Poughkeepsie June iou
John H. Raymond L.L.D.
My dear Doctor
Yours of yesterday Enclosing a letter from our old
friend & Trustee Col. Morgan L. Smith is received,
and read, and as you remark " contains some sentences
doubtless intended for my Ear8,but which I do not
fully comprehend, but as far as I do are not viewd by
me in that light,my maxim or motto is now the same
as at the begining of our enterpriseDo all things,
Interlecturall and Material the best, and make your
prices accordingly.The idea that " during the infancy
of the College to court public patronage by catering to
cheap or low prices of instruction is to my mind redicu-
lous.I go for the best means cost what they may &
corresponding prices for tuition in return.Suppose we
raised the terms (altho' I would not as a whole) only
on the ornamental branches, do you suppose the Col-
lege would be relieved of Pupils.Nay, not a wit, I am
therefore for giving the Daughters of the public the
very best Means of Education, and make them pay
for it!
I will stake my reputation on the result,The best
article in Market always meets with the most readiest
and quickest Sale, and as a general rule pays the largest
profit!
I dont believe in erecting a " Monument" to my
everlasting Shame by a failure in Judgement in its con-
ductment &c
I think well of " Advertising " and I have advocated
already & put fresh means in progress through the
journals of the day calculated to secure that object, viz,
the notoriety of our Institution, but nevertheless there
is room in the secular papers in the Country as the Co1
says, for more extensive circulation,as my Carrage
is at the Door waiting to take me to " Springside "
must close these remarks &c
Yours very truly &c
M., Vassar
35 OtJi