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Vassar College Nov. 27, 1870
Dear Sister:
We have had a delightful time here for the past week. I have heard and seen so many beautiful things that it seems as if I lived without the pain of living. First in order was the Thanksgiving dinner which we did not have until 5 o'clock P.M. but we had a nice lunch at noon so you see we were not entirely starved, though you would have thought so if you could have seen how eagerly we devoured everything before us. I wish I could paint for you the scene in the dining hall, as it was on that evening. I know you would instantly exclaim How beautiful but as your Sister's descriptive powers are not well developed, or wholly wanting, you will be denied a well defined image, and will have to be satisfied with receiving a vague idea of the ever remembered Thanksgiving dinner. I suppose there must have been nearly five hundred including the Professors and their families, who dined with the students on that day, seated In the dining hall at one time. All the Faculty were seated at the middle row of tables, and the Seniors, who sit by them-selves, at the first two side tables, then the Juniors, at the next after that. The remaining classes could select their places, many of them selected tables and had them filled by their most particular friends. Sallie and my-self were invited to sit with a young lady from Missouri, who seems to have taken quite a fancy to me, at least she tells me all about her sweetheart. The tables and the young ladies seemed to vie with each other in beauty, the former were decorated with cakes, fruits, etc, while the latter were ornamented with ribbons of every shade, hue and tint. We sat at the table two hours and five minutes, had five changes. I will send you a bill of fare, so you can feast your eye upon what I enjoy eating. After this we went to the chapel, where the President read from our entertainment Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, which I greatly enjoyed. You would not imagine him, while personateing the different characters, to be the stern, cold President of everyday life. To finish the evening, we were given a reception in the college parlors, where our already surfeited appetite was again tempted by ice cream and cake. The next evening, we had an Art entertainment known as the Stereopticon. I think you perhaps saw it when you were in the City the last time. On the following morning, we had President Raymond's brother, who is a very celebrated elocutionist, read Henry IV in which the character of Falstaff figures, immediately after this we had another Art exhibition, and again at night which concluded the eventful week.
I feel as if I had seen enough to last me a year, my mind has been in a state of confusion for the past few days. All the passions have had full sway, and consequently I feel today as if I had been under intense mental excitement, and am now feeling the effects of a reaction. I wish so much my sisters could have enjoyed these new and instructive scenes with me. I know they would have been greatly benefitted. Have I not been good to tell you all the proceedings. Now I expect a good long letter, as recompense for my sisterly kindness. I have received but two letters this week. Suppose it must be some trouble in the malls, hope I shall be amply rewarded for my patience by receiving plenty this coming week. Tell Lids I will write to her on Wednesday. Earnestly hoping and praying that you are all well and happy, I remain.
Your affect—
Lish
[VC '73?]
Dear Sister:
We have had a delightful time here for the past week. I have heard and seen so many beautiful things that it seems as if I lived without the pain of living. First in order was the Thanksgiving dinner which we did not have until 5 o'clock P.M. but we had a nice lunch at noon so you see we were not entirely starved, though you would have thought so if you could have seen how eagerly we devoured everything before us. I wish I could paint for you the scene in the dining hall, as it was on that evening. I know you would instantly exclaim How beautiful but as your Sister's descriptive powers are not well developed, or wholly wanting, you will be denied a well defined image, and will have to be satisfied with receiving a vague idea of the ever remembered Thanksgiving dinner. I suppose there must have been nearly five hundred including the Professors and their families, who dined with the students on that day, seated In the dining hall at one time. All the Faculty were seated at the middle row of tables, and the Seniors, who sit by them-selves, at the first two side tables, then the Juniors, at the next after that. The remaining classes could select their places, many of them selected tables and had them filled by their most particular friends. Sallie and my-self were invited to sit with a young lady from Missouri, who seems to have taken quite a fancy to me, at least she tells me all about her sweetheart. The tables and the young ladies seemed to vie with each other in beauty, the former were decorated with cakes, fruits, etc, while the latter were ornamented with ribbons of every shade, hue and tint. We sat at the table two hours and five minutes, had five changes. I will send you a bill of fare, so you can feast your eye upon what I enjoy eating. After this we went to the chapel, where the President read from our entertainment Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, which I greatly enjoyed. You would not imagine him, while personateing the different characters, to be the stern, cold President of everyday life. To finish the evening, we were given a reception in the college parlors, where our already surfeited appetite was again tempted by ice cream and cake. The next evening, we had an Art entertainment known as the Stereopticon. I think you perhaps saw it when you were in the City the last time. On the following morning, we had President Raymond's brother, who is a very celebrated elocutionist, read Henry IV in which the character of Falstaff figures, immediately after this we had another Art exhibition, and again at night which concluded the eventful week.
I feel as if I had seen enough to last me a year, my mind has been in a state of confusion for the past few days. All the passions have had full sway, and consequently I feel today as if I had been under intense mental excitement, and am now feeling the effects of a reaction. I wish so much my sisters could have enjoyed these new and instructive scenes with me. I know they would have been greatly benefitted. Have I not been good to tell you all the proceedings. Now I expect a good long letter, as recompense for my sisterly kindness. I have received but two letters this week. Suppose it must be some trouble in the malls, hope I shall be amply rewarded for my patience by receiving plenty this coming week. Tell Lids I will write to her on Wednesday. Earnestly hoping and praying that you are all well and happy, I remain.
Your affect—
Lish
[VC '73?]
