Vassar College. Poughkeepsie. N.Y.
Nov. 15. 1896.
My dear Mother,—
I am so sorry you are not going to Uncle Charles' for
Thanksgiving - it would be such a beautiful plan, and especially for
papa, who has not been thereifor so long.
I am very much obliged for the little organdie corners -
they are unusually pretty ones-
This week I have been spending all my odd minutes from
Monday to Saturday in disposing of dolls. You know every year the
Y.W.C.A. buys about three hundred dolls,- that is the chairman of the
General Work committee does, which happens to be myself this year—
and we distribute them to the girls who are willing to dress them, and
then we have to collect them all again, and send them to College Settle-
ments and Hospitals and home missionary schools. Before we send
them off we exhibit them all - and it is a pretty sight.
I have had several letters from Miss Goodrich, in connection
with the box of old clothes that I sent her. We were very much disappointed
that the arrangement for her to speak here could not be carried out.
These last two or three days there has been a State Convention
of the Y.W.C.A. in Poughkeepsie—the same thing that I went to in
Syracuse last fall, you know. I was very glad to meet again some of the
people whom I saw and heard in Syracuse. The delegates came out to the
Nov. 15, 1896 -2
college yesterday afternoon, when about a dozen of us received them in
the parlors and showed them the buildings and our rooms etc*
Today we expect to have an honored guest in our room—
Dr. William Dorpfeld, the greatest living Greek archaeologist. He is
in this country for only a few weeks and Dr. Taylor considers himself
very fortunate to have gotten Dr. Dorpfeld here to lecture to us- While
he is here Miss Leach wants to show him some of the students* rooms,
and so she is going to bring him to ours. He lectured last night in
the German language - he has been learning English only for the last
six weeks, so that he does not yet feel enough at home in it to lecture
in our language, though he speaks it very well in conversation. His
German is remarkably simple, and he speaks remarkably slowly and
distinctly, so that I understood much more of his lecture than I expected -
with only six weeks study of German. He seems like a very interesting man-
younger than I had expected, too, for one so famous. Dr. Taylor had a
reception to the Faculty in Dr. Dorpf eld's honor - over in his new house;
the first time that he has entertained in his new house.
Ray is still In Brooklyn - she went down there to her cousin's
about two weeks ago, because she had been working too hard, over the
campaign and everything, and had to have a rest. I don't know whether
she will be back this week or wait till after Thanksgiving. Her father was
to be in Brooklyn Friday, but I have not heard from her since then.
Nov. 15, 1896 - 3
Winifred came out of the Infirmary last Sunday night, but she
has been in bed with a cold for the last two days. This room seems to
be rather ill-fated.
I am sorry for the Richardson girls - those two young girls
left to take care of themselves- Poor Mrs. Richardson was sick so
long. I shall write Anna Leigh and Bertha a note, I think.
P.M.
I have Just come from such a delightful walk over the field s-
from the top of the hills we watched the sun set.
We did not meet Dr. Dorpfeld after all, for Prexy took care of
him all the time, and Miss Leach did not have a chance to show him
around.
The minister this morning was Dr. Stewart of Rochester. He
preached a very good sermon. I met him after church in the Senior
Parlor. The minister is always taken there between church and dinner,
and the Seniors and any underclassmen whom the Seniors may invite,
are there to meet him. One or two of the girls always sing, too.
Ed says, in the letter you sent me, that he is going to Boston
"for a few days." Why under the sun doesn't he spend all the time there
that he can? I think that is too good an opportunity t> be thrown away.
Love to all the family and the neighbors, from your loving
daughter Adelaide.
(Claflin,