Vassar College,
Sept. 26, 1873.
My dear Carrie,
Today I looked for a letter from you, though 1 find that it was
unreasonable to do so, since it Is just a week since X arrived and of
course you could not be expected to sit down immediately after my
departure and write. But very soon I want a letter saying that all are
well, and also describing the tea-party of last Friday evening. I hope it
went off successfully, aad think it must have done so, after so perfect
an arrangement of the parlor. Today I received a letter from Papa,
written at St. Louis, and stating that he would leave the next morning,
so would arrive la Austin, If not detained, on Thursday. Ere now, than,
you have heard from him an account of our trip, yet knowing his style Is
not, like Uncle Kfeon's (?), profuse yet partakes of the concise, there
will be no harm In my filling In the blanks which I am sure there must
be in his narration. As you know, Gov. Davis weat down on the same
train with us, but neither he nor I being great talkers our acquaintance
is still quite slight. At Bunham we had to wait about four hours, during
which time I read: about five chapters of "The New comes,", which I am
sorry to say I have not opened since. So you see there Is pleasure in
store for me yet, In the finishing. Papa and X took a short stroll through
the town of B. In order to see Its beauties, the principal result of our walk,
in regard to myself, was the acquisition of numberless fleas which were
Sept.26, 1873 -2
not frozen out even after my trip through the cold mountain regions of
Pennsylvania. Major Longley and Johnny Stevens came on the car upon
our arrival at Bunham, but disappeared immediately with the Gov. whom
they kept busy, until supper time signing warrants. At supper I met that
Mr. jblank, who was introduced to me at Hallie Murray's party. At
eight o'clock we started in the train, seeing Mr. Stewart there only a
moment or so. I found Mr. Stevens a very pleasant boy, for he Is as much
one as "Jack." He remarked that he wondered how Mr. George Graham
would feel now that I had left. Laughing I told him, "as well as before I
came." He hoped I had some message to send George and when I told him
none, ard that he must have mistaken the person he was still unconvinced.
Although he knew that X had a sirter and that my name was Julie, he had
made the serious mistake. Whichever one of us it was, he knew that
George was always talking of her.
At half past four, a*m. (Just think of it J) we were roused from our
beds and compelled to change cars. Tou may be sure Xwas not very happy
at having to get up so early* yet as it was the first time for years, it may
have been a good thing to see the sun rise.
Travelling through the Indian Territory was very quiet, as we were
almost the only ones in the car. A sick lady and myself were the only ones
of my persuasion, an old lady whose head was tied up in a brown veil
having vamosed, the bills befcvj too great, I suppose. We saw plefcty of
Indians and wretched looking objects they were; clothed, though, as well as
Sept. 26, 1873 -3
most poor whites end living in pretty good houses. One family had quite
a fine house, that is, for such a country. It was painted white with brown
trimming and had really a very civilised aspect as did also the children
who were seated oa Its steps.
From St. Louis oa nothing In particular happened. Miss Caae (I
think was the name) aad I were much amused at the pranks the two men
played and at the Jokes they got off on each other. So we managed to get
through the lone, rainy and cold day that we were travelling.
Found everything started fairly when I reached College. The Fac-
ulty got ahead of time this year, a difficult thing to do, and had all the class
arrangements read off Saturday, so that work began in earnest oa Monday.
Almost every body is back. Milligan, whom you have heard me
speak of, is to be married ia Oct. Three of our classmates were married
this summer, aad quite a number besides are aot coming back. Twelve In
all, I think, have dropped out, but some new ones are catering and will
still make us a moderate sised class. The Freshmea this year will aurnber
over a hundred, aad the College is about as full as it caa well be. Some of
the Professors rooms have beea assigned to scholars ia order to accomo-
date the large aumber.
Of course there are some changes and improvements In and around
the College building. Among the improvements Is aa arraagemeat for
telegraphing from this point. It has beea greatly aeeded as the girls have
sometimes had to pay several dollars Just for bringing the despatch from
Sept. 26, 1873 - 4
Po'keepsie. Room J. our English room has been fitted up with a carpet,
tables, pictures and chairs, and is intended for a students general parlor,
there being no such place before In the College. However, we recite our
Rhetoric in there and feel really quite "swell," to use a slang term.
And ©hi the worst of all is that Dr. Avery leaves here ia November
for Colorado. Her place Is to be filled by, no me knows whom, but by some
pokey old creature, I fear. I see little enough of Dr. Avery, yet on being
one of her great admirers shall be very sorry to have her go away.
Bird Bell met one of our cousins Pease at West Point this summer.
Mary I believe it was, though Bird waa not certain. Hearing they were at
the Point she asked her friend Cadet if he knew them. He said yes, that
one was very quiet, the other talked a good deal. To this one Bird was
introduced.
Here have 1 been rattling on until I have filled nearly three sheets.
If I don't stop now I shall have to pay extra postage, which I do not care to
do, having at present few stamps.
Remember that you always readymtf letters first} and it is left to
arrangement
your own discretion whether you show them te Papa and Mamma. ThisAthey
said was acceptable to them. W 1th much love
Julie
P.S. You will find a blank left for a name which X had hoped to call to mind,
but find X cannot, so you will have to imagine the name of the man. J.P.
(Julia M. Pease, >75,