Vassar Oct. 7- '74 Dear Carrie, Your letter of the 1st arrived this morning to my great Joy. It makes me more than ever wish I were at home with you all. It seems as if I never wanted more to return than now, when the time of my absence Is in reality so short. But I won't weary you by talking of what can't be helped. This year will pass quickly away I hope, bringing with It no more burdens than we can easily bear. Owing to the improvements over at the Riding School, neither Music or Drawing classes have yet been arranged. For the Music rooms and Studio are not quite finished. In the space where formerly was the Riding School, are two beautiful rooms; the one a Museum with galleries and divisions for all the Natural History &. specimens; the other is the Art Gallery. Our Society Hall has been enlarged and greatly Improved, and I wish you could be here at some of our dramatic entertainments. All the music rooms have an outside window and are very cozy. The whole building Is to be used for students, whereas formerly some portion of it was for tenements, occupied by some washerwomen and stable boys, and the stables were also there. It is hoped that some time this week the music rooms will be ready for use, and I shall then begin to practise. Tomorrow night. Bayard Taylor lectures in Po'keepsie and I think likely I shall go in to hear him, for I con't know how soon I may have another chance. The mail goes out in a moment, so I must close with very much love; Julie.