Poughkeepsie March 6 1865.
r s
My dear M Hale
Mi
Your very kind favor of the Zl Ulto, with enclosure of
duplicate of a letter I addressed you on the 2.. April 1864 upon the subject
of changing the title of V.F: College came duly to hand, but as President
Raymond is now absent from this city I must ask your indulgence for a
definite answer to your question until his return; even then we should need
the consent of our Board of Trustees, who do not meet till the second Tues-
day in April which would make it too late for legislative action at this ses-
st
sion as they adjourn on the 1.. April
Allow me my dear Madam, to return to you my hearty thanks for the
deep interest you continue to take in this my last enterprize (V,F:C.) for the
benefit of Woman, and the generous eulogium you have so liberaly bestowed
upon me as the Founder of an Institution for her moral and mental advance-
ment, and now as you are the pioneer advocate for a change in the title of
the College it would be exceedingly gratifying to me to have your opinion on
another question equaly novel, viz: The division of School or College terms.
It is proposed by some of our Trustees to divide the periods of tuition thus:
Mos
To say----------First Term from 1?* April till 1 Aug: 4.
Second. " n 1 Septr to 20 Decbr 4.
Summer Vacation 1 -
Winter Vacation. Jan. ^, Febr^, March 3 ,f 4..
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March 6, 1865 - 2
The advantages of this division of time will allow the young ladies
whose parents or guardians reside in the country or rural districts to avail
themselves of the long winter evenings assisting the pursuits in their house-
hold duties at home, studying their text-books &c, and making up new and
repairing their own wardrobe, while the pupils of parents residing in City
or large towns and perhaps in better pecuniairy circumstances will have the
opportunity of doing the same and attend the intellectual and polite entertain-
ments usually held in large towns or places in the winter months. The col-
lege, as you are aware, is already provided in its arrangements for winter
conveniences by an extensive heating apparatus so that it is not out of econom-
ical considerations that this change of School terms is suggested, but rather
on account of health and comfort to its inmates, for it is the late fall & winter
season in our clime that causes most of the maladys common to northern
latitudes, and Should we have a large share of them, the public would ascribe
it to an unhealthy location of the college, besides which extensive arrange-
ments are made on the grounds for gymnastical and athletical exercises in
Summer and for the study of Floral, Botany, Trees &Cf. by living existences,
these would be comparatively lost to pupils in the winter Season It is not
however our purpose to insist in the entire dismissal of all the pupils, Such
as has no parents or homes can remain, but the Season of general Instruction
ends at these Several terms and those that remain will only be required to pay
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March 6, 1865 - 3
Simple board &C?.
I will not however extend these remarks, as your fertile mind
will readily supply or detect pro1 , or ConfS of the Suggestions
I will send you in a few days an article written by me some time
Since on the "Female Mind", but not thinking worth publications laid it
aside, you can review it, and make such disposal of it as you think proper.
rs
I remain dear M . Hale
Yours very truly
M. Vassar
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