Content Warning
The Vassar College Archives within the Digital Library include some images, texts, and material items that are racist, xenophobic, or otherwise harmful. The Vassar Libraries have provided descriptive text and additional notes whenever possible to alert Digital Library users to these items. The Engaged Pluralism Initiative Race and Racism in Historical Collections Project Group is working with the library on contextualizing and facilitating community conversations about these materials. For more information see: https://library.vassar.edu/rrhc
Access Control
Date
January 28, 1866
Abstract
VC Spec 1865-1866
Creator
Transcript file(s)
Subject (Topical)
Details
Identifier
vassar:25040,,Box 73,VCL_Letters_Sylvester_Helen_1865-1866_017
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
For more information about rights and reproduction, visit http://specialcollections.vassar.edu/policies/permissionto.html
: VCLLettersSylvesterHelen18651866017001
Vassar College
Jan 28th 1866-
My dear Mother
I have had so little time that I have not been able to
write so often as I wished. It has been almost Impossible to write
and so you must excuse my neglect if you can call it so on those
grounds and not because I had no desire to write home. I have been
almost homesick having my expectations disappointed every time I saw
the mail come and no letter for me. I have had so much to do the time
has passed very rapidly and it hardly seems as if I had been a month
away from home. There has been a good deal of sleigh riding here for
the past two days —
Jan 28th 1866-
My dear Mother
I have had so little time that I have not been able to
write so often as I wished. It has been almost Impossible to write
and so you must excuse my neglect if you can call it so on those
grounds and not because I had no desire to write home. I have been
almost homesick having my expectations disappointed every time I saw
the mail come and no letter for me. I have had so much to do the time
has passed very rapidly and it hardly seems as if I had been a month
away from home. There has been a good deal of sleigh riding here for
the past two days —
: VCLLettersSylvesterHelen18651866017002
I think from the number of loads that every girl in
school must have taken a ride - I went with a party on Friday and we
enjoyed it very much. There were about twenty of us and the day was
very warm and pleasant- How are the darkies progressing. Do you
find confinement in an upper room sufficient yet? How is James' cold.
I shall be expecting a letter from him to-morrow because he ought to
be so touched by the appeal I sent to him. Tell him to continue sending
the Republic it seems quite natural to get it. Then you can fill your
letters without being obliged to depend on the news to write about. Then
tell Henry he owes me perfect quantities of letters and will have to write
very long letters if he expects to
school must have taken a ride - I went with a party on Friday and we
enjoyed it very much. There were about twenty of us and the day was
very warm and pleasant- How are the darkies progressing. Do you
find confinement in an upper room sufficient yet? How is James' cold.
I shall be expecting a letter from him to-morrow because he ought to
be so touched by the appeal I sent to him. Tell him to continue sending
the Republic it seems quite natural to get it. Then you can fill your
letters without being obliged to depend on the news to write about. Then
tell Henry he owes me perfect quantities of letters and will have to write
very long letters if he expects to
: VCLLettersSylvesterHelen18651866017003
attain to the honor of getting one in reply- I have not seen anything of my croquet box or of my hooped skirt covers- I am afraid if they are not got, they will forget all about them and you
will not be able to get them.
I will send father the bill for my next term's tuition very soon
the half year ends on Feb 1st.
I can hardly find anything to write there is so little that would
interest you of what passes here and everything is just the same every
day - We have lectures on Physiology once a week and are soon to have
a concert of some of the music Scholars - I expect to perform. The
weather has been very changeable here and very bad for taking cold but
I have not been sick at all.
will not be able to get them.
I will send father the bill for my next term's tuition very soon
the half year ends on Feb 1st.
I can hardly find anything to write there is so little that would
interest you of what passes here and everything is just the same every
day - We have lectures on Physiology once a week and are soon to have
a concert of some of the music Scholars - I expect to perform. The
weather has been very changeable here and very bad for taking cold but
I have not been sick at all.
: VCLLettersSylvesterHelen18651866017004
How is Mr Norton? Does he seem to be sinking or getting better?
I think Emma Wehner is a very pleasant girl and am getting much better
acquainted with her. I think from what she says of her father he must be
a very fine man.
Doctor Raymond does preach such long sermons, it tires me almost
to death to sit through them. Today his sermon was an hour and a quarter
long and never is less than an hour so we are in the chapel nearly two
hours, and we get so sleepy- They have dismissed Madame Sparton one of
the french teachers the most comical old thing you ever saw. She dresses
equal to Mrs Fields only neater and has better things to wear but has just
about as much taste. She wo'nt go however and says she shall stay till next Summer as they engaged her till that time- So they cannot get
rid of her unless they should bring an
I think Emma Wehner is a very pleasant girl and am getting much better
acquainted with her. I think from what she says of her father he must be
a very fine man.
Doctor Raymond does preach such long sermons, it tires me almost
to death to sit through them. Today his sermon was an hour and a quarter
long and never is less than an hour so we are in the chapel nearly two
hours, and we get so sleepy- They have dismissed Madame Sparton one of
the french teachers the most comical old thing you ever saw. She dresses
equal to Mrs Fields only neater and has better things to wear but has just
about as much taste. She wo'nt go however and says she shall stay till next Summer as they engaged her till that time- So they cannot get
rid of her unless they should bring an
: VCLLettersSylvesterHelen18651866017005
officer of the law to eject her.
Do please write to me every week Mother. What is the use of having
so much work? You cannot have very much now, besides you have two
letters to answer now. My love to Father Henry and James-
Your affectionate
daughter Ella—
Do please write to me every week Mother. What is the use of having
so much work? You cannot have very much now, besides you have two
letters to answer now. My love to Father Henry and James-
Your affectionate
daughter Ella—
