"Vassar."
March 24.
'72 1872,
My dear Carrie,
Again we have had a mild spring day, but this climate has become
so variable that always after a warm day an unusually cold one is to be
expected. After this I hope that there will be no more very cold days,
especially during our short vacation do we want pleasant weather. We
anticipate a nice time during our ten days vacation. We have planned
excursions into Po'keepsie, to Cedar Ridge, Sunrise hill and various other
places of interest near us. By the way, tell Mamma that she need not
fear anything from my going to Po'keepsie without a teacher, for my
acquaintances are none of them after the "Leland" pattern.
Please ask Papa If he has ever known a gentleman of the name of
Preston, in Galveston. This gentleman has resided In Texas for more than
twenty years, hence, I suppose of course Papa is acquainted with him. His
business was commission, I think. He died last summer, but has a brother
still residing in Galveston. He was a cousin of my music teacher. Miss
Piatt (Anna M. Piatt, 1867*75). For this reason I inquire concerning him.
And do you know either personally or by hearsay, a Mr. Taylor from the
North. A young lady asked me today if I knew aught of him and I did not,
I am sorry to say. The gentleman says he knows of our family well, and
even one Miss Pease, he also had reason to think that he is known to the
family. If you know him please inform me.
When are you going to have your picture taken and send me? I am
waiting for one with great expectation. I laughed considerably at your
description of your horseback ride to the gate. It was very kind in George
to think of bringing the horse for you to ride and I think it was a shame you could not endure the saddle to remain on the little fellow. My roommate Is writing home at the same time with me, and has
just remarked that there is an unusual amount of matter to write this week
by her speech I am reminded to tell you of the two lectures we have had the two past Friday evenings. The first one was by Mr. William Parsons, an Englishman. The subject was "Michael Angelo." A very interesting one, as was the lecture. Giving a description is very lame unless one is all excitement about the subject! and really after a week has passed my enthusiasm had almost gone, so that I shall not attempt to tell you anything of it. Besides, my descriptive powers are not very great at any time. Our last lecture was about "Light," and was given by Prof. Mortin. a young men seemingly not more than twenty four or five years old. His Interest was more the experiments than a show of rhetoric. These were numerous and some were very beautiful. One very interesting one was throwing a golden light through, many scarlet banners; this light was entirely deprived of all
red color and therefore made the scarlet articles look like black. The com-
plexion of all the people was made most ghastly by it. Another very beauti-
ful one was turning water out of a goblet placed on the floor and making
the water leek as if it were light pouring forth. It was also made different colors. Many of the experiments I did not at all understand, never having studied philosophy, and so simply received as among the marvellous. Have come to the end of my paper so must end my letter.
Love to all from their absent one—
J-
Julia M. Pease, '75,