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Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin) | to Louise Claflin, Nov. 1, 1896:

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Date
November 1, 1896
Abstract
VC 1897
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24529,,Box 21,VCL_Letters_Mansfield_Adelaide_1897_075
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
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: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075001
Vassar College. Poughkeepsie.
November 1. 1896.

My dear Lou,—

I hope you are having as lovely weather now as we are. We had so much rain the first part of the fall, that I had given up expecting any good weather. But this week it has been a perfectly beautiful every day. Yesterday we finally saw Mohonk. The day was perfectly clear and quite warm, so

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075002
that it was very comfortable for driving. Half of our class, and the Freshmen who are in the Main Building made up the party. You know the rest of the Seniors and Freshmen went two weeks ago. We started at half past six, in "barges" - which is the name given here to a kind of open omnibus; there were twelve in our barge, four of them Freshmen - very nice ones too. We were the second barge, so we got across the river in the first ferry load, and reached Mohonk by eleven o'clock- On the way we sang all the songs we

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075003
could think of- and composed two into the bargain. One was this:- to the tune of "Tramp, tramp, tramp"—

In the barges now we sit,
Ninety-seven and Naughty-naught,
To Mohonk our way we pleasantly do wend,
And the day is very clear.
And with pleasure all is fraught;
Uncle Fred, to thee our hearty thanks we'll send.
Chorus:
Cheer, cheer, cheer for seven-and-ninety
Cheer for Nineteen-hundred too,
Cheer for Uncle Fred and Prex,
Vassar's uncle and her "rex",
May they gladden hearts of classes yet to come!

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075004
From Mohonk I mailed a dear little book which they gave away at the hotel — giving very good pictures of the place—so far as they go- but unfortunately the pictures give mostly the artificial beauties of the place - "the improvements," and give very little idea of the grandness of the natural beauties. They have not shown the most impressive parts of the scenery at all. I mailed one of these little books to Uncle Charles, as well as to mamma.

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075005
[Diagram entitled "Cross-section of the Crevice"]

When we reached Mohonk, we girls went to "Sky top" - which is the highest point there, from which there is a most glorious view. We came back by way of the "Crevice", which is a most difficult proceeding. The "Crevice" is is a crack between two great walls of rock, just about the width of one's body. From the top at one end, you can let yourself down from one ledge of rock to another, and so by a gradual descent reach

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075006
the outer air at the bottom on the other end. It is not like a chasm, where you would fall hundreds of feet straight down, if you made a mistake, but it is like a stairway, where is a footing all the time. When you reach the outside of the crack, then you have to wind round and round the mountain over a floor of boulders, stepping up and down all the time from one boulder to another. This part is called the "Labyrinth". It was altogether an interesting walk, you can imagine. When we came back to the hotel, were quite ready for our lunch, as it was seven hours since break

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075007
fast. Unfortunately there was nothing hot to eat, - only some very strong coffee - which gave one of the girls in our barge a headache which she still has- There were sandwiches, [crossed out: cold] ^hard boiled eggs, very rich milk, and cookies. After luncheon we just sat in a summer house, as most of us had had enough of walking and climbing. We started home again at half-past two. The hotel has been closed for the season, so there were no people there except the ones necessary to wait on us. We reached college again at six o'clock, just as the bell was striking for dinner.

In the evening there was a

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075008
Republican mass-meeting, at which three girls and Prof. French and Prof. Wentworth spoke. Prof. Wentworth tried to be funny - without succeeding - but the rest were all very good. There was a procession, too - with drums and flags, but no horns allowed.

This morning I thought I had better stay quietly at home for a change, so I did not go to town to church. Mrs. Kendrick came into our room because Ray was in bed for a little rest, and Ray and I had a delightful talk with her.

Our Senior Parlor Opening

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075009
was put off on account of the Mohonk trip, so that will come off next Saturday afternoon. I am glad we did not have it this last week, for in addition to what went on Saturday we had the Hallowe'en parties Friday night, and I had to lead the prayer-meeting Thursday night too. There are always two parties Hallowe'en night, one given by the Sophomores to the Juniors, the other given by the Seniors to the Freshmen. They were both Masquerade Balls. I did not go over to them. because I had not time to bother with a costume. At dinner on Hallowe'en

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897075010
the Senior tables are always decorated with autumn leaves and pumpkins and apples and things. Then when most every body else went out we sang a few songs - our own class songs, such as the ones we had for Trig ceremonies and Basket ball games.

Edith's postal about Mrs. Prescott's baby came yesterday - just in time, for everything that goes into the next number of the Miscellany has to be in tomorrow. What will Alice Dunham do next, with two to take care of?

By my next letter we will know about the Election, won't we? I am so glad it is so near over -

Love to all. Adelaide.