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Date
April 27, 1895
Abstract
VC 1897
Creator
Transcript file(s)
Subject (Topical)
Details
Identifier
vassar:24539,,Box 21,VCL_Letters_Mansfield_Adelaide_1897_053
Extent
1 item
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: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053001
April 27, 1895,
My own dear Mother,—
I am going to write to you tonight, so that the letter will reach you on your birthday. I will delegate Bess to give you my birthday kiss, along with her fifty nine which I suppose she will give you. How nice it would be if I could hire a flying-machine on each of your birthdays! — and some other days too. I send by this same mail a dishcloth which I knit for you in my spare moments, thinking it would be a useful if not an ornamental gift. At any rate, if you don't wish to use it, let it ornament the kitchen.
My own dear Mother,—
I am going to write to you tonight, so that the letter will reach you on your birthday. I will delegate Bess to give you my birthday kiss, along with her fifty nine which I suppose she will give you. How nice it would be if I could hire a flying-machine on each of your birthdays! — and some other days too. I send by this same mail a dishcloth which I knit for you in my spare moments, thinking it would be a useful if not an ornamental gift. At any rate, if you don't wish to use it, let it ornament the kitchen.
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053002
Today is Founder's Day, and therefore a holiday, though really it is not so much of a holiday for me, because I have only two recitations on that day anyway- Still I appreciate the difference, decidedly. This has been a much nicer celebration then that of last year. The aim this year was to have the day of interest to the students as much as possible, and as much as possible to really take us back to the days of the Founder. For several years we have had some famous (more or less) lecturer to address us in the evening, on some more or less interesting subject which had no connection at all with our college or any college. But this year we had exercises at four oclock in the afternoon, so that outside guests need not come to it if they did not want to, though a good many did come. The
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053003
programme opened with an organ voluntary by Prof. Bowman, who is the head of the musical department, then a college song in which we all joined. Then Katharine Reiley - the president of the Students Association, made an address on Student Life at Vassar. She made a very fine appearance and delivered her address very well - without notes- She is a very clever girl - I might say woman, for she is very dignified.
After this we sang a song which was written for the occasion - by competition - by Miss Doughty, one of Gertrude Bronson's room mates. (By the way Adelbert Bronson is here, I saw him several times today.)
Katharine Reiley read a telegram from a member of the first class that graduated - in 1868.
After this we sang a song which was written for the occasion - by competition - by Miss Doughty, one of Gertrude Bronson's room mates. (By the way Adelbert Bronson is here, I saw him several times today.)
Katharine Reiley read a telegram from a member of the first class that graduated - in 1868.
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053004
The chief thing of the evening was the address of Prof. Whitney, on "The Founders of Vassar". Miss Whitney is the Astronomy professor. She graduated here in the first class, and has been here ever since, since, as Maria Mitchell's assistant so long as Miss Mitchell lived, and after that she has been a Professor of Astronomy herself. She is a fine woman, very simple and cultured.
Saturday morning-
Bedtime came before I could finish my description, so I will resume it now.
Miss Whitney's address was fine, interesting reminiscences, and a history of the beginning of the college. She told especially about Dr. Raymond, the first President, Miss Lyman, the first Lady Principal, and Miss Maria Mitchell. I think her address was the nicest thing
Saturday morning-
Bedtime came before I could finish my description, so I will resume it now.
Miss Whitney's address was fine, interesting reminiscences, and a history of the beginning of the college. She told especially about Dr. Raymond, the first President, Miss Lyman, the first Lady Principal, and Miss Maria Mitchell. I think her address was the nicest thing
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053005
they could have had for the occasion. The chapel looks very pretty on such occasions. All the girls who have guests sit downstairs in the chapel, and the rest of us in the gallery (where we can watch the people very easily). The afternoon exercises were over at half past five. There was no dinner served at dinner time in the dining room, as it was filled with little tables for the evening refreshments. But we were provided for, for at lunch they brought on platters and plates full of things from which we helped ourselves, meat, bananas, bread and cake. So we took them upstairs and at suppertime set our little table and had a meal such as we children used to have sometimes around the sewing table.
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053006
In the evening there was the usual promenade up and down the corridors, in full dress. I did not dress for that because I have had a slight cold this week and I thought it was safer not to take off warm clothes. While the rest were dressing for that, Bella and I went down to the Lecture Room and examined the things in the Loan Exhibition, while the room was not crowded. The Exhibition was very interesting. A great many things that belonged to Matthew Vassar, were there, furniture, personal belongings, and a good many pictures of him- Some old daguerrotypes included, and a good many letters of his to various people connected with the college. There were also mementoes and pictures of Maria Mitchell. Beside these things about particular persons there were photographs, letters,
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053007
autograph albums, class pins, programmes and all such things, of some of the earliest classes, and old catalogues. Two of the historic bootjacks which were placed in each room when the college was opened, by the kindness and forethought of Matthew Vassar, were interesting objects. I think this collection was especially interesting to the alumnae who were here.
A great many of the guests are staying over for today. This morning at eleven o'clock the Glee Club sang informally in the Chapel for an hour or so, and everybody always likes to hear them. Well, I guess you have heard enough about Founder's.
O I almost forgot, in my interest about Founder's, to tell you something else which is of some interest, and that is that I am going
A great many of the guests are staying over for today. This morning at eleven o'clock the Glee Club sang informally in the Chapel for an hour or so, and everybody always likes to hear them. Well, I guess you have heard enough about Founder's.
O I almost forgot, in my interest about Founder's, to tell you something else which is of some interest, and that is that I am going
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053008
to room with Ray and Carrie in a parlor next year. We drew for rooms on Tuesday, and I tried to get a single, to room alone, but I drew a blank, which means that I could not get one, so I drew next for a parlor with Carrie and Ray. We were all unfortunate in our drawing, so that we finally got the very last choice for parlors in our class. For this reason we consoled ourselves with the thought that at least we would not have to spend time in selecting our room, for we simply had to take the only one that was left. But it is not a bad room, in fact it is a very good one, and our next door neighbors are going to be some of our best friends. The best thing about the room is that it is a south one, where we will have the sun all day. The room
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053009
is on the first floor, so that it will be convenient in many respects.
I wanted very much to have a single room, for some reasons. I would like to try one because I have never roomed in a room alone, and there is not much privacy in rooming with several others. Still it is lots of fun, and I enjoy it ever so much, in a firewall, and in some ways it is very convenient to have some roommates. So I am going in that way next year, and look forward to having a single room in my Senior year. Of course Ray and Carrie and I will be very happy together, and we are very congenial. On general principle I think it is better for the same girls not to room together for three
I wanted very much to have a single room, for some reasons. I would like to try one because I have never roomed in a room alone, and there is not much privacy in rooming with several others. Still it is lots of fun, and I enjoy it ever so much, in a firewall, and in some ways it is very convenient to have some roommates. So I am going in that way next year, and look forward to having a single room in my Senior year. Of course Ray and Carrie and I will be very happy together, and we are very congenial. On general principle I think it is better for the same girls not to room together for three
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053010
consecutive years, but Ray and I could not help it this time. Before I forget it I will tell you that- I used a dose of my cold pills this week, and gave another dose to a girl who was coming down with a cold, so that I have no more. I like to have something on hand ready for use in case I need it, so if you have any cold powders in the house you might put one in your next letter. I used some of my cough-pills too, but I still have a few of them left.
Bessie's and Lou's old letter did come this week. When I first saw the date March 24, I thought it was simply a slip of the pen, as the letter was mailed April 24. But when I read the news about things that I knew happened about a month ago I changed my mind.
Bessie's and Lou's old letter did come this week. When I first saw the date March 24, I thought it was simply a slip of the pen, as the letter was mailed April 24. But when I read the news about things that I knew happened about a month ago I changed my mind.
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053011
I thought perhaps it was a sort of April Fool arrived late till I noticed the outside at the envelope, which bore marks of having been in a man's pocket for about a month, being creased and dirty. So I accepted that as the solution.
I wish we had as warm weather here as you write about. There have been only two or three days when I could stay outdoors long without a wrap, I still have on my warm clothes, though shirtwaists are pretty generally worn now. Spring is slower than usual even here, where it is always slower than at home, I hope I can put on shirtwaists pretty soon- I think I prefer the changeable weather of home to the long steady winters of this climate, where you say goodbye to the grass and anything like warm weather, in November, and don't expect a suggestion
I wish we had as warm weather here as you write about. There have been only two or three days when I could stay outdoors long without a wrap, I still have on my warm clothes, though shirtwaists are pretty generally worn now. Spring is slower than usual even here, where it is always slower than at home, I hope I can put on shirtwaists pretty soon- I think I prefer the changeable weather of home to the long steady winters of this climate, where you say goodbye to the grass and anything like warm weather, in November, and don't expect a suggestion
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053012
of them again till April.
Give my love to the neighbors and friends- and I send lots especially to you for your birthday-
Your loving daughter
Adelaide, (Claflin)
Vassar College. April 27. 1895.
Give my love to the neighbors and friends- and I send lots especially to you for your birthday-
Your loving daughter
Adelaide, (Claflin)
Vassar College. April 27. 1895.
: VCLLettersMansfieldAdelaide1897053013
Perhaps this will be my week letter, so that you will not be looking for one Tuesday.
