Vassar College
Feb, 6 1872
My dear Carrie,
Your letter came this noon, much to my joy. I have counted up
the days and find that there is time for my letter to reach you if you
remain in Galveston until the beginning of Lent. Year letter was six
days coming but I think five days is the usual time. If I had known you
were there now I would have written to you last Saturday or Sunday. I
am sorry you are a bit homesick, but it always will be so with us when
we are away from our much loved home and from Papa and Mamma.
What kind of a house is the Chubbs and Is it as fine as we had been led
to suppose from Mrs. Chubbs conversation? And is the house far in
the country? I am awfully curious in regard to everything, so pray
forgive my questions. Have you seen any of the Harris family? If C.C.
Allen is in Galveston I suppose he will fulfill with you the promise he
made me of riding on the beach. Whether he does or not you will any-
way enjoy that surpassingly fine beach, the glory and pride of Galveston-
ians. I wish I were with you.
Last night a party from here went sleighriding. They made up
for the lack of snow by an unusual amount of merriment, and they say
that there never was a jollier party. Dr. Avery and Prof. Van Ingen were
among them and they are sometimes the gayest of the gay. The Sophs and
our class were intending to go sleighing this week but as there is scarcely
a particle of snow on the roads, I think we shall have to give it up.
Just think, our next essay is to be "an excellent original story or an
excellent original poem." I never in my life made a rhyme, so of course
the poem is out of the question, and a story seems scarcely in my power.
Don't you think of any incident from which I can weave a very poor story
for it would be utterly impossible for me to make an excellent one. Our
essays are few and far between and the subjects are not very difficult,
but you know that composing has always been my great trouble.
Last week our class elected its officers for the rest of the year.
Mary Taylor who I wrote you was a cousin of Ida Whitman, is still Presi-
dent. The other officers are very good but there is no use in naming them.
A Miss Burns is our poet. She is peculiar looking but I think must be a
grand daughter of Robert Burns? and has inherited his poetic talent as she
is said to be quite a rhymer. She formerly went to the H.F.S. and when
there was said to be the smartest girl in school.
My roommate is now singing "The day is cold and dark and dreary.
It rains and the wind Is never weary." In a most musical voice, to the tune
the "Old cow died on," and is trying her best to complete the homesick
feeling which the day has been bringing on us all. But I smell so sweet a
smell, which tells me that we are going to have warm cake for supper,
that nothing will make me homesick. You who live upon cake and other
delicacies would be amazed at our happy looks when we have even warm
gingerbread. Have you heard of the Vassar griddle which is ten feet long
and 3 wide? and together with the two old ones requires seventeen per
sons to attend them. Oh. The smell increases in savoryness and I fear
it must come from the Professors house.
One young lady wrote such a nice place upon the coming of the
Japanese princesses. Soon I will send it you, if it is not to be published in the "Vassar Miscellany."
Farewell for the present, and excuse this miserable letter. It
is written with love as a prompter. Your dear sister Julia.
Julla M. Pease, '75,