Vassar Coll. Sept. 27
My dear Will*
I was delighted to receive your letter* sad should
be answering it with a pen* if it were not for the lamentable fact that a
pen is beyond my reach at present. Mrs. Mstcalf handed me your letter
as I was wending my way chapelward during silent houri Imagine my
distress as I sat there for nearly half an hoar* during Miss Lyman's
dissertation* with that letter burning a hole in my pocket! I finally read
it while waiting for ekiyil Dr. Raymond to come to morning service.
Allow me Mr. W. A. Warner to present you with my heartfelt congratula-
tions on the improvement of your hand writing* I was delighted by it* as
well as by the contents thereof* Hurrah* Shout William!!! My examina-
tions are finished! Allow me to give yoa a careful account of the same.
For two days I have sat in chapel quaking in every limb* waiting Dr.
Raymond's summons to a private Interview* aad both times have beea
speedily dismissed as beyond reach* today however X received the dread
summons, at about half past nine o'clock, with outward composure, but
great inward trepidation* I ascended the platform and seated myself
opposite our Tirshatha (7). "What is year first name?" came distinctly
from his lips, with some alarm I replied "Mattie." "Middle letter"?
In much fear- S. "X have your age dowa eighteen, is that correct? "
Meekly * "Yes Sir." "Have you studied Latla? " "Yos Sir" "What did
you read last?" "Virgil." "Hare you studied French?" "Yes Sir."
Sept. 25 - 2
"Have you studied Geography?" "Yes SIr." "Have you studied History?»
"Yes Sir*11 "Arithmetic fc Algebra?" "Yes Sir." "Beea through Algebra?"
"Yes Sir." "Studied Geometry" "Yes Sir." "Anything more?" "Trigonom-
etry." "What Grammar" "Green's Rhetoric?" "Quackeaboss" At the
close of this category he handed me a paper which I inclose, the Roman
letters denote recitation rooms At I 1 found Prof. Knapp deep ia the
examinetioa of Miss H. A. Warner of Detroit. She passed aa examination
highly creditable to herself aad her teachers. Prof. Knapp expressed him-
self much pleased thereat. After she left M. S. Waraer from the same
place took her stand ia front of the searchiag black eyes of Prof. Knapp.
"Mattie S. Waraer" said he to Miss Gilbert, his secratary, "aged eighteen."
"Are you sure its S." said Miss G. meekly- "Yes" very sharply "Are you
acquainted with her?" "Yes." Ignoring my presence altogether, he
inquired "Has she read much? " Miss G* glanced at me, and 1 tipped her a
wink, to signify that I havea't "I don't know aaythiag about it." "What have
you read?" I told him. "What last? Virgil?" 1 told him I had, he '
referred me to Miss Usher, "Are you from Detroit" "Yes M"am»« Do let
me shake hands with you thea." There followed a short convsrsatioa on
Martha, AUie, and Helen Swift. After which she handed me a Virgil and
told me to read "Meae incepto"- I passed through swimmingly- Then I
was very anxious to have Madame ^examine me ia French but all Tho rny
efforts were in vain, the creature examined me himself. I felt inclined to
Sept. 27 -3
box bis e&», and I mast say 1 did aot do mysslf vast credit. From thcacc
I proceeded to Miss Scott for Geography* there I must say X felt my own
ignorance la a deplorable manner * from there X slowly aad sadly crept
to Mrs. Metcalf for history* X was the only one present, and the poor
woman shut her eyes aad said "Tell me anything you know* but don't make
me ask questions1' So 1 told her all X knew* aad she asked me oae or two
questions* and X departed for Prof. Farrar* feeling highly delighted. The
first question Prof. F* asked me was "Do you know as much as your
sister?" I hastily assured him that X didn't. He set me to doing an
Algebra fixing like this - l! -XX X west along very swimmingly
till Prof* F. informed me that I could do that as well as If X had
answer half aa hour long* So he put me Into Geometry In which I sailed
along comfortably* then X posted upstairs where I was examined la Arithmetic,
by a lady who snapped out her questions like a... page missing? ,
Write to me pretty soen please* Tell any gentleman who wishes to come
and see me that he will have to bring a letter of Introduction to Miss Lyman*
from my paternal.
X don't feel as if X could send love enough home
Your little sister*
Mattie
i.;
iMartha S. Warner* (68,
see next page
Sept. 27 • 4
W UI my boy, I have been attempting to write a compo, but don't succeed*
I hit my loot so hard against a chair in the dark last night that I am
obliged to wear that old; worsted slipped of Mather's this morning.
Examinations are oyer with - Arent you glad. Minnie Si I hope to read
Greek together & recite to Proi. Knapp.