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, so that 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 we could
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,
Oct* 2, 1896 - 4
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.
(At the top of the next sheet is a little sketch showing a cross-section
of the crevice.)
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 reach the 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
Nov. lt 1896 - 3
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 a Republican 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.
Nov. 1, 1896 - 4
Our Senior Parlor Opening was put off on account of the
Mohonk trip, so that will come off next Saturday afternoon. I am glad
we did not have it this last week, for in addition to what went on
Saturday we had the Hallowe'en parties Friday night, and I had to lead
the prayer-meeting Thursday night, too. There are always two parties
Hallowe'en night, one given by the Sophomores to the Juniors, the other given
by the Seniors to the Freshmen. They were both Masquerade Balls. I did
dot go over to them, because I had not time to bother with a costume. At
dinner on Hallowe'en the Senior tables are always decorated with autumn
leaves and pumpkins and apples and things. Then when most everybody
else went out, we sang a few songs- our own class songs, such as the ones
we had for Trig Ceremonies and Basket ball games.
Edith's postal about Mrs. Prescott's baby came yesterday-
Just in time, for everything that goes into the next number of the Miscel-
lany has to be in by tomorrow. What will Alice Dunham do now, with two
to take care of?
By my next letter we will know about the election, won't we ?
I am so glad it is so near over-
Love to all. Adelaide. (Claflin,