Vassar College,
Feb. 10. 1871.
My dear Fapa,
It is with greet pleasure that I hare just received my weekly
letter from home. It is quite amusing to see how each one fears to tell
me something which the others have written me and so, among so many,
I lose what you all intend to have me Informed of.
Mamma in her letter* speaks of certain things which she will
papa
not give me a lengthy discriptlon of, because^wishes to do so} he however
does not mention them, nor Carrie either. And so the only one of these
Interesting matters of which I am Informed Is the costume of Mrs. Tracy
and daughters. Of course I am very much Interested la this lady, but had
never before heard that Tracy had a family.
When I wrote to you about dropping Double Latin, I was very much
discouraged, but now lam getting along better and have no wish to dis-
continue it. Our studies have been arranged far the new semister: mine
are the same as last semister, except that I have Rhetoric In addition.
They now are French, Double Latin, Rhetoric and Drawing. Then there
are some little things which come occasionally. Linear Drawing once a
week, Vocal Exercises, and Choral Singing, the same, and Gymnastics
three times.
I find from the Texas papers that Gen. Reynolds has beex^lected
U.S. Senator. How did it happen? and will he be allowed to take his seat?
The 11 Republican'1 seemed to think not. I thought all the political parties
la Texas were opposed to Gen. Reynolds. The cold has abated somewhat,
but the ground Is still deeply covered with snow aad we occasionally have
a day which makes me long lor dear eld Texas. I write home so of tea
that I can hardly remember aay thing to tell you now bat what I have writ-
ten before. Z think I wrote you of my slelghride aad the next thing of aay importance is the burning of the Trigonometry by the Sophmore class,
after having finished studying it. Last Sat. was the day appelated for the
burning. I would like to give you a long description of the whole affair,
but have not room on my paper. The meaner of proceeding was quite
regal, A court was held, and the speeches by both plaintiff and defendaat
were very flae aad very Shakespearian. The prlsoaer Trigonometry was
represented by a young lady dressed la black with the book to be burned
attached to her side. Of course the verdict by the jury was guilty} the
Judge pronounced the sentence burning, and accordiagly the poor "Trig.t*
was burned. The fire was kindled aad while the book was burning, a i
composed for the occasion was sung aad maay hurrahs seat up. Love to
all and much to yourself. Julie
(Julia M. Pease, '75)