Search results
(1 - 4 of 4)
- Creator
- Gaston, Mary E
- Date
- November 15, 1874
- Text
-
I had so much to do yesterday that I have'nt half my lsssoas aad dread to morrow fearfully. Nov. IS. 1874. My dear Mother, There is no lack of aews this week, the only trouble is where to begia: I guess Z will tell you first of the uafcm Philaletheaa meeting in the aew hall last Friday night. Z had three Invitations and how I did wish to dispose of the extra two as Z wanted to we went over to the hall at half past seven: It has a?w all the appliances of a regular theater, footlights,...
Show moreI had so much to do yesterday that I have'nt half my lsssoas aad dread to morrow fearfully. Nov. IS. 1874. My dear Mother, There is no lack of aews this week, the only trouble is where to begia: I guess Z will tell you first of the uafcm Philaletheaa meeting in the aew hall last Friday night. Z had three Invitations and how I did wish to dispose of the extra two as Z wanted to we went over to the hall at half past seven: It has a?w all the appliances of a regular theater, footlights, scenery, fcc. aad is much larger, better ventilated aad lighted than the old one\ Zt wont be worth while to tell you of the entertainment because Z will send you the programme. The part of Ophelia was taken by a very smart girl aad was acted perfectly. I am ashamed to say net having read Hamlet Z did not know she was craay and ^ as soon as she came oa the stage I looked at her utterly expressioaless face, and said to my self "why she looks like a loon." which was an uninten- tional compliment.As for the rest, it was all good. Romeo fc Juliet was lovely, only when the former Jumped over the wall he leaaed on it for support at which It trembled In aa alarming manner aad threatened to tumble over all to gether, but every thing else went off swimmingly. It seems a pity that enstead of having nothing but forces la our Dramatic we can not have something occasionally of a little higher order, if not Nov. 15, 1874 - 2 Shakespeare, for what a parcel of girls can do it seems our whole Dramatic might at least attempt. On Friday night a perceptible shudder ran ever the Freshman class when it was told to remain a few moments after Chapel: It was'at we quite so bad as it might be. were to hand la a perfectly written business letter the next day at five, and la two weeks a letter of . i : I . I- . . t » • ., ■ I r I '. t ' friendship to be criticised as a literary production. I wrote to as A. G. Stewart for my first aad^fortunately I had preserved the oae which had been corrected last year I hope it was not vary bad. any way I used six sheets of paper before it suited me. of course the other will be wrestled with next Sat. and will probably take me the whole day: if you can suggest anything to me to write of do, for mercy*s sake.Now X have a new page to tell you about the Sophomore party given to as Freshmen, each Sophomore asks a freshman or at least usually and as Ella Webb asked me first X went with her. We went almost directly after Chapel for we are never allowed to stay up any later ar except on Founders ^ Phil— night, all the Sophomores were dressed in black silk and we In our best attire. X wore my lavender silk and tea rose buds and we all wore gloves Just as at a regular party: it would have taken the conceit out any young man to see how nicely we Nov. 15, 1874 - 3 without got on his sox and how much wo enjoyed ourselves, upon entering the Gym. we were each presented with an order for dancing and were than Introduced to the Pres. of the class: we walked around for a low minutes looking at the room which was hung with wreaths of evergreen from the ceiling and with baskets of flowers, then wo commenced to dance and whan about half past eight wont up stairs to a Shq long hall whore on each side there were little tables just big enough for two covered with napkins, wo had sandwiches, coffe cake and Icecream which tasted delightfully to me as I had had no supper* we wore waited upon by soma of the girls, dressedshort dresses and little muslin caps which were very bewitching as Evie says, before we got up from the tables each F. was presented with a little bouquet and then wo danced until it was time to go home, wo had just a delightful time altogether only the trouble was It was too short and X should think would hardly repay the girls for the trouble. IHfot- forgot to say that our motto In evergreens was placed at one end of tho room, the fun of It was that tho girls who have not studied which Is Greek. German couldnt tall whether it was our motto or their own The new Mlscellaney came yesterday and as soon as X can buy one X will send it. one of tho teachers told me she did not think it was as good as usual. &Oss Smyths told mo the other day that I must get a Nov. 15, 1874 -4 handglass lor slagiag which has almost broken me so I must ask to send me a little money if convenient. You need not make any change in the presents X have thought of something else lor Evie, which I know she wants. X have come to the end of my paper fc news. Your loving daughter Mary.I enjoyed your letter and Idazde's very much, and will write to Lis during the week. "They say that the "78" galop X dont know wehther it is true or not aad did not hear it as I was then at supper.
Show less
- Creator
- Gaston, Mary E
- Date
- October 14, 1874
- Text
-
Vassar College, Oct. 10/75 Oct. 4. 1874. My dear Mother, X am so glad you are well enough to be up again. I should have been quite worried if I had known how sick you were. Your nice long letter with the sleeve button came on Friday, much to my satisfaction, and I have read it over several times to tell the truth I had forgotten the fun was going on and was much sur- prised when Annie told me that Liaaie Cooke had taken a for some thing. Annie is not a Sophomore but she sits with them in...
Show moreVassar College, Oct. 10/75 Oct. 4. 1874. My dear Mother, X am so glad you are well enough to be up again. I should have been quite worried if I had known how sick you were. Your nice long letter with the sleeve button came on Friday, much to my satisfaction, and I have read it over several times to tell the truth I had forgotten the fun was going on and was much sur- prised when Annie told me that Liaaie Cooke had taken a for some thing. Annie is not a Sophomore but she sits with them in Chapel, and is so ffcr ahead of our class thatshe does'at seem to a Freshman either, indeed it would posale me to tell you what she is, aad I don't suppose she knows herself. It must be an unpleasant position. I find my room very pleasant this year, and Juniors not quite so formid- able as I imagined. I went with one of them on Friday to get apples about half a mile from the College off the grounds of course and I am afraid we were cribbing but no one picks them so our consciences were quite easy, we are going for nuts as soon as it Is late enough. My room mate is the queerest girl Just as independent as you please I was walking with her a few days ago and was Just about to leave her aa my time was up when she horrified me by saying "I wonder If that girl meaning some one coming toward us would walkwith me if X a&ked her'*, A I really gasped, and said for mercy sake dont that is Miss White, a Junior and she would snub you to pieces* so I saved her that time but she is always doing just such queer things and I am always on pins for fear she will do something outrageous. Bayard Taylor will lecture in P. next W ed. and we will be allowed to go, but I have no wish to see him, and will save my money for some- thing more inviting in the musical line. Our class had a meeting yesterday fbr the first time, to nominate the officers, and the Sophomoraa or rather about a dozen of them, went outside and looked in the^ windows laughing and shouting and finally breaking a window in their sttempts to annoy us. they locked us in too, but by a good chance one of the Fresh- man coming late, let us out. It was a disgraceful thing to do, and if It Miss Terry hears of it she will makeAhot for them I hope. You need not look for the dictionary any more I got one second hand, which I think likely would have been necessary any way, as the other oaa was so old, and besides some of the letters were changed around which always gave me lots of trouble. I have plenty of money at present and I dont want you to send me any more until I ask for it. Fannie Swift called online last Sunday, she and all of them enjoyed their travels very much. What have you from the Library? I am reading "Venetian life" by Howells. it is a charming book, but not quite so interesting as "Chance Accquaintanse". I wrote about my pictures but have received no answer yet. I am sick of the nasty things and wish with all my heart they had Oct. 10, 1874 - 2 never been taken. Our Class was horrified on Friday night to see Prof* Backus in Chapel he never comes scarcely except to give the girls subjects for their essays so when nothing was said about them our expressions of delight were so very audible that the teachers in our seat frowned very expressively. However it is only a respite and we must expect them this week I suppose. Since I found so much to say I am sorry I did not take another sheet, but I guess you can read it, if it is badly written. Your loving daughter Mollle. ,Mary E. Gaston, ex-'78, Give lots of love to Pappa & all
Show less
- Creator
- Gaston, Mary E
- Date
- September 27, 1874
- Text
-
Vassar College. Sep. 27. 1874. Dear Evie, I have been sittingifive minutes with my pen suspended, trying to think how to begin, which was rather unneces- sary as I want to accomplish a good deal In tha reading, aad letter writing Una to day, so I will Just dash right in. My rocking chair came on Thursday and to my surprise, turned out to be the doubled up one, it is so pretty, the prettiest In tha room, that I cant find It In my heart to scold mamma lor her extravagance, so I thank her very...
Show moreVassar College. Sep. 27. 1874. Dear Evie, I have been sittingifive minutes with my pen suspended, trying to think how to begin, which was rather unneces- sary as I want to accomplish a good deal In tha reading, aad letter writing Una to day, so I will Just dash right in. My rocking chair came on Thursday and to my surprise, turned out to be the doubled up one, it is so pretty, the prettiest In tha room, that I cant find It In my heart to scold mamma lor her extravagance, so I thank her very much enstead. * I was invited to the meeting of Chapter Beta on Friday by Miss Fay, that gushing girl whom I think you have heard ma apeak of, there was an original story by a Senior which kept us In roars ol laughter most of the time, how she ever wrote it, I cant imagine, then scenes from College life, a poor Prep, crying as If her heart would break, who every little while would give her handkerchief a little squeese and so 1st fall a copious shower of tears, then the Freshman ghastly white each (with cornstarch) a book iaJtsa-hand one on her head aad piled three deep around her feet; next the Sophomore, "Eager for knowledge, wisdom wit" as the Pres. of the society said, with specs oa her nose aad a moat absorbed expression writing furiously, tha Junior was merely a paper tombstone with "Deported this life, a Junior'1 on it, aad Sept. 27, 1874 - 2 the Senior was a view of their privileges being a table piled with eatibles and other things "too numerous too mention, I thought of you a good many times playing at the swarry and wished I were home to hear you. I hope you got along all right aad were not aa nervous as you expected. The President that Greek has been neglected here, and advised the regular students very strongly to begin it this year in place of or Latin M French which could be taken up later in the course, a great many of the girls have done so, but I did not wish to give up any of my if present studies for it evenAI had been very anxious to study it which I was not, though it would be nice to say you had studied such a difficult language.1 thought that Miss Fay wouldn't be quite so sweet after we had'at seen each other tor so long but she is worse than ever, over powering* ahe tries to hug me on all occasions which I resist by all aorta of shivers, way andaquixms as my^is you know only I confess, they are some what exaggerated for her benefit: I knew last night she would want to kiss me good night, so as there was a strong odor of pole cat In the air, I kept my handkerchief to my mouth to prevent her aad am happy to aay succeeded: she is Just another Sallie Berger and I would never go near her if she had'nt so few friends. Sept. 27» 1874 - 3 —-—I had to stop writing and dress lor Chapel although it was three quaters oI an hour beiore It began but X invented a new way ol lining my hair with pulls, which takes so much time I have to begin early: we are to have the Episcopal service this morning, preached by some minister Irom Po'keepsie High school. I am ever so glad, lor the other is so monotonous. Our parlor is beginning to look more like a parlor and less like a pig pea, though boxes ol books and pictures still adorn the floor, we made an attempt to lix it up on Sat. and succeeded to the extent ol putting up one picture; I hope next week \or rather this week we caa finish it: our carpet is much prettier than the one we had last year, brown and yellow stripe with little white leaves all over it. I went up in 52 last night and io, they have another red It green carpet, a new one, and more fiery than ever, it must be a seviceable color or they wouldnt use it so much. Do you remember that girl whom I said lived In Saugertles ? she rooms in this parlor and Xwhen I brought out Pappa's picture she looked at it in perfect amasemant, and said she knew a gentleman who looked exactly like that, and sure enough she meant Uncle John, whose church she went to, isn't It strange she should be la the same parlor with me? Did I tell you that Miss Hoyt was a first Prep? X am so glad X am not one for X dld'nt realise what a "deggeradation" it was until now I am Sept* 27, 1874 - 4 something more. Annie Barcalow was not permitted to be a special as she wished, one reason was that she was not old enough, she calls herself nineteen ^ t^V^ and you have to bo twenty beforeyou can bo special, it will bo a pity if sho has to go back to our class but she can easily make up if they will allow her. I suppose my pictures have not come. I have written to Agnes and as soon as I get an answer will write to the Photographers and see what is the matter. I bought a Miscellany yesterday which I will send to Mamma, it is the one for July, I believe. Tell the children to write to me, I hope to hear that Mamma is well In your next letter. Tell me every thing about the Dramatic. Toll Momma there Is a beautiful edition of of Warner's works in the Library hero, bound in brown V gold and Illustrated too. it is published by Osgood, and I think would do very well for Mrs Loomis. I know you dnnl like to read crossed pages and I dont like to waste paper so I wont write any more. Give lots of love to Pappa & Mamma. Tour loving Sister Mamie. tMary E. Gaston, ex-'78, * Note by E. K. Van der Veer j'06, donor of letters f This rocker went three times to Vassar - in 1874 with Mary Gaston, in 1906 with Elisabeth Van dor Veers in 1922 with Mary M. P. Gaston. It was left at college * fata unknown.
Show less
- Creator
- Gaston, Mary E
- Date
- September 20, 1874
- Text
-
Sep. 20. 1874. My deer Mother I suppose It Is hardly necessary to tell you X am safe since I seat a postal from the depot but you mast all about my shopping: It was pouring when I got out at N.Y. aa X tacked up my dress as high as decency would permit and sallied forth: the dollar store was Just filled with beautiful things, It was hard to come away without some of them but one dollar was all they got out of me: then I tried to Had the pattern place but with out success though I wandered up...
Show moreSep. 20. 1874. My deer Mother I suppose It Is hardly necessary to tell you X am safe since I seat a postal from the depot but you mast all about my shopping: It was pouring when I got out at N.Y. aa X tacked up my dress as high as decency would permit and sallied forth: the dollar store was Just filled with beautiful things, It was hard to come away without some of them but one dollar was all they got out of me: then I tried to Had the pattern place but with out success though I wandered up and dewa for same time: next into a hair stare near Stewart's where thay made me three putts in an hour for 75 cents which was cheap enough I thought: about twelve I went for lunch to the Anthony House where X got oysters and coffee for thirty cents. It mnstlMMt.be a new place X think for every thing seemed so cheap: after lunch I found Lockwood's and changed my book for a Uvy the differeace In price (twenty five cents) I invested in pens and lead pencils, the oaly set of Charlotte Bronte's books which X saw did net please me very much it was they were hardly handsome enough although six dollars for the set of four volumes. Tell Evie I could not find stamped yokes of any kind, every one did them to order ftaf. but that did not do any good so I had to give It up. I took the 4&.ave. cars which took me to the door of the dtpet: the hair man advised me to take them as "it oaly cost seven cents while the Sept. 20, 1874 - 2 stage cast tea" I suppose I-to* must have looked poverty stricken: A lew minutes before the train started Annie Barcalow surprised me by walking ia with Genie Doughty, ahe said she had expected to go to Jersey city on Friday bat the rain prevented her, then she expected to go to the Dramatic and had her dress laid out and waa very much disappointed that It waa postponed, she's a queer mixture. There were a number very few Vaaaar girls oa the train and quiteAwill not come until Monday, but all my own friends are here I walked In to 32 my new room and there found a new girl for my room mate Lillle Rea will not return; her name la Julia Holt and ahe comes from Maine aa I found by looking In one of her books, she la nice enough bat 1 doat know her very well yet and she Is one of those prodigies, a girl who entered Freshman* the other girls are not here yet except Miss Pidgeon who has a single room* It Is raining so hard I have not had time to see the outside alterations, but inside the Reading room Is now In the old Library and the Library old la In the art gallery which la over In the music hall. Miss Hoyt came ap aad spoke to me and 1 am glad ahe did for I never should have known her. I have seea the Swifts to speak to but not at a distance, of course X dont mean that but never mind. My trunks have not come aad I feel forlorn. My dreas waa dreadfully draggled In spite of holding It up. Dont forgot to send the keys. Your loving daughter Mary. (Mary E. Gaatoa, ex-178, I hope to hoar from you to-morrow.
Show less