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Date
01 Feb 1879
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vassar:54173,Folder 69.2; VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004
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: VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004_001
Vassar College, Po’keepsie, February 1, 1879.
My dear Carrie: -
As it is now the middle of silent-time I think there is but little prospect of my finishing the letter before retiring this evening but I have at least made a beginning - I am very sorry you are not coming back this next semester but of course you know best what you want and ought to do. I must confess I never really expected you but hoped for the best. I am afraid [Mercer?] is too pretty to allow you to tear yourself away and that your next move will be [...] in the direction of matrimony - “Look before you leap” but I assure you the disease is at present very [...] among young ladies who have left Vassar [...] [...]-[garder?]. Excuse that French word but I have just come from the [...] and have spoken French all the evening - Let me assure you these evenings are very instructive and also rather interesting two weeks from to-night - I am to take part in a small farce which I am afraid will be a trifle of a bore but which will be very instructive - Good night now for it is mst time for the last bell and duty you know before [pleasure?].
My dear Carrie: -
As it is now the middle of silent-time I think there is but little prospect of my finishing the letter before retiring this evening but I have at least made a beginning - I am very sorry you are not coming back this next semester but of course you know best what you want and ought to do. I must confess I never really expected you but hoped for the best. I am afraid [Mercer?] is too pretty to allow you to tear yourself away and that your next move will be [...] in the direction of matrimony - “Look before you leap” but I assure you the disease is at present very [...] among young ladies who have left Vassar [...] [...]-[garder?]. Excuse that French word but I have just come from the [...] and have spoken French all the evening - Let me assure you these evenings are very instructive and also rather interesting two weeks from to-night - I am to take part in a small farce which I am afraid will be a trifle of a bore but which will be very instructive - Good night now for it is mst time for the last bell and duty you know before [pleasure?].
: VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004_002
Wednesday - Feb 5,
I have not had a moment to you before now for you know we are very busy and things are in a slight commotion. Class [bits?] have been prepared and two of the four Junior studies come on the same [period?] so you see how it is “Hobson’s choice” for the poor girls who are not ahead of their class - for instance astronomy and Physiology are both the second period and as I cannot give up astronomy, Physiology must go - I wont take Physics if I can help it - so I am waiting to see what I can do about a senior study this year and Physiology next year. I am not as yet admitted in fact do not care to be yet but Miss [Morse?] wants me to join soon so I think perhaps I may before my next letter - I enjoy being a Special very much - I do not care to have my name come out among them in the catalogue - but class meetings, committees &c. are such bores and you know the specials are exempt from all such nonsense. It [snows?] very [hard?] at present so I think the door [sloughing?] will be patched up once more. I miss my [rides?] as much as anything here but we can’t have all the good things of this life at once. This year we shall have no vacation between the semesters. The senior tried to make the juniors
I have not had a moment to you before now for you know we are very busy and things are in a slight commotion. Class [bits?] have been prepared and two of the four Junior studies come on the same [period?] so you see how it is “Hobson’s choice” for the poor girls who are not ahead of their class - for instance astronomy and Physiology are both the second period and as I cannot give up astronomy, Physiology must go - I wont take Physics if I can help it - so I am waiting to see what I can do about a senior study this year and Physiology next year. I am not as yet admitted in fact do not care to be yet but Miss [Morse?] wants me to join soon so I think perhaps I may before my next letter - I enjoy being a Special very much - I do not care to have my name come out among them in the catalogue - but class meetings, committees &c. are such bores and you know the specials are exempt from all such nonsense. It [snows?] very [hard?] at present so I think the door [sloughing?] will be patched up once more. I miss my [rides?] as much as anything here but we can’t have all the good things of this life at once. This year we shall have no vacation between the semesters. The senior tried to make the juniors
: VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004_003
ask for it, but they tried that little game [...] and then never ceased to say “[...] you juniors asked or did not want it-” to [open?] for the juniors refusal to be a cat’s-paw particularly as their reviews are quite as easy as those of any class - Speaking of reviews, Prof Mitchell gives us a sett of questions each day and we are unable to look in our books, ask any questions or consult the library - This is the review - the examination comes next Friday - It’s hard work but does us no end of good. Friday evening we are to have a piano recital by a gentleman from New York. I hope it will be good Prof. [Ritter?] speaks very highly of him. I have not heard his name. The poor music scholars are having an examination similar to the one held last year in Society Hall - This year it is held in the chapel - “Oh the groans, the sighs &c” which proceed from the musicians. Did I write you that the chapter plays were given up and four [...] Phil hall meetings take their place - The first was given a week or so ago and was quite good they say - I am not a member of “Phil” yet so could only go to the dress rehearsal. They had a [lecture?] by Miss Fuller and Ella Gill originally
: VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004_004
but as Ella Gil had left, Miss Burton made her essay which every one says was fine - The discussion was “Is Daisy Miller a typical American girl or not” Miss Gill having the negation - Of course you have read Daisy Miller by James as it is the latest fashionable novel. There was also a little operetta entitled “The Last Will & Testament” acted by Misses Turner, [D..?] Van Kleeck and [...] Donald all the characters being ladies -
The Phil play is on the docket - and it being “Much Ado about Nothing.” It is a secret as yet - but I am one of the “costumers” so have heard all about it Further particulars in [...y?] next as they are so few now as to be interesting. Ella Gill was married very suddenly although she has been engaged to this gentleman for four or six years. He was ill and consequently ordered to ^go to the south of France which he refused to do unless Ella went with him so I believe they were married and went. Helen Bartlett has been sick since she went [back?] with a severe cold her last letter says however that she was better. I will give your message when I write. Her address is (^2 [Chillicothe?]) (^1 H. [Norris?].) [This?] I did not see May while at [bo…?]. I was so very busy after I got well. I hear from her occasionally from Miss Mills who is a regular correspondent. I believe she is
The Phil play is on the docket - and it being “Much Ado about Nothing.” It is a secret as yet - but I am one of the “costumers” so have heard all about it Further particulars in [...y?] next as they are so few now as to be interesting. Ella Gill was married very suddenly although she has been engaged to this gentleman for four or six years. He was ill and consequently ordered to ^go to the south of France which he refused to do unless Ella went with him so I believe they were married and went. Helen Bartlett has been sick since she went [back?] with a severe cold her last letter says however that she was better. I will give your message when I write. Her address is (^2 [Chillicothe?]) (^1 H. [Norris?].) [This?] I did not see May while at [bo…?]. I was so very busy after I got well. I hear from her occasionally from Miss Mills who is a regular correspondent. I believe she is
: VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004_005
getting along nicely. What a nice time you must have had on your birthday. I think such books are very enjoyable they are so unusual. How is the baby! As great & fat as ever I suppose. Write me all about him. Please excuse this piece of paper, but Ada has borrowed my essay paper sp I was forced to use a [stock?]. I believe I have written all the news I can think of at present so will go prepare for “[g...p...s?].” Hoping to hear soon in reply to this long epistle, I remain your friend
Blanche [...]
To
Carrie A. Griffith
Mercer
[M...er?] Co
Penn.
Blanche [...]
To
Carrie A. Griffith
Mercer
[M...er?] Co
Penn.
: VCL_Letters_Griffith-Caroline_1879-02-01_069_002_004_006
"Please excuse this folding."
