensations, which she thought would be enough, but I don't think it will be less than 9 minutes. However, if they don't suggest more condensation, I shan't. Miss H. said it was the best work I had ever done in that line, not the best essay work but best in that line. May 28th 1882 Essay. Wednesday I had an interview with P.B. about my essay. As I came into his study he says, "Well, Miss Southworth, you've written a good essay. I like it. You knew I would all the time, didn't you?" He said 
Miss Howe's was the more judicial mine the more something, and I can't for the life of me think what. Then he had me read two pages to time it and then went over it to condense it. But it now takes 4 minutes to read it. However, I shan't suggest more condensation if he does it. He said he thought mine would come first, and a friend of his, in whose judgement he had a great deal of confidence, read them and thought that it was best for mine to come first. P.B. said he "was sure I wouldn't think he had any other reason for deciding this way, except that it was best for the presentation of the whole subject. And he knew that here it was generally considered that the last place was best. He didn't know as I thought so but many did. However it wasn't necessarily so." If I hadn't known it, I might have guessed from that, that the debaters were sometimes jealous of one another's advantage. He needn't have been in the least afraid this time and perhaps he was not. I told him I had expected to come first from the nature of my side. When Miss Howe had her interview, he suggested titles, The Infamy of Alexander, for mine, The Greatness of Alexander, for hers. But I don't like those very well. I think they are too strong. Bellvue Villa. Yesterday Jessie took me across the river to Bellvue Villa. We spent the day there and had a lovely time. The day was perfect. We walked along the new railroad and Jessie gave me a practical lesson in Geology. Then we went down in the woods and sat on a rock by a beautiful stream and altogether were happy. Jessie's Avocation. Jessie says she thinks she has found her avocation in life, she is going to be my Boswell. She says she is like Ralph Touchett in Potrait of a Lady, her curiosity in regard to my future is sufficient to prolong her life considerably. June 22nd 1882 Last Days Well, I am home. It seems strange enough to be here and think that Vassar is over for me, for, of course, it can never be the same to me. My relation to the College is now to be different, and I don't like it so well. It is very pleasant to be at home. It is nice to spread out, have a place that is to be permanent, and a top drawer that is in order. Quite new sensations for me. All that is very nice. But it does not seem to me as I thought it would. I didn't expect to realize it, but thought this would seem like any summer vacation. But it doesn't. When I am very busy, I get along very well. But when I am not very busy, or am doing some of those things that I used to take to Stem's room or Miss Howe's, it seems as if I couldn't stand it. And then I get perfectly wild to see Harry, as he is the only one who can be to me what some of my College friends were. If I hadn't my plans for this summer and next year, it doesn't seem as if I could stand it. 
What do those girls do, who are looking forward into uncertainty? I have framed Harry, Prog. Backus, Miss Howe, and Stematz and have them in my room where I can see them constantly. And I have a little piece of the Bogardus' class groups which we cut up and distributed, as they were very poor, and I carry that in my purse. Originally, I had Misses Howe, Philips, Hongate, and King on one piece and on another Jessie and Stematz. But it troubled me to see Mary with those girls, she didn't belong there, but I hated to cut her out. But finally I told Stematz I couldn't stand it any longer. I said I thought I must be getting as morbidly sensitive as Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. But I cut Mary out and put Stem in and now I can look at it with some sort of comfort. June 23d Well, I supposed I may as well chronicle the last few days of College life and end this journal. The Senior Howl came off as usual at the beginning of vacation. '83 seranaded us. We voted for appointments and ate out supper and sang and were supposed to be jolly. We had purchased two etchings for Miss Goodsell, and, she being out, we carried them down. Vacation days dragged on, and I was as busy as one could well be. See Miss Brace and practice was the order of every day. My throat was sore but it finally got better, about the last of vacation. Our titles were decided as the Patriotism of Alexander II and Alexander II the Evil Genius of Russia. I didn't like mine and it was changed to Perfidiousness of Alexander II. And so finally it stood. Miss Howe was very comforting. She regaled us with choice passages from her essay till she gave me the terrors, but absolutely refused to let me read hers. She said she should never cease to count it as one of the lost opportunities of her life that she forgot to tell me that Misses Coleman and Stanton had their essays rejected. If I had known it before I had sent mine in, I should have been wild, I suppose. As it was such a thing as an essay being rejected never for a moment entered my thoughts, and I didn't hear of it till after mine was returned to me approved. Finally matters culminated Stem heard Miss Howe's essay and came with glowing accounts. I dragged her away to hear mine, too, and declared Miss H. must let me hear hers. The girls said if I'd stop asking, she would volunteer. But she loves to tease. Noticing my melancholy, she inquire [inquired] the cause. "Well, Miss Howe" said I, "I shan't be happy again till I've heard your essay. I shan't ask you again. But when you're ready to do me a favor, I shall be glad to hear it." The next day as I stood by the Chapel door waiting for Miss Braee, she half looked mine over with my permission. That same day earlier I believe she asked [me] it I didn't think it would be a good plan to get up early some morning and go to the Chapel to rehearse our essays to each other. I said I did but didn't exhibit any especial gratification. I wasn't going to please her so much. So the next day [but one] was set. I countinued gloomy all day but that night rehearsed to Miss Baldwin, who cheered me up very much. Indeed during this time I don't know what I should have done if it hadn't been for Stematz and Rose Baldwin. But it was my last fit of blues, and I grew by degrees more cheerful. I didn't even get downcast when I awoke Tuesday, the last day before Commencement with such a cold that I could scarcely speak aloud. I took all sorts of medicine, especially aconite, till I was so weak I could scarcely stand. But I got through fairly. The audience in general did not notice my cold, but I had to work very hard. I had to concentrate all my energy, physical and mental, on getting my voice out. Oh, it was disgusting. To think that the one opportunity I had in my whole life, I should have such a cold. In dress rehearsal, Miss Howe forgot 5 times. P.B. 
talked at her. How girls were more likely to forget if they carried their manuscripts to Chapel, etc. And it was a pity if a College education made a girl unable to remember a six minute speech. I didn't take any manuscript to Chapel on the eventful day. I was sure I should not forget. Miss Howe kept declaring she should forget. She never remembered anything of the sort yet, and she shouldn't remember that. But from the moment I saw her on the stage, I knew there was not the least danger of her forgetting. And she did do splendidly. Her Her essay was grand and her delivery worthy of it. "Rose Baldwin is a very nice girl." So I've heard Miss Howe say countless times, and I quite agree with her. But we never got acquainted till the very last thing. I wish I had known her before. The first of our real acquaintance was the night we went with Miss Wood and Miss White to hear Prof. Backus' lecture on Alexander Hamilton. It was a splendid lecture. We missed our car, Miss Goodsell kept us so long in Chapel, and walked all the way in. It was worth it, though I had walked about five miles that day over to Boardman's, with Jessie and Sallie after fossils and ferns. Coming back Miss Baldwin and I had a long talk. You know people can't get acquainted talking on commonplaces. They have to have a subject of common interest and we had it, Miss Howe. Well, to go back to the happenings, Prex. invited us to spend the evening with him and we had a glorious time. Then there was the Dance Party which we enjoyed as usual. This was the poem about me. "As a Lawyer, we train A brain witted lass, Who has plenty of brain 
298 And will soon lead old Mass. "The women of Stonghton, The first will be votin'! The new-born idea At first met by fear, Will reach Plymouth rock, And give it a shock, And perhaps make it reel, Then Boston will feel, The anguish and throe Of incoming woe And wildly she'll tear Her venerable hair, For a space Then with grace The point she will yield, And give up the field And when Boston is fixed 
The towns fall in like bricks. Our senior Astronomy of 9 wrote a good many pieces on the spur of the moment. Here is one that we wrote line by line, not knowing what each other wrote. "To the Senior class of mine, There is no voice like thine. And laugh and jest go round, Which we've ground and ground and ground. Happy are we all today, Which we remember will alway. In the [Dome] our Star doth shine Baby mine, baby mine." Then I wrote one about the 9 muses, applying them to [in] 9 girls. 
but it took so long to find out who the 9 muses were that I didn't get it done till the party broke up. Then I read it to P. Mitchell. "The nine musses that this year have shone, From Vassar's sky will soon be gone. Without our Eurterpe what should we do To write lyric verses in praises of you? And Clio, our club King, who safely we led As we through History's mazes sped? And Urania who Astrology led us, all ray, And who represents it upon our last day? Easton, who ever as Comedy doth shine We gladly do count as one of our nine. And our Melpomene, who with tragic air, Attacks and settles our every affair. Winifred surely is our muse of love 
Who is always as gentle and soft as a dove She who through the corridor dances always, Must cetainly be our Terpsichore. Our Calliope is a Star who aye gives us pleasure Her soul is serene with Music's rhythmic measure, Who our sacred Polyhymnia better could be, Than our Class chosen one, our Jessie M.P.?" After the Dance Party we had our Vail picture taken, which proved very good, and then came dress rehearsal. Our baccalaureate Sunday came. The girls had a great time trying ot get us all to dress in white. But we couldn't. It was a very good sermon. "Quid agamus" was his text. That was very nice. I don't think any of us realized 
that we were going as we stood up in the seats to receive his final words, nearly so much as we realized it for other classes. Very few cried. The music was grand, so was the organ concert that evening. We didn't cry the next day [...] either; Class Day. That is, most of us did not. We had a very nice Class Day, indeed. The weather was perfect. My prophecy was about the best, but I had told Miss [Gleem] I should be angry if she put George Gordon in. However I refrained. The class song was very pretty, I broke my heart that my cold wouldn't let me sing it. Father, mother, Cassie, Miss Cleflore, Aunt Mary, Alice were there. I went down to meet them. Commencement Day came at last. I haen't yet got over my disappointment in the state of my voice. The exercises as a whole were excellent. All but Miss Stanton's I should have thought she would have been ashamed to get up with such an essay. She wrote a little on it every day and said she didn't care, anyway, whether it was good or not. Her friends said it was enough that she had got the honor, no matter about her essay. Think of a girl like that! Stematz had a splen.did essay. It was the event of the day. The valedictory certainly was very fine. I hadn't cried but it came over me all of a sudden. I broke down completely and cried straight through everything even till it was in the dining room. Everytime I began to calm down I heard Stematz sobbing and I began again. P.B. told me he set out to throw his handkerchief down to me. Well, it was over. I concluded I could not get packed, so I staid over with Stematz. My friends filled their trunk with some of my things, and among other things they packed my trunk key, which was locked. We didn't find it out till after the trunk was gone. But I succeeded in finding a key that would fit it. Then my folks departed to their boarding place, and I to Class Supper. But first let me tell about Miss Goodsell's cups. She gave us each Sunday a lovely little painted cup with pansies, our initials, the time of our entrance and departure and "Freely give, Freely ye have received." It was so lovely of her. She said little, but we did not need words. Hurrah for '88. That was how we felt when they gave us our class supper. Just think of it. Wasn't it lovely? Then there was a cake containing a bangle ring with '80 + '82 on it for banngles. Miss Beechland got it. Now appointments. Here is the list of all the votes. Sarcastic. Biggest-Eater. Wittiest. Populare. Varnes 24 Laureuce 19 Varnes 16 Hongate 9 Munro, 1 Sanford 8 Wheeler 12. Learned 8 Peck 2 Easton 5 Glenn 6 Shove 5 Wheeler 2 Wheeler 5 Howe 1 Stanton 3 Semple. 1 Broadhead 1 Kometz 1 Coleman 2 Fridenberg 1 Noisiest Shove 1 Patterson 3 Bartlett 1 Sanford 22 Peck 2 Dart 3 Howe 1 Howe 10 Careless Harken 2 Kometz 4 Yamakawa 34 Fross 1 Macadain 1 Coleman 2 [...] 
307 Flirst. This is about the way Gross 17 they all went, strange Glenn 8 and probably together. Bartlett 3. The others I set down Warren 4 just those who got the Coleman 3 most. Pugnacious, Joues 10 White 4. Meekest, Howe 13. Laziest, Philips 1. Shailer 18 (She wanted it.) Melancholy, Peck 15. Absent-minded Shove 14. Dig Stanton 24. Dignified Brittan 33. Greatest Talker Macadain 
25. Energetic Sanford 15. Vainest Nickerson 9. Boaster Semple 26. Stylish Taylor 31. Imperturbable, Sourthworth 
24. Athletic. Buckland 33. Hand.somest, Coleman 25. Eccentric, Jones 36. Growler, Munro 13. Punster, Howe 23. Amiable, Learned, 14. (16 Candidates) Prettiest Warder 29. Sentimental King 15. Polite. Brittan 13. Most everybody was pleased with their appointments, especially myself. Miss Jones felt terribly about being the most eccentric. She also wrongly conceived that from her prophecy, Miss Glenn meant to imply she was unwilling to lend. Far [fworce] it. We were much touched by Miss Brittan's speech. We all had [homes]. But to her Vassar had been her only home. Stematz came in looking teary. "Please don't look at me or I shall cry," she said. Of course she was looked at, and she very soon began to cry. Even macaroons could not tempt here. She cried straight through it all till Miss Howe took her in and made her promise to take some chloral and go right to bed. Miss Sanford, too, cried a great deal. While playing her banjo she dropped everything, down went her head and she sobbed away at a fearful rate. I didn't cry very much that evening. My tears were exhaused by the day's performance. The next morning I was up early to see my folks and friends off. I said goodbye to my folks and then went over to see Misses Howe, Phillips, and Hongate. I was melancholy but not teary. I had no idea I should cry. I watched there till they were out of sight. Miss Howe saw me and spoke to the others and they all turned round. Then I turned to go and suddenly burst out sobbing. Miss Baldwin saw me coming and came to meet me, taking me in and calming me. I did not cry for anyone else. We devoted the morning to packing. It was a great deal of work, for my friends had taken a great many of my clothes and such things as dumb bells, books, boxes, and china [remains]. Stematz brought in a lovely Japanese fox, "something which she wished me to pack." At last it was all done. We went together to say goodbye to people. Stem was rather dewy throught [throughout], and the atmosphere became especially misty where we said goodbye to P.B. In fact I was the only member of the party who was calm and unmoved. In the afternoon we went to town with Jessie who gave us a very nice supper at Smith's. The next morning I went to New York on the train with Stem, instead of by boat as I had expected. I must have every moment with Stem. The cars were very full and the conductor got us seats apart. But P.B. was aboard and I knew all would be right. So sure enough he soon got us seats together. Not only that but he was going by the very omnibus that passed the St. Nicholas, where I was to meet Miss Clifton and Al; so I had no bother finding the way and had company nearly all the way. Stematz and I didn't talk very much, but we were glad to be together. Besides we thought perhaps we could arrange it so I could stop in New Haven on my way back from the West and see her. We said goodbye in the depot. Poor little Stemie, how I hated to leave her. I can see just how she looked as I left her. I couldn't cry much, as it was so public and I was not alone. Prof. Backus very kindly offered to wait if I wished to stay a little longer with Stematz, but I thought I'd better go. "History repeats itself," he said as we were waiting for the omnibus, "I was the first to receive you, and I am the last to send you away." When 
P.B. left me in a crowded omnibus, I couldn't very well cry, but I could hardly keep [from] it and looked out of the window very steadily. I cried a little in the parlor of the hotel while waiting for my friends, although constant terror of somebody coming in rather moderated my grief. By the time Alice came my desire to throw myself down and sob was moderated and I behaved very respectably. 
We met Mary King and her friends on the boat. Got home about 8 o'clock the next day. I am glad to be here, if you take it in that light. But I am restless. If there was not something definite before me I think I should go wild. But I think it is fully decided that I am to study law at Boston University. I might have a position to teach where Harry is for about $50 a month. But father doesn't want me to teach, and I don't want to. If I am going to study law I am going to begin now. Teaching school a year would be a sort of dissipation of forces. As I told Har.ry, perhaps I am oversensitive, but I don't think anyone has a right to teach as a means for and end. Teaching ought to occupy all one's mental energy. P.B. said one day that I ought to come back for a post course. Whereupon I told him what I expected to do. "I absolutely forbid it!" he said and I thought he objected to the profession until he added "until you get over your habits of student life and student posture." Afterwards he said if I had the means financially to spend six or seven years in an experiment, he thought it a good thing. Rather a moderate approval, but it is usually but a moderate approval that I get from my most sensible friends. Father does not think of my studying law so much for a profession as so that in writing and speaking I may know whereof I speak and meet men upon their own ground. Mr. Pulsifer says I have to fight all the way against the sentiment there is against women in the law. I think Miss Howe believes in me, and for myself I mean to be successful in what lies before me. I cannot be too thankful for the fact that I go into it with different feelings that if I had never known Vassar, Prof. Backus, and Miss Howe, with more conservatism and with as much and better confidence in myself. 
g. Elanor (Holmes) Duane, 1928