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Date
November 4, 1874
Abstract
VC 1880
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Transcript file(s)
Subject (Topical)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24954,Box 72,VCL_Letters_Pratt_Mary_1880_001
Extent
1 item
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: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001001
Vassar College
Nov. 4, 1874.
My dear Mithery-
Do you see that little blur over "Vassar"? Well that's where I began to write "New Haven". Think of it! I'll have to just put that off for a while I'm thinking.
We had the best fun last night. I must tell you about it for I haven't had such a right up and down jolly time before since I have been here. Mamie Burch, at the table on Friday night proposed that on the next
Nov. 4, 1874.
My dear Mithery-
Do you see that little blur over "Vassar"? Well that's where I began to write "New Haven". Think of it! I'll have to just put that off for a while I'm thinking.
We had the best fun last night. I must tell you about it for I haven't had such a right up and down jolly time before since I have been here. Mamie Burch, at the table on Friday night proposed that on the next
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001002
night we should go down into the kitchen and make candy. The crowd was to consist of the people in our parlor, the girls next door, i.e. Kittie Hawley, Lilian Taylor, Nell Withey, & Kittie Aldrich, and the girls in 26 Nannie Sharpi, Julia & Katie Hopson, Mamie Burch, and Emily Jordan. We obtained permission very easily & arrayed ourselves in our Gym-suits before dinner, as we had to go to the kitchen as soon as we were out of the dining-hall to put the candy over and stir it until Chapel time.
Jane was the only one of the crowd who didn't wear her gym-suit. We were in the room next to the one where they fry
Jane was the only one of the crowd who didn't wear her gym-suit. We were in the room next to the one where they fry
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001003
buck wheat cakes and had a stove about 20 ft x 4 ft, red hot in several places and with a great inverted trough over it so that the heat was all kept right down over it. I never saw anything so hot as it was standing over that stove & stirring the candy. Until the girls had become hardened to the heat they could only stir three or four minutes at a time.
We had a copper saucepan, holing four or five gallons, & put one gallon of molasses in it. After it had been boiling a while, all at once it began to rise like everything. It was so heavy that we couldn't lift it off from
We had a copper saucepan, holing four or five gallons, & put one gallon of molasses in it. After it had been boiling a while, all at once it began to rise like everything. It was so heavy that we couldn't lift it off from
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001004
the stove, so we stirred as hard as we could while Mamie Burch flew off down one of the corridors to try to find some of the cooks. She came back just in time, with a graceful going Irishman who gallantly swung the kettle off from the stove until the molasses settled a little. Presently when I was stirring it up again, it again started to the top. Jane was standing by me so I asked her to pull the kettle to the edge of the stove. We had just conquered the rebellious liquid when "David" who had heard the disturbance came flying to our assistance. We grated nearly
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001005
a package of chocolate It then left everything in his care while we went to chapel. After Chapel we hurried down again & had all the time from 8.45 to 9.15. The candy wasn't nearly done because I suppose "David" was so afraid it would burn that he either held it on the edge of the stove or else set it on the window-sill maybe. We soon got the caramels going, & then stirred, or else cooled off preparatory to stirring. While cooling off I had two waltzes around the stoves & potatoes & charcoal & promiscuous articles.
When the molasses was unanimously pronounced to be done—and we had no end of a row deciding-— it was
When the molasses was unanimously pronounced to be done—and we had no end of a row deciding-— it was
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001006
poured into two immense
pans & put out of doors. Jane said she had to warn a man not to step
into it.
After a while, when we were all waiting for something to do we
heard a horrible howl way down the corridor & a great rushing sound.
In a minute Jane came tearing in, wearing a wild kind of a look, a
shrieking at the top of her voice. In her hands she had a lump of candy
about as big as a cocoanut. She had scraped up all there was in one pan
& started with it, but as she had to come quite a distance the out side
coolness wore off
pans & put out of doors. Jane said she had to warn a man not to step
into it.
After a while, when we were all waiting for something to do we
heard a horrible howl way down the corridor & a great rushing sound.
In a minute Jane came tearing in, wearing a wild kind of a look, a
shrieking at the top of her voice. In her hands she had a lump of candy
about as big as a cocoanut. She had scraped up all there was in one pan
& started with it, but as she had to come quite a distance the out side
coolness wore off
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001007
and it got to be scalding hot. So she tore around
tossing it from one hand to another and not stopping long enough to
explain or let anyone help her.
When the lump finally cooled we divided it & began to pull &
soon were pretty busy. I got my piece real white but made two blisters,
one on each thumb, & to day have one of them doctored up with a piece
of courtplaster nearly 3/4 of an inch square. After the caramels &
things were done we gather together & sang college songs, danced the
Virginia reel & carried on generally.
tossing it from one hand to another and not stopping long enough to
explain or let anyone help her.
When the lump finally cooled we divided it & began to pull &
soon were pretty busy. I got my piece real white but made two blisters,
one on each thumb, & to day have one of them doctored up with a piece
of courtplaster nearly 3/4 of an inch square. After the caramels &
things were done we gather together & sang college songs, danced the
Virginia reel & carried on generally.
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001008
We started off at silent time &
marched all thirteen in solemn single file procession, keeping beautiful
step, up the center stairs & the length of the 2nd South each maiden
bearing a big plate of candy in her outstretched hand. It isnt all gone
yet--The candy we burnt is left---.
There are four people in here all talking & telling
stories & I cant either write or spell or anything so I'm going to
stop.
Give lots of love to every one and do write soon and often.
Mary B. Morris.
marched all thirteen in solemn single file procession, keeping beautiful
step, up the center stairs & the length of the 2nd South each maiden
bearing a big plate of candy in her outstretched hand. It isnt all gone
yet--The candy we burnt is left---.
There are four people in here all talking & telling
stories & I cant either write or spell or anything so I'm going to
stop.
Give lots of love to every one and do write soon and often.
Mary B. Morris.
: VCLLettersPrattMary1880001009
VASSAR COLLEGE
The name of Miss Mary S. Morris is entered on the list of applicants for admission to the College. The regular days for entrance examinations are September 22-24, 1875.
Full information respecting conditions of admission, the order of examinations, courses of study, terms of payment, &c., will be found in the College Catalogue, which may be had at any time on application to W. L. Dean, Registrar.
Candidates for admission are particularly requested to notice the order of the examiniations, on pae 30 of the Catalogue, and to present themselves punctualy at 9, A.M.
The College will open each day at half past eight o'clock -- not before -- for the reception of the candidates. the examinations will commence promptly at 9, A.M., and continue till 5, P.M., with an intermissio of one hour and a half at noon. Mid-day luncheon will be provided for the candidates and their friends.
To all who come from a distance it is earnestly recommended that they arrange to pass the preceding night in Poughkeepsie or its vicinity. The examinations are necessariy fatiguing, and a student cannot possibly do herself justice who comes to them wearied from a long journey.
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., April 21, 1875
JOHN H. RAYMOND,
President
We shall be happy to receive Miss Morris for examiniation in September. there are no entrance examiniations in June.
J.H.R., per M.D.
