Vassar College
April 27, 1871.
Dear Carrie,
Z feel so lasy aad tired today that it takes a very great effort to
write the few letters which are necessary. I would write you tomorrow,
our
but Miss Lyman and I have harrowed a book called "Faith Gartney" and^only
chance to read it together is then, Sunday.4 The reason for my laayness is
that we were up until after twelve last night. Today is Founders Day, but
the Faculty kindly let us celebrate yesterday instead. X say kindly because
we celebrate it by a holiday aad in the evening an entertainment. The letter consisted of music, dramatic reading and tableaux. The music was
by Misses Hollister and Darling who are considered the finest players here,
aad Miss Boyaton sang very nicely. Prof. Raymond from New York read
to us "Twelfth Night" from Shakespeare. X wrote you of his reading before,
and it is not necessary to say again haw well he reads. X wish hs had
selected something more Interesting. Our Interest lessened towards the
end of the play, perhaps because it was so long, and we had been sitting
several hours aad were getting tired. After the reading came the tableaux.
They were two, "The Return from the Vintage" aad "The Ascension of
Marguerite." The first one was statuary aad a better imitation than what
we attempted at the H.F.S. In the days gone by. The stage arrangements
here were not very good. An old black curtain was swung across the plat-
form of the chapel for background. However, It reached high enough to
cover all of Mr. Vassar in the portrait which hangs In the Chapel, but the
top of his head. Looking at that we could imagine him smiling benign*
antly at the happy way we were celebrating hie anniversary day. It seems
can be produced by
wonderful, what a beautiful effecta graceful arrangement of a few persons
clothed in sheets and powdered with flour and the whole lit by a red light.
When the curtain had gone down the second time, of course we waited anxiously for the second tableau. Very soon we saw rising up behind tho
drop curtain, the clouds. It was some time before they could be arranged
satisfactorily and after they were, the angels were placed in the air and
then the curtain rose. We gaaed and could not look enough. It was beauti-
ful. There were four angels bearing Marguerite upwards, and all was
and faint
just dimAenough to make it seem real. Our Founders Day was over and we
marched out of chapel and hastened to our downy couches. They seemed
still more downy this morning when the rising bell rang, aad even the
thought of a Vassar College breakfast could not bring many from them
again
until time for Chapel services. O that we could goAto such a supper as we feasted upon last night. Jelly, cold biscuit, Jolly and almond cake and
Icecream.
Within the last few weeks I have waated so much to go home. Per*
haps becaase it Is so hard lor yoa all to do without mo, that It seems aa
though I mast go home. U it were not for my drawing lessons I would not
think of remaining another year, and sanaslimes I think before the summer
is over I will decide to go back In the fall.
F lease tell me often of Emily, Lisa and Cloe, yen know X love
them almost as part of our family. I am glad the little ones are learning
so fast* and tell them I want to have a letter from them before I go homo.
Will they not begin soon to write? I think you must have enjoyed your
visit from Johan and the Palm girls very much. While you and Mamma
are alone so much I should think you would have a good deal of company
to stay days with you.
Always remember me to Martha and tell her I often wish for soma
of her nice waffles and fritters.
What is the matter with Long Shanks? Have you offended him In
any way? Tall ma what young men coma to saa you now. Does Ridge
continue his visitations? It makes ma yawn now to think of them. Tou
know that X am not fond of gentleman society and yet X would eagerly rush
for a pair of pants now. By tha way there is talk of expelling a young lady
from the Collage. Only two have bean expelled, ana lor stealing and tha
other for flirtings as this young lady has done all the (expelablc) things
except stealing, It will be strange If she is not sent away. I will not ba so
cruel as tto, make you read a page which is crossed and so will close.
Julie
(Julla M. Pease, '75)