Poughkeepsie     Jan^ 29* 1866
My dear Mrs Hale
I have delay^ answering yf note of the 23r. current
for the purpose of acknowl=ing your article referd to regarding "Vassar
College" but up to this hour it has not come to hand.    I proceed to remark
therefore that this is about my first attempt renewing my correspondence
since the slight attack I had of paralisis a month ago to-day while spending a
few weeks at the College during the Winter vacation term.   I am now mend-
ing quite fast and am able to ride out every pleasant day, but not make
calls as it is difficult changing these positions--------1 begin to be vain
eneough to think that as you and many others of my good friends are often
cautioning me so earnestly about my health or in other words to "take
care of myself", that my life ]i^fi/\/^must be of some consequence and
therefore I am bound to do the best I can to preserve it, and with the
help of Divine Providence will avail myself with every possible means to
do so, altho1 at times I look upon my poor efforts for doing good as verry
inefficient & of little service.
I am happy to hear that your health continues good, but excuse me
if I also forewarn you in overtaxing your self also, this was the primary
cause of the failure of mine -   We cannot spare your valuable services
to the World yet, besides I must see my good friend Mrs, Hale before
parting this transatory life - You have promised me a conditioned visit.
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Jan. 29, 1866       - 2
had
I am doing my best to remove the barrier', and I not been prevented by
my late illness would have apply,, to our Legislature now in session ere
this -   We require the written consent and application of all our Trustees,
but as they cannot meet till June, must write or see each one personly -
I do hope I may succeed because I know we are right in asking the change
and besides which I have in my last Will and Testament devised another
portion of my Estate to the "Vassar College" making it imperative on the
Trustees to change the title if they wish to secure this last gift----
Through some oversight of mine I have neglected to pre-pay for
the "Ladys Book", as it cease to come.   Will you be so good as to hand
Mr. Godey the enclosed $3, and tell him to forward it with back numbers
since the year expired
Wishing you the usual complements of the season, with many spiri-
tual and temporal blessings,
I remain Dear Mrs Hale truly
' Your friend
M. Vassar
P.S,    Just as I was about dispatching this letter Mr Swan our Sec^
s
handed me your "Editor    Table" and have just finished reading the article
under its heading----------and do heartly indorse the views it contains -
especialy to find that "Domestic Education" is attracting so much public
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Jan. 29,  1866        ~ 3
attention in this Country --    The day is not far distant when from shere
necessity the heads of familys must superintend or do the ordinary house-
hold duties, for it will be impossible by and bye to find Servants and at
the present time we find it difficult to get trusty ones in our College to
labour they want to be over-secy or at the head of some department-----
but I must close as my Coachman is waiting at the door to give me an
airing------~
Y       in haste MV
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