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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: April 27, 1895
Text: April 27, 1895, My own dear Mother,— I am going to write to you tonight, so that the letter will reach you on your birthday. I will delegate Bess to give you my birth- day kiss, along with her fifty nine which I suppose she will give you. How nice it would be if I could hire a flying-machine on each of your birthdays.' — and some other days too. I send by this same mail a dishcloth which I knit for you in my spare moments, thinking it would be a useful if not an ormamental gift. At any...
Show moreApril 27, 1895, My own dear Mother,— I am going to write to you tonight, so that the letter will reach you on your birthday. I will delegate Bess to give you my birth- day kiss, along with her fifty nine which I suppose she will give you. How nice it would be if I could hire a flying-machine on each of your birthdays.' — and some other days too. I send by this same mail a dishcloth which I knit for you in my spare moments, thinking it would be a useful if not an ormamental gift. At any rate, if you don't wish to use it, let it ornament the kitchen. Today is Founder's Day, and therefore a holiday, though really it is not so much of a holiday for me, because I have only two recitations on that day anyway- Still I appreciate the difference, decidedly. This has been a much nicer celebration then that of last year. The aim this year was to have the day of interest to the students as much as possible, and as much as possible to really take us back to the days of the Founder. For several years we have had some famous (more or less) lecturer to address us in the evening, on some more or less interesting subject which had no connec- tion at all with our college or any college. But this year we had exercises at four oclock in the afternoon, so that outside guests need not come to it if they did not want to, though a good many did come. Theprogramme opened with an organ voluntary by Prof. Bowman, who is the head of the musical department, then a college song in which we all joined. Then Katharine Reiley - the president of the Students Association, made an address on Student Life at Vassar. She made a very fine appearance and delivered her address very well - without notes- She is a very clever girl - I might say woman, for she is very dignified. Alter this we sang a song which was written for the occasion - by competition - by Miss Doughty, one of Gertrude Bronson's room mates. (By the way Adel- bert Bronson is here, I saw him several times today.) Katharine Reiley read a telegram from a member of the first class that graduated - in 1868.The chief thing of the evening was the address of Prof. Whitney, on "The Founders of Vassar". Miss Whitney is the Astronomy prof lessor. She graduated here in the first class, and has been here ever since, since, as Maria Mitchell's assistant so long as Miss Mitchell lived, and alter that she has beea Professor of Astronomy herself. She is a fine woman, very simple and cultured. Saturday morning- Bedtime came before I could finish my description, so I will resume It now. Miss Whitney's address was fine, interesting reminiscences, and a history of the beginning of the college. She told especially about Dr. Raymond, the first President, Miss Lyman, the first Lady Principal, and Miss Maria Mitchell. I think her address was the nicest thingthey could have had for the occasion. The chapel looks very pretty on such occasions. All the girls who have guests sit downstairs in the chapel, and the rest of us in the gallery (where we can watch the people very easily). The afternoon exercises were over at half past five. There was no dinner served at dinner time in the dining room, as it was filled with little tables for the evening refreshments. But we were provided for, for at lunch they brought on platters and plates full of things from which we helped ourselves, meat, bananas, bread and cake. So we took them upstairs and at suppertime set our little table and had a meal such as we children used to have sometimes around the sewing table.In the evening there was the usual promenade up and down the corridors, in full dress. I did not dress for that because I have had a slight cold this week and I thought it was safer not to take off warm clothes. While the rest were dressing for that, Bella and I went down to the Lecture Room and examined the things in the Loan Exhibition, while the room was not crowded. The Exhibition was very interesting. A great many things that belonged to Matthew Vassar, were there, furniture, personal belongings, and a good many pictures of him- Some old daguerrotypes included, and a good many letters of his to various people connected with the college. There ware also mementoes and pictures of Maria Mitchell. Beside these things about particular persons there ware photographs, letters,autograph albums, class pins, programmes and all such things, of some of the earliest classes, and old catalogues. Two of the historic bootjacks which ware placed in each room when the college was opened, by the kindness and fore- thought of Matthew Vassar, were interesting objects. I think this collection was especially interesting to the alumnae who were here. A great many of the guests are staying over for today. This morning at eleven o'clock the Glee Club sang informally in the Chapel for an hour or so, and everybody always likes to hear them. Well, I guess you have heard enough about Founder's. O I almost forgot, in my interest about Founder's, to tell you some- thing else which is of some interest, and that is that I am goingto room with Ray and Carrie in a parlor next year. We drew for rooms on Tuesday, and I tried to get a single, to room alone, but I drew a blank, which means that I could not get one, so I drew next for a parlor with Carrie and Ray. We were all unfortunate in our drawing, so that we finally got the very last choice for parlors in our class. For this reason we consoled ourselves with the thought that at least we would not have to spend time in selecting our room, for we simply had to take the only one that was left. But it is not a bad room, in fact it is a very good one, and our next door neighbors are going to be some of our best friends. The best thing about the room is that it is a south one, where we will have the sun all day. The roomis on the first floor, so that it will be convenient in many respects. I wanted very much to have a single room, for some reasons. I would like to try one because I have never roomed in a room alone, and there is not much privacy in rooming with several others. Still it is lots of fun, and I enjoy it ever so much, in a firewall, and in some ways it is very convenient to have some roommates. So I am going in that way next year, and look forward to having a single room in my Senior year. Of course Ray and Carrie and I will be very happy together, and we are very congenial. On general principle I think it is better for the same girls not to room together for threeconsecutive years, but Ray and I could not help it this time. Before I forget it I will tell you that- I used a dose of my cold pills this week, and gave another dose to a girl who was coming down with a cold, so that I have no more. I like to have something on hand ready for use In case I need it, so if you have any cold powders in the house you might put one in your next letter. I used some of my cough-pills too, but I still have a few of them left. Bessie's and Lou's old letter did come this week. When I first saw the date March 24, I thought it was simply a slip of the pen, as the letter was mailed April 24. But when I read the news about things that I knew happened about a month ago I changed my mind.I thought perhaps it was a sort of April Fool arrived late till I noticed the outside at the envelope, which bore marks of having been in a man's pocket for about a month, being creased and dirty. So I accepted that as the solution. I wish we had as warm weather here as you write about. There have been only two or three days when I could stay outdoors long without a wrap, I still have on my warm clothes, though shirtwaists are pretty generally worn now. Spring is slower than usual even here, where it is always slower than at home, I hope I can put an shirtwaists pretty soon- I think I prefer the changeable weather of home to the long steady winters of this climate, where you say goodbye to the grass and anything like warm weather, in November, and don't expect a suggestionof them again till April. Give my love to the neighbors and friends- and I send lots especially to you for your birthday- Your loving daughter Adelaide, (Claflin) Vassar College. April 27. 1895.Perhaps this will be my week letter, so that you will not be looking for one Tuesday.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: May 12, 1895
Text: Vassar College. May IZ./95 bfy dear Father,— We have jumped back into winter lor a day today. We are ell glad to pat oa oar winter dresses, though it has been very hot indeed for a weak or two. It poured hard last night aad this morning- It woke me up emrly end I got up and pat down all the windows, lor the rain waa pouring In making thlnga wet. Now evarything looks fresh aad green, and we are very glad to have a cooling off. It has beea rather uncomfort- able to play basketball in such hot...
Show moreVassar College. May IZ./95 bfy dear Father,— We have jumped back into winter lor a day today. We are ell glad to pat oa oar winter dresses, though it has been very hot indeed for a weak or two. It poured hard last night aad this morning- It woke me up emrly end I got up and pat down all the windows, lor the rain waa pouring In making thlnga wet. Now evarything looks fresh aad green, and we are very glad to have a cooling off. It has beea rather uncomfort- able to play basketball in such hot weather, for we can not wear hats. It seems so strange to playbasketball with violets, lots of them- growing in the grass beaeath our feet. It seems too bad to step oa them. I wish I could send you some violets la a flying machine! (or come ia a flying start machine myself). Fear weeks from Wedaesdny I expect to some home, though steam cars do not supply such rapid traaslt as the flying machine. By the way, do you know the prices on the Pennsylvania Railroad? You know wa have never beea that way aad Ray and X think It would be nice to come home that way this time. She is going directly home this year, without visiting any of her relatlvea in the East. If we went home by the Pennsylvania Line,Ray's brother Frits would meet us la New York aad go acroas the city arith us. Of course wa could go alone, but as he Is there, he will want to see Ray of course. I thought perhaps you could find out about prices more easily thaa 1 can, and then If it does not cost very much more we will come the Pennsylvania way. U may cost less for all I know. I shall have to settle it before long, because we have to hand in our "travelling lists", telling when and by what road we are going home, more than two weeks before I shall start. Then about ten days before X start I have to buy my ticket. I hope you and mamma will go to Zanesville when they have the Republican convention there. It will be such a good chance. It is not often that there are reduced rates to Zanesville, is it? It would seem a pity not to take advantage of them. This week we handed in our electives for next year. I had quite a time deciding on mine, for there were so many things I wanted to take. I consulted with Miss &/fecurdy a little, but I don't like to consult with teachers much, about studies, for then you always feel more or less bound to take their advice, and perhaps you won't want to. It looks queer to go and ask somebody's advice and then act right contrary to it. I have elected three hours of Creek, three of Latin, three of History, three of Biology, two of Art History and one of Astronomy. I did intend to take shorter course German next year and the Latin the year after, butbut I found I could arrange my work for other semesters better by talcing the Latin next year, as it lasts only half a year. I could have left off the Astronomy and had only fourteen hours, which would have been quite a little easier, but I want to know something about astronomy, and this one hour course is descriptive astronomy, for those who wish to have a general knowledge of it, without going into detail and having mathematics In it. You see I have given up mathematics. Before I came to college mathematics was my favorite study, but college mathematics do not attract me. I have had a much easier time the latter part of this year than I had the first part. We can really spend Friday or Saturday afternoons in some- tiling beside study now. Today is Belle's birthday, so we celebrated a little yesterday by buying some Icecream and strawberries, that is, Ray and Carrie and I together, as a surprise for her. This was a great splurge, for we never bought any Icecream before. The taste of strawberries is the first we have had this year, and the last we will have till the day before Commencement. For the college never serves strawberries except on Class Day, when most of the students are gone home and there are a great many visitors here. Today we had oranges for dessert for Sunday dinner, instead of our usual springtime dessert of peanuts and maple sugar. We havesuch nice aspara- gus here, nicer then we get at home. That is the best thing that comes in the spring, I think. From what I read In the last paper you sent, I think the Sunday School Convention will be very interesting. I would like to be there. I don't know whether I like that Idea of the procession of children who are to build the I just found out the ether day that the chemistry professor whom I hmre, used to live in Cleveland. It was in 1879 that he went away. He knows Prof. Morley very vrell, and probably he knows Mr. E. R. Taylor, for he used to live on Harlmess Ave. His name is Mr. Moulton and he is very nice indeed. When I get Iiome I am going to ask Mr. Taylor if he knows him. Tour loving daughter Adelaide. jClaflinj
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: May 19, 1895
Text: Vassar College, f/ay 19. My dear Mother,— 1895. I hope you are having as beautiful weather as we, it has been cool, just cool enough to be pleasant, all the week- very good weather for studying, and I hope we will continue to have it cool for two or three weeks, for that reason, because we have a good deal of studying before us- The last two weeks are always filled with "extra work" such as reading up about things, and doing all sorts of things out of the ordinary - which is harder...
Show moreVassar College, f/ay 19. My dear Mother,— 1895. I hope you are having as beautiful weather as we, it has been cool, just cool enough to be pleasant, all the week- very good weather for studying, and I hope we will continue to have it cool for two or three weeks, for that reason, because we have a good deal of studying before us- The last two weeks are always filled with "extra work" such as reading up about things, and doing all sorts of things out of the ordinary - which is harder than the usual routine. Tomorrow we finish up our lab- oratory work in chemistry, and have review and written lessons the rest of the time. We are having writtenlessons In almost everything. Miss Macurdy told us to learn the names and subjects of Plato's thirty-six dialogues, for next lesson,- a sample of the craay things she has us do. This morning Dr. Huns tone of Brooklyn preached. We have only one more church service in the chapel here, beside the Baccalaureate sermon. I suppose you will have Children's Day the Sunday before I get home. By the way, we have had some more discussion this week about how we shall get home. The Nickel Plate and the B and O are both anxious to have us travel on their lines - The Nickel Plate offer a ticket for about nine dollars, with a stop-over at Niagara Falls- A number of the Western girls are going that way and going to stop at the Falls. X could not find out the particulars about thisticket yesterday because the girl who knows about it was not at home when I went to ask her. To take the B and O we would go to New York first, and from there we would take the B and O and the fare from New York to Cleveland would be about nine dollars. This goes by way of Washington, and allows a stop-over at Washington, for the day, leaving there in the evening. This, you see, gives a chance to see the "capitol of the Nation", though it is round-about. But it would cost less, or at any rate not more, than the regular fare on the New York Central, counting in the cost of being at Washington during the day. The girl who is advertizing for this way, will get the circulars and time tables in a few days, so that we will know more about it. I don't knowwhether or not you could find out about these ways at home, but I should think you could. Fares must be getting cheaper, for the Nickel Plate gives fare from New York to Chicago for thirteen dollars. Maude Warner went home yesterday- She lias been sick a great deal this year, and so thought she might as well go now. She will have to make up all her examinations the first part of next year. You know she is the girl who lives in Cincinnati. Yesterday we did an extravagant thing. We went to see "Buffalo Bill", who is in town. We were talking about him at the table at lunch yesterday and some of the girls were describing the glories of his exhibi- tion to Miss Macurdy. She listened with a great deal of contempt at first. She has nevereven been to a circus in her life, her taste running chiefly to Latin and Greek plays and Boston lectures. But she really became interested in Buffalo Bill's career, and said she really believed she would like to go. I think she was most induced by the fact that Buffalo Bill is the brother of Mrs. Irvine, the President of Wellesley College. Still she was not sure whether it was proper to go. But she agreed with us that she would go and take us if Mrs. Kendrick thought it was proper. So we went. We all enjoyed it very much. I have always heard that Buffalo Bill was worth seeing, and so it was, but, like the circus, I think I should not care to see It more than once. I think Buffalo Bill's was better than the circus. Ray told Miss Macurdy that all the best peoplein Chicago went to see Buffalo Bill, but this did not do much to raise it in Miss Macurdy's estima- tion, for her knowledge of Chicago people was limited, she said, to what she had learned from a Boston friend of hers. This lady told her about meeting a wealthy Chicago man, and the only sentence of his conversation which she reported was this: ' Then up I gits and jumps on my horse." But that was enough for Miss Macurdy. Since then she has looked on Chicago people with abhorrence. Miss Macurdy amuses us so much some- times- I used to read jokes about Boston people in the newspapers, and thought them all very much exaggerated, of course. But Miss Macurdy certainly goes far ahead of anything I ever read about Boston intellectuality. The great event of this week wasour Tree celebration. The Sophomore class chose a tree and put on it their class crest in bronze, with appropriate ceremonies, and then when they are Seniors, they bury their class records beneath this tree. We dressed up last night as darkies, and such a sight as we were! We wore the gayest striped underskirts we had, and the oldest and brightest waists. Belle wore my dressing sack - that tight flannel one, but as she is much thinner than I, there was room for two sofa pillows - We also wore red and orange sashes. £ made use of that big hat of Aunt Allie's, trimmed with red and blue ribbons and yellow and purple flowers of Ray's. We blacked our faces and hands in great style and ran out through the corridors, spied only by our next-door neighbors - The Freshmen cameout to bother us - and also some Juniors - because we are supposed to have our fun with no other classmen around. The Freshmen were waiting outside the gymnasium, where we were assembled, ready to march to our tree. They grew quite impatient waiting for us, for every once in a while they clapped and told us to hurry up. At last we silently departed out of the back door, leaving the Freshmen in front. But they soon came after us, and in the midst of our program joined hands and ran around us in a circle. But after this they subsided - especially since Ray yelled to them to make their circle into an eclipse. At the tree we all gathered close around and the President of our class "called the meetin' to order", and said that the "minutes ofde last ten meetin's would be omitted." This raised a shout, because in our last class-meeting some one remarked that all our minutes had to be read and approved before our Senior year - and they have almost always been omitted, in fact I have only had to read them once since I have been Secretary. So some one moved that we spend a few minutes reading back minutes, and I read all the minutes for the last ten meetings or so. Then Ray made the Tree Oration, which I need not describe, as it is printed on the programme, though when she gave it, she added several more jokes- Jessie Thain made a short "Chain Oration" putting the chain which held the bronze crest, around the tree. These orations were interspersed with singing - Nancy McClellandalways makes up some songs for us to sing on every occasion - Then we went two by two, singing, to the gymnasium, where we were entertained by a "minstrel show" - The colored orchestra - Ray and fifteen or twenty other girls dressed as colored men - sat up on the platform, and enlivened the proceedings with occasional jokes and conundrums. Then there were "living pictures" - The Heavenly Twins - were the largest and the smallest girls in the class. "Two little girls in blue" were two of the tallest girls in the class, dressed in hideous shades of blue which would not harmonize. A "prima donna" also made her appearance, rigged out in stunning finery - and sang Home, Sweet Home, with all the affectation and languishing that could be put into it, and the tune only near enough to be recog-
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: June 2, 1895
Text: Vassar College. June 2. 1895. My deer sister,- I hope you are not having the kind of weather we are- I think it has been about 96° for the last few days. We had had cool weather for so long that we quite forgot what hot days were like- But now they have come and will probably stay with us during our examinations this week* We console ourselves with the hope that the teachers will lay to the hot weather say lack of intelligence on our examination papers- which wouldotherwise be too glaring to...
Show moreVassar College. June 2. 1895. My deer sister,- I hope you are not having the kind of weather we are- I think it has been about 96° for the last few days. We had had cool weather for so long that we quite forgot what hot days were like- But now they have come and will probably stay with us during our examinations this week* We console ourselves with the hope that the teachers will lay to the hot weather say lack of intelligence on our examination papers- which wouldotherwise be too glaring to be excusable- I have Latia tomorrow morning, one course in Greek Tuesday morning, another Tues- day afternoon, English Wedaesday morning. Chemistry Thursday morning aad Art History Thursday afternoon- Thea I am through- We have been doing what reviewing we could in the last two weeks: la the last three weeks X have had fifteen written lessons- aa average of one a day but they have not come that way- they have usually happened so that we have had two or three the same day- For each of these we have had to review from oae fourth to one-half the semester's work in a subject. I had a letter from mammafrom Zanesville, which I expect to answer, but did not get at ia time for it to reach Zanesville before she would leave- So she will be disappointed- I am so glad she weat to Zanesville, though I am afraid she is not staying long enough to get a rest. It is too bad papa was disappointed about going- when he needs the change too. Ray and I have bought our tickets home; we have not thought much about whether we will stop at Niagara Falls, for we have not had a chance to inquire into the particulars- and we have ao Idea about the route the Nickel Plate takes, since we have not seen a time-table.It seems to me that the girls who live nearest here are the craaiest to get home at vacation times- Some of them think that it is terrible for me to stay here almost a week after my last exam, when I have not been home since September. But I thought I would like to see what a college Commencement was like, and I will not have many chances. The girls say it is so much fun after the last examination- days of bliss- Kate Dunham says her sister Mary is coming Saturday, and after Commencement they are going to Boston for a week- Kate says she is beginning to wish she was going home this week- Ray has declared right alongthat after my last exam. I would suddenly pack up and go home, and not stand it till after Commencements but when I have said I am going to stay, 1 am going to. Of course I can not realise that I have had my last recitation for this years much less can I realise that my exams, begin tomorrow. But these next four days must go somehow. As I look back on the year it seems to have gone very quickly after all- My coming away in September is as distinct in my mind as though it happened yesterday - in fact some of the things that have happenedsince seem much farther away. The time has gone so much fester the latter half of the year, too- X can't deny that the first semester did drag, for it was such a never ending grind- But it is so delightful that at the end of a year we think mostly of the nice things and let them drown out the hard thlngs- We gave up the day yesterday to everything but study - The first Saturday this year which I have spent without studying at all. The Seniors had all their things for raising money— In the morning was the Senior Auction, when they offer forsale their furniture that they cannot carry home with them, mostly chairs, desks and tables. The chairs usually from 75 cents to a dollar, and desks from $4 to $9- Carrie and Ray and I together bought a pair of portieres of very good quality for $3.50. Of course we can use them for the two remaining years and then sell them for about the same price we paid. We also bought four very nice window shades for $1.50. That is all we shall buy, I think. I forgot to say in my last letter that X received by mail a piece of belt ribbon, which I suppose came from youas the printing looked like yours. Thank you very much - X have beea wearing it this week with my gold buckle. My red gingham will continue to be in service as long as this weather lasts. I am so glad X have it. Poor thing - it certainly is seeing its last days- Xa the afternoon yesterday the Seniors gave shows - admission This is the only time of the year when there Is an admission price to anything- bat the Seniors In this way help to pay some of their expenses- which amount to no small sum. I think If some outsiders had seen Katharine Reiley —the most clever and prominent of the seniors - dressed up as a negro in the minstrel show - singing negro songs and telling conundrums etc; they would scarcely believe she is the same girl who as President of the Students' Association made an address on Founder's Day* and who conducts the meetings of the Students' Association with such dignity and propriety, and who is to be one of the speakers on Commence- ment Day. In the evening we had some excitement net furnished by the seniors - the final match game in basket ball between'97 and '98- They were to have played in the morning, but concluded that the broiling sun might be the best tKfaig in the world for them, shining down on their bare heads - when they were exercising so violently- The game was the most exciting one we have had. '97 has always beat '98 before this, but last night '97 had to have five substitutes, so that although they worked hard, v98 beat them 13 to 12. Some of the girls in each of the classes were out as spectators - and cheered continually - '95 cheers for *97 and '96 for '98 - The girls made up all sorts of yells and rhymes - and 1imagine we sounded something like the audience at a baseball game - Only we were all students and not an outside audience. I should like so much to transplant Sunrise Hill to Cleveland for a few days - It is Just covered all over with daisies- more daisies than I ever saw before. Everything is so lovely outdoors now that it seems wicked to stay in the house. I was walking around today with Dora Roberts, one of the girls at our table.- whose parents are missionaries in Burmah- She is going to Clifton Springs Sanitarium this summer, to wait on the table - She cares more about getting her summerboard and lodging pro- vided, than in saving money - though she will get ten dollars a month- Three or four of the girls here were there last summer waiting on the table. They only have to work six hours a day. The waitresses are all students. Normal School girls, etc., so that it is not an unpleasant situa- tion. Dora is a little thing* but she has about as much "push and go" in her as I ever saw in a girl. Perhaps I wrote you about her making a wool dress during Easter vacation, which fits her like a glove and looks beautifully- She is an awfully nice girl- Lovingly your sister Adelaide. (Claflinj A week from Thursday morning.*
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: September 22, 1895
Text: Vassar College. Sept. 22/95. My dear Mother,— Here it Is my first Saaday afternoon at college this year, aad of coarse my first thought Is to write to you. I am pretty well settled considering the short length of time I have been here. I thing less fewer girls came on Saturday this year for almost everybody was here when I got here. We were so surprised to find our room changed, for Mrs. Kendrick had told us there was almost aolikelihood of it, aad we had not the least expectation of it. So...
Show moreVassar College. Sept. 22/95. My dear Mother,— Here it Is my first Saaday afternoon at college this year, aad of coarse my first thought Is to write to you. I am pretty well settled considering the short length of time I have been here. I thing less fewer girls came on Saturday this year for almost everybody was here when I got here. We were so surprised to find our room changed, for Mrs. Kendrick had told us there was almost aolikelihood of it, aad we had not the least expectation of it. So we each, as we arrived, proceeded directly to the room we had chosen- Ray opened the door and yelled "Where's Ad? " and X looked around, when I walked in, and aaw strange furniture, and yelled "Who's in this room", like the Big Bear. Some Freshmen have it. We are pleased about it now that we have gotten over being surprised,- and think It will be very well lor all concerned. When three g the same girls room together for three years they are not apt to make enough new friends, and that was oae of the chiefreasons why we tried last spring to get a single and a double, so that we would not be a Kathy and Minnie set. The rooms over here ^Strong Hall, are so very much pleasanter and more homelike, and the dining room here is lovely, and the things to eat are nicer partly because they are cooked In smaller quantity. My windows — two together they are — look toward the East - the same view X have had ever since X have been here- The morning sun shines in to make the day begin grayish drab, so that pictures are not so necessaryas ia the other building where many of the walla are glaring white. We had enough curtains between us so that I can hare a pair - and Carrie has a screen which they doaH need, and I am to use it to put In front of my washstand. The rugs here are always outlandish colors which swear with everything In a room - (I think they mast bay them up cheap on that account)- and my rug unfortunately Is no exception, so that I cannot expect anything to go well with It. You know my bureau ornaments are mostly yellow...lessons for tomorrow. X have no conflicts so that ray course will not be changed at all. One thing is nice. I have no recitation the first hour, so that I will not have to rush right after breakfast, and I think I will have time enough to get up from New York Monday morning so that X can epend Sunday there some time. It is so nice to see all the girls again, even nieer than I realized beforehand. I was particularly glad to see Mary Mac Coll. She Is Just as lovely as she can be. She has such an originalway of saying things - I was Messed at her account of her visit to Prof. Ely, whom she went to consult In regard to her course- Mary started to tell her name and situation. but just as soon ss Miss Ely knew she was out part of last year she said in her short decisive way, "Well, where have you been? " "Home," Mary replied. "What have you been doing? " Miss Ely asked, and Mary said, "Well I have been waiting for curvature of the spine, but I got tired of waiting so I came back to college." Miss Ely asked hor what she was doing while she was waiting, and Mary told her she was keeping house-Mary and Belle room together in a double over in the main building. Mary Ifi^Vc real well— I saw Katharine Dunham Saturday evening. She had been to town all afternoon and came home with her arms full of bundles. She has a cosy little room, and is making it very pretty. Miss Macurdy is not coming for a week or so because her mother is very sick, not expected to live. A number of girls have dropped out of our class, so that I think it will be a small class by the time we come to graduate. Dr. Taylor looks very well-I understand he is going to Europe just as soon as he gets things started here, in a week or so. Carrie Abbot was the first girl I saw when I came- She and Louise fngeraoll and Miss Hamburger (one of Miss Mittelberger's boarders, and a very nice girl apparently) are rooming together on the first floor in the main building. They were very glad not to be over at the Windsor- It is now time for the mail, so goodbye- This letter is very rambling- 1 just wrote as each thing occurred to me. With lots of love to all - and remember me to the neighbors and other friends— Lovingly Adelaide. ^Clsflin,Junior year 1895-6 Roomed in 42 Strong Hall - single
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: November 17, 1895
Text: Vassar College. Nor. 17. 1895. My dear Mother, — I have bean blessed with a good supply of letters this week - for which I wish to thank the writers. I imagine that Ed has learned to appreciate letters by this time - I don't see how any one can be away home from^ery long without learning it. Today is Carrie's birthday - She is twenty years old, aad feels as though she were taking a big jump in getting out of her teens* Ray and I made a little celebration for her by fixing supper for...
Show moreVassar College. Nor. 17. 1895. My dear Mother, — I have bean blessed with a good supply of letters this week - for which I wish to thank the writers. I imagine that Ed has learned to appreciate letters by this time - I don't see how any one can be away home from^ery long without learning it. Today is Carrie's birthday - She is twenty years old, aad feels as though she were taking a big jump in getting out of her teens* Ray and I made a little celebration for her by fixing supper for us three in their room last night. - We had poached eggs on toast, butteredtoast besides, strawberry preserves, which Ray's cousin in Brooklyn gave her when she went down there two weeks ago, - and some little puffs filled with whipped cream, which cost tha sum of one cent apiece. Don't you think that waa an elaborate birthday spread? Carrie appreciated very much tha little trouble we took for her, for she said this is tha first time In a number of years that aha has had her birthday celebrated, or has had birth* day came last year. Ray gave her a little spoon, which is very pretty. Gertrude Smith gave her a cup aad saucer, and Winifred Kirkland gave her a little dish for odds and ends, aad I gave her a pair of bed-slippers - which Ihad great difficulty to gat done, on account of the lack of extra time. Carrie has been wanting a pair very much, so of course I was glad to make them for her - as she has bean busy making a pair for her sister. We had a very hard time to keep things secret from Carrie; she is worse than a dozen little boys about asking questions at Christmas-time. The most fun we have had this week was last night, when some girls in our class carried out an idea of their own- You see the Sopho- more Party for the Freshmen was arranged for Inst night, and so all the members of those classes were to be over in the gym, but there was nothing to which the Seniors and Juniors had to go. Now a few girls in ourclass carried out an idea of their own- You see the Sopho- more Party for the Freshmen was arranged for Inst night, and so all the members of those classes were to be over in the gym, but there was nothing to which the Seniors and Juniors had to go. Now a few girls in our class were considering on Thursday even- ing about how they would spend Saturday evening, when one of them sug- gested that they have a take-off of the Marlborough-VanderbUt wedding! This was readily agreed to, and so they looked up the accounts of it which have filled the papers lately, and tried to arrange everything as nearly like the way it really was as circumstances would allow- Of course the preparations were very hasty - n>Mbt there was no time to spend tUl Saturday- Any Juniors or Sexfers who wanted to come were invited, but the whole thing was so extempore that ever so many did not hear about it- Well, I went a little before half past eight, down to thedining-room In this building- which the girls very fortunately were allowed to use- The tables were pushed over to one side and screens placed In front of them, while the chairs were arranged as in a church, with a center aisle- Seven hand- white gloves fc buttonhole bouquet, some ushers 'with Immaculate shirtfronts" and stiff collars met the guests at the door, aad offered them their arms and conducted them to seats In swell fashion- Most of the seniors had been bright enough to dress up as swell English or New York personages - and carried off their parts wdl— the costumes of course being extremely impromptu aad laugh- Mrs, William K. Vanderbilt able. The Duchess sf Marlboeeugh was represented by the largest girlin our class, aad was accompanied by her young son, who behaved In a conscious and top-loftical manner. As guests of honor their appeared the Prince of Wales aad Queen Victoria.' Queen Victoria was decidedly successful - a senior who looks a good deal like the Queen when she pulls down the corners of her mouth, aad who has somewhat the same height and figure. She had thought of taking that character only half an hour before It was time to go- But she scraped up some clothes that would do, made a crown which was quite imposing* from the blotter on her desk, and for a train took a portiere, which trailed way behind and was held up by Lord Dunraven. A lorgnette added much to her dignity aad to the effectiveness of her stare- As the royalparty swept up the aisle, the audience rose aad said "Long live the Queen," "God save the Queen.'" Soon after this strains of Lohengrlns Wedding March floated through the air, and pretty soon we saw a lot of choir-boys march in two by two, singing some ridiculous words to the tune of Lohengrin - Ray was one of the choir-hoys - they wore white skirts around their necks for surplices - Then while the singing kept on, the bridal party entered - the bridesmaids with blue trimmings - their hats large straw ones which the f96 girls had bought for their Hallowe'en party in their Freshmen year and which they have lent for various and sundry purposes ever since- The bride was really very pretty - covered by a veil of that dotted lacy material —I don't know its name — which ordinarily serves as Helen Peters9 bed-canopy! The groom, you know, wore a blue and white checked shirt (shirt waist in this case) and a grey and white checked coat (of Grace JLandfield's.). There were eight officiating clergymen, with surplices made of black petticoats etc., and a bishop, who had the purple bands in addition. The bishop performed the cere- mony - using a service written by two of the girls * beginning "We are here assembled to Join this title and this filthy lucre in the bonds of matrimony etc. The phrases were well adapted to the circumstances - for Instance, there was a noticeable omission after the words "for richer", and Instead of "until death do us part" were inserted the words "as long as we can"-When the time for the response came the groom drawled out "I fahncy yes", while the bride replied "X don't know but I will, don't ye know." As the procession marched out the choir boys struck up a dif- ferent tune, with words, written by one of the girls, making fun of marrying for wealth and trying to appear swell, and so on. Almost as much as the ceremony itself I enjoyed watching Mr* John Fox, the Southern writer, who had lectured to the college on the previous evening- He had come with Prof. Wentworth (only two teachers were there because the rest were at the Sophomore Party) and he did not know what to make of it* He appeared very much embarrassed at first and continued to appear very much surprised. He was heardafterwards to say that he was very much astonished, because he had had the idea that Vassar girls were very aristocratic aad would not think of such a thing as ridiculing the swell aristocracy. That myth about Vassar girls being aristocratic and proud seems to be spread abroad through the country, for I have heard ever so many girls say that their friends had that idea. I am sure nothing is further from the truth. Yesterday afternoon we had a treat in the way of a violin and piano recital, given by Mr. Marsick aad Mr. Brockway — both very celebrated, they say — Mr. Marsick certainly looks celebrated: he has almost as much hair as Fadarewski- Mr. Brockway looks like aa American and appears to be very young- He played twoof his owa com- positions on the piano- Monday afternoon Mr. Joseph Jefferson, the great actor, spoke, at the invitation of the Philalethean Society- He is an old man - more than eighty, they say- His voice sounded as though he had no teeth- like Mr. James Huntington's, but as a matter of fact he has a good- looking set of false teeth- He was a very interesting speaker - most of what he said being in the line of reminiscence. He played Rip Van Winkle in Poughkeepsie in the evening, and of course a great many of the girls went - as it is not more than once or twice a year that they get a good actor in this town. We felt quite deserted during the evening - it was so quiet here. Did I tell you about Mrs. Chant, of London, who spoke tous last Sunday evening about philanthropic work in London? She was one of the most charming English speakers I have heard- This morning Dr. Gordon of the Old South Church in Boston preached for us. He was very fine- He preached again this afternoon, at five o'clock, at his own request, X suppose, for I never knew of any one doing it here before- I think we have better preaching this year than we did last year. Our work In Biology Laboratory has been so interesting this week- Can you guess what we have been doing? Dissecting angle-worms! A few of the girls hesitated a little about It, but most of us took them right up In our fingers the first thing- They had been preserved in alcohol. We could see, when we had cut the worm open, the pharynx, aesophagus, crop, gizzard and everything so nicely- I never dreamed there was all that inside of a worm. Miss O'Grady told me my dissection was a ' beautiful" one!Lots of love to all the family- Adelaide. jClaflinj I know how Edie enjoyed hearing Miss Strong lecture, for she lectured, or rather, spoke informally, to our Hellenic society last year, and I was very much pleased with her-
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: December 1, 1895
Text: Vassar College. December 1. 1895. My dear Bess,— How it makes the time seem to fly, to write December 1. 2 We girls were just talking this morning about our Junior year being so far gone, and the end of our college course begins to seem near now.—and then we will be thrust upon "the cold, cold world"! But we are enjoying the present while we may- With this week Thanksgiving vacation has come and gone. The girls feel the need of Thanksgiving vacation, I think, for there is a long...
Show moreVassar College. December 1. 1895. My dear Bess,— How it makes the time seem to fly, to write December 1. 2 We girls were just talking this morning about our Junior year being so far gone, and the end of our college course begins to seem near now.—and then we will be thrust upon "the cold, cold world"! But we are enjoying the present while we may- With this week Thanksgiving vacation has come and gone. The girls feel the need of Thanksgiving vacation, I think, for there is a long stretch of work before it, without any interruptions. I feel sorry for Lou, having only one day vacation- I think the Women's Collegeis very stingy with their vacations. They might just as well do the way they do here: keep us good-tempered by giving us a good deal of vacation, and then get more work out of us while we are working. The girls took the bad weather with them and brought it back. For a week before the vacation It just poured, and then it stopped all of a sudden, and we had just perfect weather during all the vacation - rather warm and the sun shining very brightly all the time. Now it is cloudy again, and colder- We have not had the cold weather and snow that seems to have prevailed in most of the country. Our Thanksgiving Dinner was a sumptuous feast, as is usual on that occasion we had piles and piles of things, and very good things, too. The menu was very pretty - printed on rice paper which for sixty years was in the possession of the bank with which Mr. Vassarwas connected. It used to be used for bank-notes, but it was presented at this time by the bank officials- You will see mine in my Memorabilia some day. About three hundred girls were here: as usual we all ate in the dining room of the Main Building- Mrs. Kendrick was at her own place at the head of the first table; when Dr. Taylor is here, he eats Thanksgiving dinner with us and occupies that place. His son Dick, and Elisabeth Thelberg and baby Moulton were all there, and made that fact known once in a while by yelling- Dick Taylor is a very lively little boy, about five yrs. old now. He is so fond of Miss Wood, (the Librarian) who is taking care of Dr. Taylor's children while he is away. He calls Miss Wood "Gran". -She has grey hair, but does not look old- I think Dr. Taylor is very fortunate to be able to leave Dick in Miss Wood's care- I don't think any oneelse could manage him- They have started, now, the foundation to Dr. Taylor's house, and "the work is now to be pushed forward rapidly". The house is going to have a very broad front, much wider than it Is deep- This next Friday is "Phil," and Ed is coming up. I am getting his programme made out - Kate Dunham is going to have one promenade with him. There are ten in all, and I am going to have him myself for the first and last, and then apportion him to my friends for the rest. He says he can stay over for Saturday morning. Kate Dunham's aunt la Lockport seat her a box the other day- She seat her three lest year - awfully nice ones. This one had a great deal In it, - more than Kate could manage considering it was vacation and so not so many of her friends were here to help her eat it up, and then there was the Thanksgivingdinner besides. So Kate gave Carrie and me some to bring home, for which we were very much obliged - She gave us a little pint Jar of canned strawberry too, which is elegant. We eat it with toast at bed time. You know we make toast very easily, over the chimney of the lamp. Wednesday afternoon I went Into the swimming tank with Gertrude Smith and two or three other girls- We played around, and floated, and we tried to teach Gertrude to swim a little. We did not stay in but a half an hour, because it is not so invigorating to stay In the swimming tank as it Is to be in the waters of lake Erie. We are very much disappointed to learn that Miss Battantlne, the Gym. Director, is not going to teach us to swim, because she has not time any more. She says she canH possibly do It. We can make up groups. If we want to, and gotogether and teach ourselves. I have been quite busy this vacation - among other things I have fixed my Memorabilia, and darned my stockings, and washed and ironed my embroidery collar - Carrie has finished a dress-waist which she had on hand- She has made a whole winter dress all by hand - most of it during the summer. She has not been where there was a sewing- machine, you see- Ray is trimming a bat for Carrie now- The hat Carrie had last year Kay bought from her, and fixed it up for her own hat. You would have enjoyed being over at the Gym. Friday night - we were invited to come over - in fancy dress, if we pleased - to spend the evening there. A good many girls wore fancy dress - and many of them were better we usually see on fancy-dress occasions. Two girls, who are naturally pretty, sweetgirls, were fixed up as tramps, certainly no tramps ever looked more disreputable. Faust, Mephistopheles and Margariata were very good, too. One girl was Padarewski, and she really looked and acted so much like him that the girls all clapped when she entered. While we were ail sitting around on the floor, listening to a ghost-story which one of the Seniors was telling, Mrs. Van Sickle was cooking a kettleful of oyster stew over the fire in the big fire-place. When it was done, all the girls who were dressed as men had to serve the soup, or raw oysters, and pickles and crackers, to the rest. Then Mrs. Van Sickle threw popcorn balls all over the room, and we had to try to catch them. Still another eatable was provided, in the shape of a wedding cake,with a thimble (not a ring) inside. The one who got the thimble was to cue of the college songs. Miss Johnson, one of the teachers, got the thimble, but as she refused to give a solo, we all sang "Bryn Mawr may be more clever '- Just as we were coining home, we heard the girls cheering for Mrs. Kendrick. 'What's the matter with Mrs. Kendrick? " "She's all right!" "Who's all right? " "Mrs. Kendrick!" And so she is. Mrs. Kendrick conducted a short service in the chapel on Thanksgiving morning- She read us the President's Proclamation there. There was no service here this morning, but I did not go to town this time. Prof. Leach led the prayer-meeting tonight. We like to have her lead. Well, I must go to bed now and have a good sleep, for work tomorrow- I have been sleeping in Ray's bed during vacation. Except one night when Carrie slept up in my bed with me— Love to all from your sister Adelaide. (Claflin}
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: December 8, 1895
Text: Vassar College. December 1. 1895. My dear Lou,- This week my chief piece of news is that Ed has been up here. You know Friday was "Phil" — and I had invited Ed. to come up. He came in the evening, just before the lecture - when all the rest of the men came. The lecture was at half-past seven, by Joseph O'Connor - who, everybody says, is "a famous journalist," but I have not yet found anybody who ever heard of him. They tried to get a number of other lecturers first,...
Show moreVassar College. December 1. 1895. My dear Lou,- This week my chief piece of news is that Ed has been up here. You know Friday was "Phil" — and I had invited Ed. to come up. He came in the evening, just before the lecture - when all the rest of the men came. The lecture was at half-past seven, by Joseph O'Connor - who, everybody says, is "a famous journalist," but I have not yet found anybody who ever heard of him. They tried to get a number of other lecturers first, but couldn't. I heard that this man was the ninth one theytried to engage- And unfortunately they wished they had not suc- ceeded in engaging him, for he was extremely stupid as a lecturer - As a usual thing the lectures are humorous or light or interesting - in some way - because on such an occasion the audience needs something quite entertaining to keep their attention — For instance, the girls had their brothers or friends whom they had not seen for some time, and as the lecture was stupid, they could not resist the temptation to whisper- The subject of the lecture was literary style, and it was dis- cussed in just about the same way it would be in a rhetoric - the most commonplace definitions - etc.Of course there were a great many pretty dresses to look at - that and the singing by the Glee Club were redeeming features. There were ten promenades- I kept only one of Ed's for myself, because he was to be here Saturday morning- and distributed the rest among my friends- Mary MacColl, Katharine Dunham, Bertha Young, Maidee Traver, Carrie Abbott, Ray, Gertrude Smith, Carrie, and Jo Sleight. Each girl had a certain place for meeting her friends- the seats in the different parlors being all numbered - So at the end of each promenade Ed returned to our seat, and I went there too, to intro- duce him to the next girl he was to have.Kate Dunham took him to the Senior Parlor to show that to him - and he wrote his name In the guest book there. Ray's brothers, Charlie and Fritx, were here, also Mr. Capen, and so this whole crowd of us went in to refreshments together- I think Ray's brother Charlie came partly to see Mr. Capen, because he had never seen him before- I had a promenade with Mr. Capen, and had a very pleasant talk with him - He stayed over for Saturday, and went out walking with Ray, as he always does on his visits- The rest of us always leave the way clear for him and Ray. I saw Adalbert Bronson here as the guest of Annie Childsthe girl who visited them last Summer- Ed came out about nine o'clock Saturday morning, and he and I went out walking—up to Richmond Hill - from the top of which we can see all the country round- He took the 11:40 train back to New York- He said it seemed so funny to be around among girls, that he kept forgetting to take his hat off when I spoke to one passing- He said he had had to take off his hat in the street only once since he had been in New York, and that was when he had happened to meet the Bringhams. Ed said that when he woke up Friday morning he was undecided whether to come up here, because he had such a headache- He said he hadn't seen a well day for six weeks - he has had a stomach ache all the time, and lately he has had headaches with it- His head ached all the time he was up here- For all that, though, he said he had a very good time here, and One nice thing about it was that it was very good weather- we have not had any snow at all, except the little bit that we had over a month ago- It seems strange too, for we hear of snow in all other parts of the country- We shall be able to go skating in a day or two, I think - some beys from town were skating on our pond the other night and some girls early the next morning, but the danger signal is still up - The lake is frozenvery smooth and it will be fine skating- The gymnasium opened last week for regular gym. work— In the fall the basket and battleball teams play so much voluntarily and for others there is so much to attract them outdoors, that we take plenty of exercise outdoors, and gym. does not have to begin till it is too cold to attract us, except for accessary exercise, outdoors. I have heard hardly anything about the Women's College this year- I keep wondering what is going on there. None of the girls there have written to me, because I owe them letters, and have not had time to write to them. Do you see much of Carrie Hardy? Remember me to her the next time you see her, will you? And also to Nina Roberts and Alice Cage and Emilie—and Sadie Adams - I have not even written to her yet- Lovingly your sister Adelaide. (Claflin)
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: January 20, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Jan. 20. 1896. My dear Mother,-— I sit down at the close of this day to write to you, and wish of rest is very welcome. Closing up the term's work is no easy task - especially when we have two or three special topics to do. I have spent more than twelve hours during the past week working on my special topic in Greek, and I am not near through. I think Miss Leach expectedus to spend five or six hours on it, but we always find that on special topics we have to spend about...
Show moreVassar College. Jan. 20. 1896. My dear Mother,-— I sit down at the close of this day to write to you, and wish of rest is very welcome. Closing up the term's work is no easy task - especially when we have two or three special topics to do. I have spent more than twelve hours during the past week working on my special topic in Greek, and I am not near through. I think Miss Leach expectedus to spend five or six hours on it, but we always find that on special topics we have to spend about three times as much labor as the teacher expects. I also have a special topic in Latin to do, which I have not yet touched - that and my Greek topic must both be finished by the end of this week, in addition to getting the usual lessons of the week- You know our exam- inations are the week after this - beginning a week from tomorrow. I have six to take and they extend through four days. This time my subjects are the kind that need "cramming"-, especially History, Art History, Astron- omy and Biology - so you may be sure I will be thankful when a week from Thursday evening comes- Today we have had the privilege of three fine services- This manning Dr. Samuel Elliott of Brooklyn, preached. He is a Unitarian, but he didn't seem to have very Unitarian views. He spoke about Christ and quoted his life and teachings in apparently the same spirit that an orthodox minister would. I thought his sermon was very good, and I liked him personally very much because he was so earnest and enthusiastic and so anxious to help people. This after Dr. Thomson, a New York physician, son of the Dr. Thomson who was amissionary to Syria and wrote "Land and the Book"- spoke to us about the Armenian question, to show how such cruelties could be perpetrated in this enlightened age. His talk was not very much about recent affairs, but chiefly historical, - a sketch of the Mohammedans from their earliest history and their subsequent history, showing how all through they have been characterised by blood- thirstiness, how it has been born and bred and drilled into them, all through their history, to think that it is the greatest virtue to kill Christians. It was taught repeatedly by Mohammad himself in the Koran as well as in his own life,and it has been zealously lived up to by all his followers. Dr. Thomson said that one day in Arabia he was going along a street with an Englishman, when some Mohammedan boys followed them shouting something. The Englishman thought the boys were saluting them and felt very much flattered, till Dr. Thomson, who understands Arabic very well, Informed him that they were saying this: "How sweet, how sweet it is to cut the throats of Christians, how sweet." That was many years ago. Dr. Thomson was educated as a physician in order to be a missionary physician In Syria, but Just as he was on the point of going, someterrible massacres broke out In Syria, and his father wrote to him that they might have to flee at any hour, and that he had better stay in New York- He was very much disappointed, as he had been born and brought up In Syria and did not know a soul in New York. Dr. Thomson said that England, disappointed In her hopes of the cooperation of European powers In behalf of the Armenians, was just about to go ahead and do something with only the United States to back her, when "like a bombshell came the President's message about the Vene- zuelan Commission," which diverted the attention of England to a war scare and withdrew the backing and sympathy of the United States for England. Our next T. and M. debate Is on the question 1'Should England interfere In behalf of the Armenians? " This comes next Saturday. Prof. Ix>uis Dyer, formerly of Oxford, England, but now of Cornell, has been lecturing to us this week on Greek subjects. Friday night his talk was on the "Religion of Athena". This was not so Interest- ing as his lectures on Saturday. Saturday morning he read a metrical translation of his own of Euripides' Medea, -ft-Just girls who take Greek could go to this, so of course it was In a smaller room. Prof. Dyer's voice is much better suited to a small room- it is low andbeautifully modulated - one of the most beautiful readers he is, that I ever heard. We had Greek texts of the Medea to follow, so that we could see how well he translated it, especially in bringing the figures of speech over into the English- We all enjoyed it so much. Miss Franklin, one of the Latin teachers, who sat next to me, remarked that she had not been so happy for years.1 Saturday afternoon Prof. Dyer gave personal reminiscences of Dr. Jowett, Master of Baliol College, Oxford- but I could not spare the time from my special topic to go to this. Every one said it was very interesting. After the lecture Friday night, Prof. Leach gave the Greek girls a reception in the Seniorparlor, to meet Prof. Dyer. I think he is what you would call a "charming conversationalist." He talked so easily and pleasantly, and told interesting stories, for instance about the children Harvard of Prof. James - who teaches Psychology at Oxford One of Prof. James1 little boys, when he came home from the circus, was asked by his grand- mother what he saw there. He replied, "I saw a lion, and a giraffe, and a rhinoceros, but no conscious personality." Saturday night our table had a 'Waffle supper"- the first one we girls have been to since we have been in college. Immediately after chapel we went over to Mrs. Eidel*s - wholives in one of the cottages near here, and there we had a supper of waffles, chocolate, chocolate cake, and buttered toast. After we had all the waffles we wanted, we played "It"- whlch 1s the most fun of any game I know- Dr. Blair and Miss Epler were the ones who did not know the joke- Then we had short toasts, Miss Epler acting as toast-mistress, and all of us responding to a toast, in about two sentences. We walked to the cottage and back through "the pines a dark and lonesome path- safe enough on account of our numbers, but rather spooky. I have not time now to tell in detail about our "dissection". Monday afternoon we had a"clinic", with Dr. Blair as the instructor, and a little mouse, which Carrie had caught in her mousetrap the night before, as the victim. It was in my room, where Ray and Carrie and two or three other girls had gathered, and here we watched Dr. Blair dissect the poor mouse, just for the sake of seeing how the organs of the mouse were put together. It was purely voluntary. Carrie asked Dr. Blair to do it for us. None of the girls showed any signs of the proverbial "faint- ness" except Ray, who began to feel queer and left the room very abruptly. After she came back she tried to be very brave and insisted on pinning down the rat's skin and holding its tail out of the way, or anything else necessary.W e teased her about it very much. I got the handkerchiefs all right the other day. I find I have one of Edith's, which I will send back next week after it is washed. I just received Lou's postal about the Horace notes. I forgot all about them, and was sorry she did not remind me sooner. I hope it will not be too late cow. I will send them by the next mail. And I think I will put in with them, the napkins which I brought in September - now that I have the new ones. You wrote about the death of Mrs. Prentiss. Papa wrote me in November about the death of Mrs. Prentiss on Russell Ave. Do you mean this time Mrs. Perry Prentiss? You have all been so good about writing since Christmas. I have just revelled in letters. Love to all, Adelaide. jClaflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: January 26, 1896
Text: assar College, Jan. 26. 1896. My dear I*ou,— As it is your birthday tomorrow* I am going to write to you this week. Out of your teens.1 How old you are getting! I did not use to want to grow older. I used to want to stay a child, but now I would rather grow, so as to be of some use. Ed. asked me this week when the next birthday in the family was, so that he might celebrate it by writing, and when I read it, some- how I never thought of yours at all, but said to myself, "Well, there&apos...
Show moreassar College, Jan. 26. 1896. My dear I*ou,— As it is your birthday tomorrow* I am going to write to you this week. Out of your teens.1 How old you are getting! I did not use to want to grow older. I used to want to stay a child, but now I would rather grow, so as to be of some use. Ed. asked me this week when the next birthday in the family was, so that he might celebrate it by writing, and when I read it, some- how I never thought of yours at all, but said to myself, "Well, there's no hurry about that. He'll haveto wait till Feb. 26." So it is my fault that you don't get a birthday letter from him. We are all thinking about exams, now, - they come this week- I have two tomorrow, and one each day following - finishing up Friday afternoon. I*ots of girls are studying for them today: I am glad I feel free to take Sunday for a rest, instead of feeling as if I ought to study seven days in the week. I came near making myself unable to take exams, this week, by a little escapade la the gymnasium Friday afternoon. Gertrude Smith and I were working at a piece of apparatus without a padded mat under us - which we are supposed never to do- I was hanging by my hands -fewo-with my feet out behind me aadtwo or three feet above the ground when I lost my grip aad fell on the hard wood floor, my nose receiving most of my weight, against the floor. Everybody who saw me fall thought I was killed aad came running up, but I sat up instantly and told them there was nothing the matter with me* My nose bled a little and swelled a great deal, and the gym. teacher was afraid it was broken, but the doctor said it was not. They made me hold water to it, as hot as I could stand, for more than half an hour, to reduce the swelling and prevent it from turning black and blue. This remedy was very effectual, in fact too effectual, for the water which I held to my forehead wasso hot as to produce two blisters there. My nose is all right now - it has stopped hurting. The gym. teacher, before she attended to me, turned around to the other girls and said, "Now this will be a warning to all of you never to do this without a mat." Last night the officers of the Christian Association were nomi- nated. A committee of twelve were appointed by the Executive Board to name five people for President, and there were to be reduced to two by the Association - For the other officers two girls apiece were selected by the committee. I was one of the five chosen by the committee, but not one of the two selected from them by the Association. I am greatly relieved, for there is more work and responsibility tothe position of President of the Christian Association than to any other position in college. Especially while the Windsor is part of the college. The two girls who are candi- dates are Mary Dunning and Jessie Thain- I hope Mary will get it, for she is a lovely girl, aad has a great deal to her. She rooms next door to me. Ray 1s one of the two candidates for Vice-president- I rather think she will get it, for the other girl is not especially suited for that position. That is all the officers who are chosen from our class- The elections take place in about a week. I have been doing some work for Professor Moulton on the Hektograph- You know that is the thingwith which one sheet of writing is copied off on to & lot of other sheets, it is always written in violet- colored ink- The ink is very hard to write with, for it is sticky and does pan not £low easily, but the hektcgraph is easy to work. It is just a plato of very stiff gelatine stuff, which has had the writing taken off on it, and then you just take the clean sheets of paper and lay them on straight and take them right off again. I am going to do it between exams, as much as I can spare time. Some day this week I will send you "Seebohm's Era of the Pro- testant revolution"- for you will need it for history of the Reformation - It is a very useful book. The weather has been rainy for the last few days, so that the skating has been spoiled. I hopeit will freeze again soon- Last week some of the girls, led by Prof. Wentworth and Prof. French, played "shinny" on the ice, every day- It was lots of fun to watch them, but we had hard work to keep out of their way sometimes- Miss Epler asked me to go skating for a half an hour before breakfast the other morning- so that we had to get up in the dark, but when we got up we found it was raining- Iwas rather glad. That was very sad about Mr. Harris* little girl. I think it was mean not to let him see her. Give my love to the girls at college. Love to all the family toe. Your loving sister Adelaide. (over)Just as I was addressing the envelope, I heard somebody in the corridor say "there is a fire down in Ray Schauffler's room" I had just come up about five minutes before, leaving her on her bed, sol wondered what she could !iave been doing- She had got up to write a letter, and after she lit the gas she threw the match in the wastebasket. The wastebasket biased up and she took it up and carried it into her bedroom where there were two loose rugs, and covered it, and then put water on and called the girl next door to help her, and so they easily put it out without spoiling anything else- The maid who was watching the corridor discovered it immediately on account of the smoke, which filled the corridor- I guess Ray will get something else to throw her matches in-
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: February 2, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Feb. 2. 1896. My dear Mother,— A hard week Is over aad a comparatively easy week is before as. Our exams, were harder than usual, aad also harder to prepare for. Our exam, in Thucydides was the worst. Miss Leach gave us for the first question a passage to translate, which was the very hardest passage In the book. Some of the girls had Just reviewed It, but a good many * Including myself - had not looked at it since we had it about two months ago. ft was so long that I had done...
Show moreVassar College. Feb. 2. 1896. My dear Mother,— A hard week Is over aad a comparatively easy week is before as. Our exams, were harder than usual, aad also harder to prepare for. Our exam, in Thucydides was the worst. Miss Leach gave us for the first question a passage to translate, which was the very hardest passage In the book. Some of the girls had Just reviewed It, but a good many * Including myself - had not looked at it since we had it about two months ago. ft was so long that I had done less thanhalf of It by the time an hour and a half had passed. Since we can have only two hours for our exam, I decided that X had better leave it and go on to the next question. So X wrote on my paper "I have spent an hour and a half on so much, so I am going to leave out the rest of this translation"- then I went on to the next question, aad had time to do about half ot it. Hot a person in the class had time to begin on the third question, and there were seven questions In all. X guess Miss Leach repented giving us that first question, for she couldn't have a chance to see what else we could do. Two of my examinations came on Monday and one each daythe rest of the week. Some of the girls studied about four hours for each one, but X did not have time, because X went over for two hours nearly every day to help Prof. Moulton with some hektograph work. X did some copying for him at Thanksgiving, and as the sine of my handwriting suited him he wanted me to write for the hektograph work. I was glad to have a chance to learn to use the hektograph, It waa quite interesting, I never knew before what kind of a thing it was - it is a flat pan filled with a stiff gelatine substance, to which you transfer your writing, aad then trans- fer it from there to other sheets. For Astronomy, which came Friday afternoon, we studiedthree or four hours. We had to cram on that, for it is a lecture course entirely, so that there is no occasion to learn anything during the year, though we had to read aad take notes every week. On that exam, we had ever a chance to tell everything we^heard of - it was so very comprehensive. It is not very pleasant to have an exam. Friday afternoon, for by that time nearly everybody is through, and enjoying themselves. In fact some girls got through W ednesday- Ray got through Thursday, and early Friday morning she went down to Brooklyn to her cousin Mary's- where Mr. Capen and Harry were to be also. I hope the changewill do her good,- I think seeing Mr. Cfipen will work a cure- For Ray has not been very well lately- She nearly fainted in her first exam, and has felt rather queer all the week. Yesterday afternoon Carrie and I went down town- I had to take my watch, which stopped all of a sudden the other day and would not start up again- I had not done anything to it, so I concluded it needed cleaning, and the Jeweler said that was what was the matter. This morning Carrie and I walked into town to church. It was miserable walking, you had to look at your leet all the time to keep them out of water. But the air was so fresh and the day so clear that we enjoyed it. Wewent to the Presbyterian Church. They have a new minister, but we did not like him very much, because he was so dramatic and emphatics. are away from college between semesters, so we had a service of song instead. My program for next semester is a little more convenient than last semester's, but our work is still rather scattered because we have history from quarter of four till quarter of five. Miss Salmon insists on having it then, because she can get more done during the day by having her recitations at the end of It, but the girls all dislike it very much. We cant get so much done during the day soso long as we have history still hovering over us. Here is my schedule: Tonight the Bible lecture was omitted, because so many girls Moil I 8.30 n HI 9.30 10.30 Gym- IV V VI vn 11.30 1.45 2.45 3.45 Greek Biology Wed. Gym, Tues Greek nasium Psych- Laboratory Lab. ology work Greek Biology History History Th. Greek Psych* ology Greek Gym History FrL Psych- Lab. ology Lab. Biology Feb. 2, 1896 - 4 Give my love to the neighbors and friends- Love to all Adelaide. (Claflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: February 23, 1896
Text: Vassar College. February 23. 1896. My own dear Father,- This letter shall be a birthday remembrance lor you, and takes to yon all the best birthday wishes I can think ol, with hopes lor many happy returns ol the day- 1 suppose you had a little vacation and rest on Washington's birthday- Coming on Saturday it did not give the school-children a chance lor it, I suppose. But we would not have it II it came on any other day, lor you know the Faculty decreed last year that it broke into our...
Show moreVassar College. February 23. 1896. My own dear Father,- This letter shall be a birthday remembrance lor you, and takes to yon all the best birthday wishes I can think ol, with hopes lor many happy returns ol the day- 1 suppose you had a little vacation and rest on Washington's birthday- Coming on Saturday it did not give the school-children a chance lor it, I suppose. But we would not have it II it came on any other day, lor you know the Faculty decreed last year that it broke into our work too much to have a holiday then.OI course we don't have Uncoln's birthday either. Friday night we had a treat ia the shape ot a lecture by Dr. Albert Shaw, the Editor ol the "Review ol Reviews". His subject was Washington, but he did not tell the usual things about him. He spoke about what our nation today owes to Washington. The lour great ser- vices which Washington rendered were: lirst, he decided the relation ol the colonies to England, namely, that they should be absolutely independent instead of being like Canada to England, or Cuba to Spain, second, he guided the lew small colonies through a war with a great Empire: third, he assimilated aad united into a harmonious whole all the varied elements in the colonies,and in the lourth place, most important ol all, he instituted aa American policy, which was sound aad unique: in financial matters he instituted the doctrine ol sound money: in foreign relations he instituted the policy of absolute non-interference in European affairs, for which he was very much censured.- and in regard to England he insisted on maintaining as amicable relations as possible, and advocated settling all disputes with her by means of arbitration. In these respects he was far ahead of his times, and Dr. Shaw said that a great deal of the credit for our Americaa foreign policy and insistence oa arbitration and desire for peaceful relationswith England, ought to be given to Washington — more than is uaually givea to him. His was one of the best lectures we have had for a long time; Miss Salmon told us beforehand he would be very good, and so we were waiting for him in an expectant frame of mind- He arrived late; and while we were assembled waiting for him a few girls in front arose and started to sing America. Of course all the rest of us immediately stood up, and we sang the four verses. Dr. Shaw has a rather disaggeeable voice, which grated on me at first, but I soon forgot all about it. He is quite a young man, and was born in Ohio - in New London- He has a very sweet-looking little wife, who came along with him. Dr. Shaw stayed till lastnight, so that he saw us all dressed for the "bal poudr£"- You know every Washington's birthday we have a Martha Washington ball. We come down to dinner in our Martha Washington costumes, about half the girls dressing as men, and then we omit chapel service - which would seem rather incongruous, and then go over to the gymnasium building about half past seven for the evening- Over here in Strong we all marched into the dining room by couples, singing America. Just as on Lincoln's birthday we sang national songs, and war- songs, while we were waiting for dessert,- or eating it. The girls at some table would start up some song, aad all the rest of us join in Immediately. So we sang song after song-After we finished "John Brown's Body", one of the girls started "Hang Jeff Davis on the sour apple tree"- to the same tune. While we sang it I saw two or three Southern girls looking mad, and I thought it was rather mean of us to sing it. Of course we sang "Star-Spangled Banner", "Marching Through Georgia" and all the rest too. la the morning before breakfast some of the girls went through all the corridors singing the national songs — like Christmas carols. Over at the gym. they had tableaux— Courtship of Miles Standish, Washington's Inaugural Ball, The Hatchet Episode etc. The girls do seem to get up such fine costumes in such a short time. Of course we sll have lots of studyingto do every Saturday, so that we can't spend much time on costumes. There were some old dresses of silk - heirlooms, no doubt, but very often costumes improvised out of odds and ends of nothing presented a much better appearance. I wore the green calico of Edie's, with a fichu, and a white cap; my hair high and powdered* with cornstarch- Carrie was my escort, with a black coat and gorgeous lace front, and hat three cornered with a long ostrich plume on it, and a short skirt. When we went over to the main building, Carrie caught sight of a real man, and was so embar- rassed that she turned and fled, and did not put in an appearance again during the evening-This morning we had a minister from Buffalo, Mr. Gilford- He had some very good thoughts, but was unfortunate in his use of figures and illustrations — they were so striking and sensational as to divert atten- tion from the thought. When he said that some people used the Holy Spirit as a "Divine dose of opium, or ecclesiastical chloroform", I was disgusted. He was also unfortunate in his wording, when he was speaking of the hero- ism of 'fishing for men", he said "you could catch a dozen fish in half an hour, but you may have to fish for several years before you catch a man." Such a wording as this. In addressing an audience of young women, proved too suggestive, and most of the girls, hitherto very well-behaved,not restrain a smile. Mamma was inquiring about Kate Dunham a while ago. Tell her that she seems to me to be pretty well. She says she is as well as she has been for the last two or three years. She went down to Newburgh Friday to stay over Sunday with Miss Gouldy, who was up here last week- You know Miss Gouldy visited Miss Sutliff in Cleveland. I did not get a letter from Mamma this week - I think something was the matter with the mails yesterday, for very few letters came. X am waiting impatiently for one of your new photographs. I hope they are good- With love to all the family from your loving daughter Adelaide. jCalflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: March 8, 1896
Text: Vassar College. March 8* 1896. My dear Mother,— I have put off writing today, till nearly bedtime, for 1 have been reading aloud this afternoon and evening to Winifred and Gertrude. You know Winifred has been In Brooklyn for a week, resting, and Just got back here Friday night. When she works too hard, she gets pains in her head and has to stop studying. Ray went down to Brooklyn yesterday; her brother Charlie was there and telegraphed for her to come dowa. She will come back tomorrow morning...
Show moreVassar College. March 8* 1896. My dear Mother,— I have put off writing today, till nearly bedtime, for 1 have been reading aloud this afternoon and evening to Winifred and Gertrude. You know Winifred has been In Brooklyn for a week, resting, and Just got back here Friday night. When she works too hard, she gets pains in her head and has to stop studying. Ray went down to Brooklyn yesterday; her brother Charlie was there and telegraphed for her to come dowa. She will come back tomorrow morning-She has been down to Brooklyn quite often this year. Mr.Capen came here Friday night aad stayed till Saturday noon. Tomorrow is Ray's birthday, and Mr. Capen's mother has sent her a box of things to eat. It is now reposing down in Ray's bedroom, for she made us promise not to open it, till she got back. We are afraid there Is something In it that will spoil, but we have to wait in patience till tomorrow. It will be a welcome relief to have a little of something different to eat, for the food has been rather limited and monotonous lately. I don't blame the girls who are well-off for going to Smith's to dinner frequently. Ray will be only twenty tomorrow.It seems as If she ought to be two or three years older. Gertrude, Winifred, Cariie and I chipped in together and bought her a pair of silver embroidery scissors for a dollar and a half. We went to all the jewelry stores in town; the stock at some consisted of one pair, at others of two, and finally at the place where we made our purchase, we found three pairs, and the pair that we bought waa the only one in town that we liked. Kate Dunham and I have written to the Margaret Louisa to reserve ^ rooms for April 3. That is Good Friday. Kate wants to stay till the following Tuesday evening. I have not decided whether to stay so long, but of course I can simply take the train and comehome whenever I feel like it. We have to engage the rooms so far ahead, for last week they wrote that they had no vacancies tUl after March 21, but we do not have to tell till we get there how long we are going to stay. The time that we spend there will be the last part of vacation, which lasts from March 27 to April 8. You see we will be in New York on Easter Sunday. Ed. does not yet know when his vacation Is going to be, but I could not wait any longer for him to find out. Ray is going to spend her Easter vacation partly with her grand- mother, in Springfield, and partly with the Capens in Jamaica Plain. Carrie did intend to go down to New York with me, but her mother has written her that themoney is getting reduced, and that she must be aa economical as possible, so she will stay here all the vacation. Friday evening we were to have had a lecture by Prof. Wheeler of Cornell, on "Athenian Sepulchral Monuments and Epitaphs", but at dinner time came word that Prof. Wheeler had the measles, and there- fore could not come. Miss Leach had arranged a reception for him, to which she had invited all the faculty, and for which she had provided ice-cream. She had her party all the same, so as not to waste the ice- cream. I have been working so hard on special topics. They always take just about three times as much time as the teacher allows. We have to have one in Biology ready for today. We each havea certain subject to look up, and then when we come to class, Miss 0*Grady calls on certain girls to deliver theirs. And each girl has to go up on the platform and give it just as if she were the teacher, without looking at her notes, and doing experiments or drawing pictures on the blackboard to ilUistrate. No one knows beforehand who is to be called on. My sub- ject is seeds of plants: how they are protected and preserved, and how they are scattered and carried through the air, and how different seeds are adapted to different surroundings- It is an extremely interesting subject. We have been having a number of special topics in history. We are working on one this week too. I have to look through twelve volumes, and take down allthe things which either prove or disprove that the wars between England and France during the Eighteenth Centaury were due to the expansion of England in America and India. I feel like Samuel Weller, when he said, "But whether it*s worth while go in* through so much to learn so little, is a matter o•taste". We are all impatient to have next week come, for a week from tonight the Honors will be announced. We cant guess so well about this class - who will get them - as we could about the class last year. Prudence Sherwin is coming here to visit Kate Dunham and Irene Easter Lawrence, just beforeAvacation.- in about two weeks. Kate says her Aunt Belle has not decided whether to come home in time to see Kate graduate, or to stay over all summer. But she will probably stay over, as Kat&'a Uncle Cal sailed the other day. Lovingly Adelaide. jClaflin j
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: April 13, 1896
Text: Vassar College. April 13. 1896. My dear Mother, — I mm writing this time on Monday morning before break- fast, because last evening, which I intended to spend in writing, I spent over at the W indsor. You know the Sunday evening prayer-meetings over there are led by some girl from the Junior or Senior Class here, who takes along two other girls to take part and help the meeting along. So last night X was asked to go along. The Sunday Evening prayer- meetings over there are very small, because...
Show moreVassar College. April 13. 1896. My dear Mother, — I mm writing this time on Monday morning before break- fast, because last evening, which I intended to spend in writing, I spent over at the W indsor. You know the Sunday evening prayer-meetings over there are led by some girl from the Junior or Senior Class here, who takes along two other girls to take part and help the meeting along. So last night X was asked to go along. The Sunday Evening prayer- meetings over there are very small, because, to begin with, there are only fifty girls left over there now, and then since they areso near town, a good many of them go to church in the evening, and then, too, a smaller proportion to the whole number stay there than here, anyway. The Freshmen over there are quite a problem not only to the Christian Association, but also to the Self-government Committee. You see, without any upper-classmen to influence them, they are Just like boarding- school girls, who try to break all the rules they can and make all the noise they can. And that won't do under Self-government. The Students1 Association expects to have a time with them next year when they get over to the main building. For these reasons it is very unfortunate for the college to have to have girls over at the Windsor. They say that one hundred and seventy girls have already paid... {Adelaide Claflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: April 19, 1896
Text: Vassar College, April 19. 1896. My dear Lou,-- "On the nineteenth of April in *75, Hardly a man is now alive"--- (The date Just reminded me of that). I hope you are not having it so warm In Cleveland as it is here: - especially as we had It so cool in the Easter vacation we notice the change more. For we have jumped from winter to the middle of summer without any spring. A week ago I took off my winter dress and winter cape, and put on all my summer clothes — a moresudden change...
Show moreVassar College, April 19. 1896. My dear Lou,-- "On the nineteenth of April in *75, Hardly a man is now alive"--- (The date Just reminded me of that). I hope you are not having it so warm In Cleveland as it is here: - especially as we had It so cool in the Easter vacation we notice the change more. For we have jumped from winter to the middle of summer without any spring. A week ago I took off my winter dress and winter cape, and put on all my summer clothes — a moresudden change than I ever made before, but it was unbearably hot otherwise. I now have on my white dress and no more under it than I wear in August. There were not two days In which a spring Jacket could be worn — at first because it was too cold and then because it was too hot, so that I found it much easier than usual to dispense with that luxury. I suppose we may expect cooler weather pretty soon-— at least I hope so, for 90° in the shade is not particularly inspiring to studying. I was glad yesterday that I was not one of those who were play- ing basketball, we are having match games in that now, every Saturday till Field Day, which is oa the ninth of May. These matchgames are about the most exciting things that occur during the year. We all want our own class to beat and get the championship. Our class were the champions last year, so we are doubly anxious to keep the honor for this year. I think Kd would very much enjoy watching one, but they don't allow men to be present—-except the professors who wish to come. Our team beat yesterday the team of '98. Carrie Abbott is Captain of the team of '99. Ruth Mears is on the team too. So many things are happening now, and will be till Commencement, It is very inconvenient that at the same time we should be given special topics in everything, which take a great deal of extratime. Tutoring four or five hours a week of :ourse takes time too, but I shall be through with that about the first of May. This coming week will be very full. In the first place we are going to draw for rooms for next year tomorrow, and that always causes a great deal of excitement. For of course you have no idea whether you are going to get a very good room or a very poor one. Since I am going to be in a parlor with Ray and Winifred, we stand a great deal better chance for a good room than if we were going to take singles, for very fe^ girls want parlors, and nearly all the class are going in for singles. Some day this week President Taylor is coming home; we don't know till the time comes, just when the steamer willarrive. But when he gets here, we are going to give him some big kind of a celebration -there is a committee of Faculty and students in charge of it.—I have even heard rumors of a half-holiday. We shall be so glad to see Prexy again. I went through his house yesterday afternoon - The frame- work is all up and the roof on and the chimneys finished, and now they are at work putting the bricks up on the outside. They are about half way up now. I had an idea thaA in the brick houses I have seen built at home, they built up the outside brick wall before they made the frame- work inside. Is that so? Next Saturday evening in the chapel there is to be an open debate between three member? of "Qui Vive", the Senior Debating Society, and three members of our "T. and M.M Ray is to be the leader on our side. We have not all of our best debaters on, for some of the best ones withdrew their names when they were nominated. The subject is come- thing about the foreign policy of the present administration, but I do not know just how It is worded. I think the Seniors will beat us, for I think they debate better than they play basketball. Our next regular meeting of T. and M. is going to be very interesting. Instead of a regular debate we are going to have a Republi- can National Convention, and nominate a President and Vice-president of the United States. Gertrude Smith is at the head of it, and she together with the other five girls who would otherwisedebate, will run the thing nominating and make the-artwMjr speeches. It is impossible, or rather Impracticable to let the girls represent the state that they really come from, for so large a majority come from New York State, and ao many States are repre- sented by only one girl. So the corridors have been divided among differ- ent states in such a way that fourteen states will be represented, (wirich will be easier than forty-five) aad each state will have a delegation in proportion to its number of representatives in Ceng res*. Then all the Republicans who have been talked of for the Presidency will be nomi- nated by their State delegations, Morton by New York, Reed by Elaine, McKinley by Ohio, etc.1 am \ery sorry that L shall not have the pleasure of supporting McKinley, but I have to be from Pennsylvania and I suppose will be expected to support Senator Quay. Then we will have the ballots taken — at first informal ones, and then formal, just as the convention does- It will be lots o£ fun, I think. This too, will be a sort of prelimi- nary to the campaign which we will carry on next year. For the Presi- dential campaign comes once, of course, during every girls1 course, and is celebrated with a great deal of enthusiasm, and voting booths are arranged and the whole college votes— I am glad ouiswiU come during our Senior year, for we will be "in it" match more than if we were Freshmen.Yesterday 1 sent to Miss Adams the new number of the "Vassar Miscel- lany"— which is the first one under the new board,— I mean the girls in our class are now at the head of the board of editors, and so, according to the usual custom, the contributions for that number are only from the Junior and Freshmen classes. It is an unusually good number, I think. The minister this morning was from Auburn Theological Seminary, and he had not much life to him. hi fact I thought his ser- mon was quite dry. I hope they are not all like that there. His name is Dr. Darling, or Dowling. I did not exactly understand which. Thursday night at the missionary meeting we hadone of the Secretaries of the Student Volunteer Movement, Mr. Pitkin, who was extremely interesting and earnest. We had one of the other Secretaries last year, and another one the year before, but I liked this one the best of the three, by far. He is going out to China in the fall. I am so glad Edle is going away, if it is only to Portsmouth, (and I don't know just where that is) - for even that little change will do her good- I suppose. She simply must go away for a change and rest this summer. JLater. I have just come back from prayermeeting and liked Dr. Dowling very much better in that. After prayermeeting I stopped in at Miss Leach's and hadlovely talk with her. She told me that before Prof. Fuller was appointed at the Women's College, Pres. Thwing asked her to come and be at the head of the Women's College and teach the Greek. But she did not know much about him or the college and thought it was rather an uncertain thing to chance from here where she is sure of her position. She also told me something that will be of interest to yon if you do not already know it. Miss Perry met Mr. Lee while she was travelling in Europe with Miss Salmon, and at that time Mr. Lee was engaged to some one else. I do not know what became of the other person. I hope Mrs. Handerson and her family are faring better than at last reports. And that Clarence will get overhis whooping cough easily— There are two cases of measles here- Love to all the girls at college and love to all the family. Your sister Adelaide. tClaflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: April 26, 1896
Text: Vassar College. April 26. 1896. My dear Mother,— Today I write your birthday letter, to wish you a very happy sixtieth birthday, and a happy year to follow. How I should like to be at home to celebrate it- This is the last birthday before I get home. We are having such beautiful weather now—we want to be out- of-doors all the time - but there is so much that keeps us indoors. Ray and I have taken a membership in a Wheel Club - which means that we each rent a wheel for an hour three timesa...
Show moreVassar College. April 26. 1896. My dear Mother,— Today I write your birthday letter, to wish you a very happy sixtieth birthday, and a happy year to follow. How I should like to be at home to celebrate it- This is the last birthday before I get home. We are having such beautiful weather now—we want to be out- of-doors all the time - but there is so much that keeps us indoors. Ray and I have taken a membership in a Wheel Club - which means that we each rent a wheel for an hour three timesa week, at the rate of seventy- five cents a month. I think I can learn to ride, and get seventy-five cents' worth of fun out of it. The wheel has not come yet. We were very much excited yesterday, because our class suf- fered two important defeats,—the first in the afternoon when we lost a match game in basketball with '96, and in the evening, when we lost the debate between T. and M. and Qui Vive. We had no expectation before- hand of winning the debate, because we have practiced debating only this year, while Qui Vive had had practice a year longer— But the game in basketball we had expected to winbecause we have never been beaten but twice in basketball. '96, however, was desperately determined to win. and played the fiercest game I ever saw them play—so that the game was very close indeed, but they finally made a point just before time was called. W e were actually ready to weep, we were so disappointed- As I said before, we did not expect to win in the evening - especially as we had changed leaders three times, and Ray was the only one of the originally appointed debaters left. So of course the girls who finally took our side did not have so much time for prepara- tion as the opposite side had. Ray was the leader on our side, andand the third member on our side was one of the girls who had played basket ball in the afternoon. She was so tired she could hardly deliver her speech- We were rather disappointed in her, for when she is not tired, she is awfully bright and funny. (She, by the way, is the daughter of an actress, but she is an awfully nice girl - Every one likes her so much, and she has so much common sense- Her name is Marie Reimer). Ray's first speech was fifteen minutes long, and was not so good as her final summing up speech, because she was rather scared at first, and she had to try to remember V^what she had written, while her second speech was extemporaneous, consisting mostlyof refutations, and In that she was just as bright and sweet as she could be. She spoke the nicest I have ever heard her speak in public- And some of the things she said were so cute they brought down the house. I dont mean to say her first speech was not good, for it was very good, and very clear and logical. The second girl on our side made a very good speech too, and was especially good at refutation. On the other side the leader was splen- did, the second speaker moderately good, but the third spoke entirely off the point. I think the other side showed more self-possession and ease in speaking, bnt I dont think their arguing was any better than ours, and Ithink our side was far superior to them in refutation. However they were enough better than us to have the judges decide in their favor. The judges were Prof. Mills, and two lawyers from town. Oh I forgot to state the subject of the debate, "Resolved that the foreign policy of the present Administration merits the disapproval of the country"- Our side had the affirmative. They would have been smarter to state the question aff "merits the approval" and then take the negative, for then they would have had the last word- Some of the Faculty thought it should have been decided la favor of '97, but of course we have to rest content that the decision of the judges was the best oae. The only times wehad hopes of winning was after the speakers had finished, and ours had done better than we expected and the opposition had not done so well as we expected. '96 fairly stood on their heads with joy at winning, for it is so seldom that they get ahead of us in anything. Well, I ought to have written first about Proxy's arrival but that has been so crowded out by later events that I was thinking it occurred a week ago. Of course there is a great deal of uncertainty in preparing for the arrival of an ocean steamer, but the committee had things so systemat- ized that they were telegraphed when the steamer was sighted, when the passengers landed, and when Prexy left the Grand Central for Pough- keepsie. The entrance and second corridor were decoratedwith rose and gray cheesecloth, and palms. Down in the entrance there was a big square pyramid of palms—to which Dick Taylor had added a handful of dandelions as his contribution to the floral decorations. Dr. Taylor was to arrive at the college about quarter past five, so at five everybody in college went out and we arranged ourselves in single line up and down each side of the road leading from the lodge to the front entrance, and we extended from the lodge nearly to the door. Then the Faculty and officers were all standing around the door. We waited till we began to fear Prexy was not coming then after all, but about half past five the carriage appeared, and the girls began to yell with oneaccord, "Welcome Prex, Welcome Prex, Vassar, Vassar, Vassar *s Prex!" All the while that the carriage was passing up between the two rows of girls, we kept yelling this, or else, "Rah.1 Rah! Rah! V-A-S-S-A-R. Prexy!" ——(prolonged) Then we all fell in behind the carriage and followed it up to the door, where we stood and listened while Prexy spoke a few words, telling how glad he was to get back, and how much he appreciated our hearty welcome. Then in the evening we had a reception arranged for the poor man, who must have been tired out- At this reception we all gathered first in the second corridor, around a platform which had been erected, and we sang a song which had been written for the occasion.Then the President of the Students9 Association made a short speech of welcome, followed by Prexy, in another speech, not very long, in which he said he was glad to be stand- ing-en* even on that platform, for he had been reeling for the past seven days- It seems they had quite a stormy passage, and he was seasick all the time. He looks a great deal better - aad is very brown. He met a great many friends who were living abroad, who showed him around, and he had a most delightful trip. Noae of the Faculty wrote him a single word about college matters while he was goae, so that his mind would have a complete rest from worrying about things. He says he enjoyed most the trip up the Nile, \in which he spent three weeks- I suppose he will tell us some time in chapel abouthis trip. After his speech Thursday night we all weat and shook hands with him,—after singing another song composed for the occasion. Saturday evening the Feculty gave a reception to Dr. Taylor, so that he had not much chance to rest - the Seniors having given him one on Satur- day afternoon in the Senior parlor. Well, we are all very glad to have him back again. Friday is Founder's Day, and we have a holiday- which means that I will be working all day on special topics— It keeps me busy to do all these things while I am tutoring four times a week. My tutoring will only last two weeks longer, though. I hope the whooping cough next door is vanishing - I thought you would want Ed to come home as soon as he could so I advised him to go.Can't you leave the house-cleaning till I am at home to help? With Edie as poorly as she has been, I do hate to think ol her attacking housecleaning, and you know I like housework. I have such a large part of the year without it that I don't get my share. My love to all the neighbors and friends- Tour own daughter Adelaide. ^Claflinj
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: September 21, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Sep. 21. 1896 My dear Mother,— I must write now as fast as I can to get this in before the nine o'clock mail. I have been so engaged with Freshmen that Z have not had time to write before, but I knew papa could tell you that Z arrived safe. The rest of the girls came on Tuesday, but there was not so much to be done that day so that it was all rightfor me not to get here till Wed. There were ten of us- Seniors Z mean, and our duty was to meet aew new comers and parents at...
Show moreVassar College. Sep. 21. 1896 My dear Mother,— I must write now as fast as I can to get this in before the nine o'clock mail. I have been so engaged with Freshmen that Z have not had time to write before, but I knew papa could tell you that Z arrived safe. The rest of the girls came on Tuesday, but there was not so much to be done that day so that it was all rightfor me not to get here till Wed. There were ten of us- Seniors Z mean, and our duty was to meet aew new comers and parents at the front door, find out what they wanted and take them wherever they ought to go- to Miss McCaleb's office, to Mr. Dean's office and to Mrs. Kendrick1 s office - all «*on dif- ferent floors, so that we were running up and down all the time. Zt has been very interesting work indeed, and Z am glad Z came to do it. All the time that Z have not been taking people somewhere Z have been stand-ing around talking to them, here and there, answering their questions etc. A chief part of the conversational efforts, has been to get hold of people who had to go to the Windsor and praise up the Windsor to them before so that they would be willing to go there and not take up a lot of Mrs. Kendrick's time in objecting to the Windsor. We have tried to save her time as much as possible for fche has had to be talking to people from morning till night since Tuesday morning.The parents are a great deal more talkative than the girls usually, and so Z have listened to a great many parents telling me their daughter's history, present and past. There were a number of girls whom I had heard about before- hand, one of them, Julia Tar box, a sister of the girl who roomed with Edith Penfield in Oberlin. She was a special proteglfor the first day or two, because she felt so badly— I had her sleep up here in Ray's bed room, and she wept on my shoulder most of the evening. But she was soon happily settled, for she has been put in a very nice room with two very pleasant sophomores for room mates. But since then we have had a worse case on hand - a girl by the nameof Miss Newborg - a wealthy German Jewess from New York City. She was so very home sick Satur- day noon that she went to Mrs. Kendrick and told her she must go home immediately and would never come back. Mrs. Kendrick tried to per- suade her to stay, but she could not seem to succeed, so she sent for me and asked me if we would be willing to keep her in our room over Sunday and tide her over the homesick period- The girl consented to come with me and we havehad her till just now- For the first hour or two in our room she would not say a word, but just nodded her head yes or no. - then finally she-said replied "Yes" to one question. The next step was when she volunteered a question, and by bed time she had progressed so far as to say that she thought she could be contented to stay if she could be in this building. Sunday morning she had X gone back a little and wept some- what, but the rest of the day shesteadily grew more cheerful and at bed- time said she was nearly cured. So this morning she has gone over to the Windsor! The class seems to me to be a very fine class- Libbie Poppleton is here as a member of it- I met her in the hall - and Florence Dowling too - One of the other Freshmen told me about her aad said her mother was here. As soon as I could findout where her room was I went there but she had just taken her mother to the train. I have not seen Florence yet. This other Freshman said that Mr. Dowling had just had a call to Toledo, and they are now moving there. We have not finished fixing our room, because Ray and Winifred did not get here till Friday night, and I had no time to spend till-yes* Saturday afternoon. I think we shsll have quite a pretty room. \ And it is very conveniently situated. Most of the girls in our class are back, but about thirty have dropped out of the Sophomore class- Ethel Chapman is here visiting Carrie Abbott - came Saturday night and will stay till this noon. X have not had time to see her much because Miss Newborg has been clinging to me- I was so glad papa could stop though he did not stay very long. I showed him most of the buildingsbut not much of the grounds- Ray says to tell him she wishes he had come while she was here- Ed says he and Wiers will stop off for two hours Tuesday afternoon. X have a Greek recitation then but Miss Leach said she would excuse me from it. I found the things I left here all right, and no moths. I have a time to find room for my clothes. X suppose Lou 1s settled at home by this time and will soon be started in college* Has GraceThum paid the three dollars yet? I lent her two books too, algebras - which I suppose she has returned by this time. We have our picture of McKinley on the outside of our door - where it looks very fine. It is time for the mail now, so farewell — Ray sends her love — and so do I - Lovingly Adelaide. jClaflin}Senior year 1896-7 Roomed in 117, Single Alley Way, Main 3rd South, with R.C. Schauffler & W. Kirkland
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: September 27, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Sept. 27. 1896. My dear Mother,— Now while I am alone I think it would be well to begin my letter, for I very seldom am alone. Winifred has gone to spend Satur- day and Sunday with some friends of hers who live ten miles from here. Ray has gone for a little walk with Marion Schibsby. Did I tell you last week about our Freshman, DaisyNewborg? She has been a good deal of a care this week- We thought last Sunday she was about cured of her homesickness, but Monday, after being...
Show moreVassar College. Sept. 27. 1896. My dear Mother,— Now while I am alone I think it would be well to begin my letter, for I very seldom am alone. Winifred has gone to spend Satur- day and Sunday with some friends of hers who live ten miles from here. Ray has gone for a little walk with Marion Schibsby. Did I tell you last week about our Freshman, DaisyNewborg? She has been a good deal of a care this week- We thought last Sunday she was about cured of her homesickness, but Monday, after being over at the Windsor for part of the day she came back to us and said she wanted to ask Mrs. Kendrick to let her go home to New York, to stay, and if Mrs. Kendrick would not give her permission she would go anyhow. I left her with Mrs. Kendrick, but pretty soon Mrs. K. sent for us end asked If we were willing to take her in again- Of course we were, and so she has been here off andon ever since. She has slept in our room all except two nights, but lately she has been spending most of the day in recitations or else at the Windsor, then she comes to us at regular intervals to be cheered up- We have decided now, however, that she has been coddled enough, and now we are going to be more severe with her. She is extremely grateful to us, and has twice bought us candy, and also a picture of St. Cecilia like the one Ed brought home last year. But wetell her now that she ought not to be with us so much, because if she doesn't hurry up and make friends with her own class at the start, she will find herself left out. We are plunged deep in lessons now, and from this time on we will always have more on hand than we can do. I wanted to change my course, you know, and they let me, so now I haveGreek, German, English, History and Ethics. The English is going to be the hardest for me; I took that Just because people are always talking about how important English is, and because Miss Wylle is such a very good teacher - but she expects so much from us that I shall always have a great deal of work on hand. The German is going to be fun, I think, though Winifred,who had it last year, says the course is a hard oae. For Ethics we have Dr. Taylor, aad in this we are very fortunate, for the last class had to have Prof. Freach, and Prexy is much more interesting than Prof. French. That is such a large class, all of '97 are in one division. We have now finished the furnishing of our rooms (that sounds as though the process -we-had beea quite elaborate.1). The trouble is we had to leave it in aa unfinished state from one Saturday to the next, for lack of time. But Ray aad X spent theafternoon yesterday on the bedrooms, which needed to be cleared up. Ed and Mr. Wiers came Tuesday afternoon aa X expected, but unfortunately it rained quite hard part of the time that they were here. X am so glad the weather did not treat papa in the same way. I showed them around most of the buildings and about as much of the grounds as I did papa. It waa just time for me to go to Greek class when they came. but Miss Leach said I used not come to class. Ed brought me my money all right, alsoBess's letter and the handkerchief, for all of which I am much obliged. Ray and I too were glad to see the home papers, and to read about Margaret Wright's wedding. This morning we listened to a sermon by Dr. Marvin R. Vincent, of Union Seminary. You know he gave us Bible lectures in our Freshman year. You know Ed doesn't care much for him, because he thinks he looks as ifhe had a good deal of wine. But this morning Dr. Vincent did not look so to me, aad I liked him very much indeed. We are to take the Freshmen to town to church next Sunday. We have been busy seeing to it that each oae is personally invited to go to church, and to come to the first prayer meeting, and to join the Christian Association. A great deal of system is used with theFreshmen. I hope Edie is taking a rest now that the rush of sewing for the summer is over. She has beea slaving over it so all summer. For her benefit I will say that the girls think the things she made are "very superior" (as Carrie says). A girl told me tonight that my redfern is "the nicest-looking dress I ever had", and as for that red cape which Edie labored over, Ray and Winifred are green with envy for it! I do hope she will sew something for herself when she begins again. Give my love to Mrs. Hendersonand Mrs. Sheldon and the Misses Wheeler, to t&y nothing of ell my own femily. I hope you will all hare as happy a year ae I am going to hare. "Being a Senior" makes a great deal more difference than I thought It would. The teachers and everybody are so very much nicer to us, just because we are Seniors, and they invite us more to come to see them. I went with Ray last night to see Dr. Grace Kimball. Tou know she is going to help Dr. Thelberg here. She has just come over from Turkey recently, fromher industrial relief work In Van. She Is a very fine woman, no one can look at her without admiring her, and she will be a great addition to the College. Florence Dowling has already established a reputation for being very fresh, and If she keeps It up, she will not be very much liked. I have spoken with her, but she was not at home when I called on her. I often see Libbie Poppleton in the halls, for she rooms in this building. Lovingly Adelaide. ^Claflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: [October 1896]
Text: (postmarked O r*. 26?, 1396, First sheet missing. We had a little leeway yesterday, when we did not go to Lake Mohonk, as we had expected. It poured so the night before, that they thought the horses could not pull us uphill, so they put off our trip till next Saturday. I am afraid it will be pretty cold riding all day so late in the season, ana I am. afraid too, that the leaves will all be gone so that Mohonk will not be so beautiful as it is earlier in the fall. But I would rather go then...
Show more(postmarked O r*. 26?, 1396, First sheet missing. We had a little leeway yesterday, when we did not go to Lake Mohonk, as we had expected. It poured so the night before, that they thought the horses could not pull us uphill, so they put off our trip till next Saturday. I am afraid it will be pretty cold riding all day so late in the season, ana I am. afraid too, that the leaves will all be gone so that Mohonk will not be so beautiful as it is earlier in the fall. But I would rather go then than not at all.There is to be a political debate that evening, between Ray and another Republican against two Free Sllverites, so Ray will have to stay home from Mohonk to get ready for her debate. Friday evening there will be the Hallowe'en parties, one given by the Juniors to the Sophomores, the other given by our class to the Fresh- men-— Ours is to be a masked affair, a "Masquerade Ball". I think I shall not go to it, for we would be -up" getting tired that evening, and then have to get up at half past five thenext morning to go off early on that long drive. It is very hard to find time for so many things. The week after next will be the Senior Parlor Opening. In the afternoon we have a reception there to the Sophomores, and in the evening to the Faculty. That means a little business for me, because as Secretary I have to write an invitation to each of the Facility and Post-graduates—-about sixty—five In all. Yesterday afternoon we had a bicycle parade by Republicans, and afterwarda race on bicycles, by two girls representing McKinley and Bryan. They rode from the lodge up to the front door, where "Uncle Sam" stood on a bench holding a paper representation of the White House, Of course McKinley beat, and seized the White House from Uncle Sam's hands. A big bunch of Ed's letters came this week, for which I was extremely obliged. I really had not known very much about how he was situated, for he supposed that I knew, I guess. I hope you had a nice time at Northfield. I am ever so much obliged for the McKinley picture, which came very promptly. Love to all, Adelaide. jClaflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: October 5, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsle. N.Y. (postmarked Oct. 5, 1896) My dear Bess,— As usual you have been very good about writing to me, so I think it is your turn for a letter* I am much obliged to you for sending Demosthenes' Philippics with such "speed and alacrity"* They came just in the nick of time. I sent the chemistry apron immediately, but I had no means of getting Wurtz's Chemistry, as Remden's is the one used here. I am glad Grace T. is paying up, though it is...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsle. N.Y. (postmarked Oct. 5, 1896) My dear Bess,— As usual you have been very good about writing to me, so I think it is your turn for a letter* I am much obliged to you for sending Demosthenes' Philippics with such "speed and alacrity"* They came just in the nick of time. I sent the chemistry apron immediately, but I had no means of getting Wurtz's Chemistry, as Remden's is the one used here. I am glad Grace T. is paying up, though it is gradual. Don't forget that she is to return my Ray's Algebra, and also the Test Problems in Algebra. I don't like this news I hear, about all of you having colds. I can hardly remember a time when mamma has had to go to bed with a cold. You said that Miss Carrie Smith had typhoid fever. Do you mean the one who lives across the street? - for I heard just as I cameaway that Carrie Smith Ford had it. Did I tell you last week that Ethel Chapman was here visiting Carrie Abbott? She staid two or three days, and then expected to go right through to Detroit, without stopping In Cleveland. You will be relieved to know (at least we were) that our Freshman, Daisy Newberg, has gone home for good. She went for a visit of two days and then came back here to see how she liked it. and finally decided not to stay, and Mrs. Kendrick did not urge her to stay longer; neither did we, for we had given her up lfor a hopeless case, concluding that she had not enough backbone to keep herself here. She sold all her furniture and books that she had bought; she expected to forfeit about one hundred and twenty-five dollars of the money she had paid, but Mr. Dean told her perhaps she would not have to because she went away so early in the year. We were sorry that all our effort was of no avail. Daisy sent me up from New York a card case for my birthday: it is quite pretty — leather much like my belt. I was glad to get the card-case, but we hated to have such a new acquaintance giving us presents. She told me she was going to send the rest of the girls presents at Christmas time — I suppose she wishes to be absolutely impartial. I had a very pleasant happy birthday — letters from home, and one from Edith Penfield, a pound of candy from Ed, and also a little box me of candy from Norma Cutter, Ray and Winifred gaveAa plaster plaque - an angel by Donnatello, and Carrie and G. gave me a silver hatpin. In the usual fashion our table had a birthday celebration, not only for me, but also for Emma Thornton, who was born on the same day and in the sameyear that I was. Is'n't that queer? Now she and Norma Cutter and I are triplets! The table was decorated very prettily with autumn leaves, and there were menu cards to match, with autumn leaves painted on them by one of the girls. Emma and I each had a birthday cake — chocolate layer cake — with twenty-two candles in it. and for dessert we had ice cream from Smith's. Florence Dowling sits at a table near oars, so that I see her at a distance every day. She has the reputation of being the freshest Freshman there is. I have heard a number of stories about her actions. She chewed gum in Miss Richardson's geometry class, (and Miss Richardson is the most awe-inspiring teacher here). Miss R. called her up after class, and told her that "never before in the history of Yassar College had she known of a girl chewing gum in class." Before Florence had been here three days she went into the room of three Sophomores whom we know, and told them in a peremptory tone "please to make less noise", when they were simply talking quietly. Marion Schibsby squelched her in such a quiet and apparently innocent manner. Marion was calling in Florence Dowling's room, and they were talking about how young some of the teachers looked, and Florence remarked "Why, I think Miss Ball looks as young as I!" Marion looked her over rather critically and then remarked slowly, "No, I don't think she looks as young as you do, but she looks very young!'" Another story about a Freshman and Miss Gentry is going the rounds. This Freshman went up to Miss Gentry (who is by no means good-looking) and asked her if she were from Boston. Miss Gentry said no, she had never been in Boston till last summer. The Freshman replied, "That is strange; I was sure you were from Boston, for you look just like the pictures of Boston women in Puck!" Friday night was the Y.W.C.A. reception to the new students. I invited Julia Tarbox early, but when the day came some of the Fresh- men were still uninvited, so I took a Miss Tourtellot in addition. Julia Tarbox is the girl whose sister roomed with Edith Penfield in Oberlin. Miss Tourtellot spent the evening in telling me and everybody else how horrid her roommates are! Today there was no church service here, so we went to town. Tonight the Bible lectures begin, and we are very fortunate indeed to have Prof. Burton of the University of Chicago, to give them till Christmas. They say he is very fine- Love to all the neighbors and the family— from your sister Adelaide. (Claflin)
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: October 11, 1896
Text: Vassar Collage. Oct. 11. 1896. My dear Lou,— I suppose you are thoroughly settled in college by this time, and mamma says you like it better than ever. The Junior year is pretty fine, but I think the Senior year beats it after all, for I think I am going to enjoy this year even more than last. Perhaps that is a good deal due to the fact that I have such congenial room mates- we have such good times together. There have been so many extra things to do that I have had very hard work to get my...
Show moreVassar Collage. Oct. 11. 1896. My dear Lou,— I suppose you are thoroughly settled in college by this time, and mamma says you like it better than ever. The Junior year is pretty fine, but I think the Senior year beats it after all, for I think I am going to enjoy this year even more than last. Perhaps that is a good deal due to the fact that I have such congenial room mates- we have such good times together. There have been so many extra things to do that I have had very hard work to get my lessons in, especially as most of my studies are those that take a good deal of time to prepared. I would like to have some "snaps" but I have none. Ethics comes the nearest to being one- We have Prexy for Ethics- it seemed so queer at first to be in his class, but we are used to it now. Last year, while Prexy was in Europe, they had Prof. French for Ethics! I am gladthat did not happen this year, for Prexy is much more interesting in class. By the way, Ray and Winifred and I called on Mrs. French the other day- She is the one who was married last summer- whom Mrs. Height knew about. Mrs. French is an intimate friend of Miss Sarah De Wolf - Mrs. Fuller's sister. Shorter Course German is a very exacting subject - there are such definite things to learn for every lesson, that you can't slide over the lessons, or get them in a hurry at all. We have to learn lots ofproverbs and fables and such things, to recite in class. Greek end History ere just about the same as they were last year,—but English is the hardest thing I have. When I elected it I expected to "sail thro* bloody seas" and I am doing it, with a vengeance, but as I also expected, I am learning a great deal, because I know so very little in it. Miss Wylie gives us lor each lesson enoughwork to take a week, so that I am always behindhand- I wanted to read magaaines and newspapers a great deal this year, but so far I have not even been to the Reading Room to read at all. W e had a great time yesterday beginning the campaign. Ray is chairman of the Republican campaign committee, and Gertrude Smith is chairman of the Gold Democrats. The chairman of the Silver Democrats is Sarah Dudley, who also sits at our table. The committees were just elected Friday night, but Ray wanted to get ahead of the other two, by making the first splurge. So she worked all day yesterday getting up performances for the evening, after chapel. G. Smith got wind of it, though, and planned a meeting of the gold Democrats before chapel, as Ray found out. So early in the afternoon Ray had great big posters put up around In the corridors, announcing the meetingafter chapel. If the gold Dems. had not found out about the meeting, these posters would have been sprung on them just before dinner. The posters were printed (with shoeblacking) on immense sheets of brown papers, and ran somewhat as follows: "Are you a Republican? Do you want a full purse after Nov. 3? Come to the Republican Rally tonight.* Hear Speaker Reed, Ex-pres. Harrison, Senator Allison, Senator Sherman, and Mark Hanna. Campaign songs and speeches and a rousing meeting —in the Lecture Room at eight oclockj Overflow meetings provided for!" Some of the girls had made a cloth banner about ten feet long, which said "Vassar for McKinley and Hobart, Protection and Sound Money, Peace and Prosperity"-bu*-t*r and stretched it up just inside the front door, where all the visitors would see it the first thing, but this Prexymade them take down,- 1 suppose for fear visitors would think it had been put up by the officials of the College. To get in one ahead of the Gold Democrats, we Republicans came out from dinner early, formed in a procession and marched through the corridors singing a song composed for the occasion, and we came to a pause ia front of the room where the gold Democrats werejust gathering, and sang for their benefit, and cheered for McKinley. At half past seven the Lecture room was filled, and very soon two other rooms, and in those meetings there was lots of fun and noise. I was in the Lecture Room, where Ray presided, dressed up as Mark Hanna. A Sophomore, dressed as Speaker Reed, made the chief speech, though she was not nearly so good as Ray- She had had to get it up - I mean the Sophomore did -4*t very unexpectedly, so she forgot at nearly every sentence; bat the audiencewas very indulgent, and at the end of every sentence clapped long enough to allow her to look at the next one -- for it was all down on paper on the table. In Ray's speech she said that our forefathers would turn over in their graves at the present actions of some of our citiaens— when lo - the shade of George Washington appeared at a door in the corner, and advanced and made a strong speech in behalf of Mcftinley and sound money. We shall have something political going on next Saturday and the Saturday after - probably — aprocession and a debate etc. There are only five Silverites in our class, and eight or nine gold Democrats, and all the rest go in for McKinley. In '98 there was not a single Silverite. W e have a very fine Bible Lecturer now,- Prof. Burton, of Chicago Univ.—the best one there has been since I have been here- This morning we had the Episcopal service - Dr. Vibert of N.Y. City. After church Mrs. Kendrick cameto our room and asked if she might bring the minister to show him our room. We were lounging around around on the couch, and immediately without saying a word we all jumped up began to straighten up the room and fix the couch pillows. Mrs. Kendrick laughed — We had a pleasant time when the minister came in - he was very jovial. Since we are on the Senior corridor, our room has to be shown off frequently. Love to all. Adelaide. |Ciaflin,
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: October 18, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Oct. 18. 1896. My own dear Father,— I am going to be energetic today, and write my letter now between Bible class and church. The Bible classes met for the first time this morning: it is a branch of T.W.C.A. work that has just been started up this year. Before this we had only the Bible lectures Sunday evenings; we stil4r have them, but wewanted something more, that would give us a systematic plan of study for each day. So we organised five classes of about a dosen esch, three...
Show moreVassar College. Oct. 18. 1896. My own dear Father,— I am going to be energetic today, and write my letter now between Bible class and church. The Bible classes met for the first time this morning: it is a branch of T.W.C.A. work that has just been started up this year. Before this we had only the Bible lectures Sunday evenings; we stil4r have them, but wewanted something more, that would give us a systematic plan of study for each day. So we organised five classes of about a dosen esch, three to study the life of Christ and two to study the foreshadowings of Christ in the Old Testament. We use outlines prepared by Prof. Burton of Chicago — who happens to be our Bible lecturer this year. The course is arranged for fifteen minutes * study every day, and we meet Sunday morning for an hour right after breakfast. Ray is the leader of one of the Old Testament eeusse classes, and I havethe other. I think the work will be very interesting. I wish we could spend more time on it, but of course we are all so busy that we can not plan for everything that we would like. I always think I shall get a great deal of work done on Saturday, but somehow or other, so many things come up on Saturday that I never succeed in getting much studying done. Most of Friday afternoon this week I spent in bicycle riding. Did I tell you that Ray has her bicycle here, and I rent an houra day on it? We have not had the use of it very long because it was about two weeks after she got here before she could get a man to unpack it. But for tha last two weeks I have been out whenever the weather permitted. Unfortunately we have had a great deal of rain. Friday afternoon was the first time that I have taken a long ride; another girl and I rode for two hours.Friday evening we had another campaign demonstration. Mr. McKinley received four delegations at his home. That is, we had a girl dressed up as Mr. McKinley, another as his wife, and a corner of the Lecture Room fixed up as the porch of his house. There happened to be a door in the corner, which represented his front door, and we had two platforms together, for his porchWhere are the Walker Iron Works, or Electric works, or some kind of works? A girl here has a brother there now. The Rev. Egertoa R. Young, whom we heard at home two or three years ago, is going to speak to us tonight.floor, with posts at the corners, wound with branches of autumn leaves and vines, to look like a vine twining up around pillars. Mr. McK. and his wife sat on the platform, together with Ex-President and Mrs. Harrison who and Baby McKee, and Gov.-elect Black of New York state, who happened to be visiting at the House - and also, last but not least — Mark Hanna, (whose part throughout this campaign is taken by Ray, - the chairman of the committee). Of course the Lecture Room was crowded, so we had to have police toclear a path for the delegations. There were two delegations of workingmen, who were dressed up In old coats, overalls, old straw hats, etc. and they carried Implements such as the hods that bricklayers use for carrying bricks, etc. — where they managed to get them I do not know. The head of each delegation made a short speech to Mr. MeKinley, and then he replied, and afterwards invited them to shake hands with him and his wife. Another delegation was composed of dudes, - "Young Men's MeKinley Club from Chappieville",They were splendid - You would not believe that intelligent girls could look so much like anane dudes. Of course most of them wore eye-glasses, and cork mustaches, and parted their hair in the middle, and for canes they carried short window-poles, with brass ends, which they held in their mouths a good part of the time. The last delegation was the "New Woman's Gold Standard Brigade", which they asked me to see to. I got Mary MacColl to make the speech, and she was fine - dressed up in the most severe and strong minded fashion, with her hair twisted into a tight knot, and big spectacles oa. She made a fierce and emphatic speech in the regular old Woman's Rights style, jerking her head and continually taking off her spectacles and using them inesturing. After her speech I read an "ode" a la Mrs. N. Coe Stewart la the Women's delegation which went from Cleveland in the summer. I was entirely a different type from Mary - the high-faluten simpering type of the New Woman. I tried to model some- what after Gay Stewart. The ode - which Ray wrote - was full of high-faluten mixed figures etc. I wore my bonnet, with the addition of 8t flowing strings, and my red cape, and a stunning^veil of pink chiffon - my liberty scarf. Some of our delegation were rigged out in swell things and others - the strong-minded specieswore bicycle suits. After all the speeches, the delegations formed in line and had a procession up and down the second and third corridors. Every 4h4»g-body was so enthusiastic and entered so much into the spirit of things that we had a very jolly time,—lots of singing and yelling. Last night the Gold Democrats had a mass-meeting. They are few in number but they happen to have in their ranks some fine speakers, so they had a very entertaining time. Republicans were invited to the meeting, on the ground that "there is yettime to reform". Secretary Whitney, Grover Cleveland, Col. Breckinridge and others made speeches - very bright ones-. The girl who represented Grover Cleveland was made to look pretty much like him, and wore a stove pipe hat, which greatly added to the impression. A novel feature was the presence of the "shades "true" of the old^Democratic party - Jefferson and three or four others. They were entirely covered by sheets andwhich said, "The True Democracy, present in spirit". Yesterday half of the Freshmen and half the Seniors went to Lake Mohunk: next Saturday the rest of us go. I do hope it will not rain. Mamma asked me about Ed's letters. I would like to have them sent, because he can not find time to write me very much; and you can send 4h> him mine, if he will take care to keep them - for I will have no other record of what goes on in college. I will send his back home, jLovc to all, Adelaide. (Claflin,By the way, will the next person that goes down town, please by at Crow & Whitmarsh's or somewhere, one of those big pictures of McKinley, like the one I brought with me, and send it to me by mail? Ours, which has been on the outside of our door all this time, was used by a Republican, who substituted t for a picture of Bryan in the Free Silver "banquet hall." The silverites, when they discovered it, indignantly tore it to shreds; and we don't want to be without one on our door. They can't be bought in this town. If you can't get that kind some other kind will do.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: November 15, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. Nov. 15. 1896. My dear Mother,— I am so sorry you are not going to Uncle Charles' for Thanksgiving - it would be such a beautiful plan, and especially for papa, who has not been thereifor so long. I am very much obliged for the little organdie corners - they are unusually pretty ones- This week I have been spending all my odd minutes from Monday to Saturday in disposing of dolls. You know every year the Y.W.C.A. buys about three hundred dolls,- that is...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. Nov. 15. 1896. My dear Mother,— I am so sorry you are not going to Uncle Charles' for Thanksgiving - it would be such a beautiful plan, and especially for papa, who has not been thereifor so long. I am very much obliged for the little organdie corners - they are unusually pretty ones- This week I have been spending all my odd minutes from Monday to Saturday in disposing of dolls. You know every year the Y.W.C.A. buys about three hundred dolls,- that is the chairman of the General Work committee does, which happens to be myself this year— and we distribute them to the girls who are willing to dress them, and then we have to collect them all again, and send them to College Settle- ments and Hospitals and home missionary schools. Before we send them off we exhibit them all - and it is a pretty sight. I have had several letters from Miss Goodrich, in connection with the box of old clothes that I sent her. We were very much disappointed that the arrangement for her to speak here could not be carried out. These last two or three days there has been a State Convention of the Y.W.C.A. in Poughkeepsie—the same thing that I went to in Syracuse last fall, you know. I was very glad to meet again some of the people whom I saw and heard in Syracuse. The delegates came out to the college yesterday afternoon, when about a dozen of us received them in the parlors and showed them the buildings and our rooms etc* Today we expect to have an honored guest in our room— Dr. William Dorpfeld, the greatest living Greek archaeologist. He is in this country for only a few weeks and Dr. Taylor considers himself very fortunate to have gotten Dr. Dorpfeld here to lecture to us- While he is here Miss Leach wants to show him some of the students* rooms, and so she is going to bring him to ours. He lectured last night in the German language - he has been learning English only for the last six weeks, so that he does not yet feel enough at home in it to lecture in our language, though he speaks it very well in conversation. His German is remarkably simple, and he speaks remarkably slowly and distinctly, so that I understood much more of hislecture than I expected - with only six weeks study of German. He seems like a very interesting man- younger than I had expected, too, for one so famous. Dr. Taylor had a reception to the Faculty in Dr. Dorpf eld's honor - over in his new house; the first time that he has entertained in his new house. Ray is still In Brooklyn - she went down there to her cousin's about two weeks ago, because she had been working too hard, over the campaign and everything, and had to have a rest. I don't know whether she will be back this week or wait till after Thanksgiving. Her father was to be in Brooklyn Friday, but I havenot heard from her since then. Winifred came out of the Infirmary last Sunday night, but she has been in bed with a cold for the last two days. This room seems to be rather ill-fated. I am sorry for the Richardson girls - those two young girls left to take care of themselves- Poor Mrs. Richardson was sick so long. I shall write Anna Leigh and Bertha a note, I think. P.M. I have Just come from such a delightful walk over the field s- from the top of the hills we watched the sun set. We did not meet Dr. Dorpfeld after all, for Prexy took care of him all the time, and Miss Leach did not have a
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: November 22, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Nov. ZZ. 1896. My dear Mother,—- As Ed remarked In one of his letters, I address most of my letters to you, so that you won't have to wait around all day for them to be opened. I appreciate so much reading Ed's letters home. I am very much obliged to you for sending them. Here it is Thanksgiving week already — it is simply alarming, how fast my last year is going by. It seems scarcely two days from one Sunday to the next.I had fully expected to spend Thanksgiving...
Show moreVassar College. Nov. ZZ. 1896. My dear Mother,—- As Ed remarked In one of his letters, I address most of my letters to you, so that you won't have to wait around all day for them to be opened. I appreciate so much reading Ed's letters home. I am very much obliged to you for sending them. Here it is Thanksgiving week already — it is simply alarming, how fast my last year is going by. It seems scarcely two days from one Sunday to the next.I had fully expected to spend Thanksgiving vacation here, but now I am thinking that perhaps I shall go down to New York. For Marion Lockhart came up to college yesterday, and this afternoon she invited me to spend Thanksgiving at her house- She lives in Mount Vernon - the same place where Hortense Lewis lives, you know. There are other places where I would prefer to spend a day if I had my choice, but I am thinking that it would be convenient to go down there for Thanks- giving Day and spend the night, and then go in to New York the next morn- ing and spend the day with Ed- So I shall write to Ed about it, and perhaps decide to go down.It is rather late now to do much communication on the subject. Winifred is down in Brooklyn now - where she went Thursday, partly on her own account and partly to see her mother and sister- Her sister has just had an operation, and is getting along very nicely- Of course Winifred has been very anxious to see her. If I go down to New York, I shall try to see her mother and sister. Every one who knows them speaks of them so highly that I have been anxious to meet them. This sister is younger than Winifred, but she has been a great invalid for several years - and is just like the story-book invalids - so very sweet and attractive to everybody.Ray came back from Brooklyn Monday morning— My roommates are like "ships that pass in the night" and speak each other in passing "- Ray is better - her rest in Brooklyn did her a great deal of good. There is nothing like having relatives well-off and convenient. I am glad Winifred has them too. Yesterday the New York and Brooklyn Vassar Students' Aid Society had their annual meeting here. That is I think it was the general V.S. Aid Society, but the delegates were mostly from New York and Brooklyn. I was asked to help receive them, and go to their meeting and the tea afterward— all this on account of my having had that scholarship. There were about a half a dozen girls helping - all of whom had had scholarships, (but of course there are a great many more scholar-ship girls too)- As it was raining when they came, and there were only a few minutes before luncheon, we did not show them around the buildings, but simply talked to them in the parlor till it was time for luncheon. It was very interesting to meet these Alumnae. I looked around at them till I picked out one that I thought looked nice, and then went up and spoke to her, and I found her so pleasant that I talked with her till luncheon time- She was Mrs. Rossiter, of Brooklyn. She graduated in the Class of *80, so that she was here while both Miss Fannie and Miss Mary Adams were, but she did not seem to remember who they were. She reminded me very much of Miss Mary Adams both in her looks and in her conversation, but a little more quiet. I would like to know her. Mrs. Backus, the wife of the President of Packer Institute, Y\ presided at the meeting in the afternoon. Miss Wylie introduced me to her- I have heard a great deal about her from Winifred- The most distinguished guests seemed to be Mr. and Mrs. Babbott- Mrs. Peat* Babbott is the daughter of Mr. Pratt of Pratt Institute, who isworth millions- They hope that Mr. Babbott will leave some money to the college some day. Mrs. Babbott - with whom Mrs. Rossiter came - was also of the class of '80. The Society held a business meeting In the afternoon, and after that a more general meeting, to which we went. Mrs. Backus presided very graciously. Dr. Taylor made the first speech, all about scholarships and helping stu- dents by loan and gift and so on - He thinks girls should not go in debt too heavily for their college education, and after they have borrowed up to a certain point, the college should then make gifts to them, not loans.He said that last year sixty two girls received help from the college either as loan or gift - mostly gift. About a hundred girls before enter- ing college, ask aid for their Freshman year- each year- but the college very rarely gives money till the sophomore year, when it has had time to see what a girl is like. I was very much interested in all that Dr. Taylor said, and I wish I had time to tell you the rest of it. Miss Wagar has the Cleveland scholarship this year- she is the sister of a girl who graduated here in '94. This morning Bishop Doane of Albany preached. He had such a funny way of wiggling his nose to throw his glasses off, instead of putting up his hand and taking them off. Please excuse the admixture of red ink in the first part of this letter. I have lost my fountain pen, and I am using a tin one that I used to have for red ink. Love to all. Adelaide.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: January 30, 1897
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. January 30f 1897. My dear Mother,— Exams, are over, and a new semester is about to begin. I am so glad to begin all over again, and not have back work and special topics piled up over me. I am going to try to keep my work right up to date the rest of the year. I had to cram more than usual for my exams, this time; the kind of subject makes so much difference with the exam, and all my things needed reviewing. We had our Ethics exam, the first thing Monday...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. January 30f 1897. My dear Mother,— Exams, are over, and a new semester is about to begin. I am so glad to begin all over again, and not have back work and special topics piled up over me. I am going to try to keep my work right up to date the rest of the year. I had to cram more than usual for my exams, this time; the kind of subject makes so much difference with the exam, and all my things needed reviewing. We had our Ethics exam, the first thing Monday morning, and we were all glad to have that off our minds early, for there is so much memorizing in it, that it took up a great deal of room in our brains. After the ethics exam, is over, every year, it is customary for the class to give some yells to Prex - as a sort of fare- well to him as a teacher. So when we leftthe gym - where we had our exam, and came out into the hall we lined up in two rows, by the lockers, leaving room enough for Prexy to walk out between the rows. But when he appeared, he looked rather embarrassed, and instead of running the gauntlet be bowed and remained standing where he was- W e gave first "Rah, rah, rah.' Rah, rah, rah.1 the customary yell of^V-A-S-S-A-R,- Prexy!" Then we recited in concert four favorite maxims of philosophers we have studied - maxims which we have had again and again in class and had joked about with Prexy. The first was Jeremy Bentham's - "The quantity of pleasure being equal, push-bin is as good as poetry." Then Aristotle's "We become good by doing good" and John Stuart Mill's "Better be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied"- We ended with the one which we thought most appro- priate to the examination season and our state of mind - the famous saying of the sceptics: "We affirm nothing,- no, not even that we affirm nothing." Prex had laughed at us in class because we remembered these epigrams always, even when we could not remember another thing about the philosophy to which they belonged.When we paused from our yelling, Prex said he hoped that our papers - which he had under his arm - would be as eloquent: then we yelled our other old yell, "Goodbye, Prex, Goodbye Prex, Vassar, Vassar, Vassar's Rex"— which we used when he started for Europe last year. We are quite sorry to be through with Ethics; we had quite Jovial times with Prexy sometimes- He told us such a good Joke in class the last week - He had heard it given by Thomas Wentworth Hlgginson at a Vassar Alumnae Reunion in Boston recently. Mr. Hlgginson said that Emerson used to describe the typical college student as "a meek young man, who lived in a library". Mr. Higginson said that a good many people thought this description no longer applied, but, for his part, he thought it still held true, for when he watched the Harvard men strut across the campus, he was sure they looked as though they had already inherited the earth.1 Perhaps you will wonder what connection this has with Ethics; it comes under the head of Practical Morality- Prex was giving us a lecture about our attitude and duties, as college graduates, toward the rest of the world. He told us, on the one hand, notto be so stupid that people would say they "never would have guessed that we had seen the inside of a college" and on the other hand not to answer to the description of the Harvard men above-referred-to; but whatever we did, if it was only washing dishes, we ought to do it the better for having been through college. On Monday, in addition to ethics, I had an exam, in English,- which was not so hard as Z had expected. Tuesday I had no exam, so I spent the day on my special topic in History- Wednesday we had Greek, which was easy for a Greek one, though I did less than two questions out of the five. Our history, on the contrary, was harder than we had expected- Most people were through with their exams, by Thursday, but I still had German - for Friday morxdag. Ray and Winifred and Gertrude Smith and Carrie all went down to Brooklyn or New York, Friday morning right after breakfast. Gertrude is back now, but the rest will not be here till tomorrow night. So I have had the rooms all to myself - in quiet. It seemed very queer not to have studying to do on Friday afternoon and Saturday, but I found plenty to do, with Vassar ion work and mending- The sleevewas half torn out of my nightgown, so I spent some time patching that, and also in hemming up the binding and facing of my red fern dress. Edie asked about ideas for a Eton waist. Most of the new ones here have some kind of a littleAjacket effect, either all the way around or else just in front, like this and the back perfectly plain, and broad belts or girdles. I have also had the pleasure of reading a large part of "Senti- mental Tommy"—a thing which I have been anxious to do for some time. There was no church here this morning, and I did not go to town either, but stayed at home and read- Prof. Burton finished his course of Bible lectures last Sunday, and the man who was to have given us a course we of four or five now, cannot come, so^will have none for a few Sundays. It has been very cold here for about two weeks - as it seems to have been all over the country - We are glad to get around the regis- ters all the time. I keep thinking of you without a furnace. Give my love to the neighbors and friends, and lots to the family- JLovingly your daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, Some dresses have rows of braid around instead of the girdle- If that would be easier, I would like it just as well.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: February 7, 1897
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. (Feb. 7, 1897, My dear Father,-— Mamma*s letter came Friday, telling of your sad Journey this week. Dear papa, it was a hard week for you, and it was hard for Uncle Henry to come home from Toronto and start right off again to Albion. I hope you have not been having such severe weather as you were a while ago; it is much milder here: in fact it has been raining all day today and yesterday, which has spoiled the skating.It has been dark and foggy today. I was...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. (Feb. 7, 1897, My dear Father,-— Mamma*s letter came Friday, telling of your sad Journey this week. Dear papa, it was a hard week for you, and it was hard for Uncle Henry to come home from Toronto and start right off again to Albion. I hope you have not been having such severe weather as you were a while ago; it is much milder here: in fact it has been raining all day today and yesterday, which has spoiled the skating.It has been dark and foggy today. I was out for a short walk this after- noon and we went into water up to the tops of our rubbers for a good deal of the way. We are really into our work for the new semester now- We are plunged into work in no time. I had some trouble with my Electives, because my History and Biology were scheduled to meet at the same hour. I decided to let the Biology go, as the regular professor of Biology is not here, aad the History professor is, of course, a good deal finer than the Biology assistant. I have not had Biology since last June, so that I had not a course to drop, as it would be if I had droppedhistory. Our history is going to be the most interesting history course I have had, I think. It is a brief study of the Constitution of the United States, first, and then a study of the history of American political parties. Bess and I intended to learn the Constitution last summer; I wish now that I had done it, for it would be very convenient for me now, and I am afraid I can't spend the time now. We have to tell how many Congressmen there are from our state, and what is the ratio of representation, and who our senators are, and what are the powers of the President and of Congress and all such interesting things. We had to look up some things in the EleventhCensus report, and in the Senate Journal etc. I have only two hours of Greek this semester, instead of three, but I think it will be more interesting for we are reading Aeschylus' Agamemnon. Instead of the Biology which I had to drop, I elected a course in Theory of Art, which has a reputation of being very fine, and a one-hour course in Latin Prose, to recall my Latin to me. There was not any good three-hour course that I could begin now, so had to fill up with these two, I have kept on with my English and my German, both of which I find very interesting. When I come home next summer I want to talkGerman with Bess, and any body else in the family who is willing— I know she will be; for she wanted to last summer. Yesterday I went to a tea in the room of Fraulein Herholz, my German teacher, who Is a motherly German woman. She had invited the girls in the Senior class who take German of her, and —- I ought to have put them first — President and Mrm. Taylor and a few members of the Faculty* She had a friend from Germany there, who can speak only a few words of English. The girls who have had German for a number of years could converse with her without anytrouble. The rest of us stood back and listened, or listened to Dr. Taylor talking in English. "VVe had a lecture Friday night by Prof. James of Harvard, on "Psychology and Relaxation". He is noted for mixing his psychology very decidedly with every-day life and language — even slang. His lecture was a plea for taking life more quietly and calmly, and not wasting nervous energy unnecessarily all the time, as Americans are said to do. He said that college girls wore themselves out by trying to wear a "bright and interested expression" all the time, and should cultivate more than they do, the "stolid expression and codfish eye" of their European sisters.I mailed home yesterday the pictures which Mr. Capen took of our room, which I shall be glad to keep in my possession. It was very kind of him to give W inifred and me copies of them. Dr. Grace Kimball, was the chaperone, while he took them, so he took a picture of her. That is she sitting in the rocking-chair in the corner of our room. Ray is standing by her desk, and Winifred on the other side of Dr. K. I am standing in my bedroom door. The other door, right by it, leads into Winifred's bedroom. It is too bad that Ray's eye Is spoiled, but I think It is a pretty good picture of Winifred. The pictures make our room look so much bigger than it is: X suppose because Mr. Capan pushed the furniture all over towards theopposite wall. The plaster cast of Hermes on the bookcase shows off finely; that belongs to Winifred. One picture shows a desk in the foreground at the left: that is mine, which I bought from Katharine Durham. The light showing through the portiere is my bedroom window, which opens to the corridor. That is a picture of Ray's mother hanging over her desk, and a rattlesnake skin hanging beside the desk. Carrie asked me to come to her home in Summit, N.J. for a few days of the Easter vacation; I have not given her a definite answer, as I had expected not to spend any more money in travelling, and I would not mind staying here. Give my love to all the friends, and of course I send lots to the family- Lovingly your daughter, Adelaide. (C laflin, Feb. 7, 1897.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: February 14, 1897
Text: Vassar College, Pougb keeps ie, N.Y. jFeb. 14, IB97, / My dear Mother,-— Ed's letter that you forwarded came on the evening mail yesterday. I think that is the first time this year that I have gotten anything by that mail. There were some flowers in it, but I do not know what they are. The paper that came yesterday had a good deal of news in it. I am so sorry Dr. Upham has resigned; I liked him so much. There was a decided differencein the resignation letters of Dr. Upham and Dr. Ladd,...
Show moreVassar College, Pougb keeps ie, N.Y. jFeb. 14, IB97, / My dear Mother,-— Ed's letter that you forwarded came on the evening mail yesterday. I think that is the first time this year that I have gotten anything by that mail. There were some flowers in it, but I do not know what they are. The paper that came yesterday had a good deal of news in it. I am so sorry Dr. Upham has resigned; I liked him so much. There was a decided differencein the resignation letters of Dr. Upham and Dr. Ladd, was'n't there? That was very sad about that boy dropping dead at High School. Ray always reads the home papers that I get; they very seldom send her any. We had a young Episcopalian minister this morning, from a little town three miles from Poughkeepsle: he preached the most halt- ing sermon I have ever heard. I suppose he was embarrassed. He preached without notes, and in almost every sentence he would repeat part of it, or change the form of it, or begin with a verb in the active voice andthen stop and begin over with it in the passive. Once he tried to quote one of the beatitudes and he got it all tangled up with other verses and finally had to give it up, by saying "Oh, you know what beatitude I mean." It was very painful; everybody was nervous for fear he would break down altogether. Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day: all the senior tables were decorated with red paper hearts suspended above them, and red candles on them. Then Prof. Moore's little girl, about five years old carried around to the various Senior tables a basket full of valentines, and left at each table the bundle that belonged there. Irene Lawrence, who was chairman of the committee guided her around. Irene is an awfully nice girl: the more I see of her the better I like her. I got six valentines - some of them were very good. I wrote only two this year, I wanted to write more but I had too much else on hand. We had to write a German Sssay for tomorrow, and that took a good deal more time than an ordi- nary lesson. Beside that, I have to take charge of Civitas Club tomorrow night, and for that I have to read up about the Fabian Society. We have a queer thing to do for History tomorrow: that is, to find out all the rigmarole which«we-would have to be gone through with in order to get ourselves appointed postmistress of the town in whichwe live. I can not find out much about it from any books that I have consulted yet. It takes so long to look for things when you don*t know what to look for. That history course, though, is far the most interesting history course that I have had- I am so glad I elected it. We are studying the Constitution now- Pretty soon we shall be having the history of political parties in the U.S. Then I shall learn why I am a Republican, or else perhaps I shall turn Democrat.* Miss Salmon is such a fine woman: She gave us the most interesting talk last Monday onthe "Relation of the teacher to the Community"- X mean by "us" a pedagogical club which one of the girls in our class has just started up: its members consist of the girls who expect to teach next year, and the various professors are going to talk to us, about once a week, on subjects interesting and valuable to teachers. The substance of Miss Salmon's remarks was that the teacher should be intimately associated with the life of the community; that the community needed the teacher and the teacher needed the community. She believes that the very best place for a fresh college graduate to teach in is a very small town. She says that college graduateshave usually had the best advantages all their lives, and have always been absorbing, like a sponge, all that is good- but that when they graduate it is time they began to give out, and, like a sponge, they will give out most when there is the most pressure. Therefore she thinks that a very small town, where will bring out all there is in a teacher, and make her establish independence of ideas and methods, because there will be the most need for decision and ingenuity, and most will be demanded of a teacher, in all directions in which she can help a community. Miss Salmon said that a teacher should be the most unselfish person on earth. She can well say it, for she practices what she preaches.So I suppose I had better be looking around for my small town! I must go to bed now, for it is time for the hell. So farewell Love to all, Adelaide. jClafLinj February 14. 1897.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: February 21, 1897
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. ,Feb. 21, 1897, My own dear Father,— My regular family letter will be addressed to you this week, in order to wish you a very happy birthday Friday, and many returns of them, and I wish I could drop in to help celebrate. I suppose you will all have a holiday tomorrow and celebrate Washington's birthday. As for us, you know we have no holiday. We are going to have more or less celebration duringthe day, however, and the usual Martha Washington Ball in...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. ,Feb. 21, 1897, My own dear Father,— My regular family letter will be addressed to you this week, in order to wish you a very happy birthday Friday, and many returns of them, and I wish I could drop in to help celebrate. I suppose you will all have a holiday tomorrow and celebrate Washington's birthday. As for us, you know we have no holiday. We are going to have more or less celebration duringthe day, however, and the usual Martha Washington Ball in the evening. So you see that with regular lessons and extra celebrations too, it will be further than ever from being a holiday. I shall not go to the Ball in the evening. A committee has devised some means of protesting to the Faculty against our being deprived of the holiday, but those I shall be better able to describe next week. There has been something going on every ctrerning this week—- (and consequently a rising early on my part every morning.). It began with Monday, when it was my turn to take chargeof the meeting of Civitas — a small club which interests itself in matters of current interest. I took the Fabian Society for my subject, and spent three hours of Monday in reading it up. I am glad my turn is past; it won't come around again before I am graduated. Tuesday evening our class celebrated the anniversary of our Trig. Ceremonies, which we had in Sophomore year. We had a sort of burlesque of part of the Trig Ceremonies: and then we sat around and sang a few minutes, after refreshing ourselves with lemonade and pop- corn. Friday evening a Mr. Williamsof the Philadelphia Press, lec- tured on "The First Presidential Campaign and the Last." I amused myself with Latin Prose, instead of going to the Lecture, but everybody who went said it was very interesting. Next Friday evening, by the way. Professor Warren of Adelbert College is going to lecture to us on "Victor Hugo as a Poet of the Household". There have been a great lot of Alumnae up here yesterday and today; partly on account of their having a vacation for Washington's birthday, and partly on account of a meeting of the "Vassar College Historical Association"- This organizationhas just been started; its members are the Alumnae who have had elective courses in History in college. The Seniors who have History were invited to go to the meet- ings yesterday, so I went in for a little while. There were a good many '95 girls, and several of the Class of '90, among whom was Miss Delia Prentiss of Cleveland. I have often heard Miss Adams speak of her. I met her after church today in the Senior Parlor. She played the piano for us there. She is very musical. Last night I was invited over to Prexy's for supper. The Senior Class has been invited there on Saturday nights in batches of about twenty each. Last night was the last batch; there were sixteen there. W e had a very nice time, indeed. Such a good supper, with oysters on the half-shell, sweetbread patties (which were delicious) squabs (or something like that - small bird) on toast, lobster salad, and ice. There were three small tables in corners, with three or four girls at each, and a larger table in the center, with seven girls at it. Or. Patttson of Rochester Theological Seminary, who used to be our Bible Lecturer, but who is here today to preach for us, was there last night. He sat atour table at first, and Prexy at another table, and Mrs. Taylor at still another one. And then these three progressed from one table to another for different courses, so that we each had each of them at our tables. After the supper we all went into the large sitting room where there was a fine wood fire. The house is beautiful; it is in selsniel style, and there is woodwork wainscoting reaching up high on the walls. Everything is beautifully arranged and finished off. Prexy showed us his study; his rare and interesting books - The incoherency of this letter is due to the fact that there arenumbers of people sitting around, all talking at once. I think I had better not try to write any more now. I forwarded you my semester bill last week--- my last one— The "medical attendance" is for the time that I sprained my ankle. I want to thank Bess for writing me two letters in one week. She is very good about writing. It is needless to say that I enjoyed Edie's and Lou's and Mamma's letters too. Love to all, from your loving daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, February 21. 1897.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: March 2, 1897
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. My- dear Mother,*** I am glad papa is better and can go back to work. He must have had grippe. Everybody has been having it here. — I mean, a few people have. Before I forget it, I must tell for Bess*s benefit that our room is number 117. Room 68 is in the double alley way on the second south, whereas our room is the single alleyway on the third south — the Senior corridor. This week we had considerable excitement** The Washington's Birthday Celebration...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. My- dear Mother,*** I am glad papa is better and can go back to work. He must have had grippe. Everybody has been having it here. — I mean, a few people have. Before I forget it, I must tell for Bess*s benefit that our room is number 117. Room 68 is in the double alley way on the second south, whereas our room is the single alleyway on the third south — the Senior corridor. This week we had considerable excitement** The Washington's Birthday Celebration on Monday* We celebrated the day a good deal more thanif we had had a holiday. U it had been a holiday we should have spent all the time in studying and doing extra work, but since it wasn't we cele- brated all day long. Before breakfast we got up and marched around the corridors and past Proxy's house, singing patriotic songs. The girls had decorated the dining room with red white and blue bunting, and put a little flag at each place at the tables. The noticeable thing was that the Faculty table was not decorated at all * because they took the holiday away from us, you know. During the day the girls sang America in each class, before the lesson was begun. In addition to this a committee has put up posters in various classrooms,which were intended to voice the feelings of the students. They were made out in the form of lessons, like this, for example: Algebra for February 22. Problem: if a Faculty should take from some students a national Holi- day, how much Patriotism would be left? Let F (known quantity) — Faculty. Let P (unknown quantity) - Patriotism. " s (aggravated " ) - Students. Take Patriotism from Faculty. (impossible since P > F. Add Patriotism to Students. (impossible since S contains P). Answer: Since S contains P and P is greater than F it is unreasonable for a Faculty to take a national Holiday from some Students.The English one was printed, for distribution, and I will enclose it. Friday night our class had a delightful time in celebrating the birthday of our president, Mary Chambers. All the Senior tables were put together into one long table and they were decorated in pink, with smilax. The girls all wore light evening dresses, and we had icecream aad cake for dessert. We sang all together a class song, the words of which Mary Chambers had written at the first of the year, and then we sang at?©-song to her composed for the occasion. Besides these we sang some of our Trig Ceremonies songs and Alma Mater. The rest of the people in the dining room clapped us after each one and we marched out two by two singing - and we felt like a bridal procession. The bell has rung for the first recitation so love to all, from your lo v jing , Adelaide. ^Claflin, March 2. 1897.Distributed in English Class - Feb. 22, 1897 A Revised Edition of Shakespeare’s Tragedy. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Edited for the delectation of the Faculty of Vassar College by its devoted admirers-- THE STUDENTS. To show the genera! tenor of the alterations we give the following extractsr ACT I. SCENE 1——Vassar, a Corridor. Enter Faculty and a rabble of students. Fae. Hence, hence you idle creatures, get you to the library. Is this a Holiday ‘Q What! know you not Being Academical you ought not to walk Upon a laboring day without the sign Of your profession Z —- Speak. what course art thou? And wherefore art not in thy den to-day ? VVhy dost thou lead these girls about the halls? 1st Stu. Indeed, sir, we make holiday to commemorate George Wash- - ington and to rejoice in our country. Fae. Wherefore rejoice '6 We care not for the cause, Its spirit long ago is dead and gone ! Stu. You blocks, you stones, you. worse than senseless things ! Oh you hard hearts, you cruel men of books, Knew you not Georgie? Fae. Indeed we knew him ; but so long ago His memory cannot draw us from our books. And do you now cull out a holiday? And do you now put on your best attire? And would you now cast books and work away For Georgie ? Stu. We surely have and surely will do so i Until your books have crumbled into dust. Our Country’s Father best deserves our love, We’lI give it him in spite of all you do.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: March 21, 1897
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. (Marc. 21. 1897, My dear Mother,— I have just finished writing to Ed, I had not written to him for some time, so 1 wrote to him before you, in order to be sure that it would be done. Because I am sure to write home anyway. I have written very few letters this year, except home. I owe one to almost everyb ody I know. And nowjust as I am about through with the Vassar ion work and was expecting to have a little time to write letters and mend my clothes (which need...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. (Marc. 21. 1897, My dear Mother,— I have just finished writing to Ed, I had not written to him for some time, so 1 wrote to him before you, in order to be sure that it would be done. Because I am sure to write home anyway. I have written very few letters this year, except home. I owe one to almost everyb ody I know. And nowjust as I am about through with the Vassar ion work and was expecting to have a little time to write letters and mend my clothes (which need it sadly) and a few other things like that,- then here comes this old Commencement Essay, to be on my mind, even when it is not taking up my time. I am so disgusted about it. I only wish I were one of those lucky people who simply got an honor, without having the added bother of a Commencement speech re tacked on,- especially when everybodyhear- keeps saying that they are extremely tiresome, and that they don't expect to listen.1 We all think they are stupid, and I have never paid much attention to them myself- But they are a great deal of work, because so much more is made of them here than when I had It to do at High School. Here the professors and the English teachers and everybody have to be consulted so much, and so much elocution drill has to be gone through with. As for this last, however, X think it will be quite an advantage to get so muchtraining in elocution gratis. I have n't any Idea yet what I shall take for my subject. Ray has about decided to take one in the line of Economics. Everybody pities Winifred, for having to room with two people who will be tearing their hair from now till June. I think I will give you the list of Honor girls, in case someone might inquire about them. They are: Frances Beckwith Flora Bemkopf Elizabeth Bishop * A. Claflin Martha Clark Eloise Ellery * Grace Landfield.* Nancy McClelland. Anne Rlchey Alice Sawyer. * Rachel Schauffler. Beatrice Shaw * Marion Schibsby. Jessie Thain. Maidee Traver. * Alice Whiton. » means Commencement speaker. As I said before, everybody is very much surprised that Gertrude Smith did not get one. Winifred is awfully bright, but she did not get one because she entered Sophomore, and because she has been sick ever since shehas been in college. I had hoped that Miss Adams would come here to Commencement, as her class is going to have a reunion - its twentieth anniversary - but now I am not axudbus to have her, except that I would like very much to show her around and take her to Class Day. I do wish Edie would come for that reason,*- so that I could show her around the place where I have spent four years; I am sure she would enjoy it, and she will never have another chance probably. I am gladthat you are making arrangements for it, so that I shall have my mother here at any rate. Nina Roberts thinks she can come here to visit us during their Easter vacation, after ours is over. Ours begins this Friday and closes April 6. Nina may have to go to New York, and if so she will stop here, but she thinks she can come here anyway - on a pass. I shall be so glad to have her, for she was so anxious to come here to college, aad has always been crazy to visit here. Edith and I have not yet made definite arrangements about goingto Carrie's. But we shall go down Friday or the Saturday of this-week after this, and stay over Sunday- I expect to spend the day with Ed on my way home, but I have not made final plans yet. this week I may send home by RayAthe waist of my white dress to have the sleeves altered, for the new style is so different. Of course I would not bother about it if I were not going to speak at Com. but the dress will be rather conspicuous then, so that it might be just as well to have the sleeves in style. But don't fix it If you are too busy at home then. Lots of love to all the family, from your loving daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, March 21, 1897.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: May 9, 1897
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. iMay 9. 1897, My dearest Father, — I am going to write my letter before church this morning, so that I may go for a walk this afternoon. This has been a perfect spring: we have not had any very hot weather yet; it has been bright and clear and comfortably cool most of the time so far—-the kind of weather that makes us want to live out of doors. Ray finally got her bicycle fixed up, so that I have beenout on it twice already. I thought I might have forgotten...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y. iMay 9. 1897, My dearest Father, — I am going to write my letter before church this morning, so that I may go for a walk this afternoon. This has been a perfect spring: we have not had any very hot weather yet; it has been bright and clear and comfortably cool most of the time so far—-the kind of weather that makes us want to live out of doors. Ray finally got her bicycle fixed up, so that I have beenout on it twice already. I thought I might have forgotten somewhat since last fall how to ride, but I had no trouble at all. The spring rains make the roads here very bad for a long while. It is not like the streets of a city, where you can ride the year around. Yesterday we had the second set of match games in Basket- Bali. Our team has beaten each time this spring. They did not begin to practice till after all the other teams did this spring, so we were afraid they would not be very successful. But I think they have tried all the harder on that account, and I thinkthey will win the championship. Next Saturday is Field Day, so in addition to the final match Basket- ball games, there will be track events - running, jumping etc. The girls who are entered have been training fro some time, and they have to diet, too. That is, they are forbidden to eat any sweets, or to eat between meals - etc. Next Saturday evening, the Junior Class have invited our class to take a ride up the river for two or three hours, in a boat chartered for the purpose. We are so delighted, for everybody says there is notihfcig more beautiful than a ride on the Hudson. Every year the Juniors entertain the Seniors in some way;- lastyear we gave them a lawn fete in the evening - But this will be much nicer. Tou know I have always intended to go from here to Albany by water some time on the way home, but I have never arranged it. Next Friday night there is to be an open debate between our Senior debating society - "T. and M." and the Junior, "Qui Vive"- to which we challenged them. Ray is to be one of the debaters on our side. From now on there will be something going on all the time, our examinations begin a week from Thursday- The Seniors take them earlier than the rest of the people, in order to leave time for the Senior vacationbefore Commencement. The night that we finish our exams, we have what is called the "Senior Howl"- when we literally howl—either for joy or for sorrow that we are through. It will cost about twenty dollars, I think, to pay for all these extra Senior expenses, such as our pictures, invitations, class supper. Class Day expenses, and diploma. We have to pay five dollars for the diploma. I had expected to pay for all these things with the money coming to the Vassar ion Board, but I find that that money will not be ready for me till summer - about July. I am earning a little bit thisweek by tutoring in History — a married woman who came here after this semester's work began, and next who wishes to be graduated with -last year's class- She was formerly in the Class of '78. Somebody in the family inquired about my Com. essay: it is not getting along very well: I have not settled very definitely yet what I shall put into it. They will all be stupid. W e have been putting in our odd times this week by making blue prints from films that we borrow from various girls- We pay for the paper by making more than enough for ourselves and selling some. We shall have some very good pictures of the grounds and various buildings and people. I have always to make a collection of them, and now that there is so little time left, we are waked up to it. Mamma inquired about bringing Ray's Class Day dress- She will not need to do so, for Ray's dressmaker sent to her the Class Day dress and Commencement dress, by express- If mamma has any extra room in her trunk I can fill it up for her on the way home. Just to think of talking about the way home. Lots of love to you and to all of the family, from your loving daughter Adelaide. (Claflin, May 9, 1897.
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