Vassar College,
Dec. 10, 1871.
My dear Carrie,
This morning we had a good but very loag sermon from Mr.
Hamlin of Constantinople. He is the father of Miss Abby and Carrie
Hamlin) he looks a good deal like Miss Abby. Did I ever write you that
Miss Abby went home this summer? X have never been able to find out
whether her sister went with her. Miss Carrie was studying medicine
in Philadelphia the last X heard of her. Mr. Hamlin will talk to us again
this evening at the meeting of Religious Enquiry. Friday night was the
anniversary of the Philalethean Society. The programme was pretty
much the same as that of last year. The opening address was the best
thing read. The collation was scarcely as fine as usual. I will send you
a programme. Col. Smith was here that evening. X had just finished
curling Mollie Hill's hair, when a messenger girl came up and told mex
CoL Smith wsshttdxte see me Immediately in the parlor. I was very much
astonished and at first could not think who she meant, but I went down in
my wrapper because it would have taken me a long time to have dressed
for the evening. He ^ays he will be in Austin the middle of next month
and of course will be at our house, and wanted to receive some message
from me to you all. I sent one very important message but will not take
from him the pleasure of giving it.
Miss Arnold has left our parlor and Mollie Hill has her room.
Mollie is from Kentucky, from her name one would know her to be southern.
Feb. 4, 18, 1872 - 2
She is very nice and very smart hut is a great rebel. One day I happened
te speak of hearing the hounds out after runaway negroes, and you ought
to have seen her fire up. We have never said aaythlng more upon the sub*
ject of politics. She said that never in Kentucky had dogs been set upon
negroes, and persisted in it, and many other things of the same kind.
I hope you will have your silk made by New Years day. The lace
is to go around the overskirt and trim the waist and sleeves, and the gimp
(guimpe, Is to head the lace, W e thought the underskirt would be prettier
with a wide flounce. Make the skirt very long. A dress Is net at all
stylish unless it hangs at least an inch on the fleer. All the talk here new
is about the Grand Duke Alexis. The mayor of Pe'keepsie invited him up
and we hoped he would come out here, but have given that up now. On his
way up to West Point he danced with a daughter ef Prof. Morse. The yeuag
lady is said to be very charming and I presume felt highly honored. We
read in a New Terk paper of the death ef the Prince ef Wales, and wondsr
if it is true} I am glad you write me on a different day from Papa and
Mamma fer now X get an extra letter from home. With much love J.
(Julia M. Pease, '75)