Vassar College Digital Library

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin) | to mother, Mar. 31, 1895:

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Date
March 31, 1895
Abstract
VC 1897
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24573,,Box 20,VCL_Letters_Mansfield_Adelaide_1897_050
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
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: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050001
Vassar College. March 24. 1895.

My dear Mother,—

Vacation is here, and so nice it is. It is so quiet and restful. Ray went Thursday morning and was to get to Turnpike, Saturday morning. That is three miles from Asheville- They were to spend Friday night at Asheville.

Belle went Friday afternoon- She was working on her special topic in Greek up to the last minute so that we packed her satchel and sewed on her shoebuttons for her and she had just time to catch the train. Her mother has been sick since before Thanksgiving, a good deal of the time in bed. Carrie has stayed here as she thought she would, and I am very

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050002
glad to have her company. Ellen Hailey is staying in Belle's room, which is pleasanter than living over at one of the cottages where she is the only college girl.

Carrie is going to have her sister in Rye Seminary, up here to spend two or three days at Easter - since she is not going to see her during our vacation. Carrie's aunt in Boston invited her to come there alone, and also her aunt in Brooklyn, but she thought she would rather stay here, so she declined their invitations. It has been perfect weather the last few days- the sun so bright and warm. But there are still patches of snow in the shadow- it is so slow to disappear here. If the weather keeps beautiful, it will add a good deal to our pleasure.

Yesterday afternoon we went over to the gym. to play battle-ball. I forget whether I have told you about our

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050003
athletics. There are two new games, battle-ball, and basketball, which have been introduced here just lately, which the girls are much interested in, and talk about a good deal - The games are played by teams of eleven, and three or four teams of each game have been formed in each class. I am on a team in each. If we just played by ourselves, that would not be so exciting, but the fun comes in in having match games between the different teams, and usually in different classes- On such occasions a number of the members of each class get together to watch and cheer each good move made by their class team, and it is lots of fun to watch match games. Basket ball is rougher than battle-ball, and tires you more. Some girls like one game better, some the other, but I think [crossed out: me] battle ball

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050004
is a little more popular.

When spring comes and the ground can be fixed, we are going to play golf- You know that is an English game. I have joined the golf club that has been formed, but it will be some little time before we can play it. As many can play in that as want to. Last week all the athletic teams and clubs were formed into an Athletic Association, which will oversee all the games and attend to the grounds - and keep them in order.

The girls have been so anxious for spring to come that they thought they could hasten it by wearing shirtwaists, and a few have appeared here and there for some time. So Dr. Thelberg talked to us the other night after chapel, altogether, and informed us that the [crossed out: hour] season for shirtwaists has not yet arrived, nor the season for low shoes either.

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050005
Also that we should wear rubbers until the middle of May. She gave us some more advice too, and told us that she wanted to see us all go away from college with pure healthy souls In pure healthy bodies. A good many girls are making themselves shirtwaists this vacation. A number have asked me to join them in it, but I declined. I prefer to make my clothes at home with my sister and a sewing machine—both great helps!

Three girls here are each making themselves a wool spring dress. They have established themselves in one room, and rented a sewing machine and sewing table and flatiron- They ripped up old waists to get a pattern, and are getting along in fine style. They work pretty fast. One of them, Dora Roberts, makes most all of her clothes. There are lots of girls here who make all or nearly all, of

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050006
their clothes. They make me feel like an ignoramus. I must learn a lot more about sewing this summer. I am glad drapery is not coming into style after all. The new skirts are all made perfectly plain, though flaring and four or five yards wide. Carrie has just had her spring dress made- They put crinoline or even haircloth in the skirts part way up the front and all the way up the beck. Sleeves will certainly have to be smaller next year, for it is impossible for them to be bigger than they are now- and they stand out with crinoline too.

I do hope you can get a new sewing-machine - I should be so glad to say goodbye to that other poor rickety thing. Edie has sewed on it enough to wear it out three or four times. I believe my challi is wearing out at last, for it

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050007
tears so easily- I have made three or four tears in it lately. When is Lou's vacation, and how much does she have?

Gertrude Bronson did not go home after all, for I saw her tonight. Katharine is here, too, and we have sat at the same table several times. The Strong Hall girls have to come over here for their meals in vacation. I was going to ask you to send back some books by her, some books that we have to use for English. I think I had better ask you to send them by express if you will, for it would be cheaper than buying them. I can not find any girls who have them to rent, for they have not had to use them before this year. They are the works of Milton, Dryden, and Pope, and the Essays of Addison, Swift, and Samuel Johnson. I am not sure how many of those you

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897050008
have, but I shall have to buy the ones you haven't, unless you want to borrow them. Perhaps you will need them at home, but if you don't, and if you can spare them, I would like to have you send them, and I will bring them back in June. If you do send them you might send a corset cover along with them.

Is Etta well again, and has she had her party? I have not heard at all how Clarence gets along with his kindergarten. Does he like it, and does he like to play- with the other children?

Have the Wheelers any one to board with them yet? I should think they would have a good deal more leisure time than they used to. Give my love to them and the rest of the neighbors— With love to all the family —
As ever Adelaide (Claflin)