Vassar College. Poughkeepsle.
(postmarked Dec. 7, 1896,
My dearest Father,—
This morning there is no church here, on account of its
being the first Sunday of the month, and X am going to write letters
instead of going to town. You see I have to lead one of the Bible
classes, at half past nine, and there Is not time enough to get to town
after that. W e must make some special arrangement, I suppose, for
town Sundays.
I am so sleepy today: I have not yet gotten rested from "Phil."
which was Friday night—and we did not get to sleep till one o'clock,
We had a very pleasant evening— Mr. Capen was here for the evening,
and stayed during most o£U. yesterday. There were a good many young
men here, but not more than usual- I expected to see more, because
this year, for the first time, round dancing was allowed, and of course
young men would rather dance than walk miles and miles up and down
the corridors. I had quite a little visit with Mr. Capen aad am beginning
to feel more acquainted with him than I have before. He is quite Jolly
when you get to know him. He took some pictures of our room yester-
day, aad he will give us each some of them. Dr. Kimball was in here
for a chaperone, and after Mr. Capen had taken different corners of the
room he took a picture of Dr. Kimball sitting in a chair, surrounded by
Ray and Winifred and me. I am anxious to see what it will look like.
Dec. 7, 1896 - 2
I got yesterday morning mamma's letter telling about the fire in the
shop. Cheerful circumstance, isn't it? Of course I am very anxious
to hear further particulars, especially whether they are going to rebuild
the works, and whether you will have anything to do in the meantime.
K I were only teaching already! Never mind, I will be just as soon as
X get a chance. I will try not to worry till then. For the present, I was
going to write to you that I have begun again to print for the Library,
and so you need not send me the -etfce-forty dollars which I was expect-
ing this year, for I can earn enough to keep myself. You know I have been
living so far this year, on the money that I earned last summer. I began
to print a week ago, at Miss Underbill's request, for she had more work
than workers, and they pay me forty cents an hour now- the highest price.
I shall earn a lot during the Christmas vacation.
There is a very nice girl from Cincinnati who is going to be here
during the vacation - Edith Crane - the friend of the girl on Logan Avenue,
whom I called on in the summer-time. I am going to have her stay with
me - in Ray's bedroom, which will be more fun for both of us than to live
alone in opposite ends of the building.
We had such a treat this week in the shape of an*a» exhibition of
pictures photographs near here- An agent of the Soul6 Photographic Co.
in Boston was near here for a few days, displaying photographs for the
Dec. 7, 1896 -3
girls
college^o buy or order. They were copies of all the famous pictures
in Europe and here. - of a good many in the Metropolitan Museum,
which I saw last week. Most of the girls went over two or three times
just to see them.
Our table had a "waffle supper" last night, to celebrate the
birthdays of two of the girls at our table - Winifred's and Gertrude
Smith's. Win's birthday was last week: but we tacked on G's celebra-
tion because forty-five cents was too much to waste just for one birth-
day. W e had a very jolly time, and all the waffles we could eat - as
well as chocolate cake - but only one piece of the latter.
I am glad to hear that Dr. Freeman is so well liked, and that
he finally arrived. I was beginning to think he would not appear upon
the scene before Christmas. It was very nice of the Sargent's to enter-
tain the Session, was'n't it?
With a great deal of love to all the family and to your own self.
Your loving daughter
Adelaide. fi laflin,
December 6, 1896. (see over)
I forgot all about John Kendrick Bangs.'- Instead of the usual lecture,
Mr. Bangs gave us a reading of two of his own stories—yet unpublished—
"Van Bibber's Failure" and the "Recamier Salon" which latter is a sequel
to the House Boat oa the Styx.
Apr. 26, 1896 -4
This kind of an entertainment was more suitable to the occa-
sion than some of the lectures we have had - Mr. Bangs looks just
exactly like his pictures - rather homely.
Ray sends her love to you-
Lovingly Adelaide.