[stamp] BLACKWELL FAMILY ALICE STONE BLACKWELL GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE [/stamp] Peirce, Harriet CBeachmont, May 17/79. Dear Alice:- I return your kindly offered preventive to the evil influences (of open cars) upon an embryo sore throat. I lost my voice and had to give up teaching and return home to nurse myself. I am better, but was obliged to give up my place and stay at home. Hope you have not wanted this before.Please remember me to your mother and father. The book which Mamie was to leave at the "Woman's Journal" Office, I have not yet called for on account of not coming to town. I got my train last Saturday night, after much tribulation. Yours sincerely, Hattie. Care Henry Turner. 350 Atlantic Ave. Boston.28 Susan St. Aug, 25, 1879 My dear Alice I am going to begin a letter to you this morning, and send it to await you on your return home. I was delighted on coming home from Hyannis to find a letter from you which had arrived the day before. It was the "Hastings," which was left out in the direction of that letter. I think it was in that letter that I spoke about our having a class paper this fall and perhaps, or surely that must have been the reason you dreamed of the '80 class paper. I am glad you were not sick in the voyage hope you will not be so when you come back. I am looking forward gladly now to next week and shall hope to see you then with our other college friends. Goodby for now Hattie C.P.I think it was after I wrote you from Hyannis, that a party of us started one afternoon for a walk to Hyannis Port, a distance described to us differently by each person we saw, as one mile, two miles, two miles and a half, and three miles sure and so on. We found the walk shorter than we expected and climbing a hill seated ourselves under an arbor to "view the landscape o'er." There was "ocean to right of us, ocean to left of us, ocean in front of us." Immediately in front and at the left was the quite large group of pretty cottages, while on the hill back of them, commanding a fine view, were three pretty residences, one of which was pointed out as Prof. Buck's. Back of us we could see Hyannis, the camp ground, Centreville, Osterville, pretty-looking villages nestled in the pine woods. Next we walked out on a long wharf, to which a wreck had been towed and fastened. After going over this we embarked in a sailboat and had a very pleasant sail back to the Hyannis Beach, arriving just in time to see the afternoon bathers. But I ought not to tell you all about the good times at Hyannis, for I think of writing a composition on the subject, and now it will be stale for you. Alice Budlong went to Block Island a while ago for a day and Mr. Hunter was one of the waiters at the house, at which she took dinner. I saw Alice Mumford last week. She said she had received a letter from Miss Talbot, making inquiries about Block Island, who was going &c. It seems Mr. Marden wrote to Miss Talbot that there would be a reunion of B.U. students at Block Island after Aug. 25, and she said if there were to be many there, she and Edith might go. Alice Mumford is not going. Lulie, Alice Budlong and I will go only for one day. Miss Eliot and Cadge may stay from Tuesday to Thursday. Miss Lydia Dame is to go to Saratoga this week with Prof. Mitchell. Miss Eliot was to go to Cadge's Saturday andthis afternoon they will both come to Providence. Some day this week I shall have a company of a dozen or more girls, many of the Boston friends. I wish you might be with me. Another summer you must come to Providence. I will stop for today. Next week will write again and give you an account of this week's doings. September 1, 1879. Last Monday afternoon Miss Brigham of '79 called on me. She had received an invitation to a reunion of B.U. students at Block Island, Tuesday and made arrangements to go with us. She has accepted a position as teacher of mathematics in the Springfield High School and was to begin her work today. She said a friend wrote her the place was vacant, she applied and was accepted without any examination or to use her own expression "walked right in". Tuesday was stormy and we did not go to Block Island. Wednesday a company of girls spent the afternoon and evening at my house. We spoke of you at the table, wished you were here, and so many nice things were said about you, that I should have thought you might almost have heard them way over in England. As we couldn't see you, we looked at your picture. Thursday was bright and pleasant and at 9 A.M. we started for Block Island The sail down our Bay is always pleasant, but it seemed that day unusually delightful. We noticed something we never had seen before, a rainbow formed in the water by the shining of the sun on the drops of water thrown from the bow of the boat. The sea was quite rough outside Newport and many on board were seasick. I was ahead in getting off the boat and the first thing I heard (beside "Have a carriage") was my name and a greeting from no less a person than Mr. Hunter, who piloted the party to the Ocean View House.We stayed there and talked a while, until Mr. French was at liberty when we went out of doors and finding a grassy place, sat down and ate lunch. Mr. Hunter and Mr. French were greatly disappointed that none of us were to stay for a few days. We were the only students who had been there and they had been waiting for some of us to come, to go about and see the beauties of the Island. Coming back on the boat, Cadge and I discussed your plan of a reception to '83. Cadge thought we might induce the Dean to let us have, perhaps the old dining room, which, you know, is to be used as a reading room, or some other room at the college. Then let our class invite '83 and some of the professors and their wives, as Profs. Buck, Kimpton, Lindsay, Dippold, Wells and the Dean. Then we thought without very much expense we might get ice cream and sponge cake and we both concluded it would give us '81 girls (it seems as if I must say Sophomore girls) an opportunity to display our aprons, while passing the refreshments. If the club dishes are still there we might get permission to use them and you girls who live at home might bring a cake basket a piece. We thought Saturday afternoon Sept. 20, would be a good time to have it. If the class thought so, we should have to work quickly, but Cadge says "The Class of '81 are equal to that." Friday evening Alice Budlong had a company of about 25 girls and boys at her house and we had a very pleasant time. Saturday Miss Eliot, Cadge and Loulie went to Newport. I have not heard from the girls today but I suppose they went home this afternoon. I had a nice, long letter from Lerila this week. She speaks of having had a "pleasant, sunshiny, woodsy summer". I am glad,for she will need the rest to help her get through the winter, for she says her mother's health is till so poor that she will have to do both home and school work. Thursday, Sept. 11. Since a week ago Tuesday I have had a young lady friend visiting me and our time has been well taken up in calling, visiting, having company, etc. My aunt and uncle from New Bedford are here now and are waiting for me to go down street with them. I hear that, probably but not certainly, Mr. Goodridge will not come back to B. U. this fall. I am sorry, as no double you, too, will be, when you hear of it. Mr. Hunter called to see Cadge at Alice Budlong's the evening of the day she went home. Not finding her there, he invited Alice to go to the Park Garden and see Pinafore and they went. I suppose in a few days more you will be at home. We shall come to Boston on the 17th, probably in the morning. If you have not too much to do on that day, we should be pleased if you would call. Was much interested in your last letter, which reached me Sept. 3. You will have found out by the time you get this letter that college begins the 18th. I have heard in some way that Prof. Buck was to rail Aug. 30. I wish you might have met with him and his wife, it would have made your voyage so pleasant. 32 Hanson St. April 3, 1880 My dear Alice Received your postal relative to the Gamma Delta & will send an invitation as desired. As perhaps you have heard, Lulie was elected President. Cadge was elected Vice President against her will. There was then a "scene" in the society, consequent upon her repeated refusals in spite of the assurance that the vice president had nothing to do. Eva was chosen in her place. Edith Talbot is Cor. Sec. and Miss Putnam chairman. I assure you there was no "mock distress" in my feelings, when the though came to me that you did not intend writing [???] I am very glad your mother seems to be improving. I was much pleased with what she said of me and appreciate her kind remembrance. Please give to her my [*[????]. She was very earnest in her p[??]sding to see that letter. There don't seem to be much going on at the College to tell about. Whatever there is you must get repeated a dozen times hearing as you do from so many of the girls. I shall not forget about the poetry. Please tell me how to pronounce the name of the house at which you are staying. I can't tell you how much we miss you. With "lots" of love Hattie C. Peirce*]heartfelt love, for though I know her so little, I love her very much, if it isn't presumption in me to say so. I delivered your messages to Ella, also those to Mr. Goodridge and, the the way, if you have any more messages, please let me be the bearer; it makes one feel so important, you know. Mr. G. is going to let me have the conclusion of the story I send to you. He wished me to ask you, if you would write us a letter to be published in the Beacon. I was intending to come back to college Wednesday morning, but on account of the death of an aunt, the lady taking care of my mother was obliged to go away Tuesday night. I've stayed home till Monday morning. My mother is gradually improving, goes out of doors a little way, when it is pleasant. Much obliged for the Locals. Mr. Hascalle came to me this week, wanting some. When the Beacon is out I will put the Author's names to the articles, as far as I know them & send to you. Mr. Goodridge gave me one of his editorials yesterday to look over, wanted me to see if it was too severe. He said he was thoroughly disgusted with Mr. Butler's criticism of Miss Almy (who is not back this term, her mother being worse) and thought it ought to be noticed in some way. I thought his article not any too hard. Mr. Pugrie, Mr. Flack, Mr. Hascalle, Mr. Brac[??] and Mr. Foster all went to Providence last week as representatives of their society, to assist in the formation of a chapter at Browne they all said they had a jolly time. Mr. Jordan feels a little better. The Philomatheans yesterday was quite a peculiar meeting. Almost all those appointed to take part were absent. After the music and serial story, Mr. Bailey called off one by one the items of the programme and one by one perceived that the members were absent. Toward the last we could not help laughing as he called for each speaker on the debate & none were present except the second on the negative, Mr. Hunt. He, of course, declined check then and something else filled the time.till, by and by, Mr. Curtis, second on affirmative come in. Mr. C. & Mr. H. then spoke. The question was Resolved that Roman Catholicism works more harm than intemperance. They spoke for a while, but nothing at all was said about intemperance. When Mr. Bailey called for the vote, Mr. Goodridge arose & said he should like to inquire what the debate was about. He thought he had heard something about intemperance but it was so long ago that he might have been mistaken. The serial story was good, as you yourself will have opportunity to judge. Professor Borrow has been in W. Y. all the week, so I haven't seen him since I got back. We are going to read some Chaucer next week. There are two new boys in Eng. Lit., one of whom recites very well. He is said to be in Roman Law also. Have begun Chemistry. Mrs. Stinson inquired for you. Miss Dame thought it very funny that she should be the first to find your letter to Lulie in the box and see the caution on the out 32 Hanson St. April 8, 1880. My dear Alice A hand organ has been giving us sweet (?) music all the afternoon and I am just in time to write to you. Lulie and I have just had a pleasant little twilight talk on matters and things in general. I don't expect to have much to say tonight as Lulie has written you such a long & interesting letter that there isn't much left to tell. However, there will be something by next week and I will add to this from day to day. Lulie wishes me to say that she forgot two or three things, but will say them next time. This has been Fast Day for Massachusetts people. Mr. Bailey told Lulie yesterday, as he has walking down the hill with us, that he thought he would fast one meal today, go without his supper perhaps. Lulie told him that [that]the proclamation for a fast extended only to citizens of Massachusetts and so neither he nor us came under that head. Thereupon he resolved not to fast even for one meal. We had sour candy to celebrate [??]. Lulie didn't tell you what Prof. Lindsay said to Mr. Pingree the other day. The Prof. was ten minutes late to recitation and all the boys cut. The next day Prof. L. said to Mr. P. "You had a narrow escape yesterday. I was detained by talking with your father, who thought of coming into the Latin recitation but finally decided not to." I didn't thing at all that I should be cheating Uncle Sam when I said I would put the author's names to the Beacon articles. However I will write them & send in a letter I haven't seen your letters to the girls, except that to Lulie, so don't know whether there is anything which could be "worked up to advantage". Lulie says she like your description of the Hygeian Home and the people there. I will get your marks tomorrow. Did you hear that Miss Putnam & Miss Haven were invited to take tea with Prof. Bowne during the vacation? Miss P. said they had an "awfully jolly time." Prof. Wells told a lady that the girls at B. U. were among the finest young ladies he ever met. We are rather doubtful if that is much of a compliment; however, it was very nice of him to say it. And, by the way, the lady to whom he told this was Mrs. Kittredge, who came to see us about giving her daughter lessons. Miss Kittredge has been at a boarding school [in Pei], preparing for Smith College. Her mother was talking with Prof. Wells, who asked what was her objection to Boston University for her daughter. She replied that she didn't know that girls were admitted. When he told her that they were, she was so much pleased with the idea, that as a result Miss K. has left school, come home and is reciting an hour a day to Lulie & me alternately, preparing to take the examinations at B. U. in the spring and fall. Miss K. seems like a very nice young lady & I think will be a real addition. Mr. Goodridge was talking with me yesterdayday about '80's class picture. He thinks all Hardy's pictures he has seem too light and says he shall favor next year our going to Notman & Campbell's or to Notman's on Boylston St., though "it may be doubtful if we can get any photographer, who will do justice to the class of '81." The new year-book is out and the chemistry elective is still put down 2 hours. I get angry every time I think of it, for I can see no possible reason, why it should not be put down as it is. If it is said that it requires no outside study, I should beg leave to say that it does. I am utterly disgusted with Logic. It is to me the dryest, abstractest, worst stuff I ever got hold of. It was very aggravating yesterday to hear Miss Putnam say that she liked that almost the best of any philosophical study they had had. It is very clear that I haven't brains enough to comprehend it. I belong to the common herd and really it is a satisfaction to learn that I am in quite good company, for according Miss P. 2. she was almost the only one in class, who liked Logic. Lulie told you about Chase's being here at the Philomathean. He had heard so much about you, he was sorry not to see you, but said he hoped to meet you next summer in Providence. I must add a commentary to what Lulie said about my "inconsistency," as viewed by Mr. J. I beg leave to vindicate myself in part. Mr. J. said he might as well write a sermon as prepare a debate for Philomathean. I undertook to show him that he could do the latter with far less damage to his health, in as much as it would not be more than 1/3 the length of a sermon and would thus require 1/3 the time in preparing & delivery. Friday 9:15 P.M. I must write a little in my "Kronykil" before going to bed. Though the morning was so "faire and frische" (you see Chancer affects my mind and pen), Prof. Bowne's dictation was slow and sleepy. He gives us very little lecture and very much dictation now, I suppose to make up for his absence. A very pretty girl came to reciteations today with Mr. Hunt. We thought from her resemblance to him that it was his sister. There is a new boy in our English Literature. He is a special student taking Roman Law, German and some other studies. He writes short hand is preparing to be a "newspaper man." he comes from Brown University is named Mr. Grozier, boards on the street where we do. I don't know him, Mr. Conn gave me this information. He recites beautifully in English Lit. and I think him bright & interesting. Cadge, however thinks him rather pert & uninteresting. Mr. Pingree has gone home, I understood to go shooting but very likely I am mistaken. Lulie now has been on an exploring expedition. Being near the post office with letters to mail she thought she would drop them there. She walked once round inside, once round outside and then had to go away to find a box upon some other street. She confesses that she watched everybody who came in & looked all about, but found only a place for "Foreign mail matter" & "Printed Matter." The Freshmen are talking of having a class - picnic. Plymouth has been spoken of as a place to visit and the R. R. company has offered to take them at half fare, which would be, I believe, $1.10 to go and return. Someone of them proposed in class meeting that they give a reception to the Juniors, but some other wise one arose and said it [was] would be a very unheard of & presumptuous proceeding. Miss Krehbiel says if she had been there she should have said she didn't believe the Juniors would object. The I. A. meeting this afternoon was very interesting. The subject was Emerson. Miss Krehbiel made some remarks on his life. Then Marion Talbot gave some personal reminiscences or told us about him as she had seen him. She described & showed us pictures of his study, house, the Maner where he lived at one time in his life, etc. Now he is old he requires a constant attendant and his daughter Ellen performs this office with charming grace. In giving lectures she has to sit before the audience, but thoughin a trying position her manner of assisting her father is most lovely. She helps him adjust his manuscript, which must be just so high; if he reads a word wrong, as often happens, she is perfectly familiar with the lecture & supplies the right word at once. Mrs. Emerson, she said, is a lovely & wonderful woman, who has been throughout an inspiration to her husband. She lead with ease on of the conversations of the school of philosophy. Autograph seekers come to the house almost hourly. All are courteously received and Mr. Emerson is glad to do so small a favor. One day a woman came, who, receiving the autograph, did not seem satisfied & finally asked if she might go into his field & get a cricket, as she was making a collection of crickets from fields of distinguished men. Permission was granted & she caught the cricket. Still one more request however. Might she have an old pair of Mr. Emerson's pantaloons, as she was making a rag carpet, from clothing of noted men? This request was declined with thanks. Whittier once was talking with Mr. E. about the number 3. of letters he received, asking for autographs. He said he was greatly annoyed and never replied unless they sent a postage stamp. Then he had conscientious scruples about keeping them & sent them back with the autograph. "What do you do in such instance, Mr. E." "Oh, I keep the stamps, I find them quite useful." The moral to this last anecdote is this: I have "conscientious scruples" against keeping those postage stamps you so kindly sent, therefore I send them back with my autograph. The new year book is out. The principle changes I notice are that Biology is required in the first term of the Junior year and Chemistry is elective from the beginning of the Junior to the end of the Senior year. I forgot to say that Ella & Miss Joy read selections from Emerson's works this afternoon. Dr. Bartol is to be invited to address the next Gamma Delta Monday, 4:30 P.M. First I have to congratulate you on having got the highest mark in the class on all the examinations, that is, I don't know how the Geology marks ran but I have heard of none higher than yours. Psychology History Geology Zoology A.S.B. 88 98 95 99 H.C.P. 83 93 85 93 Cadge 82 Lulie 78 80 I am only sorry you did not have one more in Zoology, it would have been such an honor for '81. The Dean inquired for you very kindly, said you could afford to be away as for as lessons were concerned much better than many others, that you would get along all right any way. I believe I have not given any account of myself for Saturday. In the morning I worked on experiments at the laboratory and in the afternoon studied & took a nap. Yesterday I went to church as usual. Professor Bowne became really eloquent this morning in Logic. He wanted to impress upon us that the mind only gave the idea of systems, order, etc., that our sense experience did not warrant us in believing that there was a system in the universe etc, and he talked long and earnestly and then turned round to Lulie with a very funny look and sort of a be[????] ing manner that seemed to say "I have forgotten all about where I left off dictating. Won't you please tell me?" Prof. Buck was greatly shocked to hear Mr. Bowman put a negative in the second clause of the sentence "What makes no impression on the lover, may make one on the husband." "What What." says Prof. B. "Where did you find that out?" But Mr. Bovoman made the whole class laugh by his persistent inquiry if his translation did not express the fact of the matter. I had a nice talk with Miss Atkinson today. We were speaking of Miss Almy, who writes Miss Atkinson that she has been wonderfully sustained through all her trouble. There was perfect calmness at the time of the funeral, no outward manifestation of mourning even in dress, for the father said they knew their loved one was better off and they had blessed hopes which kept them from grieving as much. But the most touching part of it all was at the grave, when at the close of all the doxology was given out to be sung. There was a moment's pause, for no one seemed able to start thehymn, when Miss Almy herself began it and sang it through to the close. Mrs. Almy is said to have been a very lovely woman, always doing some good and using her wealth, not to gain social distinction, but for the good of others. She was particularly careful to do the little favors, which mean so much. Miss Atkinson, Miss Jennings & Miss Talbot take walks together about Wellesley. They have assumed as their respective names Flutterer, Flitterer, Flatterer. Miss A. burned her nose so Fast Day that, she says, it has been "peeling like a chimes of bells ever since." The Talbot girls have their pictures. I have one of those, with both together. I enclose a lock of Cadge's hair, turned gray - with what I don't know. Prof. Bowne may have been the indirect cause, or it may be grief at your absence. At any rate I send it as a relic. I am very glad your mother is improving. My mother is becoming quite herself again from all accounts. I am afraid I didn't wholly 4. sympathize with you in the account of your being "bullied" by your mother. You have played a similar game on me so many times in the matter of carrying my school bag that it is comforting to know you have been come up with. Remember me to your mother with thanks for having punished you as I should have like to do. You ask about the prayer meetings. The first Thursday I was not at school but I understand they held no meeting. The next week Prof. Bowne was away & our class did not go up till the second hour. Hence no notice was given out on Wednesday morning as usual. Mr. Holman wanted to know what we would better do, as no notice had been given. It was then too late to get word to the classes and we thought we would better wait till the next week. That Thursday was Fast Day. Mr. Holman said to me Wednesday "Blocked again on our prayer meeting". I said "Why couldn't we have it Friday just for this week?" But he thought if we changed even for once it might cause confusion and itwould better be generally understood that we had the meetings Thursday morning. I am looking forward to the meeting this week, for I miss them. Pray for us, Alice, next Thursday morning. I hope you won't think from my manner of speaking of Fast Day that I dishonor it at all. I don't and perhaps I should not have spoken of it this lightly. Lulie is talking of staying in Boston through the month of June and giving lessons, we have so many pupils, i.e. enough to pay her for staying. Lulie says her nose itches dreadfully and she is afraid you are thinking about her. Goodnight with love Hattie C. Peirce. 32 Hanson St. April 17, 1880 My dear Alice I received your letter in regard to that editorial the morning that the proof-sheets of the Beacon came to us. Of course then it was late to make any change, nevertheless it might have been done with some difficulty. However I spoke to Mr. Goodridge about it. As to the bearing of the article on coeducation, as I remember it, it would not furnish any ground for attack of the enemy. Then of course the only other harm would be to Mr. B. himself, in hurting his feelings. I am not acquainted with him and don't know his disposition but Mr. Goodridge said that not only in the matter of the criticism but in various other ways he had shown himself very disagreeable, [*morning with great expectations of finding a letter from you. Love to your mother and yourself Hattie C. Peirce.*]and in his opinion something might to be said to bring him to his senses. I shall be sorry if any harm comes from the article but I don't believe that there will. If you can, write me a letter for the next Beacon. If not, I will hold you to your promises to give us some poetry. Professor Nichols is very kind to me nowadays. He asks us how we are getting along with the pleasantest smile and he said to me the other morning "Don't be afraid to ask me questions at any time." Mr. Conn says Prof. Hyatt has a project having a monument erected to commemorate some scientific discovery. Do you know anything about it? Several of the Senior young men are having their pictures taken in a group, Merser, Hunter, Odell, Meldew, French, Pettengill. Was much obliged for that copy of the Unitarian Belief. I have not had time yet to look at it as carefully as I wish to. Last week Prof. Curry gave us some new exercises. First we let our hands hang limp like the weight seemed to be all in the units of our fingers. Next we let our arms "dangle like ropes" and gave a sudden twitch of our body, letting our arms go where they would. Then the Professor came round and tested each one, lifting our arms as we were twitching. He said he should like to have us practice similar exercises with our feet but that would be hardly practiceable for class. When Mr. Carson read with great force "Hence! Home, you idle creatures! Get you home!" Mr. Curry said " Very good, Mr. C, but you come down on an equality with them. You don't want to do that" Mr. Carson looked up as quickly and said "Oh no, I don't want to do that." The same day when Mr. C. was criticising Mr. Hunt and said he gave it to us "too nice, preserved, as it were", Mr. Carson asked if he would prefer to have it pickled. The prayer meeting Thursday morning was what we had prayed for, calm, quiet, but full of the presence and power of the Holy Ghost. Miss Richardson, Lulie, Cadge andWe were the only girls present. I should say between ten and fifteen of the boys were present. When we girls went down, no one was there but Mr. Knapp up in a corner studying. He looked rather surprised to see us come in and when I went out and rang the bell he looked utterly astonished. Pretty soon the boys came up and we began to sing. Then he seemed to realize what he had stumbled into and pulling aside his book, joined in the singing. Mr. Conn led the meeting. Messrs Bailey, Goodridge, Carsson, Curry, Colman, Bowman were present from our class. Several freshmen were present but I remember no seniors except Mr. Knapp. The time was largely occupied in prayer, but several spoke, one at least after the chapel bell rang. Mr. Curry said that for the last few months he had been trying to live for Jesus. I was glad to hear him speak and on telling him so afterward, he said he felt rather embarrassed, as it was a new thing for him. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Carson spoke, also three freshmen. I will send you my notes of the last Botany lesson as they may be rather unintelligible I will try to explain them. You will find the consultations on the paper with the notes. Thursday was compositions day. Mr. Curry read one on "Conversation," in which he spoke of Socrates as a "college on legs." Prof. Kimpton gave an illustration of the "gifts of gab" by a story of a caller at his house the night before who came at half past seven and stayed till twenty minutes of one. And "such a stream of talk!" the Professor said,"It was awful." Mr. Grozier's subject was "Beowulf" whose genealogical tree many have tried to climb, but found themselves lost in a perfect wilderness of family trees. Lulie gave the story of Griselda, quoting with good effect Chaucer's moral at the close. Mr. Brace wrote on the Norsemen, Mr. French on the Republic of Venice. Mr. Curtis walked down the hill with me and inquired for you, thought the boys ought to have the benefit of your letters to me. I thinkyou will have to write a letter as the chair of 81. Mr. Pettengill came here Thursday night to practice a duet with Lulie for Philomathean. But Miss Millen was taken suddenly ill, and they had to send for the doctor, so that there could be no singing that evening, as it would disturb Miss M. The next day at Philomathean when Mr. P. was called upon to perform, he said he must be excused, "in consequence of disturbance the previous evening", which hindered his practicing. However be, Lulie, Alice Budlong and I played Legomache & had a very pleasant time. Probably you have heard the subject of James T. Fields' lecture before us. In speaking of the general's sad expression on American faces, he said he met a man in Boston the other day who looked like "an east wind made flesh" and as if life were 'an inclined plane to the graveyard. Hot bread, doughnuts and coffee were enough to make anyone lowspirited, said an eminent physician So much of the non-cheerfulness of Americans was due to bad cookery. The ministers of Mr. F's acquaintances were preeminently apostles cheerfulness. One woman left a church, because "too cheerful views of life were set forth from that pulpit." Mr. F. happens to know a peculiarily melancholy man who seems to delight in making others miserable. Hearing a blind man laughing at some joke, he went up to him & said in slow & mournful tones "Why do you laugh? When the Lord sends us tribulations, we ought to tribulate." When asked one day why he voted for such a man, he gave the following incident: - "As I was calling upon Mr. -- one day, there was a voice in the flour barrel. Mr. --, lifted the cover cautiously drew out a little mouse by the tail, snapped the few grains of flour from his back & let the little mouse go out of the window. Now when I see such humanity joined with such economy, I cannot withhold my vote." He also told the story, which you have doubtlessheard of the teacher's thundering at a class " Who made heaven & earth in six days & rested on the seventh?" and the little child's meek answer "I did, but I won't do it again." Mr. F. said if he were rich, he would endow a Professorship of Cheerfulness in some college. He would make the salary $10000 a year and he would select for the position Oliver Wendell Holmes. His duty should be for an hour every morning to "dare be as funny as he could". In Philomathean, there was music by the Lambda Trio, declamation by Mr. Knapp, music by Marian Talbot, declamation by Mr.... I have forgotten his name and the fiery debate on Resolved that some system of daily marking is preferable to that now used in this institution. Cadge and Miss Richardson were on the affirmative against Mr. Holman & Mr. Woodward. By the way it is said that Mr. Woodward was absent a while ago and wrote a letter to the Dean about his lessons &c, adding at the end "Won't you please tell Fred Upham that I will answer his letter soon." The Dean told Fred Upham," with great kindness, I think. In the debate Cadge & Mr. Holman were interested in the subject & both spoke with great warmth. After society Mr. H went to Cadge & said "I'll forgive you. " but she said she didn't know whether she would forgive him or not. It was no test to hold a dramatic entertainment in four weeks. The subject for debate next time is "Resolved that Boston University Reading Room has more influence on the destiny of Europe than the United States Navy." I don't know as I have worded it correctly but it is something like that. There are to be only two disputants who are not yet appointed. Lulie is to work a review of the last years book. I'd you know that Miss Eddy was teaching in the Brookline High School & Miss Kannelt teaching Elocution, in some other High School? We hear that Professor Ordway is a great favorite at the Institute. He asks his questions very peculiarly on examinations. Once he asked one in rhymes & one boy answered..in rhyme. Another question was, "How doth the firefly glow!" At Mr. Knapp's motion, the Philomathean is going to send resolutions expressive of sorrow to Miss Smith's parents. Sunday, 6.30 P.M. I heard a good sermon this morning from Dr. Gordon, which gave me some new ideas.His text was from Psalms, "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases." In it is seen the parallelism of the Hebrew poetry, which at the same time expresses the two great streams of blessing flowing forth to the world. The ministry of Jesus, is twofold throughout. 1. On earth. There we find him giving forgiveness to the sinner & healing to the sick almost at once. His mission affects both body & soul. We hear of contagious diseases but this was a "contagious life," such that even those who touched him, were made whole. 2. In heaven. His life on earth was merely the beginning. We have an account of those things "which he began both to do and to teach." His work is carried on now by the church and the Spirit. The early apostles practiced forgiveness & had the gifts of healing. Dr. G believes that now the church might have the latter blessing. Why has it been lost, unless the faith of the church has diminished? The power of Jesus remains the same and the promise remains "All things are possible to him that believeth." 3. At his coming. When Jesus comes he will give sanctification to the soul and resurrection to the body. Thus throughout we see his twofold ministry. I don't know as you will have been interested in this account, but I thought as I was telling everything else that has happened. I would put in my Sunday experience as well. Monday, April 19, 1880. Miss Almy appeared at the college again this morning. It seemed good to see her back. Miss Latimer is here also for a little visit. She inquired for you, said she would like to see you. We did have some interesting logic this morning, i.e., it was within my comprehension. Oh, how I do miss asking you questions! In English Literature the subject was Spenser. When we were to read from "Faery Queen," Mr.Goodridge had no book, so he came & sat with me Mr. Puigree whispered, "Now I know why you didn't bring any book. I wouldn't, if I had thought of that." One expression in the reading made me think of you. You know we remember your inexplicable way of admiring and fearing at once the most harmless persone imaginable, so when Spencer addresses someone as "O dearest Dread," I thought of you. Do you know that the first person we saw as we went into a strange church (Fremont St. Methodist, Dr. Townsend, preacher) last night was Mr. Pingree and Mr. Flack by his side? Mr. P. said to Bulie this morning "Well, Miss Prosser, I have lived in Boston three years & that is the first time I ever saw you at church." Miss Almy is going to Europe with her father in June. In Botany we had a lecture on evolution, in which Prof. Ordway expressed himself as a disbeliever in evolution. When the Beacon will be out is according to Mr. Goodridge "one of the things no feller can find out. Tuesday morning 8 a. m I shall look in the box this Fuschia Calyx, inserted on top are 4 pelats. 8 stamens 4 opposite claws of petals, 4 alternate. Shrubby plant. Honey in base of flower. [Leave] [opposite] Flowering plant. Series I. Net-veined leaves. Parts of flowers in fours. Class I Polypelatous Calyx adherent to ovary p. 19.3 Anther 2 celled, opens lengthwise Style 1 Evening primrose family p. 141 Onagraceae M.11. Fuschsia p. 147, Obovate, upper side wider than lower, macrostemma. No. 2 Styles & stamens branch. Parts in 5 Exogen Ovary 5 Cells, many seeds in each Angiosperm PolypetalousMallow 70 p. o. abutilon Striatum p. 73. Deutzia Leaves opposite, no stipules. Calyx around ovary & divides into 5 lobes. 2 whorls stamens. 3 styles Pharnogam. Exogen Polyket. B. 3. Calyx tube adherent to ovary p. 19 Saxifrage Simple leaves = not dived into leaflets as clover tubes of calyx not extended beyond ovary lobes are. Deutzia gracilis p. 135 Pansy Stipules at base of leaves. Angular flower stem Bracts near top. Calyx irregular, auricled at base. Sepals & petals are not all alike. Petals have long claws Stamens short filament. Another long & pointed, tend to meet. Projecting into spur angles of 2 filaments anther. Ovary free from calyx. Style bent & stigma. Ovary 5-celled. 5 carpels ./. ovary Polypetatous Stamens inserted between petals. Ovary compound. Violet - p 58. Persistent = staying on until seeds ripe Pansy tricolor next lesson, 6 & 7 chap. We had flowers to analyze. I will explain the notes on Fuchsia & you will understand. the others. Turn to page 12, second part of book, there plants divided into two classes, according as they are with or without flowers. This item belongs to phaenogams. Under this head we see 2 classes. As parts of flower in four, it is exogen. On page 13 find subdivisions of exogens & see that the flower satisfies the definition of polypetalous, which is given on p. 14 with its subdivisions. This does not satisfy definition of A but does of B, p. 16, and of 3. under it, p. 19. Also tracing down we find it answers definition of Evening Primrose family, which refers to p. 141. Ourflower doesn't come under paragraph 1 but does come under 2 and two stars under 2. Not under the one dagger but No. 11 under the two daggers. There on p. 147 are given varieties of Fuchsia. The one we had belonged to the microtomic. I think it is real fun to trace out the flower that way. If we have a chance, let's go off together some Saturday when you come back & find "unknown" flowers & find out about them in this way. Don't you think it would be nice? 28 Susan St, Providence June 14, 1882 My dear Alice I was truly glad to get your letter last week. It was the first news from B. U. friends since coming home. Hope you have by this time recovered from your cold. I too have had a cold & slight cough all the week. Mr. Colman saw me safely in the train after we left you. We looked all about for Alice Mumford but could not find her. Afterwards, I learned I was on the wrong car and must change at Franklin, where I found Alice on the Providence car. Her journey from Boston to Franklin was made pleasant by an adventure with a little boy. I was all alone and in the seat in front was a boy with a purple balloon. Opposite sat his father and mother. The boy, whose name was Winthrop Clark, seemed to feel lonesome [*the undergraduates down street to the caterer's where they had their class supper. And thus ended '80's Class Day. Shall we have one next year? Lulie brought over those French books this morning, for which I am much obliged. You can't imagine how awed I am to think of your having read all those. I don't - know as I shall ever dare to speak to you again If you keep on giving me new revelations of your wonderful knowledge, I shall be completely*]and kept looking at me. Finally he expressed a wish for a longer string for his balloon and had some tied round my "Theism," I gave it to him and as he seemed to find trouble in tying it on, I offered to tie it for him. Thus our acquaintance began. Then he came and sat with me and kept up a continuous conversation, from which I gathered much information regarding his family. His brother is nearly ready for college. He would have a sister 18 yrs. old, had she lived. His own mother is dead and the lady opposite is his stepmother. His grandmother lives in Boston, visits Paris twice a year, is going to take him, when he gets older. His brother has a row boat & wants a yacht. His grandmother "knows all Latin." He shows me his cash on hand, 30 cents, and asks my advice as to investing it. Thinks he will buy balloons a red one & a white one and he has a blue one at home; then he will have red, white and blue. But there will be 10 cts. left; what color could he buy? I advise peacock blue telling him I saw some very pretty ones [*dumbfounded. Remember me to your mother. I do not expect to accompany you girls*] of that color on the common; he has five dollars in the bank. He got it by selling their dog, for which they got ten dollars divided between him and his brother. I was sorry to leave my little friend at Franklin but the rest of the journey seemed short. chatting with Alice and Miss Williams. Oh, do you know Mr. Holman says he will come to Providence and spend the day this summer, while you girls are here? Mr. Goodridge says he will come, if he can possible get off, but he expects to be kept pretty closely in the office, though there isn't anything to do. Luhi has told me what a fine time they had at Mrs. Clafin's. Prof. Lindsay took Luhi out to supper. The Dean calls the engagement between Georgie and Mr. T. a "marvellous conjunction" and rallies the [Col] L. A. boys of '80 on allowing a theologue to run off with one of their best girls. But what will become of Georgie, if she goes off to the Rocky Mountains [*to Cadge's farm, as I think I ought to stay with my mother. I shall come down and*]in the fall as a missionary. Won't she miss her home and friends? Have you heard why Mr. Hunter stopped paying attention to Cadge? He says he thought "Miss Sandford was getting to think too much of him and so it seemed best to let the affair drop at once"! Wouldn't Cadge's ire be raised, if she should hear of it? I wish somebody would take Mr. H. down a little. Thursday evening here occurred the unusual cremation of the Brown juniors (not "of" but "by" the juniors is what I mean). I once said I would not attend the exercise again, but it was '81 and some of "our boys" were to take part, so I went. The place of the funeral was the base ball ground near our house. We got seats on the grand stand a little after nine o'clock and waited for some time before the tooting of the horns and the burning of the red & green lights announced that the procession was approaching. At the head of the procession walked the band, playing a funeral march. Next came two biers, covered with white cloth & fantastic figures painted on them. Each had four bearers dressed in red suits. The dead were English Literature and German. Carriages followed, containing the speakers of the evening and "grave & reverend seniors" in their ordinary clothing. Next came the mourners, the class of '81, then the sympathizing sophomores & Freshies, in the strangest of costumes. There were 5 or 6 Indians who danced wildly about a fire. There was a ballet dancer and an old woman. One was got up to represent a pig and so on, anything and everything was to be seen in the way of dress. The chaplain read from a small book "the first lesson" then introduced the orator, whose speech was, I should judge, almost entirely quotations from the Professors' remarks in class room; he was constantly applauded by the blowing of the horns. Next came the poet, who was the Mr. Chase who visited us a B. U. while you were at Wilmington. He wore a white {* visit you for a day or two, however. I shall expect you to write me which are to be [*your gala days, so can come when you are on your jolliest behavior. Tell me] toga, trimmed with red, a curly wig & laurel wreath. As we couldn't hear a word of the poem, we started for home. I believe there was nothing like but a dirge by the band and the burning of the "bodies." At the Social Union last Wednesday evening we met Mrs. Everts, formerly Dolly Elizabeth Paine. She congratulated [us] on having remained true to our first love," which she left for a second. We spoke, of course, in glowing terms of our classmates and I felt a little indignant when she said that during her acquaintance with the boys of the class she was not at all favorably impressed. Friday was bright and pleasant as any class Day could wish. In the morning the exercises at Brown consisted of an address by the class president, an oration and poem. These were in Manning Hall, which was decorated with flowers for the occasion. The class motto [?] made in white flowers was suspended over the president's head. The afternoon exercises were out of doors. A hand council came first, then the procession formed by classes marching two and two, escorting the speakers to the platform. The band led the way followed by the speakers, and the classes in order. The classes sat on the grass in the semicircle in front of the platform. All about the outside seats were placed and here sitting and standing were numerous fair maidens and interested friends. There were two addresses, as we suppose there were addresses, as we could see the moving of the lips as in speech and of the arms as in gesture, but sounds we heard none. It might have been like Mrs. Jarley's wax works. Then came the address to undergraduates, which had the usual amount of jokes, intelligible only to the students, but at which we all laughed, as if we understood them. President Robinson followed with an address, in which he praised the class of '80 for honest, faithful work, and at the same time gave them some pretty sharp hits for various misdemeanors and for their jokes on the Professor he gave them as good as they sent. In reference to the cremation the Any news you may chance to hear from "our boys" or the girls. And now, good night with love. Probably before receiving this, you will see [Le????] & learn that she is not to be innight before he said with great force " Where was your wit, gentlemen? Where was your wit?" He referred to a similar occasion forty years before, of which he was a spectator, when there was real, true, hearty fun. Their jests were harmless, were not aimed at the instructors and he showed how funny they were by giving a graphic description of a corpulent gentleman, who could only look for a moment round the corner of one of the buildings, then had to retire and hold his sides, as he shook with laughter. Dr. R. approved of merry making, of fun, of jollity but not of such senseless, witless performance as that of the night before. In the evening the grounds were bright with chinese lanterns + colored fires. Dr. Robinson said in the afternoon that the "public exercises of class day were ended," that the "eloquence of the evening was reserved for private ear" and it would seem so, to see the many happy young couples promenading about. Cadge + May were there with their brother. We spent quite a part of the evening in John Sanford's room. At 11 o'clock the Senior class was escorted by [*Boston through June after all. Hattie C. P.*] 28 Susan St, Providence July 5, 1880 My dear Alice Can I better celebrate today than by writing to you? I shall want to hear some account of the visit of the "Emperor of China and the Khan of Sartary" to Laura Eliot. Did the distinguished visitors go in the costume of their country? or in the dress of American citizens? Now, my dear, don't go way off to the other extreme in your treatment of young men, through fears prompted by Mr. Hunter's remark. I don't think you have any need to be anxious lest you be bold and forward and seem to be making a "declaration". I consider you quite a model of "propriety" in that regard. If you should preach to me now a little, taking Mr. Hunter's remark as a text, I think it would be [*you come to visit me. My mother says she is anticipating your visit with pleasure and sends her love. With love from me Hattie C. Peirce*]beneficial. I do not know who wrote the two pieces in the Beacon, of whose authority you ask I should suspect Mr. Goodridge of one of them at least. I don't wonder you suspect that editorial on the pronunciation of Philomatheon as mine, for you have [heard] seen me [talk] ride as much on that hobby. But never mind, you were right and I'll try not to say any more about it, or no, I won't either, for I think we ought to find out something about it. But as to Theism - don't ask me. I have read only into the first chapter. My good resolutions wilted all away in the hot weather. Perhaps now it is cooler I may be able to make some more. But I must not forget to congratulate you on your heroine in the accident of which you speak. As to your safety & freedom from harm of course we are all very glad and if college were in session the class of '81 would be remiss did it not propose a jubilee meeting & day of rejoicing. On putting away my valuables after packing my trunk, I found myself in possession of two magnifiers. As I never brought but one, I fear I have been guilty though unintentionally, of stealing, but from whom I don't know. As yours was like mine perhaps I have yours. If you miss yours, I shall be glad to know it and restore to you one of those in my possession. We have been talking over summer plans and the last week in August has been suggested as a pleasant time for you girls to visit us. Therefore I, Harriet Crandall Peirce, do hereby invite you, Alice Stone Blackwell, to spend at my house one of the weeks of August, such week to be decided by the joint consultation of yourself and Caroline Elinor Sanford. I merely mention the last week in August as something definite to "hitch to" but it will make no material difference to us if some other time will better suit your convenience. Have had a postal from Mr. Goodridge on matters relative to the Beacon, in which he wished me to say to Miss Prosser that the "scowl she saw on his face was probably intended for one of his most angelic smiles". Our Brown friend, Mr. Chase, called the other evening and told one of the [stories related] expressions in a speech at this year's commencement dinner, a gentleman said that three things were of advantage to a college, brains, books and bricks. He was glad to see that Brown had taken them in the right order, beginning with the brains, then getting books and now having the bricks. Mr. Chase thought perhaps our college was taking them in this right order and the bricks would come in good time. A scientific man wrote a book which gave the acts of science in a manner intelligible to the common people. For this reason he was derided as a "vulgarizer of science". One day a little girl asked him why people called him so. He didn't answer her at the moment but afterwards seeing her giving away some roses & pricked by their thorns, he called her to him and said "Now you understand why people call me "vulgarizer of science," You too are a vulgarizer, for you give away the flowers and keep the thorns." I told Mr. Chase you were coming here and having heard so much about you she wants to see you. He admires Thackeray but don't be prepared to despise him for that. We had a minister preach for us last week, at whose appearance I started when I first went in, for he looked exceedingly like Mr. Corsou. A friend in looking over my pictures thought Mr. Bailey looked like Mr. Melden! I had a letter from Edith Talbot, in which she told me the whereabouts and whatabouts of some B. U. girls. She and Marian went to see Miss Almy off, as she started for Europe. Did you know that Miss A had been quite ill again since College closed? [Leslie?] has had a letter from Carlotta Krehbiel, who is "first assistanthousekeeper pro tem." She describes their journey home and deplores her laziness since reaching there. Mr. Jordan is preaching again. Leila wrote to me the same day she wrote to you, so I presume I can tell you no more about her. Cadge talked with me about some plans for Class Day and commencement next year. I will not tell you her ideas, as she has doubtless already given them to you. I should like to know what you think about it. I think whatever exercise we have should be such on one of the days as to be entertaining to any outside friends we should like to invite. Now we who live out of the city will want to invite our friends at home to some of the exercises of the last week. And we want those exercises to be such as to pay them for taking a journey to attend. I am getting along finely with my housekeeping, but I won't brag; I'll give you opportunity to judge for yourself when 28 Susan St. Providence, Aug. 10, 1880 My dear Alice The girls indeed must have had a fine time at Nahaut. Of course I enjoyed your story of your experiences in going to church. I am glad the Baptists were "faithful found among the faithless." I have forgotten both time I have seen Annie Budlong since receiving your letter, to tell her about the ghost flirtation; I am sure I don't wonder at your dreaming it. As to the elective. In the first place you entirely overestimate my knowledge of Greek. Second, you say I "don't need Greek any more than a fish needs water." If you will carry out in thought your comparison, you will see how essential to my life , even, is Greek. I appreciate what you say of the delights while driving, of Edith's trouble with her eyes & of Lydia Dame's going to Mt. Desert. I see by the paper that Bishop Foster & family, Prof. Bowne & family reached their cottage at the vineyard last Wednesday. A postal from Cadge invites me to come to Attleboro Saturday for a few days. The long expected letter from Ella arrived. Some friends of mine, Mr. & Mrs. Jillson were here to tea & I told them of your coming here. They said they should like to have us call.of English Literature but, – what have you to say of the Professor! If English Lit. were an elective and you were to be its Professor, I assure you I would take it in a minute. Again, you say "listen to the voice of the serpent." Now "do you not see" how ill-advised that last word was? If before I had thought it was an "angel of light," I should then have been aroused to suspect the true tempter. Now "seriously" I have thought of English Literature as an elective, and I realize that it would be easy and pleasant. But I doubt if I should get anything that I couldn't acquire without that instructor. I do want you to be in some of my elective classes. Why don't you take astronomy? But if you do take Eng. Lit, I'll tell you what I will do, i.e. if the Prof will allow. If you recitations come at a time when I don't have any, I'll attend every one and have the pleasure of reading with you. I'm not sure but I'll read with you anyway. [*Mother says I must go to bed now, so I'll obey with a loving Goodnight. Remember me to your mother. Hattie C. Price.*] Do grow fat, if that is the condition of your coming back to school. But my advice is, Don't think about it but have a jolly time. Go to the "minstrel entertainments, perhaps. Think about Lulie and gloat over her imagined self. Count up my numerous acts of folly and laugh. No charge for this prescription. Before I forget, Alice has written, asking Cadge to come here the 19th. August. Will that day suit you? If it will, let me know, please, what train you will take. Or if some other day is better, just write and I shall be pleased, if your convenience is suited. Perhaps you have heard how the girls came up to my house from the train, after leaving Bearcroft & Attleboro. They were a thoroughly tired set and went home soon after supper. The next day there was a lunch party at Alice's and Lulie had company in the evening but I couldn't go in consequence of cholera morbus. Annie was up here again two or threedays after, said "Johnford" called the previous evening & invited her to go to the Park Garden that night. He said the Cadge had not recovered from her poisoning and had been obliged to take refuge in the despised hamamelis. (Is that spelled right?) Do you remember Robert Falconer's favorite saying? "He that believeth shall not make haste." It seems to me grander everytime I think of it. Don't you think the entire book makes one feel as never before the very verity of God and his tender, mighty watchcare over us? I am glad to have read it and shall read it again some time. I have been reading Ruskin's little book "Ethics of the Dust." Friday some of my High School friends spent the evening with me. We had a pleasant time and some of the boys, who are camping out at Jamestown invited we girls to come down & visit them, when you arrive. A letter from Marion tells of her accident 28 Susan St. Providence, Aug 24, 1880 My dear Alice I have been singing your verses all day, till my mother begged for a change. I have a little plan in my mind. Thursday we are going to Newport and on the way back in the evening are to be allowed a place on the uppermost deck where passengers are not allowed. Now when our party are there, if I have a good chance I mean to sing the two stanzas relative to Cadge & Anna. And now "I move" that you produce the rest of the stanzas, write an introductory one, perhaps, showing how the others are connectedwith B. U., and that this be the first of B. U.'s college Songs. Lulie said the other day perhaps a girls' Glee club might be practicable, if a mixed club was impossible. I hope you did not feel the worse for the exertion of writing to me. And now shall I tell you how Cadge and Frank get along together! The day the went down the river, he and Lulie were walking ahead. Lulie had taken off her sack & had it on her arm. The girls said that Cadge was ready to pick the least flaw, so she then made the remark "I should think Mr. Bates might carry Lulie's sack for her." He is very polite and she won't be able to find very much fault with him on that score. The poem we illustrated was Longfellow's "Elizabeth." Cadge took that part and Frank was John Estaugh. She didn't demur at all but looked up in his face and took his hand as calmly and placidly as any Quaker in the tableau, where she was welcoming him. Frank took her to supper after the tableau and Cadge chatted away to him as if she were enjoying it. And to cap all – he asked to go home with her and she did not refuse. Now whether all this was simply politeness or if she did have some respect & liking for him with it all, I suppose we shall not know at present. We can only hope for the latter. Tonight we are going to Lizzie Little's for the lawn party. We have sent for Mr. Holman & Mr. French ('80) to join us Thursday. We girls with Louis Snow, John Sanford & thetwo B. U. boys if they come will go to Newport in the morning. We shall probably take the ten-mile drive and go over to Jamestown & call on a party of Brown boys, who are camping there and have invited us to call. At 7 P.M we shall take the boat, with Frank added to our party, having come down in the afternoon, and sail to Rocky Point, a pretty place on the bay, with rocks & trees lighted at evening with electric lights. Here we shall meet Mr. Chase, of whom you have heard, who will bring down our baskets and wraps. We shall have supper here & return to 10 P.M for a moonlight(?) sail up the bay. I hear you groan at the lateness of the hour we may expect to get home, – but then I think we shall have a good time. Wed. Aug. 25. The lawn party was very pleasant. After supper singing was called for. Several of Lizzie's friends were present who are fine singers but, as it is sometimes, they all very obstinately refused. Finally Annie Ludlong was teased to sing Romeo. She said she would, if some one else would sing. No one offered. After some minutes' silence, thinking this just my opportunity I said "Annie, do you want me to sing to you?" "Oh, yes." So I began "There was a girl who broke &c" changing it to the third person. It was fun to watch the changes in her expressive countenance. Lizzie said the first clause in the fourth line was a lie. At the end of the verse, there was such a clapping, every one was so astonished & didn't know what to make of it. A bouquet was immediately presented & I was urged to sing it again with Annie playing the accompaniment. I told her I would present the song with Miss Blackwell's compliments. She characteristically said"Rah Rah! I move we all wish Alice Blackwell was here." This was unanimously carried. Lulie called in the morning & we had a little chat. Cadge said to her last night she didn't know "where Lulie got the idea that she disliked Frank"! Mr. Holman is at the camp meeting at Framingham & can't come. Mr. French is busy & invited us to come to Block Island. The girls have all been here to supper, and have just gone home. With love Hattie C. Peirce 28 Susan St. Providence, Aug. 21, 1880 My dear, dear Alice It is 9 o'clock Saturday morning, when my housekeepers are generally at work, but I must write to you. I have just received your postal. I am not going to say how sorry I feel for I know you are disappointed too. But I do want to say that if you are able I should like to have you visit me before school begins. So at your first recovery of health or when it best suits your convenience will you please come to Providence and stay as long as you can? The girls will be [*appointed at the unexpected delay of your visit. We all want you to come this vacation, if possible. If you can't come then, come in the Christmas vacation & if you can't come then, come next summer. Give my love to your mother & please receive "lots" of love from me. Yours Hattie C. Peirce*]here until Saturday of next week and perhaps you can get here before they leave. But if you are not here with the others, I think we can have a good time, though perhaps a quieter time. I have found out about the Worcester trains and the one you would have to take, if you start from Gardner at 8:20, reaches Providence at 12:55. I shall be glad to meet you any day. Let me hear often how you are getting along. Laura & Cadge reached Prov. at 3:30 Thursday. I saw Laura & Lulu at meeting in the evening. Yesterday as I told you they went down the river for a clam dinner. Last evening Lulu & Frank, Laura and Louis Snow came over for me to go to Alice's with them. The business of the evening was to plan for an entertainment to be held at Lulu's next Monday evening. We are planning to have a poem read, which we will illustrate by tableaux. Then some Mother Goose pantomimes were arranged for. We are to practice this afternoon. Lulu is to be the little "old woman who went to market her eggs for to sell" & has her petticoats cut off. Cadge is to be the dog, as she has the gift of growling. Louis is "live by himself" troubled with the rats & finally is to "go to London" & bring "himself a wife" (Annie Budlong) in a wheelbarrow. Cadge is going to have the "little husband no bigger than her thumb." Laura is to be "queen of hearts" & Alice "knave" with Frank as "king." I am to be "the little maid who went to "Primrose Hill." We expect to have great fun arranging our costumes, etc. We are to have others Jack Sprat, etc. The poem to illustrate is not yet selected. They said last night they would put off this entertainment till later in the week, if you could be here then. We have written to Mr. Holman, but he has as yet made no answer. A garden party at Lizzie [Gittle's?] and an excursion to Newport is talked of. Two other friends have found a strong resemblance between Mr. [Meldin?] & Mr. Bailey, from their pictures. I had a very pleasant time at Attleboro. The chief excitements were a runaway horse and a performing bear. The former was the property of Dr. Bronson opposite. The frantic efforts of the plucky servant girl to drive that horse into the stable with a hoe were amusing, to say the least. Dr. Bronson has an assistant just come, Dr. Totten by name. He is the perfect image of Mr. Jordan. Cadge saw him in church for the first time & wondered how Mr. J. should be in Attleboro. I know I would have bowed to him, had I met him on the street. Cadge thinks of getting up a flirtation with him and from the relations between the two families we tell her it may be a Romeo & Juliet affair with a happier end. Dr. T. is a Roman Catholic. I went to ride with Cadge along the Ridge Hill road, where I saw her spot for her ideal home. We saw Miss [?landing] at Bearcroft. She is well as the Holmans, Wolfendens & others inquired for you. Mrs. Mackin took us all to ride Wednesday to [?orton] to her farm, where we brought home a pumpkin & tied on Mrs. Sanford's vine. She wasn't very much "fooled" as the pumpkin was rather large and she was mystified as to where it came from. A minister who is supplying at our church told the following story the other evening, in talking upon the words "that ye may know that ye have eternal life." He asked a lady one night "Are you saved?" "I hope so" was her answer. Again he asked "Are you a child of God?" and she replied "I'm trying to be." He turned away & she said "Is that your wife over there, Dr. B." Quick as thought he answered "I hope so." Somewhat taken aback she said "Aren't you a married man?" and he replied "I'm trying to be." My mother and father are both dis Christian Camp Ground Hyannis, Mass. Aug. 1. 1881 My dear Alice I suppose by this time you know all about "The Fundamental Concepts of Modern Philosophic Thought." I am duly awed and hardly dare to address you in ordinary language. You see I am at Hyannis again but I hope to reach Annisquam before you leave. I have been at home most of the summer. Last week I went home with Cadge for a few days. We read. rode and sewed. Emery Holman called one evening to see Cadge before he went back to New York. Laura wrote "Is Loulie dead?" andLouis told me to reply "No; but Frank is sick." I suppose he is out again now however. The illness was probably brought on by eating shore dinner. We went down one noon for that purpose and Leulie said jokingly if Frank got sick, perhaps she wouldn't go to see him. And I must tell you a strange remark that Leulie made when we were playing that game where each has a dilemma, and remedy. Some one asked Leulie if she were flayed alive and thrown behind a barn what she should do, and her prompt response was "I should have the marriage ceremony performed." Another game we played at my house that evening was "What is my thought like?", where one person has a thought & the rest say what it is like, then on being told what the thought is, they must tell where the resemblance lies. Mr. Chase had a thought and Lulie told him it was like himself. On announcing his thought he pretended to be very angry with Lulie and wanted to know why he was like Guiteau! Lulie stopped a minute, then looked up in her sauciest manner and said, "Because he was smart." Now I want to ask some questions on Total Abstinence. I fear I need some tracts. Somehow I got it into my head that everything containing alcohol was injurious in proportion to the quantity of alcohol, that that was what made cider harmful & beer, &c. But latelyI have see an account of experiments where alcohol was said to be found in water, of course to a very small degree. Then I want to know the difference in beers. There are many things called beer. Are all intoxicating? Are white beer and root beer intoxicating? You see I am illy prepared to talk on the Temperance question. All information thankfully received. I have begun to read Endymion and if it ever clears off I am going to study Botany a little out of doors. Louis Snow just missed seeing you at St. Albans. He was in the same party with Mr Liscomb. Prof. Buck's house at the Hyannisport is about a mile off. I am going over some day this week. Hope to see you soon With love Hattie C. Peirce Christian Camp Ground Hyannis Mass August 9, 1881 My dear Alice You were so good to reply soon and tell me about Annisquam. I feel like writing a little note at once. And first of all, perhaps you have heard and perhaps you haven't of "the something lovely" that Lulie writes has happened to Frank. One of the largest banks in Providence has had occasion to make a change of book-keepers. There were many applicants for the place but without any seeking on Frank's part the position was offered to him. He will have a larger salary than he has been getting. Or must some one be engaged beforehand to do that work? If I could I would describe to you the funny country doctor who came over to the hotel from Hyannis to visit a sick lady. He is a grizzly man with a kind of neck-wear called a stock I think. He carries under his armLast Wednesday we made up a party of sixteen and "John" drove us over to Hyannisport. On arriving I went straight for the house with a cupola, standing on a high hill (the house stood on the hill, the cupola on the house). Stepping up on the piazza I saw two stranger gentlemen sitting in the room reading. One looked up and I inquired if that was Professor Buck's house. Yes! Inwardly congratulating myself on getting to the right place the first time, I proceeded to ask for the Prof. and Mrs. B. and was told that they started that morning for Wellesley and would be gone a week. I was disappointed enough, for I shall have no opportunity to go again, for if they come back tomorrow, they might not arrive till night and we leave here for home early the next morning. We stayed at "the port" two hours or more and had a good time trying to blow steam-whistles with our hands, telling conundrums, tc. The coast is very rocky there and vessels are not infrequently wrecked. One old wreck has been for several years fastened to one of the wharves, and it is a pleasant place to sit. From the hills thereabouts you get a wide sea view. A revolving light is in sight beyond the breakwater and numerous vessels on that day consented to bound the horizon and let us count the sails. The nights have been mostly foggy or cloudy since I have been here, so we have missed any gorgeous sunsets that might otherwise have [*a little hair trunk about two feet long and in it are bottles of black looking stuff and strong smelling herbs done up in newspaper packages. He stayed with the patient about an hour, told the*] [*people who sat near some incidents of his practice in the west, left four kinds of medicine to be taken in sugar & hot water and charged a dollar! Lulie sends her love to all the girls, wishes she could be with you. Please give my love to all & remember me to the boys also.*][*If you think of it, will you say to Cadge & Emma that Mac Knight has been down here and sent his respects to the young ladies who were in his class. With love Yours H.C.P.*] been seen. However a few times we have walked to the bluffs to be well repaid by the view of the sunset & the waves. One night the western sky was leaden gray and as the sun went down, it appeared to go into a dense cloud. But as we watched, the lower [?link?] became visible again on the other side of the narrow belting cloud and gradually the whole red orb appeared against the dull gray background. I am looking forward to joining you the first of next week. We leave here Thursday. I think I can start for Locust Lodge the following Tuesday or Wednesday, but if Leulie Gage comes with me she may prefer some other day. However we will let you know. Are there conveyances from Gloucester to [?Annisgram?] for passengers and baggage? 28 Susan St. Providence, Aug. 31, 1881 My dear Alice You may imagine I was surprised last Monday forenoon to find Mr. Jordan at the front door, on answering the bell. It seems he had preached at Mr. Goodell's church the Sunday before and I, who had watched the papers all summer for his coming, missed hearing him. The reason I missed him was a printer's error, of course, in putting it in the paper Rev. M. Jordan of Amherst, Mass instead of N. Jordan of [?Acushuet?], Mass. As I thought two errors would not have been made, I didn't go. Mr. J. spent the forenoon with me and [*sail boats only to reach the rickety old wharf, of a former adventure. Cadge then took the oars and we rowed the rest of the way. Mr. & Mrs. Selee came on Tuesday. Wednesday night they were to have company to supper, the Eliots from the hill, Mr. Van Vleck & Mr. French*] after dinner we went out to Alice Budlong's. After that he went down to the bank to see Mr. Bates. He says he has been enjoying his stay at Old Orchard very much. If he had thought you would be at home, he would have called on you a week ago last Monday. He says Mr. Holman is in miserable health. He never saw him look so badly. He is going to leave Sudbury and take charge of a church at the Vineyard. He will then be very near Mr. Jordan, who hopes to study with him for a Ph. D. You may be interested to know that Mr. Chase, who you may remember went to church with us that Sunday morning you were here, is to be principal of the Bristol High School. And Mr. Gladding who called one evening during your visit has gone into a wholesale dry goods house. I have spent the last few days in calling on members of the school committee. I think there will be no vacancy in the High School. I may get an appointment in a grammar school. I am advised by some not to take one, but I shall accept it for a while, if it is offered me. Have the girls written you of our delightful sail with Prof. Hyatt the Monday after you left? We were so surprised at having him come way back after getting out beyond by the light house to take us in at Marsh's wharf where we had stationed ourselves to wave a salute [*Did you go to the Gamma Delta picnic? I have done everything I know about getting a school here or hereabouts and now like Micawber I am waiting for "something to turn up" The next few weeks and what they may bring forth will decide me*]as they passed by. Mr. Van Vleck's cry of "half rations", our lack of wraps, our unlocked trucks at the Lodge and open house, - none of these things disconcerted us. We were only too delighted to have the opportunity to go. It was too rough for dredging, so we sailed to the Isles of Shoals getting back about 9 or 10 in the evening. It was indeed a delightful day. The waters seemed never so blue, the sunset never so grand. Some poor mortals were sick and lay stretched out on the deck, made comfortable as possible with mattresses and blankets brought up from the cabins by Prof. Hyatt. Miss Hoppin was the first victim, May Sanford succumbed next. These two were the sickest and had for company in various stages of "all-overishness" Mr. Van Vleck, Emma Atkinson, Lulu Selec, Miss Joslin & Mr. Earle. Some of us called on Mrs. Hyatt the next day and found her and her home most charming. The latter showed traces of its mistress everywhere in the painting as well as its arrangement. She had painted a beautiful dado on the parlor wall and by the staircase. She is the very genius of hospitality. I was amused at the way Prof. Hyatt spoke of her and her work in arranging there house, as if he had humored a child in its whine, while all the time you could see underneath his words that he not only loved and admired her but was as proud of her as could be. as to what line of reading to pursue this fall & winter. If you have occasion to write to Ella, tell her I am waiting pa- tenthly to hear from her. Give my love to your mother and consider yourself hugged by me yours Hattie C. PeirceLouis Snow is talking of going to Brown University now. He will need a year or more to prepare. Cadge, May and I went out rowing one of the last nights at Annisquare. Of course if Cadge was there, we had an adventure. We were ready to come back and Cadge had a bright idea of drifting back with the tide, merely steering. We floated lazily along in the darkness, enjoying the strange look of the spectre ships with their sails down and a light high up on the mast like a Polyphennis' , when we found ourselves within a few feet of what we had supposed to be the wooden beacon. I remarked that it was very strange that we couldn't see the water beyond it, and we found that we had been winding our way between the numerous 28 Lusan St Providence, Oct. 30, 1881 My dear Alice It is Sunday evening after service and I think of you as tucked snugly in bed by this time. But I feel like writing to you for I am not sleepy, if you are. Shall I utter (I) a sacrilege, if I say I am glad to be out of college? I have felt none of those homesick yearnings for my Alma Mater that Miss Dame prophesied. There is instead a joy at being at work and at having responsibilities. I want to thank you so much for your letter telling me just what you were doing yourself. Shall I reply in like kind? My Sunday work now is with a class of young men from twenty two to twenty four years of age. They have not very much education, are irreverent in God's presence, yet show me some respect. I am very much interested in them. If I could only lead them to see that religion is not a sentiment but a life, that God's not far off but near and a person! There are many difficulties in the way but I know God is more anxious to win them than I. Our church has been repaired since you were here and has a beautiful new organ behind the pulpit. My school is very pleasant. The principal's a young man with no old fogy notions and an abundance of tact. He and I have each a desk in the first room and divide the students. We have also a supervision of the other ten rooms. The scholars are not models in scholarship or behavior and yet I believe I love them. I went in very much frightened. I was afraid of the scholars, afraid of the principal, afraid of myself. But I am finding out anew that in the emergency one can do what one would have beforehand believed impossible. Of course all the days do not go smoothly. I am terribly inexperienced. I didn't keep very good order at first, i.e. there was no out breaking disturbance, but I found that a little general rustling, which I had supposed only necessary, would cease when the principal appeared. That worried me for a while but now I believe I have conquered it and made the scholars feel that I am to be respected as much as the principal. In the teaching of Grammar & Historie I felt my way along at first, but now I am coming down to a definite method. So while I see improvement, I will not get discouraged. I say "will not", purposely, for I am trying to improve in that direction, in the "being" as well as in the "doing". My despicable tendency to morbidness has spoiled my happiness & usefulness only a few times this term. .Failure and disappointment I am trying to use as stepping stones to higher things. A little sentence from Fenelon helps me "Resign yourself to God, and do with simplicity the best you can", also Paul's words "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." And so I go on, glad in overcoming, glad in being in a position where I may help others. I haven't done much temperance work. I spoke to Mr. Winslow (the principal) about Dr. Richardson's book & its use as a text book in some of the schools of England & the United States. He is a stanch temperance man & says that in connection with a little course in physiology which he gives the scholars he will teach them the effect of alcohol on the system. Today's S S lesson gave me an opportunity to say some things in the subject to the young men in the class. I thank you very much for the invitation to stay over night with you after May Haven's wedding. I should have liked to come if work had not prevented. Alas! Alas! The Freshman class! But we won't publish the doleful news. The Deans preached in the city a few weeks ago. I see by the paper also that Dr. Warren & Prof. Kimpton have been (with) here this past week at a convention of faculty new from various colleges. The Brown students are going to adopt the Oxford caps. How is Emma Atkinson? I haven't seen Cadge since the first week in September. Julie is still in the High School. She & Frank are looking at houses now trying to find a cosy house. I hear an assistant's place in theHigh School is to be vacant soon and something has been said to me about taking it. Of course there is nothing official yet and it would not be an easy question to decide, whether the time in the afternoon (for there would be one session) and the less responsibility would make up for the loss of a hundred dollars a year. Weddings seem to be the order of the season. So many of those, whom I had been accostomed to think of as girls and boys, are getting married that I feel quite like an old maid. However I can wait forever if need be, less time than that I hope. Beyond the newspaper and magazines I don't read much but books connected with United States History, I am only afraid now that I shall get to be a woman of one idea, and that school. But I will try not to talk shop every time I write. Alice Budlong had quite a fine exhibition at her studio a few weeks since. A hundred or more guests came to see the paintings which were very tastefully arranged. Julie is taking lessons now, painting pretty things for her home. Monday morning. 8 A.M. It is nearly time for me to be going to school. So I wind up with lots of love for yourself. Mother also sends love. Yours truly Harriet B. PeirceMy dear Alice Julie and Cadge have just gone from here and I am going to carry out a determination expressed to Cadge, in which I said I would get word, to you first if possible as to the time of your next visit here. What have I to do with it? Just this. A while ago Cadge wrote to know when I was to have vacation as she would like to invite you to visit her at a time when you could see the school ma'am also. I immediately wrote back that I was intending to write Ella to (*Have you read Cape Cod Folks? My school is getting on well, though a perfect school and perfect teacher can scarcely be expected before the millennium. Mrs. Barnes was in the city last week & gave a temperance lecture. I could not go to hear her; I was disappointed, I meant to have looked up "morbidness" in the dictionary and should you) come here in my vacation, the first of February about eight weeks from now and with Emma Durfee in the city and all our B. U.'8 girls I thought we could have a jollification. And now the impatient maiden says she can't wait so long, (unless she is obliged to on account of your arrangements) So I informed her that I should write and tell you to make your arrangements to come about the first of February. Emma Durfee is teaching in a private school in the city now. She is partner of an elderly lady who has kept the school for a great many years. This lady will probably stop teaching after a while and leave the school to Emma. (*that my feelings too often are in the state so named. But I have forgotten it and I must tell you that these two whole weeks of school I haven't had one real attack; I keep. Yes, if circumstances (otherwise, the school committed) permit, I shall go to the High School next term. You won't think me conceited if I tell you what one of the committee did. Hearing that the principal of the high School had asked to have me appointed to the vacancy that is expected, he came to see me. He blustered round a little and said he heard I wanted to go to the High School. I told him I should like to go. Then he began by a series of well prepared arguments to try to prove to me that it was better for me to stay there. He told me how hard it was to get a teacher for that school, how much surprised and pleased he had been at my success, how much more good I could do there, how well the scholars liked me & etc. Failing on that line, he began to play to tyrant. He told me that he had it in his power to say that I must stay there, or if I was going to leave at all, I must go at once and lose the next term's work. But I didn't scare either. I told him plainly my reasons for wishing to go and for thinking that, I ought to be allowed to stay there until the place in the High School was vacant and lo! he assumed the character of a kind friend, said he was sorry to have me go, but would do all he could to help me and would secure my temporary appointment in the present place. Thus the matter stands. The understanding all round is that I am to go but the official appointment won't be made till the end of the term. If you know of anyone who would like a first position in a Grammar School, let me know & I will suggest the name. (*singing the hymn "Take my soul thy full salvation. Rest out sin & fear & care." Yours happily Harriet C. P.) 28 Susan St. Providence, Jan 10, 1882 My dear Alice Have you got home and shall I see you at the Alumnae meeting at Channey Hall School next Saturday? I am making arrangements to come to Boston Friday or Saturday and it is probable that Lulie will come with me. You needn't think you can make me see the advantage of being an old maid by describing the rampant children, for, of course, my children would not do objectionable things. Isn't it an acknowledged fact that old maids' children are better than (*Did Lulie send you the account of the Brown sophomores marching down to the caterers where a supper was prepared for the freshmen & eating it all up, so that when the freshmen arrived they found nothing but empty tables & the poor caterer was quite confused not knowing how)any one's else? Although my prospective condition is one of old-maidenhood, I am going to accept my fate and content myself--I don't know how,--perhaps by thinking how fortunate I am in not having such an uncongenial husband as Mrs. X. or Mrs. Z. However four years more before I turn the first corner! Maybe I shall find some one coming round that corner to meet me before I reach it. I didn't hear about Leila's mother's death till after Christmas. I was surprised though I knew that she had been so ill. Leila says she is going to teach again, if she can find a place. Now to answer your questions, about High School. The school committee do not have a meeting until Feb. (*he was to distinguish between F's & S's. Yours with love Hattie C. P.) 3. Then Miss Babcock's resignation will come before them and they will take measures to fill her place. Officially I can not know about going to the High School till Feb. 4. I shall teach algebra & Botany. The school session is from 9 till 2, except in the spring term when it is from 8:30 A.M. to 1:30 P. M. Advantages & Disadvantages Ad.1. More time for Disad. 1. Less money myself. by $100 Ad. 2. No bad boys Disad. 2. No good boys " 3. Less responsibility " 3. Dinner all alone " 4. Shorter distance " 5. Smaller classes " 6. Pleasanter associates " 7. " work-shop " 8. Better chance of promotion These may need some explanation. As to time, the number of hours in school are the same in each case but at High School the hours are consecutive, while at present I have to go back & forth twice a day and so have left only evenings for myself. As to boys, you know I like them and enjoy teaching them. Still I must confess that they need much more watching to be kept in order than do the girls. I have always said that girls were as bad as boys yet I find I must agree with other teachers in finding the latter more restless. As to the responsibility, I like it in a sense. I rather like to be at the head & have the opportunity of supervising the other rooms just a little & giving them examinations. But yet it has its burden and I prefer being an assistant. For now if scholars from my room do not pass the High School examinations as well as scholars in other Grammar schools, the fault will be attributed to me. The shorter distance will save me time &--shoe leather, while still giving me a good walk. Also it will save horse car tickets, as I now have to ride one at noon. Also I find it pleasanter to teach a class of twenty-five than one of forty-five. It is easier to concentrate the attention. With the exception of the Principal I should not care particularly for the friendship of any of the teachers where I am now. They are not interested in things which interest me. The Principal I am sorry to leave as I have enjoyed his friendship. But he will not stay there always & it might be veryunpleasant for me under some one else. The school-building is not nearly so cheery & pleasant as the High School nor are the conveniences for teachers' comfort so good. If I ever want a place in the High School as principal teacher in a room, I must take an assistant's place first, as it is but fair that they should have any vacancy since they have been there some time & know the ropes. I might go on & name some other advantages which occur to me. I only hope I have not already wearied you with this long recital. It made me feel good to hear you say you didn't like Mr. Grozier. I feel toward him as you say you do. Poor Mr. Goodridge! How lone- some he must be! i.e. if the young ladies are not pretty or witty or charming or bright. On the other hand, if they do meet his ideal, he must be in clover. Why does your father call Mr. Jordan "Rum & blasphemy". I don't see how either of the epithets apply. Speaking about sending him a card, did you know that for two valentine days past Lulie & I had sent him a saucy card mailed & directed in some other place & he had never found us out! Last year the card represented a spoon laid on a dainty lace handkerchief or napkin. I am going to propose to Lulie to have one mailed & directed by the same person to him this year again. Do you know when I was inNew Bedford, I never thought to let him know I was there when he was so near, he might have called on me as well as not! No, not angel cake but candy in the T. A. box and an apron, which we hear is to be handed down from our I. A. president to the other. If we come to Boston Friday we shall probably come in time for a society meeting at the college. May be you could drop in. Annisquani would make me say "Dew drop Inn". I had beautiful plush covered album from my class at school, for a Christmas present. 28 Susan St. Providence, May 27, 1882. My dear Alice This week has been full of Temperance meetings. Monday evening we held our first social. About four hundred young people were present. Our hall was trimmed with flowers. The exercises of the evening consisted of music, and addresses by Mrs. Gordon and Mr. Montague. Mrs. G. began by saying that she felt a little like a grandmother to the society, for some of our members came from the Boston Y.W.C.L.U., whom parent was the Boston W. C L. U. She spoke of the fallacy of regarding (*envelopes to see if they matched. Such a pleasant year this has been! I can't realize it is so long since we graduated. Cadge looks tired and worn. I wish she had something to do. "Madame La Tour" is here, left accidentally by Leila Taylor. Please accept a huge kiss on each side of your face & believe me Your loving friend. Hattie C. Peirce mine as a necessary accompaniment of hospitality, of the use of alcoholic liquors as a medicine, and of their employment in cooking. Her address was practical and seemed to be enjoyed by all. Mr. Montague, a young minister of the city who has great influence with young men, gave a short talk. He said he had often given temperance addresses, but had never been asked to sign a pledge himself until he entered one hall that evening, and he must confess that he hesitated a moment, but then, with a little struggle indeed, he (signed) put his name to the pledge. The white ribbon in his button hole and his joining the Union will help us much. Yesterday the W. C. L. U. of the State held its annual meeting. Mrs. Livermore spoke in the evening to a large audience. We young ladies took part by passing the contribution boxes, which were those dreadful things with long handles, that would hit people's heads on the opposite side of the aisle in the most unaccountable way. Tomorrow night our Union leads a meeting at the "People's Coffee House", a cheap restaurant on the Temperance plan. Our Union is prospering finely. The girls are very enthusiastic. At the next meeting they are going to consider the pros and cons of starting a Juvenile School. It will be quite an effort to make it successful, but I think the girls are considering the work involved and are ready to do all they can. You see I can't talk about anything but Temperance. Please forgive me. Tomorrow evening we are going to give a little reception to the bride. She is as cosy & happy as can be in her home. I take tea with her Saturday nights. she has burned her arm with steam from a kettle, but its getting better. Does the B.U. commencement come June 7? Is the Alumni Association, that was formed last year, going to have a reunion? Ella wrote me about her engagement. Have you heard anything about the young man? I hope he is good enough for her. What will be done about girl speakers for Commencement from the Faculty appointments? Oh dear! Florrie and Emma Durfee sit here talking, criticizing the acceptances & regrets for our Monday evening party. How those young gentlemen would smile, if they could see us holding their paper up to the light to see if it had the "Irish Linen" trademark, and examining their 28 Susan St. June 2nd My dear Alice I read the letter Lulie received from you and was duly indignant that you should leave out the most interesting part of the incident of your father's and cousin's choice of a husband for you from '81. If you had only told the name, I might have disclosed to you whose picture I selected to put opposite yours in my album. But now--Perhaps you would like to know how I arranged them. Foster I put with Lulie, Mr. Corson with Ella, Mr. Hailey with Cadge, Mr. Jordan with Alice Budlous (because I thought he would like to be gay-- ing on a girl who had red hair, even if the picture didn't show it.) I took Mr. Pingrew to look. at, as he used to sit with me. Now if you can't guess who's opposite you, I won't give you a medal for being smart. I had great fun arranging the pictures. But what nonsense I am rattling on. But you can't expect much more for I haven't been doing my solid work lately, This week has been like Miss Dume's last one, a constant practice in addition and division, correcting stacks of examination papers, getting averages &c. The most of it is done now and next Tuesday (while you are entertaining representatives of B. U. at Dorchester) we three B. U. daughters, Alice Mumford, Miss Williams and I are going to celebrate the close of term's work by going up to Pawtuxet rowing. We shall doubtless have a gay time. Please remember me to any '81ers whom you may see. If I had gumption enough I would write a letter to the assembly. Mr. Hunt surprised me Monday by coming up to me on the street as I was walking up from school. He came up home with me, then went over to Lulie's and was going to stop at Cadge's over our train. I hear from Cadge that you and she were going to take Professor and Mrs. Browne out driving. You must tell me all about it, what he said "and" what she said" &c, &c. The Budlong girls have gone to Pawtuxet for the summer.Have you sent your address yet to the Secretary of the Alumni Association? Is his name Cook? What are his initials? Is the address Maplewood [simply?]? [?] just here callers interrupted and sleepiness now forbids a longer chatter. So goodnight with love for yourself & remembrances foryour mother & your "sweet heart" Yours Harriet C. [Peirce?]