Vassar College Digital Library

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin) | to mother, Nov. 15, 1896:

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Date
November 15, 1896
Abstract
VC 1897
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24498,,Box 21,VCL_Letters_Mansfield_Adelaide_1897_076
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
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: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076001
Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y.
Nov. 15. 1896.

My dear Mother,—

I am so sorry you are not going to Uncle Charles' for Thanksgiving - it would be such a beautiful plan, and especially for papa, who has not been there for so long.

I am very much obliged for the little organdie corners - they are unusually pretty ones-

This week I have been spending all my odd minutes from Monday to Saturday in dispos

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076002
ing of dolls. You know every year the Y.W.C.A. buys about three hundred dolls,- that is the chairman of the General Work committee does, which happens to be myself this year— and we distribute them to the girls who are willing to dress them, and then we have to collect them all again, and send them to College Settlements and Hospitals and home missionary schools. Before we send them off we exhibit them all - and it is a pretty sight.

I have had several letters from Miss Goodrich, in connection with the box of old clothes that I sent her. We were very much disappointed that the ar

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076003
rangement for her to speak here could not be carried out.

These last two or three days there has been a State Convention of the Y.W.C.A. in Poughkeepsie—the same thing that I went to in Syracuse last fall, you know. I was very glad to meet again some of the people whom I saw and heard in Syracuse. The delegates came out to the college yesterday afternoon, when about a dozen of us received them in the parlors and showed them the buildings and our rooms etc.

Today we expect to have an honored guest in our room— Dr. William Dorpfeld, the greatest living Greek archaeolo

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076004
gist. He is in this country for only a few weeks and Dr. Taylor considers himself very fortunate to have gotten Dr. Dorpfeld here to lecture to us- While he is here Miss Leach wants to show him some of the students' rooms, and so she is going to bring him to ours. He lectured last night in the German language - he has been learning English only for the last six weeks, so that he does not yet feel enough at home in it to lecture in our language, though he speaks it very well in conversation. His German is remarkably simple, and he speaks remarkably slowly and distinctly, so that I understood much more of his

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076005
lecture than I expected - with only six weeks study of German. He seems like a very interesting man- younger than I had expected, too, for one so famous. Dr. Taylor had a reception to the Faculty in Dr. Dorpfeld's honor - over in his new house; the first time that he has entertained in his new house.

Ray is still in Brooklyn - she went down there to her cousin's about two weeks ago, because she had been working too hard, over the campaign and everything, and had to have a rest. I don't know whether she will be back this week or wait till after Thanksgiving. Her father was to be in Brooklyn Friday, but I have

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076006
not heard from her since then.

Winifred came out of the Infirmary last Sunday night, but she has been in bed with a cold for the last two days. This room seems to be rather ill-fated.

I am sorry for the Richardson girls - those two young girls left to take care of themselves- Poor Mrs. Richardson was sick so long. I shall write Anna Leigh and Bertha a note, I think.

P.M.
I have Just come from such a delightful walk over the fields - from the top of the hills we watched the sun set.

We did not meet Dr. Dorpfeld after all, for Prexy took care of him all the time, and Miss Leach did not have a

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897076007
chance to show him around.

The minister this morning was Dr. Stewart of Rochester. He preached a very good sermon. I met him after church in the Senior Parlor. The minister is always taken there between church and dinner, and the Seniors and any underclassmen whom the Seniors may invite are there to meet him. One or two of the girls always sing, too.

Ed says, in the letter you sent me, that he is going to Boston for a few days. Why under the sun doesn't he spend all the time there that he can? I think that is too good an opportunity to be thrown away.

Love to all the family, and the neighbors,
from your loving daughter Adelaide.