Vassar College Digital Library

Barnes, Lucy | to George Taylor Barnes, May 23, 1875:

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Date
May 23, 1875
Abstract
VC 1875
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Identifier
vassar:24145,,Box 64,VCL_Letters_Barnes_Lucy_1875_017
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1 item
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: VCLLettersBarnesLucy1875017001
Vassar College.
May 23. 1875.

My dear Mr. Barns,

Today is Sunday and a very hot day it is too- I suppose I ought to be at Church but in my endeavors to keep cool concluded to write to you instead. I expected to have sent you a letter yesterday. It was not a boat ride up the river however, that prevented though I have that pleasure in store for me very soon. Last evening in Class meeting, the sec'y read an invitation from the Class of '76 to spend the afternoon of Thursday May 27th at West Point. This was to have been a great surprise to us- but unfortunately we learned through the papers that the Mary Powell had been chartered by the Juniors for this purpose. They were so pleased with what we did last year that they did not vary the programme very much.

You must not forget you promised to take me out some time when I come home- it is not well to be rash you see, for you have to suffer the consequences. Our little lake those some what diminutive affords us considerable pleasure- It looks lovely just at present and Miss Cushing and I go out nearly every morning immediately after breakfast.

I must ask you to congratulate me - I have read my essay in Chapel - After Prof. Backus , had once seen it I did not mind it half as much as a even I had expected. In fact I did not ^even take the papers upon the stage with me I only ^had

 


: VCLLettersBarnesLucy1875017002
the topics upon a card and delivered it. Now dont you think that was brave? I had the most peculiar feeling when I was up there I did not think I was myself and am not quite positive that it was I yet. My room mate Miss Gouldy has gone home (to Newburgh) to spend Sunday. The last I heard her say was - "to think I cant hear Mr. Longacre." The other day I told her of his success in the spelling bee and also that you were acquainted ^with him- She thought it very disrespectful that you should call him the "Rev. Andy" and unkind a bore all things to tell his wife of our profound admiration for him. But I thought to myself you dont know G.T.B. if you'd expect any thing different. If it is not too warm when I come home I have promised Miss G. to go and ^hear him and report when I come back. Do you know when Ella Burtis is to be married? I wonder if I will be home or not. At present I expect to come home about the 9th or 10 of June and I dont know but sooner.

I have been enjoying my College work so much lately that I hesitate leaving any sooner than is necessary. I had proposed remaining a few days after our vacation to work in the Laboratory we are now engaged silvering etching* moulding end electroplating. It is something difficult to persue after leaving and as I am very much interested in the subject wish to make the most of my opportunities.

The other morning in Physiology we disected a cat. What must be the

 


: VCLLettersBarnesLucy1875017003
beauty of the human mechanism! At first I hesitated somewhat at being present but did not find myself affected at all as I had feared. I have not half the horror of the dissecting room I once had.— but I guess we wont talk about this any more. Now comes the sad news. The past few days have been very trying ones to many of us, as one of our number has ^been suddenly taken from our midst. You may have heard Kate speak of her - Miss Joe Shepard, she was a friend of hers, a most charming girl and one whom any one of us would have pronounced the strongest girl in College had we been questioned a week ago. Health, happiness, and wealth — it seemed as though she had every thing to live for- This, the first decade of our College had never before witnessed the death of a collegiate student. Since this occurrence the most appalling silence has reigned over the institution. Every mark of respect has been paid by the students that was in their power, and her loss will be sadly felt among us. Four weeks from this very time we will be listening to our baccalaureate sermon. Things are coming to an end so soon that we all begin to see the sad side of them.

I know I shall be ashamed of myself commencement and shall probably disgrace the class. I am going to be careful ^however and have you seated some where behind me so that you cant do any thing more than imagine what is going on. I heard you snubbed one of my friends on Chestnut Street the other day

 


: VCLLettersBarnesLucy1875017004
Arent you ashamed of yourself. So you are going to spell in another bee- I guess you wont go down on "noxious" again positively I am afraid to come home for fear they will get me in some of those dreadful things - and what makes it harder they expect a Vassar graduate to know so much that it is perfectly discouraging. It is comforting to know however, than every one is not so deluded.

Your friend
Lucy Sellers

Lucy (Sellers) Barnes, *75