Vassar College,
June 18, 1871.
Dear Carrie,
This is our last Sunday at Vassar. It is now raining very hard
and I fear the rain will prevent many persons from coming out to hear
the Baccalaureate* We will have the full benefit of it, though, and as it
will be long and after It, the Fresident addresses the seniors, I presume
we will be quite tired*
Our examinations passed off very well. There was little company
in any of the classes, and in mine there were only some "prepsM and the
Professor of the Department. Rhetoric, I feared most and was the only
one from our class who recited, the two Rhetoric classes reciting together.
I don't know whether I did well or not, but I do know that I talked loud. Those
who recited before me spoke so low that I could not hear what they said,
even j
and so I determined thatAif what I said did not amount to much, it should
be heard* In all our classes we drew numbers for reciting and of course
my luck wss slways to draw a small number and have to recite.
This letter was begun Sunday and now Tuesday I must try and finish
it* Last Tuesday, while all waited anxiously, the names of the next yesrs
Freshman class were read In Chapel. Mine was net among the number
although that class (75) Is my class* I was behind in Algebra. If I had only
known how easily I could make up Algebra I would have done so before the
examinations, because Wednesdsy afternoon, Thursday and Friday I studied
at spare moments and passed. So now I am Freshman, even If my name
June 18, 1871 - 2
has not been read off, but I will have to wait until next year before enter-
ing the class. We drew our rooms Friday. As I drew with the "preps,"
my room is not a very good one. It is an inside double room on the same
corridor as I am on now.
There are **piles" of people In the College now. The classes of
*68 - '69 meet together this year. I think I never saw a much homelier
set than the Akimnae, but then they are said to be very talented. Last night
there was a concert. The girls did very nicely and I think everyone was
pleased. Tonight there will be an address by one of the Alumnae and
Wednesday is Commencement. Your birthday is past, Carrie, and you
are twenty. I wish I could have been with you and have seen my little
Carrie as she passed from the "teens." I want to hear about your presents
aad how you liked them. How are you going to have your black grenadine
made? All ruffles and over skirts, I suppose, as they are always made.
One of our graduates this year, will never wear aa overskirt, but she is
small and looks nicely without. She Is a great naturalist and wears short
hair and no over skirts I presume so as to more easily catch butterflies
and snakes, I was very glad to receive Lllla Grahams letter and have
already aaswered it. I am disgusted with dressmaking since I received
my white alpaca. I wrote you that at Christmas I left it at Aunt Mferia's
to be trimmed and have aa overskirt made, and Miss Gray was to do the
work without asking much. Instead of having Miss Gray do the work Aunt
June IS, 1871 - 3
sent it to a dress maker, and everything together cost eleven dollars--
making and new alpaca. She would have made a new waist but I protested
against it. The dress looks very nicely but I would not have had it touched
II I had known Aunt would send It to the dress maker. Our parlor is a
most forlorn looking place. The pictures are down and the trunks stand-
ing half packed with many things strewn on the floor. X must go now and
finish packing. With love Julie.
iJulia M. Pease, '75,