Vassar College.
Poughkeepsie. N.Y.
iMay 9. 1897,
My dearest Father, —
I am going to write my letter before church this morning,
so that I may go for a walk this afternoon. This has been a perfect
spring: we have not had any very hot weather yet; it has been bright
and clear and comfortably cool most of the time so far—-the kind of
weather that makes us want to live out of doors. Ray finally got her
bicycle fixed up, so that I have been out on it twice already. I thought
I might have forgotten somewhat since last fall how to ride, but I had
no trouble at all. The spring rains make the roads here very bad for a
long while. It is not like the streets of a city, where you can ride the
year around.
Yesterday we had the second set of match games in Basket-
Bali. Our team has beaten each time this spring. They did not begin to
practice till after all the other teams did this spring, so we were afraid
they would not be very successful. But I think they have tried all the
harder on that account, and I think they will win the championship.
Next Saturday is Field Day, so in addition to the final match Basket-
ball games, there will be track events - running, jumping etc. The girls
who are entered have been training fro some time, and they have to diet,
too. That is, they are forbidden to eat any sweets, or to eat between
rMay 9, 1897 , - 2
meals - etc. Next Saturday evening, the Junior Class have invited
our class to take a ride up the river for two or three hours, in a
boat chartered for the purpose. We are so delighted, for everybody
says there is notihfcig more beautiful than a ride on the Hudson. Every
year the Juniors entertain the Seniors in some way;- last year we
gave them a lawn fete in the evening - But this will be much nicer.
Tou know I have always intended to go from here to Albany by water
some time on the way home, but I have never arranged it.
Next Friday night there is to be an open debate between our
Senior debating society - "T. and M." and the Junior, "Qui Vive"- to
which we challenged them. Ray is to be one of the debaters on our
side. From now on there will be something going on all the time, our
examinations begin a week from Thursday- The Seniors take them earlier
than the rest of the people, in order to leave time for the Senior vacation
before Commencement. The night that we finish our exams, we have
what is called the "Senior Howl"- when we literally howl—either for
joy or for sorrow that we are through.
It will cost about twenty dollars, I think, to pay for all these extra
Senior expenses, such as our pictures, invitations, class supper. Class Day
expenses, and diploma. We have to pay five dollars for the diploma. I had
expected to pay for all these things with the money coming to the Vassar ion
(May 9, 1897, - 3
Board, but I find that that money will not be ready for me till summer -
about July. I am earning a little bit this week by tutoring in History —
a married woman who came here after this semester's work began, and
next
who wishes to be graduated with -last year's class- She was formerly
in the Class of '78.
Somebody in the family inquired about my Com. essay: it is
not getting along very well: I have not settled very definitely yet what
I shall put into it. They will all be stupid.
W e have been putting in our odd times this week by making blue
prints from films that we borrow from various girls- We pay for the
paper by making more than enough for ourselves and selling some. We
shall have some very good pictures of the grounds and various buildings
and people. I have always to make a collection of them, and now that
there is so little time left, we are waked up to it.
Mamma inquired about bringing Ray's Class Day dress- She
will not need to do so, for Ray's dressmaker sent to her the Class Day
dress and Commencement dress, by express- If mamma has any extra
room in her trunk I can fill it up for her on the way home. Just to think
of talking about the way home.
Lots of love to you and to all of the family, from your
loving daughter
Adelaide. (Claflin,
May 9, 1897.