Vassar.
May 11, 1872.
My dear Carrie,
Your letter of the 3rd has Just been received and joyfully read.
I think I have enjoyed your description of your trip through the Capitol
and Land Office about as much as you enjoyed the reality. Irving is so
jolly and Captain Britten is tee, as I remember him, and at times you are
not behind them, so I can imagine you were a gay party. Really, I am
amazed at the change in the Governors office since the days when I used to ride in to bring home our honored Governor. It is well, for the whole Capitol was a disgrace to the state. Did Prof. Streunner, still find an earnest longing in your eyes? Miss Westcotts visit must be pleasant for you, though pleasanter if your "head cook and bottle washer" had not taken a furlough. You do not seem particularly pleased with Mr. Brickman. - Why is It? Is he young or old, good looking or plain looking, married or single ? I am anxious to know what he is like. So Walter Graham has become a beau, well he is just the age to have fun with, but what has become of your former youthful gallant, Lewis Hancock? As for being a favorite with my teachers, you are entirely wrong in your conjecture. I am not at all so, and cannot think what induced Dr. Avery to invite me to tea, unless because she wished to please Mr. Swan by being polite to his friends, and on Nannie's account asked me. Dr. Avery has two great pets this year. Jenny Beach and Pattie Thum, and they are enough for one year. Besides they are blondes, and as Dr. Avery herself is dark I am sure she fancies only fair beauties. She is a strange women,
and I congratulate myself that she Is not my enemy.
 For the past few days our weather might rival yours in warmth.
The trees take advantage of the heat and are fast growing green. Every-
thing makes us think that summer is nearly here, but today it Is much
cooler. Fans, shirt waists and Linen dresses as well as immense hats
have been in requisition.
 Lake Mahunc (I don't know whether that is spelt rightly), is now all the rage. It us situated about fifteen miles from here, on the other side of the river. A new hotel has been built there, and to Spread its fame the hotel keeper has Invited the College to pass several Saturdays there, which it will do with pleasure. Our Steward is to go over and prepare temporary viands for us, so our only expense will be the ride over and back. Yesterday the Seniors, Juniors and many teachers were expecting to go, but alas it did not rain, and their trip is postponed for a week. Our turn, the Sophs and Freshies, comes next, but now we cannot
go for two weeks. Just to think of your having been feasting on strawberries, peas etc. while we are eating the first green thing of the season, rhubarb.
 The Vassar Miscellany has at last made its appearance, and seems
duly appreciated by all true Vassarites. At any rate it is a magazine we
need not now be ashamed of. The present Editors are quite talented girls.
I will send you one as soon as my extra copies arrive. Yesterday after-
noon every student had a copy in her hand busily poring over it, and
many even took a part In the Exercises of Chapel, at least, so I Judge from their being admitted to Chapel.
 Our drawing class are going out sketching several times a week
in future. We began last week but found it so exceedingly warm that we
ventured out only once. As we remain out most of the afternoon, we are
necessarily excused from Gymnastics. At this, my Joy is excessive. I
like to practise in winter, but in summer it is a little too much to wear a
warm woolen dress and twist myself Into all manner of dreadful shapes.
The best of it is that I shall not have to be at the Exhibition at the close of the year.
 You aeed not be afraid to come to Vassar Commencement without
a gentleman. Persons of the masculine gender are so rare here that that
are not considered at all necessary. Even If papa does not come I wish
you and Mamma would, though, as I have before said, the Exercises are
not very interesting to a stranger.
As the time approaches for me to see you, it seems as though I
could not wait for it, dearest, it is so long since we have seen each other.
I am sure I have forgoten something I wished to say, but I must now close
and make Miss Howell, our our shopwoman a visit. With love to everybody
Julie.