Vassar College Digital Library

Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin) | to mother, Dec. 10, 1893:

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
December 10, 1893
Abstract
VC 1897
Transcript file(s)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24506,,Box 20,VCL_Letters_Mansfield_Adelaide_1897_012
Extent
1 item
Type
Rights
For more information about rights and reproduction, visit http://specialcollections.vassar.edu/policies/permissionto.html

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897012001
Vassar College,
Dec. 10, 1893

My dear Mamma,—-

I have just written a long letter to Edie to Zanesville - I haven't the slightest idea whether or not she is still there, and I have only a few minutes left before bed time, so I can write only a short letter- I do find bed time so inconvenient sometimes, if only I could stay up after ten, [crossed out: la] more than three times a month- but, of course, you will say, it is better for my health. Still when we do take cuts, we generally take good long ones, to get the full benefit.

Friday night after Phil, we did not

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897012002
get to bed till about one. Every year before this Phil has lasted until eleven, but this year they extended the time to twelve. Every body had to go home promptly at that time, but a lot of girls came into our room and talked for a while. I had a pretty good time Phil. Ray's brother Harry came up, and I had a promenade with him, of course. They had it in the main building after all; instead of in the Hall of Casts. They had a small orchestra there, and each prom, was about fifteen minutes long. We walked up and down in the long corridors, which are very well suited to the purpose. Then the college parlors were furnished by the girls, with pretty things, and lots of sofa cushions (by the way I believe there are at least two thousand sofa cushions in this institution; they are considered more necessary than chairs, and there certainly a good many more of them in

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897012003
most rooms). Dr. Taylor's parlors were thrown open, too, so that we could step aside and sit down whenever we felt like it. I had promised three other girls to take proms, with their men, but all three of them couldn't come after all. A good many of the men stayed over and spent Saturday here. Lillian Bayliss had her brother here, who used to be in my Greek class, but of course he wouldn't know me now, and I am not sorry. I am sure Fred White, who lives next to the Thayer's on Euclid, was here, too, though at first I did not recognize his face because he has changed so much. I wore my commencement dress, and I have grown so fat since it was made that I could scarcely get into it, in fact, at first I didn't believe I could wear it. All my dresses are tighter for me than they were, but I can still wear them all easily except that one. I am going to eat less, and exercise more, after this, because I cant afford to be spending

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897012004
time or money in letting out my dresses.

I took my examination in American History yesterday morning. I reviewed it during Thanksgiving vacation, and on Friday afternoon. I am not sure whether I passed or not, and I do not know how soon I will know. If I did not pass, I will have to take another exam, in it. It was not very easy, and I know several things that I got wrong on it. I am just beginning to think about Christmas presents- The cheapest things to buy in this town are books. I saw some very prettily bound ones yesterday very cheap, for instance the "Bird's Christmas Carol" and "Editha's Burglar", the "Bird's Xmas Carol", just like mine for 50 cts. and very pretty editions of other books for from twenty five cts. up. It the family are going to make me any present, a fountain pen would be appreciated most. We will have to take so many notes in ink in the library - but if funds are low, never mind making Xmas presents.

Quarter to ten, so goodnight. Your loving daughter

Adelaide.

 


: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897012005
I was so sorry to hear of Mr. Bingham's death. How can the church get along without him? He has done so much for it for so long. I have been so good this week as to write to Aunt Allie and Mrs. Holway.