Vassar College. March 24. 1895.
My dear Mother,—
Vacation is here, and so nice it is. It is so quiet and
restful. Ray went Thursday morning and was to get to Turnpike,
Saturday morning. That is three miles from Asheville- They were
to spend Friday night at Asheville.
Belle went Friday afternoon- She was working on her special
topic in Greek up to the last minute so that we packed her satchel and
sewed on her shoebuttons for her and she had just time to catch the
train. Her mother has been sick since before Thanksgiving, a good deal
of the time in bed. Carrie has stayed here as she thought she would,
and I am very glad to have her company. Ellen Hailey is staying in
Belle's room, which is pleas ante r than living over at one of the cottages
where she is the only college girl.
Carrie is going to have her sister ia Rye Seminary, up here to
spend two or three days at Easter - since she is not going to see her
during our vacation. Carrie's aunt in Boston invited her to come there
alone, and also her aunt in Brooklyn, but she thought she would rather
stay here, so she decliaed their invitations. It has been perfect weather
the last few days- the sun so bright and warm. But there are still patches
of snow in the shadow- it is so slow to disappear here. If the weather keeps
beautiful, it will add a good deal to our pleasure.
Yesterday afternoon we went over to the gym. to play battle-ball. I forget
Mar. 31, 1895 - 2
whether I have told you about our athletics. There are two new games,
battle-ball, and basketball, which have been introduced here just lately,
which the girls are much interested in, and talk about a good deal - The
games are played by teams of eleven, and \ three or four teams of each
game have been formed in each class. I am on a team in each. If we
just played by ourselves, that would not be so exciting, but the fun comes
in in having match games between the different teams, and usually in dif-
ferent classes- On such occasions a number of the members of each class
get together to watch and cheer each good move made by their class team,
and it is lots of fun to watch match games. Basket ball is rougher than
battle-ball, and tires you more. Some girls like one game better, some
the other, but I think -me- battle ball Is a little more popular.
When spring comes and the ground can be fixed, we are going to
play golf- You know that is an English game. I have joined the golf club
that has been formed, but it will be some little time before we can play it.
As many can play in that as want to. Last week all the athletic teams and
clubs were formed into an Athletic Association, which will oversee all the
games aad attend to the grounds - and keep them in order.
The girls have been so anxious for spring to come that they thought they
could hasten it by wearing shirtwaists, and a few have appeared here and
there for some time. So Dr. Thelberg talked to us the other night after
Mar. 31, 1895 - 3
chapel, altogether, and informed us that the 4teu* season for shirtwaists
has not yet arrived, nor the season for low shoes either. Also that we
should wear rubbers until the middle of May. She gave us some more
advice too, and told us that she wanted to see us all go away from college
with pure healthy souls In pure healthy bodies. A good many girls are
v*«g themselves shirtwaists this vacation. A number have asked me to Join
them in it, but I declined. I prefer to make my clothes at home with my
slater and a sewing machine—both great helps I
Three girls here are each making themselves a wool spring dress. They
have established themselves in one room, and rented a sewing machine and
sewing table and flatiron- They ripped up old waists to get a pattern, and
are getting along in fine style. They work pretty test. One of them* Dora
Roberts, makes most all of her clothes. There are lots of girls here who
make all or nearly all, of their clothes. They make me feel like an ignoramus.
I must learn a lot more about sewing this summer. I am glad drapery is not
coming into style after all. The new skirts are all made perfectly plain,
though flaring and four or five yards wide. Carrie has just had her spring
dress made- They put crinoline or ever haircloth in the skirst part way
up the front and all the way up the beck. Sleeves will certainly have to be
smaller next year, for it is impossible for them to be bigger than they are
now- and they stand out with crinoline too.
Mar. 31, 1895 - 4
X do hope you can get a new sewing-machine - X should be so glad
to say goodbye to that other poor rickety thing. Edie has sewed on it
enough to wear it out three or four times. Z believe my challi is wearing
out at last, for it tears so easily- I have made three or four tears in it
lately. When Is Lou's vacation, and how much does she have?
Gertrude Bronson did not go home after all, for I saw her tonight.
Katharine is here, too, and we have sat at the same table several times.
The Strong Hall girls have to come over here for their meals in vacation.
I was going to ask you to send back some books by her, some books that
we have to use for English. X think X had better ask you to send them by
express if you will, for it would be cheaper than buying them. I can not
find any girls who have them to rent, for they have not had to use them
before this year. They are the works of Milton, Dryden, and Pope, and
the Essays of Addison, Swift, and Samuel Johnson. I am not sure how many
of those you have, but I shall have to buy the ones you haven't, unless you
want to borrow them. Perhaps you will need them at home, but If you don't,
and If you can spare them, X would like to have you send them, and I will
bring them back in June. 2f you do send them you might send a corset cover
along with them.
Is Etta well again, and has she had her party? X have not heard at
all how Clarence gets along with his kindergarten. Does he like it, and does
Mar. 31, 1895 - 5
he like to play- with the other children?
Have the Wheelers any one to board with them yet? I should think
they would have a good deal more leisure time than they used to. Give my
love to them and the rest of the neighbors— With love to all the family —
As ever Adelaide (Claflin,