Vassar, March 10, 1874.
Dear Mother,
Your letter 
came yesterday, and I 
will write now so you 
can get it as soon as 
may be. About the black 
silk. I do not believe it 
would take any 21 yards, 
but at any rate it would 
be a very expensive dress 
and would probably cost 
more than sixty dollars,
including making, trimming, 
express, going 
to town so then I should
not like to attend to the 
making of such a dress 
all myself, especially
with a new dressmaker. 
So I agree with you that 
it would be better to 
wait till next fall, at 
any rate. Then it would 
be a new thing for next 
year and not have been 
tumbled around so much
But about a [brttliaatfae.] 
Even if it were a very nice 
one, it would still be 
only an alpaca, and they 
look so rusty and horrid 
after the very first, that
I do not think it would 
be best to get such a 
thing. Would a thin summer 
silk be very expensive? 
I thought the waist could 
be bought for $ 1. a yard.
I wish I could be there 
and look myself. 
If a cheap silk, not a 
light bright-colored one, 
could be bought for a 
little more than a 
nice brilliantine, I think 
it would be by all means 
the best. Perhaps a black 
with just a little white, 
or something dark. I suppose 
you will look Saturday. 
If you do not see just 
what you want, or do 
not know to choose, send 
me some patterns, and 
tell me what a dress
from each would cost. 
I don't want anything 
that is bright-colored or
in a large figure or plaid.
About a hernani. Have 
you done anything with
the one you bought 
last summer for you? 
If not, why could not 
that be made over for me? 
The oversklrt would do 
as it is. You could make 
the underskirt without 
much trouble and the 
waist could be made 
here like my black waist 
that I had made here. 
I suppose you would 
have to get a little more 
of the stuff, but it would 
not cost much and 
would be far less work 
than a new one. The 
skirt and waist could 
be made over my green 
silk. It would not be 
very nice, but it would do 
very well to wear here before 
long vacation, a little la the
summer, and then
wear it out for an 
everyday dress in the fall. 
It would not hurt the
green silk any for nicer 
one, and it would save money 
for the present. Think and 
tell me. Than for a hat. 
Seems to me the one I 
wore last summer will 
do very well for summer, 
so I'd rather have a pretty 
one this spring early.
I have been looking at 
my black sacque, and I 
guess that if you send
half a yard of fringe 
that will do for now, and 
then if I want to trim 
it with lace next fall, I 
can see about it in the 
summer. When you happen
to think of it, send me a
book of Butterick's 
patterns? also Mrs. 
Harris' address. Write me 
as soon as you can about 
all the things I asked. 
This thread is twice as 
long as the final is 
deep. I will wait till 
Monday before saying 
anything to the 
dressmaker. I think 
perhaps even a thin
silk would look better 
as a basque waist. What 
do you think?
Eva M. Tappan