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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: 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: April 21, 1895
Text: My dear Mother, - One more week has flown by- They are busy ones now, and so they go more quickly- especially the Saturdays and Sundays, to which we look forward. We always expect to do so much on Saturday, and then, somehow, when the day is gone, it seems as If we had done so little. Aad Sunday too, when it is gone, seems so short. Today we went to town to church, because the minister who was to have preached did not come. It was such a pleasant day that we walked in - I walked in to town...
Show moreMy dear Mother, - One more week has flown by- They are busy ones now, and so they go more quickly- especially the Saturdays and Sundays, to which we look forward. We always expect to do so much on Saturday, and then, somehow, when the day is gone, it seems as If we had done so little. Aad Sunday too, when it is gone, seems so short. Today we went to town to church, because the minister who was to have preached did not come. It was such a pleasant day that we walked in - I walked in to town yesterday too, with Belle, as she wished me to help her select a hat. They are begin- ning to wear straw hats now. The new dresses are appearing these pleasant days, and the sleeves, well- they are so inflated that if they grow any larger they will burst. Tell Edfe that if she makes a new dress she will have to remember the rule for sweetening canned pie-plant. "Put as much cloth into the sleeves as your conscience will allow, then turn away your head and put some more in." Most of the sleeves are lined with fiber chamois too, which keeps them very stiff and rattling. And the fiber chamois in the skirt reaches half way up the back. It looks like yellow wrapping-paper. I am glad the skirts are made perfectly plain - I guess the attempt to introduce drapery has been given up. But box plaits, box plaits, box plaits in the waist! I put my name down to stayhere for Commencement this year. The girls told of having such fun at Commencement that I concluded it would be pleasant to stay- Class-Day is a great occasion. Anna Graham - of Cleveland - is going to be Prophet of her class then. The Juniors have been selecting their rooms for next year, in the last two days. It is a time of great excitement, for there Is such a difference in the desirability of the rooms. They draw in this way: Mrs. Kendrick puts a lot of little blocks of wood, each with a number on it, into her little black handbag. Then the girls pass in front of her, each "putting in a thumb and pulling out a plum"- Then whoever has drawn no. 1. has first choice of rooms in the building. No. 2 second choice and so on. More and more girls every year seem to want single rooms, so that there is greatemand for them, and the girls near the end have only poor ones to choose from. And as for the rest of the classes, they have only a few left apiece^ and a great many of the girls who want them cannot have them. Probably sixty girls in our class will want singles and only about twenty singles will probably be at our disposal. I want to get a single room myself if I can, if I cannot probably Ray and Carrie and I will room together in a parlor. Otherwise Ray and Carrie will room together In a double. I think it is not the best thing for the same two girls to room together next year U we can help it, though of course we should be very happy if we did- We shall probably draw for roomstomorrow, and have our rooms all selected by the next day or two. Belle is not coming beck next year, because she can not afford to. She did not know of the possibility till just lately, and it was not settled till Easter vacation, I am so sorry she has to stop now, for the two hardest years only, are passed, and the two pleasantest are to come. Belle's mother needs her too, I think, for she is sick most of the time, and is at home alone. The only other members of the family are Belle's two brothers who are in other towns. Belle has been away to boarding school for a good many years, so that I should think her mother had not seen much of her. Mary writes that she is making plans on the supposition thatshe is coming back next year - but I do not believe she will come back. She is not as well as she was when she was here. Her mother has been in Princeton for ten or twelve weeks, where Mary's brother has been very sick with typhoid fever, so that Mary has herself and the house to take care of, and her little sister and her sick aunt. She is having the housecleaning done now and is seeing to having the whole house papered. There is nothing like her ambition. Kate Dunham has selected a single room - a very pretty little one - though it is little. She does not appear to be very anxious to come back next year. I think she would have been just as happy at home, though she likes it well enough here. I like it more and more the longer I stay here, that is, Igrow more attached to it. And we are beginning to have the professors now, instead of just teachers. There are so many things that I would like to study next year, that I am having some difficulty in deciding on my electives- The Seniors are beginning to feel sorry about leaving - they have only a few weeks more of college. Mr. Thompson - ("Uncle Fred" as the girls call him) gave the Seniors each a spoon last night, as he does every year. The spoons are rather larger than teaspoons, and are very heavy - quite a nice thing to keep- Give my love to the neighbors - I am glad Etta is well. I am relieved that the Kendricks are settled in their house at last, and did not have any more fuss. Lovingly Adelaide. (Claflin} Vassar College. April 21, 1895.
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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: October 22, 1893
Text: Vassar College. Oct. 22, 1893. My dear Lou, -- It was a good while ago that you wrote to me, but your turn for an answer has come at last. In church this morning I wished that I were sitting beside you listening to-Dr. Mears- None of the sermons I have heard so far, (except-frr~President Taylor's) have been nearly so good as his. But I enjoy Dr. Vincent's Bible Lectures. We had a concert Friday night - a violin and piano recital. I would have enjoyed it more if I had not been so...
Show moreVassar College. Oct. 22, 1893. My dear Lou, -- It was a good while ago that you wrote to me, but your turn for an answer has come at last. In church this morning I wished that I were sitting beside you listening to-Dr. Mears- None of the sermons I have heard so far, (except-frr~President Taylor's) have been nearly so good as his. But I enjoy Dr. Vincent's Bible Lectures. We had a concert Friday night - a violin and piano recital. I would have enjoyed it more if I had not been so sleepy. All the lectures and concerts are free to all the college. Yesterday Ray's brother Harry sent her some good things to eat. He tutored a boy this summer, and the boy's mother seemed to take a fancy to him, and has sent him several nice presents. This week she sent him a lot of good things to eat, and it was some of these that he sent to Ray.-- two cans of sardines, a can of boneless turkey, a jar of olives, and some raspberry jam. There is a little grocery store in the main building where we can get soda crackers to eat these things with. Tomorrow night we are going to invite a half dozen girls in for a little while during the evening, to help us eat them up-. I didnot expect to have a spread quite so soon. We are in rather an embarrassing position too, for neither Ray nor I have a single dish here. Oct. 72, 1893 - 2 But we can use pieces of paper and hatpins, and a tin soap dish of Ray's. They had Senior Parlor Opening yesterday afternoon. This is a small parlor which is given up to the Seniors every year. They furnish it just as they want to, and then have an "opening". It is very pretty, and has some very nice things in it. There is a famous oil-painting in it now, which a gentleman in New York, the father of one of the Seniors, lent to them for this year. The girls take away their own ornaments from it at the end of the year. Only the Sophomores are invited to the opening. The next event will be the party given by the Sophomores to the Freshmen, in two or three weeks. Each Soph, will escort a Freshman. I have already been invited by a very nice girl. I should like to hear how High School is getting along- How does Miss Beaumont get along without Mr. Muckly to do chores for her. Does Miss Beaumont still have a girl put the clock back every morning with the window stick? And is Mr. Lothmann just as cranky, Dr. Zeliqzon just as solemn, and Mr. Weimer just as jolly as ever? What is the name of that smart boy that moved away — the one you thought would be Vale- dictorian? Do you have to study hard? Do you like Virgil? Our Latin - we are reading Livy - is pretty hard. Ray's Latin teacher is ever so much stricter than mine. So I suppose she will learn more than I. But my teacher is nicer. Your loving sister Adelaide. Adelaide Claflin, '97,
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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-Claflin, Adelaide
Date: November 1, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. November 1. 1896. My dear Lou,— I hope you are having as lovely weather now as we are. We had so much rain the first part of the fail, that I had given up expect- ing aay good weather. But this week it has beea perfectly beautiful every day. Yesterday we finally saw Mohonk. The day was perfectly clear and quite warm, sothat it was very comfortable for driving. Half of our class, and the Freshmen who are in the Main Building made up the party. You know the rest of...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsie. November 1. 1896. My dear Lou,— I hope you are having as lovely weather now as we are. We had so much rain the first part of the fail, that I had given up expect- ing aay good weather. But this week it has beea perfectly beautiful every day. Yesterday we finally saw Mohonk. The day was perfectly clear and quite warm, sothat it was very comfortable for driving. Half of our class, and the Freshmen who are in the Main Building made up the party. You know the rest of the Seniors and Freshmen went two weeks ago. We started at half past six, in "barges" - which is the name given here to a kind of open omnibus; there were twelve in our barge, four of them Freshmen - very nice ones too. We were the second barge, so we got across the river in the first ferry load, and reached Mohonk by eleven o'clock- On the way we sang all the songs wecould think of- and composed two into the bargain. One was this:- to the tune of "Tramp, tramp, tramp"— In the barges now we sit, Ninety-seven and Naughty-naught, To Mohonk our way we pleaaantly do wend, And with plsasurs the day is very clear. And with pleasure all is fraught; Uncle Fred, to thee our hearty thanks we'll send. Chorus: Cheer, cheer, cheer for seven-and-ninety Cheer for Nine teen-hundred too, Cheer for Uncle Fred end Prex, Vassar's uncle and her "rex", May they gladden hearts of classes yet to come!From Mohoak I mailed a -ear little book which they gave away at the hotel — giving very good pictures of the place—so far as they go- but unfortunately the pictures give mostly the artificial beauties of the place - "the improvements and give very little idea of the grand- ness of the natural beauties. They have not shown the most impressive parts of the scenery at all. 1 mailed one of these little books to Uncle Charles, as well as to mamma.When we reached Mohonk, we girls went to "Sky top" - which is the highest point there, from which there is a most glorious view. We came back by way of the "Crevice", which is a most difficult pro- ceedings. The "Crevice" Is is a crack between two great walls of rock, Just about the width of one's body. From the top at one end, you can let yourself down from one ledge of rock to another, and so by a gradual descent reachthe outer air at the bottom on the other end. It is not like a chasm, where you would fall hundreds of feet straight down, if you made a mistake, but it is like a stairway, where is a footing all the time. When you reach the outside of the crack, then you have to wind round and round the mountain over a floor of boulders* stepping up and down all the time from one boulder to another. This part is called the "Labyrinth". It was altogether an interesting walk, you can imagine. When we came back to the hotel, were quite ready for our lunch, as it was seven hours since breakfast. Unfortunately there was nothing hot to eat, - only some very strong coffee - which gave one of the girls in our barge a headache which she still has- There were hard sandwiches, •cold'boiled eggs, very rich milk, and cookies. After luncheon we just sat in a summer house, as most of us had had enough of walking and climbing. We started home again at half-past two. The hotel has been closed for the season, so there were no people there except the ones necessary to wait on us. We reached college again at six o'clock, just as the bell was striking for dinner. In the evening there was aRepublican mass-meeting, at which three girls and Prof. French and Prof. Wentworth spoke. Prof. Went- worth tried to be funny - without succeeding - but the rest were all very good. There was a procession, too - with drums and flags, but no horns allowed. This morning I thought I had better stay quietly at home for a change, so I did not go to town to church. Mrs. Kendrick came into our room because Ray was in bed for a little rest, and Ray and I had a delightful talk with her. Our Senior Parlor Opening
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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: 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: 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: 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 12, 1893
Text: Vassar College. Nov. 12, 1893. My dear Papa, - I think I have gone the rounds of the family now, so that it is time to begin at the top again. I didn't tell what happened the week before last, I guess, because I didn't have time to finish my letter last Sunday. So I shall have to begin way back at the Sophomore joke, or rather, lack of a joke. That was at Hallowe'en, when it is customary for the Sophs to play a joke on the Freshmen, and the Juniors one on the Seniors. When we...
Show moreVassar College. Nov. 12, 1893. My dear Papa, - I think I have gone the rounds of the family now, so that it is time to begin at the top again. I didn't tell what happened the week before last, I guess, because I didn't have time to finish my letter last Sunday. So I shall have to begin way back at the Sophomore joke, or rather, lack of a joke. That was at Hallowe'en, when it is customary for the Sophs to play a joke on the Freshmen, and the Juniors one on the Seniors. When we woke up Hallowe'en morning we found a similar tack on all the Freshmen doors, and thinking that the Sophs intended to hang something on them during dinner or chapel, we all carefully removed them, and kept watch all the time. So they didn't have a chance to do what they intended to, and they were awfully mad. So they had to resort to the plan of printing some "Hints to the Freshmen", and got Mrs. Kendrick's permission to put it on the official bulletin board. Of course this wasn't much of a joke, since it depended on the Faculty, as no one is allowed to remove anything from the official bulletin board. The "Hints" were quite funny though. It was advice to us as to how we should behave, etc. written as if for small children, for instance, that it was not proper for us to walk in the Senior corridor, or to invite the teachers to come and see us. But the Sophs were extremely quiet the next day. They didn't crow any over their "joke". There are three Nov. 12, 1893 - 2 Sophs at our table, one of whom lives in Cincinnati. Her name is Maud Warner, and she lives in Walnut Hills, and goes to the church that Mr. Simpson had until he became President ofMarietta College. You know Mrs. Holway went there too. She says her mother knew Mrs. Holway. Maud is an awfully jolly girl. She is always making jokes. She is such a good doctor that the girls call her Dr. Warner, and when they are sick, but not sick enough for the real doctor, they always send for her. The real doctor, Dr. Thelberg, is awfully lazy. She has two Freshmen classes in Hygiene once a week, and has a half an hour a day for office!^ hours, and has hardly anything else to do, except to draw her salary. She doesn't take the trouble to go and see girls unless it is absolutely necessary, so they always have to go and see her. Last night about ten oclock a girl over here had a sort of nervous spasm, and when they sent for the doctor, she said she couldn't come because she had just taken a hot bath and gone to bed, and she would catch cold if she got up again just after taking a bath. So they got Mrs. Flett, the nurse. Poor Mrs. Flett always has to do the doctor's work for her, like that- But they say that if any one is very sick, the doctor wakes upand takes splendid care of her. Last Sunday a girl who belongs to the Friends' Church in Poughkeepsie invited Rachel and me to go there with her. So we want. I think these Friends are rather modern, for it wasn't so different from other churches as I have heard about. There were only three or four old ladies who had the Quaker dress and bonnet, and the men did not sit on one side and the women on another. It was conducted more like prayer meeting than church, they had several prayers from people in the audience, and a sermon by the minister, but no collection. There was about five minutes' silence between each thing. Toward the end, a girl proposed a hymn, and then we saw that a few of the young people had Gospel Hymns No.5. There were only about three young ladies and a boy who sang, of course without any instrument to accom- pany them. They say the older ones dont like it a bit, to have singing. The tune they sang was a lickity split one too. I never heard it before. I think it is mean of the young ones to want to sing when theolder people disapprove of it. I think if they want to be just like other churches, they ought to go to them, and not spoil the Quaker service. We are not going to spend our time any more, though, in going to Quaker churches, when we only have the chance to go to town to church once a month. I'd rather go to a Pres. or Congregational one. They say, that from the census they took of us here, they found that there are more Presbyterians here than anything else, Episcopalians come next, and then Baptists. I went to an Art Lecture Tuesday night. Prof. Van Ingen, the teacher of art here, is going to give them once a week, I believe. He has stereopticon views o£ famous paintings, and he tells the name and artist of each one, and describes it a little. He is Dutch, and a little hard to understand. Friday night there was a lecture on the Municipal Govern-ment of London, which they said was very interesting. I did not go,because Ray and I had previously promisedto go to a spread. Of course we had a good time there. We had sardines on crackers, cheese, apples, grapes and "fudges." Fudges is a kind of candy, made 2 glasses of sugar l/4 cake of chocolate one glass of milk and a little butter. This boils over a little gas stove, until it hardens in water. Then you pour it on a piece of paper and let it harden, and it is good. Make Lou try it and see- that is, if she has any "leisure time". I am so glad McKinley was elected. I saw it on the bulletin board at noon the next day. I could tell what girls came from Ohio, when I heard them talking about it. But McKinley seems to be very popular all over the country. For girls from all over were rejoicing over his election. Poughkeepsie went Republican. How is the Republican Club getting along ? I mean the one in the Eighteenth Ward. I suppose you had a big celebration over the Republican victory. Are you very busy at the shop now? With love to all the family and lots for yourself. Your loving daughter Adelaide Claflin.
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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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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-Claflin, Adelaide
Date: March 3, 1895
Text: Vassar College. March 3. 1895. My dear Papa,- I have just used up my last sheet of writing paper, so I will write on my pad for a while. I must tell you the first thing that the money came all right, and on good time, Thursday - and I paid the bill immediately. I am very much obliged for the extra "change", too. It fills up my pocketbook quite nicely. It has been a beautiful day today - very sunshiny - a contrast to yesterday and the day before, when it snowedall day. But yet I was...
Show moreVassar College. March 3. 1895. My dear Papa,- I have just used up my last sheet of writing paper, so I will write on my pad for a while. I must tell you the first thing that the money came all right, and on good time, Thursday - and I paid the bill immediately. I am very much obliged for the extra "change", too. It fills up my pocketbook quite nicely. It has been a beautiful day today - very sunshiny - a contrast to yesterday and the day before, when it snowedall day. But yet I was glad to see the snow, for the old snow had grown rather dirty and hard. The snow does not disappear entirely here, the way It does at home, before spring- From the first snowfall to the last the ground keeps covered all over. Ray and Carrie and I went to town together to the Presbyterian Church - Belle stayed at home with a headache. Carrie is a Presbyterian, and so we usually go all together to that church- The minister Dr.Wheeler, has been the pastor of it for about fifty years, I think, and he is a very old man. There is a young assistant, but Dr. Wheeler almost always preaches-r. Taylor is sick- has been for two or three days- there seems to be a good deal of the grippe about- There are-were two sisters here named Hill, and a cousin by the same name. One of the sisters was sick in the Infirmary with the grippe, and as she had been sick a great deal this year, her mother came here to take her home. But as soon as her mother reached here she caught the grippe, and was put in the Infirmary too. At the same time the cousin was In there with the grippe. The Infirmary only holds four, —(except the wing and the contagion room).The other Hill sister at the same time had a cold, and Mrs. Kendrick told her not to dare to let it develop into the grippe, for they could not afford to give the Infirmary up entirely to the Hills!" Tomorrow night the President is going to announce the honors- given to the girls in the Senior class- so when I write next week who they are, you can find their names in the Catalogue which I mailed home yester- day- I had forgotten that I had not sent one home, till Lou mentioned it in her last letter. I am glad Clarence has a guitar - I shall expect him to play me some nice tunes when I come home. Lovingly Adelaide. (Claflin)
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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 24, 1895
Text: Vassar College. Feb. 24. 1895. My dear Father,— The time has come around for me to write you another birthday letter, and say that I am sorry not to have anything more sub- stantial to offer. And if I could give you a birthday kiss, it would be much more satisfactory than sending it in a letter. This morning Bishop Leonard, of Cleveland, preached for us- in the Episcopal service. I don't remember whether I ever saw him in Cleveland, for I did not remember his face. I liked him quite well...
Show moreVassar College. Feb. 24. 1895. My dear Father,— The time has come around for me to write you another birthday letter, and say that I am sorry not to have anything more sub- stantial to offer. And if I could give you a birthday kiss, it would be much more satisfactory than sending it in a letter. This morning Bishop Leonard, of Cleveland, preached for us- in the Episcopal service. I don't remember whether I ever saw him in Cleveland, for I did not remember his face. I liked him quite well. You know last Sunday we had a Cleveland minister, too, Dr. Upham.This afternoon Rev. Mr. McCarthy, for twenty-seven years a missionary in China, is going to speak for us- This is in addition to the usual services, for in the evening we have our usual Bible Lecture by Dr. Pattison, and an address on Tenement House Reform by Mr. Richard Watson Gilder. Thursday evening was the regular missionary meeting of the Y.W.C.A. at which Ray, as chairman of the Missionary Committee, presided- and Carrie Hardin spoke about life in Syria, which of course she knows about very well. She knows a good deal of Arabic, though she has forgotten some of it, and it is fun to hear her recite Arabic- Yesterday afternoon Ray and I went to a reception given by Gertrude Bronson for her sister Victoria, and a friend of Victoria's, Miss DeWitt.Victoria was here only two days, but It was interesting for her, I guess- And she was enjoying it very much. She seems a good deal older than she did In the summer. Friday was quite an exciting day- after lessons were over. We have always had Washington's birthday for a holiday before, but this year the Faculty concluded that we might just as well have our lessons as usual, and not break into our work with a holiday- So all the usual decorations of flags and colonial relics the girls replaced by decorations which indicated mourning for a lost patriotism. The Senior tables down the center of the dining room are always deco- rated, and the seniors are always dressed up in some particular way and march together into the dining room, first, while the rest of us stand by in the corridor and watch them, So this year theSeniors adorned their tables all with black cheesecloth, even tying bows on the vinegar bottles and salt cellars etc. Then the Seniors instead of being dressed in colonial costumes, suddenly appeared, all in black, some of them Puritans, some of them nuns and some monks, with long flowing robes and cowls on their heads and candles in their hand. All these sombre figures singing a mournful dirge produced rather a startling effect. During dinner we were quite hilarious, and while we were waiting for dessert the Seniors all yelled "What's the matter with Washington's birthday? " and the response, "Going, going, gone!" and "What's the matter with the Faculty? " "We dont know.' Over at Strong Hall, they sang Star-Spangled Banner, America, Marching thro' Georgia, and so on, during dinner. In the dining room a committee had posted big printed posters - a "Declaration of Patriotism", modelled on the "Declaration of Indepen- dencewhich contained sentences like this: "We believe that students are endowed with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the celebration of national holidays." A statue of Geo. W. in the front hall was wrapped up in a portiere and a sign on it "Positively Engaged"— the sign wh. the girls always put out on their doors when they are very busy and cannot be seen. Of course this was done by some girl. Friday evening we all went over to the gym. in colonial costume and had some fun- Some Southern girls were dressed as darkies and danced the darky dances, one of them dressed as a boy did the "breakdown". This was especially enjoyed by the lecturer Prof. H. Morse Stephens, who was there. He lectured twice on Saturday on the French Revolution, on which he is the authority now. Wecould not go to his lectures for Belle had a friend here from home and we had spent the day entertaining her. to We took her over^the laundry, and were shown all through it - the first time I had been there - to go through it all. We saw how our clothes were washed and rinsed and dried and ironed and sorted - a good deal of it done by machinery- The people here are all very glad to show off their machinery- One day when we were in the Catacombs the man there showed us the engine which pumped all the water - 90 gallons per minute it pumps, fr. fourteen wells beyond Strong Hall, There is another engine beside it for use if that one gets out of order. Give my love to all - and keep lots for yourself - Though this is a birthday letter, still of course it is for all the family to read- as usual— Lovingly Your daughter Adelaide. (Claflin)
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Creator: Mansfield-Claflin, Adelaide
Date: February 24, 1894
Text: Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Feb. 24. 1894. My dear Papa,- I want to wish you a happy birthday, and many returns of the day. It is too bad that you have to have a broken arm for a birthday present, especially when the gift is strung out over several weeks. Is it a bad break? Isn't it fortunate that it is your left arm, and isn't it fortunate that it is not in the summer, when your "eleven-inch grip" is needed for tightening fruit cans? But at best it is still very...
Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Feb. 24. 1894. My dear Papa,- I want to wish you a happy birthday, and many returns of the day. It is too bad that you have to have a broken arm for a birthday present, especially when the gift is strung out over several weeks. Is it a bad break? Isn't it fortunate that it is your left arm, and isn't it fortunate that it is not in the summer, when your "eleven-inch grip" is needed for tightening fruit cans? But at best it is still very unfortunate. However I have taken action that that shall not be your onlybirthday present: for I sent by express today, some "Vassar fudges". I made them all myself - the first time I have made any all alone. Ray wanted to make a box to put them in, so I was glad to let her. She worked at the box while I stirred the fudge, and then we both made the flowers. We cant make fudges in the day time because the gas is turned off, and there was such an interesting lecture last night that we did not want to miss it, so we made it after the lecture was over, when all was still. W e dont borrow stoves any more, but cook it on the drop light after taking off the shade and chimney. To be sure it makes ever so much soot on the bottom of the saucepan and consequently It takes about half an hour to wash the saucepan, but never mind. I don't know how fudges taste when they are two or three days old, as I have never eaten any that have were morethan two hours old. There was such an Interesting lecture last night, by Prof. Stoddart of Oxford, England. It was on the "Meaning and Use of the Color of Animals in their Struggle for Existence." He included not only the color, but the whole appearance of the animals, and, with stereopticon viev/s, showed animals, fishes, and insects, which protect themselves by being the same color as their surroundings, etc. He told of what use certain characteristics were, and explained many interest- ing facts not generally known. Thursday was a holiday - though after this year it is not going to be, because it "breaks into the work," and they do not have it as a holiday at most colleges. I spent a good part of it in cleaning out my closet. I took out every- thing from it, and dusted it all, and brushed the clothes, and rearranged the boxes on my closet shelf, etc. It is quite an art to arrange the closet shelf; we haveto keep so much on it. You see, on holidays I have to substitute my closet for the pantry at home, (though I don't believe my closet needed it quite as much as the pantry generally does, for there is no one but myself to muss it up.). From eleven to half past twelve on Thursday Prof. Dwight was in the Museum, to explain the things there. Quite a number of girls went over and it was very interesting, indeed. I thought it was very kind of Prof. Dwight. First he showed us some of the shells, the freshwater shells, delicate pink and green and brown colors- He spoke of the differences in shape and structure, too, all in a simple way that you could understand. The most expensive shell in the Museum cost $ 80. Prof. Dwight admires the case that holds theshells, as well as the shells themselves- It has not a nail or screw in it, but is all per- fectly joined, with very fine glue. It was sold to the college at a great reduction, for $25000. There was a good deal of coral there, too, and magnified that models, in glass, of tilings that inhabit the sea, and^look a good deal like seaweed. There is a very fine collection of birds, of all varieties and descriptions. Some of them Prof. Dwight spoke of especially in detail, for instance the albatross and cormorants. One of the cormo- rants cost $2000, and there are several birds that cost one or two thousand dollars. Prof. Dwight said that the Museum was really very good. Thursday evening, you know we had a Washington party. Of course there were lots of girls dressed in the regulation colonial style, with old fashioned dresses, kerchiefs, and high powdered hair. But there was somevariety in addition. Men were quite plenty, that is girls, in the guise of men. They all wore black skirts, and a few were fortunate enough to have real coats, others took their dress- waist that most resembled a coat, and made large cuffs, and gold or silver pasteboard buttons, large ones- A silk handkerchief, (with gold pasteboard buttons) folded across the front, made a beautiful waistcoat, and the "stock" was represented by two or three hand- kerchiefs generally- Then immense pasteboard buckles appeared on the shoes. For the three cornered hats the girls merely took the trimming off of one of theirs, and bent them up. Then there were Spanish Cavaliers, English lords, and French Marquises; to say nothing of a squad of British red-coats, (in red paper muslin coats);. Arlle Raymond escorted me; she was Gen Anthony Wayne. Shehas trouble with her foot, so that she has to carry a cane all the time, and that was quite an addition. She had a snuff box, Edie's silver stamp box, filled with a mixture of salt and pepper, and she offered some to President Taylor. I wore the dress that Edie sent to me, and the kerchief, and had my hair high and powdered- Ray was quite a sensation, as a^X Hessian Baron. She had some rubber boots, borrowed from a girl, a military coat, which one of the girls got from a boy in the Military Academy in town, and an astonishing bear skin drum-major hat, or rather head-dress, made of a heaver- cape rolled up, and kept on with hat pins and a black ribbon under the chin. Miss Nettleton thought it was a real drum major's and asked her where she got it. Ray carried out her character so well, and was extremely gallant, but she saysshe won't be a man next time, it is too hard work to be so gallant. In one corner of the room they had an "Authentic Collection of Relics", such as a common hand-bell labeled "Liberty Bell, a little dirt done up in tissue paper, labeled "From Bunker Hill," an old broken-nosed teapot, a kitchen spoon, and a cracked cup and saucer, the "Boston Tea Party," a piece of ice in a fruit jar, which was "With Washington when he crossed the Delaware, a very worn out haircloth piano stool, purporting to have been used by Nellie Custis, a section of the heel of a girl's shoe, illustrating the "Stamp Act", and many others equally interesting and instructive. During the evening there was a cake walk, by ten or twelve girls dressed as darkies. It was won by a couple, one of whom was a short fat man, (a girl who has the most peculiar and ungraceful gait in college) and a very tall thin girl, who took little mincing steps. After that they passedaround popcorn balls to everybody. All the tables were deco- rated that evening and the girls wore their costumes down to dinner. We had carnations and srrdlax and candles and some pretty little favors, that Ray made, two or three of us helping her. They were little boxes made of pink crepe tissue paper, with the top ruffled all around, and a little pink flower to hold each corner. They had a few pink and white peppermint drops in each. This morning some of the girls wanted to have some kodak pictures taken of them in costume so a Senior was found who wanted to do it, and a half dozen or so of us had her take us; we had two groups all together, and then several of two or three girls. Ray and I had one where she was kneeling before me in a loverlike attitude and I was looking at her with extreme scorn. I don't know whetherthe pictures will be good, as the Senior did not seem especially care- ful: but if thsy are, and don't cost more than six or seven cents, I shall buy one or two. This letter sounds as if our life was one grand round of fun, but you always have to remember that it is those things that we write about, and of course we don't mention very much the hard work that we have, and the lessons that worry us all the time etc. I hope that your arm will soon be better, papa, and that it won't trouble you a great deal. I am so sorry you broke it. X got your letter containing the bill, and I guess it will be all right to wait, and pay it when 1 feel like it. Of course this letter is for Lhe rest of the family to read too. With ever so much love from your daughter Adelaide. 4Claflin,
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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: 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: February 16, 1894
Text: Vassar College, Feb. 16, 1894. Papa, I Hope you notice the classic beginning to my letter, which shows that I have been imbibing Homer. We were reading in the Odyssey the other day about a maiden who asked her father for something and addressed him in the above phrase, which means "papa dear." I never knew before that the word papa was In the Greek literally, except that it is spelled pappa. And now that I have addressed you as the Greek maiden did, I must follow her example further...
Show moreVassar College, Feb. 16, 1894. Papa, I Hope you notice the classic beginning to my letter, which shows that I have been imbibing Homer. We were reading in the Odyssey the other day about a maiden who asked her father for something and addressed him in the above phrase, which means "papa dear." I never knew before that the word papa was In the Greek literally, except that it is spelled pappa. And now that I have addressed you as the Greek maiden did, I must follow her example further, and ask you for something, and that is, toplease attend to my semester bill, which came this morning, and which I am requested to forward to you immediately. You see there are no charges for extras, as I have taken pains to need no medical attendance or extra washing. It is very easy for me to get along without extra washing, and I dont see how it is that some girls have laundry bills of forty or fifty cents every week. Still I dont know many girls who have not had some laundry bills. And it is extremely economical to keep well. There is one girl who has been in the Infirmary since the day after Christmas vacation, and the charges are $ 1.50 per day. She has a kind of malarial fever. In Hygiene last week we had a lecture on House Sanitation, in which Dr. Thelberg told us all about waste pipes and drain pipes, and traps, but she did not describe the kind of traps we have at home, under the sink. There is a regular March wind howling around today, though theyget the worst of it on the other side of the house. There is a great deal of snow on the ground. It has snowed so much and so steadily, and the snow never has time to melt away before more comes. I think the ground has not been bare of snow since Christmas. Last Saturday the Vassar Glee Club went down to New York to sing before the New York Alumnae at their annual lunch. President the Glee Club Taylor and some of the Faculty went along, and the^had a good deal of pleasure, considering that their expenses were all paid. They had a public rehearsal here the night before, so that we could have the benefit of their songs too. Friday Tonight Prof. Stoddart of the University of the City of N.Y. will lecture here on "Some Aspects of Shakspere's Maturity, as Shown In the "Tempest." They say he Is very good. I am not sure whether I shall go or not, as I have to have an essay in tomorrow, and I have notyet even decided on my subject. In English we have just begun to study Charles Lamb, and we are reading the Essays of Ella now. For today we have to read as many of them as we can. Today we have Elocution. Last week in Elocution we each had to read aloud, and Ray selected on purpose a piece with a great many r's in it. The Elocution teacher, who pro- nounces (?) her r's in the Eastern fashion, made Ray pronounce words over and over so that she would not "pronounce her r's in the back part of her mouth" as she expresses it. Miss Monroe says, "That's bettah." With love to all from your affectionate daughter, * Adelaide Claflin. and love to you from Rachel.
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Creator: Mansfield-Claflin, Adelaide
Date: December 7, 1896
Text: Vassar College. Poughkeepsle. (postmarked Dec. 7, 1896, My dearest Father,— This morning there is no church here, on account of its being the first Sunday of the month, and X am going to write letters instead of going to town. You see I have to lead one of the Bible classes, at half past nine, and there Is not time enough to get to town after that. W e must make some special arrangement, I suppose, for town Sundays. I am so sleepy today: I have not yet gotten rested from "Phil."...
Show moreVassar College. Poughkeepsle. (postmarked Dec. 7, 1896, My dearest Father,— This morning there is no church here, on account of its being the first Sunday of the month, and X am going to write letters instead of going to town. You see I have to lead one of the Bible classes, at half past nine, and there Is not time enough to get to town after that. W e must make some special arrangement, I suppose, for town Sundays. I am so sleepy today: I have not yet gotten rested from "Phil."which was Friday night—and we did not get to sleep till one o'clock, We had a very pleasant evening— Mr. Capen was here for the evening, and stayed during most o£U. yesterday. There were a good many young men here, but not more than usual- I expected to see more, because this year, for the first time, round dancing was allowed, and of course young men would rather dance than walk miles and miles up and down the corridors. I had quite a little visit with Mr. Capen aad am beginning to feel more acquainted with him than I have before. He is quite Jolly when you get to know him. He took somepictures of our room yester- day, aad he will give us each some of them. Dr. Kimball was in here for a chaperone, and after Mr. Capen had taken different corners of the room he took a picture of Dr. Kimball sitting in a chair, surrounded by Ray and Winifred and me. I am anxious to see what it will look like. I got yesterday morning mamma's letter telling about the fire in the shop. Cheerful circumstance, isn't it? Of course I am very anxious to hear further particulars, especially whether they are going to rebuild the works, and whether you will have anything to do inthe meantime. K I were only teaching already! Never mind, I will be just as soon as X get a chance. I will try not to worry till then. For the present, I was going to write to you that I have begun again to print for the Library, and so you need not send me the -etfce-forty dollars which I was expect- ing this year, for I can earn enough to keep myself. You know I have been living so far this year, on the money that I earned last summer. I began to print a week ago, at Miss Underbill's request, for she had more work than workers, and they pay me forty cents an hour now- the highest price.I shall earn a lot during the Christmas vacation. There is a very nice girl from Cincinnati who is going to be here during the vacation - Edith Crane - the friend of the girl on Logan Avenue, whom I called on in the summer-time. I am going to have her stay with me - in Ray's bedroom, which will be more fun for both of us than to live alone in opposite ends of the building. We had such a treat this week in the shape of an*a» exhibition of pictures photographs near here- An agent of the Soul6 Photographic Co.in Boston was near here for a few days, displaying photographs for the girls college^o buy or order. They were copies of all the famous pictures in Europe and here. - of a good many in the Metropolitan Museum, which I saw last week. Most of the girls went over two or three times just to see them. Our table had a "waffle supper" last night, to celebrate the birthdays of two of the girls at our table - Winifred's and Gertrude Smith's. Win's birthday was last week: but we tacked on G's celebra- tionbecause forty-five cents was too much to waste just for one birth- day. W e had a very jolly time, and all the waffles we could eat - as well as chocolate cake - but only one piece of the latter. I am glad to hear that Dr. Freeman is so well liked, and that he finally arrived. I was beginning to think he would not appear upon the scene before Christmas. It was very nice of the Sargent's to enter- tain the Session, was'n't it? With a great deal of love to all the family and to your own self. Your loving daughter Adelaide. fi laflin, December 6, 1896. (see over)I forgot all about John Kendrick Bangs.'- Instead of the usual lecture, Mr. Bangs gave us a reading of two of his own stories—yet unpublished— "Van Bibber's Failure" and the "Recamier Salon" which latter is a sequel to the House Boat oa the Styx. This kind of an entertainment was more suitable to the occa- sion than some of the lectures we have had - Mr. Bangs looks just exactly like his pictures - rather homely. Ray sends her love to you- Lovingly Adelaide.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: [December 1893]
Text: The pond is larger than Wade Park Pond, and they keep it nicely cleaned off, and flood it every night, and there are only a few girls there at once. I have my skates with me. The ones at home that you think are mine, are perhaps the ones that Aunt Allie gave us- Of course you will be glad to have Edie at home today. You must have missed her- But I suppose the change was good for her, though I don't believe she got much rest, because of her teeth- I would have written to her again if I...
Show moreThe pond is larger than Wade Park Pond, and they keep it nicely cleaned off, and flood it every night, and there are only a few girls there at once. I have my skates with me. The ones at home that you think are mine, are perhaps the ones that Aunt Allie gave us- Of course you will be glad to have Edie at home today. You must have missed her- But I suppose the change was good for her, though I don't believe she got much rest, because of her teeth- I would have written to her again if I had known she was goin^ to be at Zanesville longer- Of course X am glad, if Uncle Charles cares to read my letters, to have him do so. I have the pleasure of thinking, during vacation of an essay - our first long one, that has to be written just after we get back- also of algebra, that we shall begin immediately, and the girls always hate it, and I know I shall too, for X don't like the teacher a bit, except out of class- Now I always used to love geometry and algebra, but I have hatedgeometry this year, and have felt more uncomfortable in that class than in any other. Miss Richardson ought not to be teach- ing* She loses her temper so. She lost it at our last recitation, on Wednesday, and that, too, at the first mistake that was made, when there had been several beautiful recitations made before that. At first she said the class could go home and study their lesson, but as soon as she had said that ahe-it occurred to her that they might go and do something else, so she said, "No, you may stay here and learn it." Since she has told us a great many times not to bring our books to class, some one very meekly asked her if we could go and get our books. She saw she had made another mistake so she said, "Young ladies, you may write the rest of the hour." and so we had to write out some propositions to hand in. Then she gave us a long lecture, and told us, as she often has, that-w*.ours is her worst class (she has five classes in geometry, three days a week, and nothing else) She says that the reason why we don't do well,as a class, is because we don't take an hour's exercise just before coming to class. Just as though we could take an hour's exercise just before every recitation- Miss Richardson scowls like everything and stamps her feet, and on two occasions last year she threw a ruler and chalk at a girl. I think the class would do well enough under a good teacher, I can tell by the way I get along myself, and X have done my best for her and have studied ever so much harder than I did on the same work at High School. Miss Richardson is so smooth and polite out of class that nobody can tell whether or not she likes them- I do wish we didn't have to have her for algebra- Well, they want me to come down stairs now, so goodnight, and a merry, happy Christmas to you all. Lovingly AdelaideClaflin, I forgot to tell about the doll show- that came off Friday evening- They were dolls dressed by any of the girls who wanted to do it, and are to be sent to the College Settlement in New York city, and given one to poor children. They charged an admission of^postage stamp, or two cents- The dolls were all dressed prettily, and some of them elaborately, for instance with drawn work in their dresses- The dresses were of all imaginable kinds, a great many of them white,of course. There were more than a hundred dolls, I think- It them seemed to me that some ofAwere dressed too daintily, considering their destinations, but perhaps it is just as well to let the children own something really pretty, for once- I did not take one to dress because I thought I shouldn't havettime, but I helped three girls dress theirs, so I think I might as well take one myself next year. 223 South Second ave. Mt. Vernon N.Y.
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: October 21, 1894
Text: Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, My dear Edith, - I suppose that at this moment you are down at the Baptist Mission Sunday School, unless Mr. Hungate has found some one in the First Church by this time who is very ready to accomodate him by taking your place. Do you still go down there? And is Mr. Hungate all right now? I should not think you could still keep up that Sunday School now that you have more responsibilities in our church. I hear that you are \Secretary of our C.E. Society as well...
Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, My dear Edith, - I suppose that at this moment you are down at the Baptist Mission Sunday School, unless Mr. Hungate has found some one in the First Church by this time who is very ready to accomodate him by taking your place. Do you still go down there? And is Mr. Hungate all right now? I should not think you could still keep up that Sunday School now that you have more responsibilities in our church. I hear that you are \Secretary of our C.E. Society as well as Treasurer of theLadies Society. I am glad they appreciate your ability, but I hope it won't wear on you to have this extra work. I wish I could step into the C.E. meetings at home every Sunday evening. Tonight the Bible Lectures begin. They are to be given this semester by Dr. Patterson of Rochester Seminary - you> see we have a Baptist this term. I am going to take notes this year. I wish that I had taken notes last year of Dr. Vincent's lectures. I shall be able to hear a good deal better this year, for I sit so much nearer the front. We had such a good sermon this morning, one of the best I have heard here. Dr. Taylor's only brotherhas been very sick for some time and he died yesterday. He lived somewhere in New Jersey, I believe- Mrs. Taylor and Mary went there Friday, but Dr. Taylor did not go till yesterday. This has been such a beautiful day- and so was yesterday. Yesterday afternoon Miss Epler took Maude Warner and Marion LiOckhart and me out riding. You know she took us last June, and at that time she asked us to go again with her to another place some- time. So the time came yesterday. It was just a perfect day, the warmest day we have had here, so that it was just right for driving- We went to a placeabout ten miles from here. Maude and Marion each drove on the way there, and I drove all Ihe way home. It is lots of fun to drive on these country roads, where it is so easy - not a lot of wagons and electric cars and bicycles going in every direction. It was quite hilly where we went. I mean much more so than it is within two or three mifcs of here. Of course I never have a chance to see such beautiful scenery anywhere else as I do around here, and the more hilly it is, the more beautiful. You can look all around you and see hills in every direction, one back of the other, and farthest away the mountains, thethe Cats kills especially. Here where there is no smoke the leaves are beautiful, and so often you can see a hill covered all the way up the side with trees, and the leaves are of almost every shade you can think of. It is so nice of Miss Epler to take us, especially for such long drives, for we were out for three hours. At a point about two miles from here we came to a bridge over a creek, and sitting on the edge of it with their feet dangling over, we saw three college girls. Juniors, whom^we all knew, and guess what they were doing - fishing.' They were as surprised to see us as we were to see them. They hadn't intended to tell us about it tillthey brought home the fish. They did not catch any, but they still declare they would have if it hadn't been for three boys who came there to fish and grew too familiar with them so that they had to leave. The girls said they saw ever so many fish going around in the water. WeU, there is one thing important to report this week, and that is, that Poughkeepsie now has electric cars. They have been thinki ng and talking about them so long that I concluded not to say any- thing till I saw them. They began running out to the college on Tuesday. To be sure they have not such conveniences as electric buttons in them, but they are really good electric cars, of the same kind as most of them in Cleveland. I havenot yet ridden in them, but I must take the opportunity soon, especially as the fare is reduced to five cents. I hear them sometimes in the evening and if I shut my eyes I could imagine I was at home. I think there will be more intercourse between the college and the town now, especially in going to entertainments- The girls will go to more of them in P. and the P. people will come out more to ours. reader There was a famous Shakspere writer- in town last night, whom a good-ef-many of the girls went in to hear, with Mrs. Kendrick and the new Professor of English, Mr. Wentworth. We are going to be very happy this year I think, in our "fire- wall". Mary andBelle are very congenial and we have lots of fun together. We have to work ever so hard. I mean ever so steadily, for our work is not so hard as last year, I think, but takes more time. I see better than I did last year, how much I enjoy college, and how nice the girls are etc. How fast it grows dark- I did not notice it, but I think I had better not write any more now. I try not to use my eyes except with a good light. I am going to put in some needles that I found here when I came back, I did not know they were here, and I don't know just where they came from, but perhaps you and mamma will be glad of them, at least if there are no better onesin the house than there were this summer. 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: 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: December 10, 1893
Text: Vassar College. Dec. 10, 1893. My dear Edith,— I have no idea whether or not you are still at Uncle Charles'. But if you are, I know you would like to get a letter, so I will risk addressing it there. You may imagine I was rather astonished to hear of your going off so suddenly, I am very glad you could go there and have a visit, though it is too bad that it was pain that compelled you to go. You do have such a hard time with your teeth, as well as with a good many...
Show moreVassar College. Dec. 10, 1893. My dear Edith,— I have no idea whether or not you are still at Uncle Charles'. But if you are, I know you would like to get a letter, so I will risk addressing it there. You may imagine I was rather astonished to hear of your going off so suddenly, I am very glad you could go there and have a visit, though it is too bad that it was pain that compelled you to go. You do have such a hard time with your teeth, as well as with a good many things. It is too bad. I hope my teeth will last until I get home, without needing any filling. Friday afternoon the daughter of Mr. Gardner, Uncle Edgar's cousin, came out to see me, together with a lady who is her mother's cousin. I think she is a real nice little girl. I don't know, though, as I ought to call her little, since she is coming out here to college next year, but she is very young, and wears her hair down her back. (By the way, there are a good many girls here who wear their hair down their bdcks). The lady with her is ever so nice and reminds me very much of Mrs. Handerson. I think she is just visiting them. They invited me, together with two other college girls and two Poughkeepsie girls, to spend the afternoon yesterday and stay to supper. We had a very pleasant time. Her father is very pleasant & something like Uncle Edgar. I did not especially fancy her mother, because she is Woman's Suffrage. She talked quite long and seriously on the subject at the table and I believe she was really trying toconvert us to believe^in it, because none of us did. I wanted to laugh so badly. But still she is rather nice otherwise- Mr. Gardner is Secretary of a business college in Poughkeepsie, and also, as I learned, preaches at the Friends' church, not the Evangelical one, but the Unitarian one. They have ever and ever so many books in their house. When we came home, we took the last car, which leaves Poughkeepsie at eight oclock, in the evening,—that is, it leaves if there is anybody to ride in it, other- wise it doesn't- The driver is always mad when there is anybody to ride in it, because if there wasn't, his day's work would be over. So last night he was mad enough to whip up his horses very energetically, so that they actually ran, and ran fast, and the car went bumping along at a terrific rate---for it. Those cars are the funniest little things, bobtails, with the door, in the back, so low that you have to bob your head if you have a haton. It looks so queer to see no platform at the back end, nothing but one step- They charge ten cents car fare if you ride way to the college, so we almost always walk between the college and Arlington, a little place about half way to town, and from there the fare is only five cents. But still we walk all the way to town unless the weather is very bad, or we haven't time. The cars run every twenty four minutes; that is, they go. I never knew them to run until last night. Ordinarily you can walk about as fast as the car goes. That "Vassar Tea" must have been very pleasant. I am glad you met all those teachers. I have met Cornelia Ranney and Irene Lawrence. Cornelia Ranney is very pretty, and pleasant, but I think she is a a dreamy, unpractical sort of a girl. I used to meet Irene Lawrence every day on the way to High School, but when she was calling on me the other evening she expressed surprise when she found I was from Cleveland. Theyare both very pleasant when we meet them, but as they are over In the old building, and not in any of our classes, we don't see much of them. We have met all of the Cleveland girls, I think, except one. There are thirteen or fourteen altogether. Later. I have just come back from an address to the Y.W.C.A. by Miss Price, who is connected with the international Y.W.C.A. She told of the work and aims of the Y.W.C. Associations in cities and colleges, in this country and Canada. Last week there was such an interesting lecture by the chaplain of Hampton Institute, who told us all about Hampton, in a very interest- ing way. He had stereopticon views, which, of course, added a good deal to the interest, and made it much more real. There were pictures, not only cf the buildings and grounds, but of homes from which some of the students came, little tumbledown cabins of thecolored people, and mud huts of Indians, pictures of some of the children as they were when they came, and of the same ones when they went away. There was a quartet, too, of colored young men, who sang darky hymns. We got a splendid idea of Hampton. It is already after nine oclock, and I must still write to mamma a few lines, and I have to get up early tomorrow morning, too, as I generally have to Monday morning any way. I hope you haven't been killed with your teeth, and that you will get them fixed up nicely so that you won't have to bother with them for a while- Give my love to Uncle Charles and Aunt Effie, and keep lots for your own dear self. Your loving sister Adelaide Claflin.Dear Mamma My tooth is not yet finished, but I hope will be today. I will come home as soon as I can. I did not expect to have to stay so long. A Miss Brown is here, a very sweet girl- and musical. We enjoy her playing very much. Lovingly, E[?] (This is written across the top of Adelaide Claflin's letter to her sister Edith, Dec. 10, 1893.)
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: March 24, 1894
Text: Vassar College. March 24, 1894. My dear Edie,-- Vacation has begun, and I am alone in my room now. I think vacation will be very pleasant. It is a rest to have only a few girls here, and have it quiet- Even though I keep busy all the time, it is a rest to do what I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it. During vacation we have to read DeQuincey's Confessions of an Opium Eater, and Joan of Arc and English Mail coach, for English - Gertrude Smith and Arlie Raymond and I havebeen...
Show moreVassar College. March 24, 1894. My dear Edie,-- Vacation has begun, and I am alone in my room now. I think vacation will be very pleasant. It is a rest to have only a few girls here, and have it quiet- Even though I keep busy all the time, it is a rest to do what I feel like doing, when I feel like doing it. During vacation we have to read DeQuincey's Confessions of an Opium Eater, and Joan of Arc and English Mail coach, for English - Gertrude Smith and Arlie Raymond and I havebeen reading the "Confessions" today, one reading while the others darned stockings or sewed- (Arlie Raymond is making over an old silk skirt into a waist). I dont like the book at all. I think DeQuincey is the most conceited, egotistical man I ever read. Miss Sweet gives us lectures in English class, and they are very interesting- She has such an interesting, though peculiar, quiet way of talking- Her lectures on Lamb were fine. Most of the girls went away yesterday noon. Vacation began at half past eleven, but as Ray had no recitation before that, she started before breakfast yesterday morning, taking the 7:47 train for New York, and going from there to Springfield. She took a trunk along, and all her old clothes, as her grandmother is going to have all her spring sewing donefor her there. She bought the cloth for several new dresses, two or three weeks ago, so she wrote, to Ray. Ray will be so fine when she gets back that I won't know her. She will have rather a quiet time at her grandmothers, I think, and I am glad, for she needs a rest. She has been working so hard. She is the kind of girl whom people always ask to do the extra things- For Miss Richardson she and Gertrude Smith have been looking up the History of Algebra. They have read several beside works on the subject, and anaong the English ones Ray has read a good deal of a German one, and Gertrude S. a French one. They are going to write out what they have discovered and read its- it in class after vaca- tion. Ray's music lessons, too, have taken up an hour a day. I wish you had sent the paper which told about the Salvation Army in connectionwith Vassar. About two weeks ago Ray got a letter from her father, beginning: "My dear Rachel,- Have you joined the Salvation Army? " She was perfectly thunder-struck, and not less so when her father went on to say that there had been an article in the Leader the night before saying that Vassar was much excited about the Salvation Army, and that fifteen girls and Mrs. Kendrick had joined it. That is all he told about it, and he did not send the article. If it had not been for this episode, I should not have had the slightest idea of what you were referring to: since I have not heard the Salvation Army mentioned (any more than casually, once or twice, when giMs were discussing the dif- ferent speakers who have been here) since Mrs. Booth was here. That perhaps shows how "exclted(?)" the college is over it. About a dozen girls did join the Auxiliary League when Mrs. Booth was here. By so doing they gave five dollars to Mrs. Booth and promised to use their influence in favor of the Army,as the editorial from the Leader explains. That, however, excited no comment. I met Mrs. Kendrick in the hall the day after I got your letter, and spoke to her about it. She said no girl had ever joined the Army while she was a student here. There was one graduate who did, a young lady who joined it in London two or three years after she graduated, and has been an active worker in it ever since. Of course this Is not saying that it not all right to join it, or that the Army itself is not a good thing; but it shows the facts of the case at this college. As for the matter of "sermons" that was all past and over long ago, and I am sorry you have been stirred up over that. I was not at all convinced that it was wrong, though it seemed a little strange. have However, I should probably^thought nothing more of it, if several girls had not comeseparately, to Ray and me, and asked us what we thought about it, and saying that they thought it was not right for us to have to do it. That is, they thought it was an excellent thing in itself, as every one does, and that it was a fine thing to be able to get the analysis of to a sermon while listeningAit and thus being able to remember it much batter; but they thought it was not right to do it for a weekday lesson; to do the work of a lesson on Sunday to be handed in Monday- any more than we would, on Sunday, get a lesson in New Testament Greek, if a course in that were one of our regular studies, because on Sunday we ought to forget all our week's work, and our lessons. So we thought It would do no harm Just to speak to Miss Nettleton about it. So we did, and that would have been an end of the matter, if Mrs. Kendrick had not heard of it. But she heard of it some way, andthought it was not right for us to have to analyze sermons for lessons, and told Ray so, and there was the end of the matter. I was afraid all the time that we were just splitting hairs, but when I found that Mrs. Kendrick, and Dr. Taylor, and Dr. Vincent, and several other older and wiser heads disapproved of it, I thought perhaps we weren't after all. Nobody's plans were inconvenienced by a stop being put to it, for it was near the end of the semester, and that work was not going to be given to us again. April weather has begun, and we have had no March winds yet. The girls who went away had to start off In a pouring rain yesterday. Most of them went at noon. Ever so many girls go down on the noon train to New York, always- They have to make their plans so far ahead, and hand in in writing where theyre going, and what train they are going to take, and what baggage, etc. a week or ten days beforehand. Then three or four days before vacation the ticket agent comes and all the girls have to go over and spend a part of the afternoon in getting their tickets from him. The 4rsr trunks have to be packed and taken from fie building a day or more before the girls start. They learn to do it in short order too, Ray can pack her trunk in half an hour. It is amusing to stand In the front vestibule when the girls are starting. Some of them embrace and take a "fond and affectionate farewell" of each other, just as if no one else were around. The college authorities have been talking lately about closing up the college during the short vacations, and making the girls who stay board some where around here so as to give Mrs. Kendrlck, and the rest of the officials who have to stay and work, more of a rest. But they have not yet decided to do it.With love to all- Your sister, Adelaide. ^Claflin
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: November 11, 1894
Text: Vassar College. Nov. 25. [1894, My dear Ed.- Your turn for a letter has come last, you see, because you came to see me. Now don't you wish you hadn't? We have been let down, into winter this week. It snowed hard all day Wednesday, and all night, too, I guess, and the ground and trees were covered quite deep- Then it snowed some yesterday and Friday, too, so that we are quite used to it now. Last week girls wore their straw hats still, but this week every body appeared in "tarns...
Show moreVassar College. Nov. 25. [1894, My dear Ed.- Your turn for a letter has come last, you see, because you came to see me. Now don't you wish you hadn't? We have been let down, into winter this week. It snowed hard all day Wednesday, and all night, too, I guess, and the ground and trees were covered quite deep- Then it snowed some yesterday and Friday, too, so that we are quite used to it now. Last week girls wore their straw hats still, but this week every body appeared in "tarns" and winter wraps—the winter wraps being long lined capes with hoods atthe back — it seems that they are all the style. My winter jacket is up in my trunk. I shall have to go up and get it pretty scon, for other girls are wearing theirs now. This is rather early for snow here, I think, and isn't it unusually early to have snow in Cleveland? That was a wonderful game of football you had with Oberlin, to judge from the newspaper account I read. No wonder you are all elated over it. I am going to read the Oberlin college paper in the Reading room this week. Was the one named Young on the Oberlin team, Afred Young, who was in our class at High School? Well, the Republicans are all right, aren't they? Though wedon't hear much talk about outside things here as a rule, there was a great deal of Interest in the elections. Miss Macurdy talked about them with more interest than I ever -feoagd- saw her show in anything not connected with Greek. She talked politics at every meal for three weeks beforehand. Every time there is a Presidential campaign, they have a big time here. The girls organize into clubs and parade around the corridors, and put up flaming posters etc. About four- fifths of fee students are Republicans, usually, though a good many of the Faculty are Democrats. Miss Macurdy is a Republican- There is a Presidential Campaign for each class, sometime during its course. Ours will comehen we are Seniors. Sous a* s Band is going to be in Poughkeepsie Thursday evening, K and a good many of the girls are going in to hear them. Freshmen cant go, for Mrs. Kendrick doesn't allow Freshmen to gc to enter- tainments in town in the middle of the week. I was so tired and sleepy when I wrote home last week that I forgot to tell half the things I meant to. So I believe X did not mention the Hallowe'en joke on the Freshmen. Every Hallowe'en the Sophomores play a joke on the Freshmen, and the Juniors one on the Seniors. This year our committee had some long slips of pasteboard printed, just like railroad tickets. They were green on one side, and had four coupons on the bottom, the lowest one"Good for one fresh trip from Freshman Hollow to Mt. Sophomore - the aext "Good for oae hard journey from Mt. Sophonjore to Junior ville, " then 'Good for one soft-snap passage from Juniorville to Senior town," and last one "Good for one first-class passage from Seniortcwn to Alumnae Heights." The coupon iieltet-for the Freshman trip was at half-fare, (not adults)- and on each one it said "Not good if dropped". At the tup were the general rules and regulations of the railroad,-full of grinds - the first being "No stop-overs allowed." "Best procurable conveyance to and from depots, though the -President of the Company regrets his Inability to meet each passenger at the depot. (One of the Freshmen, just before she came, telegraphed to President Taylor to meet herat the depot at such and such a time). 'Trains run to Chapel-Gallery on schedule time-" (The Freshmen sit in the Gallery at chapel this year), etc. The tickets were regularly punched and stamped on the back- One of these the committee put inside each Freshman's napkin at the table, during the afternoon. Of course this was very easy to do, for the napkins are all plainly marked for the laundry- Of course at dinner, when each Freshman opened her napkin, out came a ticket - and then there was lots of fun over it. This week I was called upon to be a murderer - of a centipede. I was sitting on my bed one evening when on the wall beside me I happened to see what I knew must be a centipede. I had often heard the girls talk about them, for they are oftenfound down on the first floor, But they seldom get up as far as this. They are horrible- looking thirds, about an inch and ?\hall long, with about a dozen legs cn each side, and fellers at both cuds. I was glad of a chance to see one, so I sat and looked at it a minute, and then killed it. Did I tell you that Ray is in the choir now, and on the college Glee Club too? It is an awfully nice tiling, though it takes time, for roJiearsals especially - Irene Lawrence - who lives on Wills on Ave. you know - and who had typhoid fever in the summer, came back to college yesterday- She rooms with Cornelia Ranney, on our corridor, just a few doors from us- I don't know what she is going to do about making up her work- If she has to be a special, she canttay in this building- For while it is so crowded, they make the specials live in the cottages and have as many of the regular students as possible in the main buildings- Friday afternoon Belle got a box from home, with some cake, ginger cookies and apples in it- So we had a few girls in for the evening, and we had lots of fun. V/e played crambo, part of the time - Each wrote a question on a piece of paper, then mixed the papers and each wrote a word, then mixed them again and each v/rote a piece of "poetry11 5 answering the question and using the word. I will put in one or two for you- What is the dearest wish of your heart? Fresh. "Fresh for all negative wishes May my Fate say "No".1 May X not wash the dishes.' Let the rest go-" I'll have to obey ihat last line, so goodby- Your loving sister Adelaide. (Claflin,On separate slip: Hallu- What is the use of living ? cination The use of our creation Is not to win ovation Nor yet concatination Of mirth and great elation, You may see no relation In my expatiation. But in my peroration There's no hallucination.What would you most like to be? Faculty. "What should I most like to be? The equal of the Faculty? Nay - my wish is far more deep* I should like to be — asleep. Is the soul immortal? See. No one can a man's soul see So it may immortal be, After death, we know not where- It may roam the upper air-
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: December 3, 1893
Text: Vassar College. Dec. 3, 1893. My dear Ed,- It's too bad when you were so angelic as to write to me three or four times that I can't write to you oftener. But If the family were not so large I would get around it sooner. O you ought to hare been here to Thanksgiving dinner.' You would have been filled well enough to last a month. There wasn't a thing on the menu but what was awfully good, though of course we couldn't much more than taste of most things. Of course I...
Show moreVassar College. Dec. 3, 1893. My dear Ed,- It's too bad when you were so angelic as to write to me three or four times that I can't write to you oftener. But If the family were not so large I would get around it sooner. O you ought to hare been here to Thanksgiving dinner.' You would have been filled well enough to last a month. There wasn't a thing on the menu but what was awfully good, though of course we couldn't much more than taste of most things. Of course I didn't waste my appetite on the common vegetables that I can get every day, so that I appreciated the good things at the end. We enjoyed Thanks- giving Day very much. In the first place, during vacation we did not haveto get up till half past seven. On the table after breakfast we found some bread and butter and ham and cookies and apples, which we took up to our rooms in our napkins, just as we would put up our own lunch at home for school. Then we could eat this whenever we pleased, for dinner was not to be until three oclock. At nine oclock there was a short service over in the chapel, to which I went, though some of the girls went in to town to church. Then I spent the rest of the morning in the library, reading American History, in which I am going to take my exam, on Saturday. At noon a half dozen of us ate our lunch together and loafed until it was time to dress for dinner. About half of the girls had gone away, a smaller proportion than usual, they said. When the dinner bell rang we gathered near the dining room door (all of us in Strong Hall went over to the main building), and Dr. Taylor's little girl and Dr. Thelberg's little girl, both about three years old, headed theprocession into the dining room, followed by the President and those of the Faculty who stayed. They all sat at one table. Thea the girls followed, two by two, singing a Vassar College song. I happened to go in among the last, and got at a table where there were only six; most of the tables had fifteen. We stood behind our chairs while Dr. Taylor asked the blessing. He usually has his meals with his family in his own rooms. We found our menus in our glasses, and since there were so many vacant places at our table, we each took another menu. Of course there was a good deal of time wasted between the courses, but we were two hours and a half at the table. In the middle of this time Morgan Taylor, the President's little boy, got a telegram telling about the Yale and Princeton game, and Dr. Taylor stood up and announced it. Then all the Princeton girls clapped. The girls in the East are so interested in those games, and almost every girl is either for Yale, or for Princeton, or for Harvardetc. They wear little pins representing the flag of the college which they stand up for. Dr. Taylor, in the morning service spoke about Thanksgiving football games, and said he was very sorry the custom had grown, since it took away the religious Dec. 10, 1893 - 2 and domestic character of the day, which it ought to have. He thought it was especially to be regretted that this had been done by the college world. After dinner we came home and talked with some girls. Then the President always has an informal reception in the evening. We went over to this about eight, after we had spent more than half an hour in coaxing a shy girl to come. Her name is Fannie Hart and her home in Charleston, South Carolina. She finally went with us and enjoyed herself ever so much. I got acquainted with several nice girls whom I had not met before. About half past nine we all went out into the dining room and had some ice cream. We would have had a good deal more than we did, if a maid had not come to our table and calmly asked the girl at the head for five piecesof ice cream to take up to some girl's room. That night Carrie Hardin, the daughter of the missionaries in Syria, came over and spent the night with me. During vacation we could stay up as long as we pleased. Friday morning I spent in the library again, and after lunch I helped a girl put up some curtains for some girls who were away. Then I walked into town to Naa McClelland's house, (she lives in town but rooms at college) and helped her to dress her "Christian" doll. You see every year the Y.W.C.A. buys dolls which the girls take and dress; some girls take two or three- Then they have a doll show and exhibit them, then Dec. 10, 1893 - 2 send them to the College Settlement in New York city, to be distributed among poor children. After dinner Friday I helped another girl dress her doll; at eight I went to a spread, and had a piece of cake an orange, some chocolate to drink, and a piece of candy. Tell Edie not to be alarmed at spreads. I have only been to three or four, and they do not occur at midnight. It's just the same as eating a little betweenmeals at home. I have just known of two girls having a fit of indigestion and they probably had been to a spread every night for a week, as a girl at our table has. I think only Freshmen are as foolish as to go to them as often as that. This girl happened to be invited to all these because her friends' families had all sent them boxes for Thanksgiving. Friday night I went over and spent the night with Carrie Hardin. She was left alone in four rooms. Her three roommates had all gone off for vacation. Monday morning- As usual the bell rang before I finished this last night, and I will not have any more chance to write till this after- noon. So I will finish my story to some other member of the family- I am much obliged for the ' Adelbert you sent. It was more interest- ing than usual. Why don't the Board of Managers, or whoever attends to such things, have it sent to the reading room here? They have ever so many college papers, on a separate paper, table, some from colleges Dec. 10, 1893 - 2 that I never heard of- And I am sure when there are thirteen or fourteen Cleveland girls here, that we ought to have the Cleveland college papers. The other day I found there a paper published by the Cleveland University School. More another time, from your loving sister Adelaide.
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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 12, 1894
Text: Vassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Oct. 12. 1894. My dear Bessie,- You have been so good about writing to me several times aleeady, that I will answer your letters next. I want first to thank you for the postal stamps you sent me for my birth- day. They were about the most useful thing you could hav? +hought of, and they came at just the right time, for I intended to buy some that very day. I am taking this time to write because I am too lazy to do anything else just now. I...
Show moreVassar College. Oct. 21. (1894, Oct. 12. 1894. My dear Bessie,- You have been so good about writing to me several times aleeady, that I will answer your letters next. I want first to thank you for the postal stamps you sent me for my birth- day. They were about the most useful thing you could hav? +hought of, and they came at just the right time, for I intended to buy some that very day. I am taking this time to write because I am too lazy to do anything else just now. I have two recitations the first thing Friday morning, and nothing more till late in the afternoon. So the middle of the day seems like Saturday, and when I have had the hardest part of my week just before this, I like to do something else at this time than study. Our work is going to take ever so much time this year, for we have so much library work in history. For that we have to scheme and wait to get hold of the book we need, for often there is only one copy and 130 people want to use it. Then we have to read pages and pages, and take notes of the principal ideas we pick out.We bought several history books which we can use all we want to, and that is a great help. Studying history this year is interesting out of class, but not in class, for our teacher, Miss Johnson, is said to be more like a primary school teacher than any other here. If there are any more of mamma's pictures at home, I wish you would send me one as soon as you can. The other one, that you said Mr. Zndean sent, never reached me. I wrote to the postmaster in Poughkeepsie about it, but he could not find any trace of it. I am so anxious to see one. Mamma said thefamily did not like them very well. Etta's picture carne all right, though the wrappings were nearly off of it. Aren't you going to send me Clarence H.'s too, or cant Lou part with it? The other day, after I had been out walking with Katharine Dunham for an hour, I found a note on my door saying that Mr. and Mrs. West of Des Moines were in the parlor and would like to see me. I had not the slightest idea who they were, but I went down to the parlor. However, they had gone by that time, so I have not yet found out who they were. They sentup the note about half an hour before I got here. 1 have been wondering whether they are the relatives of the Fuller's, -wir for those are the only people I have heard of that live in Des Moines. But I couldn't remember whether their name was West. Some Des Moines girls were entertaining them while they were here. This morning Ray brought a letter from Mamma down to Greek class, and I read it there. I wish she would stay longer than till tonight, in Ypsilanti.Tomorrow Mr. Thompson is going to have the annual excur- sion to Lake Mo hunk, for the Freshmen, Seniors, and all the new students, in other classes. I wish we could gc, for it is such a beautiful place, and the long ride is a treat. It is twenty miles av/ay, and they ride both ways in buses. You remember we went last year. Katharine Dunham was not sure whether she was going, for she expects her Aunt Belle here today, and if Miss Sutliffe can stay over till tomorrow, of course Katharine wont go toohunk. We had a very exciting meeting of the Students Association night before last. They discussed the question of wearing the cap and gown. Most of the girls are in favor of it, but it can not be done without sending a petition to the Faculty, and getting their permission. This was sent, two or three years ago, asking that the Senior Class might wear them, but the Faculty would not grant that then. So there is a good deal of doubt about whether the Faculty will approve of it this time- I am not sure whether I want them or not. Itseems to me personally that I would rather wear my individual clothes, but still as the majority wanted them I did not vote against them, because I have no real objection, and I did not want to make the petition less unanimous. You have not told me about school, and how you like German, and whether you find it hard. Did you know that we were both read- ing Cicero? We are reading two of his essays, "Be Amicitia", and "De Senectute", which twill leave you to translate. They are very interesting, and I like my Latin teacher, Miss Greene, ever so much. Lovingly Adelaide. jClaflinj
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Creator: Mansfield, Adelaide (Claflin)
Date: [Nov. 1893]
Text: (About Nov. 8, 1893, Wednesday P. M. Dear Bess,-— Your letter came yesterday, and I have just gotten one from Edie- We are getting started at our work now, and it seems to me that our extra fc time will be very little indeed. The recitations are a whole hour long, and they say that we are expected to spend two hours pre- paring for each lesson. We have Latin, Greek, English (that is rhetoric) and Hygiene and Mathematics, but we dont have them all every day, so that we have three recitations a...
Show more(About Nov. 8, 1893, Wednesday P. M. Dear Bess,-— Your letter came yesterday, and I have just gotten one from Edie- We are getting started at our work now, and it seems to me that our extra fc time will be very little indeed. The recitations are a whole hour long, and they say that we are expected to spend two hours pre- paring for each lesson. We have Latin, Greek, English (that is rhetoric) and Hygiene and Mathematics, but we dont have them all every day, so that we have three recitations a day- But we have just found out that for the first half of this year we will have Solid Geometry, and we did have it twice in High School. We supposed it would be very different here, but there are only about eight or nine propositions (ask Lou what that means) that we haven't had, so our teacher said that we might just as well take an examination in it, and then we would have just so much extra time for something else- Ray would take music and German instead, and I would probably take some advance study- and be so much ahead- We have a lovely teacher for Latin, Miss Franklin- Our Greek teacher (I think she is Miss McCurdy but I am not sure) is very nice too, but she expects us to know an awful lot, and she pronounces some vowels differently from what we have been used to so that we can hardly understand her. Our English teacher, Miss Nettleton, seemed like a terror the first day, but I think Nov. 8, 1893(?) - 2 that when I get used to her I shall like her. Our mathematics teacher Miss Richardson, is very nice indeed, but perhaps we will not have her (if we take the examination). I am renting and buying second-hand all the books that I can - but Ray and I together bought a Harper's Latin Lexicon, which, of course will last us forever. Since we have begun our work we have not had time for anything else. So that we have not finished fixing our room and I have not finished what was to be done to my clothes. I tore my brown dress yesterday on a trunk, and it took me an hour and a half to dam it this morning. We have not had time to make any formal calls yet. When we do it will take a goodwhile- The other night we were over whelmed with them - had thirteen in three-quarters of an hour- They were people who had been told to hunt us up, but it included three or four apiece that such people brought with them, for instance Abby Vaillant thought she had to hunt me up, so she came and brought five strange and stunning girls with her. Some of them were very pleasant and some weren't. A Miss Vender Burgh from New York had been told about Ray and came to see us, and she is the snobbiest one we have met yet. I have seen all the Cleveland girls who are here- We are pretty well acquainted (that is I think we will be) with a girl named Hermione Stork who has three aunts in Cleveland whom I met at the Adelbert reception- Our rooms looks pretty well- I am glad the walls are not white, they are a sort of a pinkish brown. The embroidered yellow tray cloth just about fits my bureau. We have a good sized closet apiece. There is more than enough room in it for all my things, and there is a large shelf in it. I did not leave anything in my trunks. My silk waists are in a large pasteboard box, and the silk skirts are in my bottom drawer- We have to make a large and small laundry bag apiece- Table napkins, towels, stockings and handkerchiefs will be counted two as a piece, for washing- Dresses and fancy things are charged for according to the time it takes to iron them, at the rate of forty cents an hour- But I have not worn any of my thin dresses yet. V There is an orchard oa the grounds where we can get all the apples we can eat. I am not used to such luxury- We bring some in to our rooms too- But tell mamma I won't eat too many of them- I haven't time to write any more now- Give my love to all the family, and to Etta and Mrs- Henderson and the Wheelers- I hope the old lady ia better- Have Miss Clara and Miss Ella come back yet from the Fair? X hope you will have a new tooth grow in- Couldn't any of the family pull your other one? With much love- Address Vassar College Adelaide - Poughkeepsie N.Y- (Adelaide Claflin, '97,
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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: April 14, 1895
Text: Vassar College. April 14. 1895. My dear Bess, - You have been so good about writing to me that I must hurry up and answer with one letter. Your "diary" was very interesting to me. I like to know just what you are doing every day- Tell Ed, or Edie, whichever sent them, that the package came all right Friday afternoon, and I am very much obliged, to Edie for her part as well as to Ed for his- I am sure all those books must have all I will need, in them, if not I will get it somehow....
Show moreVassar College. April 14. 1895. My dear Bess, - You have been so good about writing to me that I must hurry up and answer with one letter. Your "diary" was very interesting to me. I like to know just what you are doing every day- Tell Ed, or Edie, whichever sent them, that the package came all right Friday afternoon, and I am very much obliged, to Edie for her part as well as to Ed for his- I am sure all those books must have all I will need, in them, if not I will get it somehow. We have already begun the Milton - have to read Books Iand II of Paradise Lost for tomorrow. Miss Nettleton came Wednesday - and she and her diamond ring Thursday were gazed at - also her fiance when he came Friday- Mrs. Kendrick gave a reception to the Faculty for them both Thursday afternoon but Prof. Bourne did not arrive till after it was over. The girls all think he Is homely, and therefore must be nice. The two went down to New York together Saturday morning to take lunch with Miss Nettleton's brother. I do not know whether they are coming back here or not. I hope they are, for I have not had a chance to say more than "How do you do" to Miss N. I supposed she was going to stay here a good deal longer. Carrie has had her younger sister up here visiting since Friday afternoon. She is going back to Rye Seminary tomorrow morning. This has been rather a cloudy Easter Day- It rained all the morning and was cloudy, though not raining, all the afternoon. Yesterday it poured all day- This morning Carrie and I went down to the Dutch Reformed Church, as there was no service here. The service there was very good- This evening the choir sang some Easter music for us, which was very pretty- Some of the girls have very good voices* Thursday evening I led the prayer-meeting with much more ease than I expected, for I was not scared at all- Ray came home late Thursday evening- She had a lovely time- picking arbutus on the mountains every day and taking beautiful walks- She brought back a number of photographs of the country around. She looks quite brown and freckled now. Yesterday Mrs. Benbow sent me an Easter card and painted celluloid around it. I can't say that I think it is pretty, but it was certainly very kind of her to think of me and to buy something to send me, so that I am very grateful for her kind wishes. One of the seniors, who lives in New York, felt so "dreadfully" to have to be here for Easter Sunday that she cried about it all day yesterday? and her family sent her an immense bunch of big violets to help make up! She goes home nearly every Saturday, too. I hope Etta is well by this time, poor child- Give my love to her. Love to all the family- Adelaide (Claflin)
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