Vassar College.
Oct. 16. 1873.
My dear Carrie,
A plan has entered cay head which I think I shall carry into effect
if agreeable to you. It 13 to write to you once every week, in the middle
part, and to Fapa or Mamma on Sundays. But in this case you should
write to me twice, don't you think that is fair ? I know though how dread-
fully hard it is to find time at home to write, even if one has inclination.
Today I have an extra period to spare, as Prof. Mitchell has gone away
from College, so this accounts for my sitting down in broad daylight with-
out a care and spending some time at my desk. I wish Prof. Mitchell
would see fit to "va*nose" more often, although she does give usharde r
lessons for the next time. Miss Kapp conveniently fell sick for a day or
two and £ rof. Backus absented himself, so that we have had several extra
periods. In German we have begun to translate "William Tell" and also
a little play from English into Deutsch. The latter is no play for us
though as it is real hard. Have you begun German yet and with whom? I
have some of Schillers works and if you want them will send any but the
one we are translating and Wallenstein, also the Adler'a Reader if you
wish. I think you will find any of these better for beginning than Undine,
not being so difficult.
I don't know but I have written you that one of our class-mates,
Milligan, is to be married soon. By the way, this is the sixteenth, so the
wedding will come off today. It is to be a double affair, her younger sister
Oct. 16, 1873 - 2
being married at the same time. Millie has sent ever so many ol the
class invitations, but none has come to me. Ol course I am indignant,
for X knew her very well, and can only account lor it by supposing that
the invitation has been sent to Texas. Please let me know 11 It has reached
there. Several of us united and made Millie a wedding present of a toilette
set. One made a cushion, another a hair receiver, fee. Fannie and I worked
a towel rack for our contribution. The gentleman is a Professor of Greek
and Mathematics in a western College, and Millie, who has always been
anxious to study Greek, can with great benefit, no doubt, pursue that branch.
The poor girl wanted to graduate here, I know, and after marry the Prof,
but her father being a poor minister the money was not forthcoming, and
the latter pleasure had to come first. Speaking of weddings leads me to
speak of that of Ida's father. Is it net rather strange that the fathers of
the cousins Ida and Mary Taylor should marry so near the same time.
Mary's father married some time this summer, a sister of the musician
Woodbury who has had a good deal to do with Sunday School hymn tunes.
Mary had not taken off mourning until the wedding, with which she was
very well pleased I think. It is rather hard for Ida to have to give up all
household authority which she had had for so long, but I think there is a
pretty good chance of her resuming it soon In a mansion of her own. There
Is a young doctor of Troy who has been very attentive to her for some time,
and report says they are engaged.
Received a letter from Aunt Maria a few days ago, in which she says
Oct. 16, 1873 • 3
that she heard of my arrival through the "Pease girls." So I suppose
you must at last have written to Sarah, otherwise she could not have heard.
Aunt had gone up to Albany and was there awaiting the girls* arrival from
the Foint, in order to all start for the East, when a despach was received
stating that Uncle John had sent for the girls to come home immediately.
They have gone, and the Eastern trip has fallen through. Aunt is dreadfully
disappointed, as well she may be having given up all other trips for this
out
one, and now to be cheated Acf It.
And now to ask your advise ccncernlr?£ a little matter. I think it
would be nice to tend so-ne Invitations for Philalethian evening to two or
three young men at homo if they would understand about it. Of course they
are merely complimentary, and it is done by all the girls here to those
whom they do not knov n<$urly as well as I do George, 8tc. Do you think I
had Matter do so? Tell "Jack" please that as he forgot to tell me who that
young lady in the green dress was, he may tell you, and you will write it to
me, keeping it faithfully a secret from all else; won't you please?
I couldn't imagine whom you meant by your "friend the Maj" in
your first letter. No, we saw nothing of Maj. Sellers, for which I am truly
sorry. 1 like his looks, and having heard you speak of him want to know him.
The o'iher day I was asked by one young lady through the medium of another,
if I knew a Mr. Baker, connected in some way with a flag. Of course I
instantly answered nc, but after being told that the gentleman said I made a
flag for him during the war, I thought of Dee Baker. He it must be, I suppose,
Oct. 16, 1873 - 4
as the girl is from Mass. but just imagine him grown to be a young manJ
I must go and see the girl who knows him, I suppose. Here have I reached
my third sheet without having told you a word about our class sociable.
It was last Saturday night, and lor variety a phantom party. We were all
encased in sheets and pillow-cases looking like the ghosts ol ourselves.
Without having any "masculines11 about we enjoyed ourselves, although I
presume Mollie Duval and many other Austin girls could not understand
that. It was much easier to iind out the girls than I had supposed it would
be. Perhaps in our case because we know each other's ways and voices,
eyes be. so very well.
Having some mercy, I will bore you no longer this time.
Lovingly Julie.
(Julia M. Pease, '73,