March 6. 1874.
My dear Sister,
Two or three nights ago I sat down to write you, but was
interrupted, and even now I lear the bell will ring belore I can scribble
off something in the shape ol a letter, to enliven you, 11 so my letter can.
Religious Inquiry meeting was this evening, and ieeling In duty
bound to go, I went. Some Po'keepsie minister held iorth lor over an hour,
in a cracked and high voice. The very fact ol his being Irom Po'keepsie
made me prepare to be bored, as I was, and still more so was 1, when it
was told by him that he would talk upon the religious sentiment in Europe,
his knowledge of which was gathered during a flying trip of three months.
Thus I had to leave my letters, and now being excused from Gymnastics
tonight, the time usually given them I will devote to answering letters.
By-the-way, I have grown to dislike Gymnastics as much as you used to
in our old dsys at Hartford. We have them the last thing in the evening,
the best time as regards dressing, because there is no necessity for chang-
ing the dress after them, yet we are always tired at that time and dislike
to take sny exercise, even the slightest.
This has been one of the blustering, lion-like days, for which March is
noted. My battle with the wind during the half-hour spent out-doers was
the hardest I have had this winter - I wish you could have seen us: it would
have made you laugh to see us blown in every direction at once, and at one
time I really thought I should be taken up bodily and blown across the road,
as Mrs, Raymond told us she was once. We are just getting into the
Interesting part oI geology; before now we have had to study mlnersiogy
more particularly, but I begin to like it very much aa we atudy the stratas.
We were very much amused and I suppose somewhat Instructed by a man
who visited our class this morning and lectured to us. His name Is Profes-
sor Coke, and he is the Secretary of the Natural History Society in Phila-
delphia. His special branch of Science is Paleontology, which he has been
studying recently to some extent in Kansas and Missouri. Talking to a lot
of girls I suppose he thought he must be funny, and so he made himself, in
many cases, almost ridiculous by trying to make us laugh. Once he waa
speaking of a fossil formed out West, whose neck was twenty feet long, when,
putting his finger to his nose in a comical manner he aald "Think of the
amount of sore throat, twenty feet of it".
Did I ever write you that Ida Whitman came down aome weeks ago to
see Nellie? She looks Just aa ever, and la quite as lively and talkative.
When asked as to her future proapecta, she blushed a good deal, and la that
not a sign of approaching if not preaent engagement? Of course I know
nothing of euch things as you do. Aunt Maria R. asked me if you had a beau,
and of course I answered truthfully, "yes". Then she asked polat-blank if
you were engaged. Thea I was caught] for you had glvea me no permission to
say anything about it and so I had no right to say you were, aeither could I
tell a deliberate falsehood. I bethought me of a talk we had In Bible Class
once upon truth, and how Miss Braislin ,P rise ilia H. Bralslla, said that in
some cases where others were concerned evasion was right, aad so I evaded.
by telling her I thought you would write her all about it when the time came*
So Carrie you will tell her, X hope, for X shall be again attacked in April.
Fainting is such slow work and Professor wishes me to do things
which will help me In ,ink? , drawing and which do not show, so that X am
in utter despair. I want very much indeed to paint Mrs. Buffington some
little thing to send home by Fan, for she was so very kind to me last
Christmas; then I ought to give Aunt Maria R. a picture, and certainly Aunt
Jule & Annie ,Emmit? ,who have done so much for me, that a little gift la
due them, & they would best appreciate a picture, & I could not go home
without something. Don't you think X am in a sad plight, & I possess but
one that would do to give away! Have you seen ,£ll? , Shropshire since he
came to Austin? Josie Buffington sent word to me the other day that Ell,
was in Austin, had been admitted to the bar, & had been made (Sergeant? ,
at Arms ,to Whin? r Mamma spoke of Shropshire in her letter. I supposed
it was the father not the son. Having a little mercy in you I will tire you
no longer with my scrawl, but give you a most loving goodnight kiss In
Imagination, little sister -
Lovingly,
Julie.
Julia M. Pease, '75,