Details
Vassar College, May 15, 1867.
Wednesday A.M.
My dear Tom:
I am vary strongly impelled to write to you this morning, aad so as Prof. Kaapp is sick, aad unable to be at the college for our Latin recitation I am going to take part of that time to write to you.
The week has gone very rapidly aad we fully realise now that the end of the year is close at hand. Monday the seniors met and organized. I
was chairman of the meeting by nomination and was subsequently elected president of the class by ballot. Miss Geiger is vice pres. Miss Woodward is sec. and Hattie treas. You see that we have each an office, aand all with the exception of myself have two. Hattie is historlan, Louise G.
is sybil and Miss Woodward poetess. The Pres. called Hattie and me to him yesterday, aad told us that he considered that we were the principal members of the class, that the others were rather incldeatal, and that we were to have the honorary appointments: via the Salutatory aad Valedictory. He told us that he had a choice between us as to which each should have. The Salutatory is to be la Latin and Hattie does not want to have it, because she is not at all used to the pronunciation In use here, while I have had some practice la it. And I felt as if she could write and deliver the Valedictory much better than I, and moreover that she as being the better scholar ought to have its though to be sure there is little difference in the
May 15. 1867 - 2
honor of the two appointments, for the one who has the Latin Salutatory
has to appear twice, having also an English essay, while the valedic-
torian appears but once. The Faculty have Invited the special students
to compete for an essay asi poem to be delivered by the successful
ty^ contestants at the same time that we have ours. We are rather
inclined to think that there will be no contestants as many of the stu-
dents seem to think that It Is not fair for the interest to be divided, on
Commencement day*
A photographer Is settling himself in a sort of car between the
College and observatory. I suppose he will be here all the rest of the
year, If he Is only a first rate artist It will be a great advantage for a
very great many pictures are wanted and it is not at all convenient for
the students to have them taken in town. I hope I shall be able to get
some good ones, for 1 have promised several and I want my friends to be
satisfied with them.
Prof. Knapp and Mattle have both been sick since last Thurs
and Mrs. Knapp since Saturday. I suppose Prof, will wear himself out
worrying about his work here. The Tenneys are still In the depths of
woe on account of having no girl. The Quaker lady Sunday night
addressed us most beautifully. Monday night Miss Whitney one of the
Juniors received the unexpected news of her father's death. She lives
about nine miles from Boston. Miss Mitchell went to N.Y. with her. It
May 15, 186?
was a great shock, and greatly affected all acquainted with her.
Goodby, darling, with much lore, yours
Minnie L. Dickinson.
[Maria (Dickinson) McGraw, '67,
To Thomas S. McGraw* whom she married In 1867.]
