A Letter Written on Jun 23, 1905

[Some paragraph marks added for ease of reading]

My dear Alice -

If you have anything of importance requiring your attention don't try to read this now for it's going to be a "long 'un" - It being a fine day for out door excercise [sic] I am sitting out on the veranda and trying to use my knees for a deck and the paper wobbles - Of course I'm going to write about reunion - I went out by trolley and presented myself at Rockefeller Hall about five o'clock Monday and inquired for Miss Wood (the girls of today call her "pinky") - No I didn't. I inquired for Miss Spore but saw Miss Wood first - After greetings I arrayed myself for the President's dinner to the twenty-five and fifty years classes at Mary Brigham Hall - and there I saw the '80 girls - Clara, Zella - Oretha, Estelle[,] Lizzie Samuel - Lillie Sherman - Ella Ingalls - Sarah Agard - Rosalie Alice - Carrie Morse - Mary Graves - May Kimball - Lettie Stimson - Helen Flint - Gertrude Kelsey - Minnie Judd - Nettie and I - Katy Parsons came Tuesday - The fifty years class eat at Miss Woolleys [sic] table and Helen had us in charge though some of them were obliged & sit at another table near by - Gracious I forgot the fair Alice Rosalie's husband - he was there and he called me his sister - a-a-hem! Seriously he is a fine man - Of course we had the jolliest kind of a time - everybody talked at once and the college girls talked about us very much as we talked of the ancient one years and years ago. After dinner so went to the College Glee Banjo and Mandolin Club concert and enjoyed it immensely - Between numbers we were continually stretching our necks and looking about for familiar faces. I didn't see as many as it seemed as if I ought but of course the reunions of those we know wouldn't coincide with ours. The concert was good but I couldn't sleep that night I was so excited.

Tuesday morning I registered and got my little ticket with a blue '80 on it and blue ribbons with which to tie it on - then chapel in Mary Lyon Chapel which I am bound to confess is more impressive than in our day. At 9.30 in the same place came the meeting of the Alumnae Association where we honored ones were perched up on the platform I suppose to show what time could do. We were introduced by the President of the association as "the girls of '55" and "the mature dames of '80." Things were exciting and interesting twice when quarrels seemed imminent - once about electing a new president and vice president and again in getting a committee on the Missionary Alcove to suit no factions. The new president and vice president are Marion Gaylord Atwell and Lizzie Bartlett Barry - I didn't remain through the entire meeting.

At one oclock [sic] came the Alumnae Luncheon and after it addresses from those classes holding reunions. Perhaps it would be better to say that someone from each class responded for her class. It was awfully long and we were not through until nearly five o'clock. One "Hat Haskell" '50 [sic] spoke for one hour and five minutes. We were very proud of our own representation - Zella. At five oclock the class meeting called for four was held at Mead Hall. By the way '80 was either at Mead or Rockefeller - There was very little done at the meeting - letters from absent ones were read and I reported Alice Hedrick as a scamp and scoundrel - then we scuttled away for dinner.

After dinner we went to the Senior dramatics in the Gym - "Twelfth Night." It was good all right - wish I could see you and tell you all these things and put the frills on them.

Wednesday morning the rain that had threatened and give us small samples came down in earnest - POURED all day and all night. On account of the rain the Alumnae didn't "procesh" but were in their seats when the people for whom commencement really is for arrived. You know they have the commencement exercises in the Chapel now - First came the "Festival Prelude" on the organ and Alice it would do your heart good to hear that fine organ and know the [sic] the girls of today have and enjoy it. The processions in three parts each part with two marshals - juniors I think - secured four times as long as you and I ever saw it and there were no undergraduates in it - First came the class of 1905 - 119 besides two who took M.A. this year - all in their caps and gown - it just made the shivers run up and down my spinal "colume" - then the choir of 200 girls in their nighties - beg pardon cottas - singing the processional "O God of God and Light of Light" - Then the faculty and exalted guests - all of the former and most of the latter in cap and gown - Some of those who wore the hood must have had an eye to color when they decided what degree to work for the linings of orange, blue-green - ermine bands and what not were striking to say the least. I had to pinch myself to make sure that I was I and Mt. Holyoke was Mt Holyoke. There were prayer and scripture reading - the choir sang a "Venite Exultemus" a "Te Deum" an anthem and Martin Luther's hymn. I wish you could have heard them it was very beautiful - the address was given by Bliss Perry. The diplomas were presented by President Woolley before which she announced the gifts beginning with $345 from the class of '80. Two new fellowships the Cornelia M. Clapp and the Mary E. Woolley and the promise of one from the graduating class to be known as the 1905 fellowship - After the Recessional "Praise Ye the Father" it was all over and and [sic] I can't guess how many hundred people scampered for the Gym - where collation was served, - all in a pouring rain.

Our class sat together with the exception of Miss Sherman. She and a few others should have graduated a trifle nearer their entrance at Mt. Holyoke - I'm sure I didn't care personally where she sat but think it would have been better taste to have done as the rest did. There was an organ recital in the afternoon which most of us took in. I enjoyed it so much that I forgot where I was. After dinner that night was the first time that we had a chance to sit down in our own home - Rockefeller - and chat - Can you imagine after dinner coffee served after in the parlor af?

The seniors had expected that the cla President's rep reception would be on the law lighted by lanterns and how beautiful it would have been. As it was, Wilder Hall presented a most attractive appearance with the beautiful floral decorations[,] pretty girls, band playing and everything as it should have been. I went over with Zella and stayed just long enough to "How do you do" and "Thank you" to Miss Woolley. Miss Purrington[,] the head of Wilder Hall, Miss Woolley, her father and the President and vice President of 1905 constituted the receiving line. We had gone home and thought it was all over when Sarah appeared & said she had caught the rest of the girls and we must come over to Mead Hall which we did and we had the only really and truly class meeting of the reunion although - Nettie, Helen, Minnie Judd and Miss Sherman had gone. We stayed until after eleven when Sarah sent the Rockefeller people home lest they be locked out and it wasn't a nice night to sleep on the ground.

Now although I have given you such a long list of our doings I am going back to remember some of the things I have forgotten. When the Cornelia M. Clapp fellowship was first announced at the Alumnae meeting I thought the applause would raise the roof. her response was characteristic - she swung out in front of the audience and said "I feel as if I had passed away. I am in Heaven. I can't say anything more". There were tears in the good woman's eyes. Our gift of $345 is to be used in carving some of the arches in the library - the numerals '80 to be in the carving. Sarah rose to the occasion and wrote a poem of which I am to send you a copy.

Miss Edwards was at reunion - sat with us at Alumnae luncheon and rose early and came over to Dwight Hall in the rain & had her photograph taken with us - You are to have one - hope it will be good. I wish I could make you see the girls of '80 as I saw them. I liked them better than I ever had before. Not one but has improved and some so much. I know I shall astonish you when I tell you that the greatest evidence in of character growth is in Estelle. Her hair is perfectly white - her face more wrinkled and old than any save Sarah's but in one way it is beautiful. You would love her as soon as you saw her. Oretha is very large around and boasts a fraction of an inch over me but she carries her magnitude well and is a fine looking woman even if her jewels are a bit flashy - her heart is in the right place - I must praise her a lot for those who didn't know her us well mistook us the one for the other as of old. I don't see why nor I suppose does 'Retha - Sarah came out nobly and did so much in small ways for us - she was simple indefatigable and I shall never make fun of her again, no matter how tempting a subject she is. Clara is no sweeter than she was twenty-five years ago for how could she be? I had a delightful visit with her while we were waiting in the Chapel Wednesday morning and then I saw her several other times as both she and Zella were at Rockefeller. Clara and Mr Arnold are planning a three month trip abroad - if you wish to write a steamer letter the address will be steamer Philadelphia sailing July 22 from New York.

Zella was very lovely and I had a nice visit with her. The class letter which has been a thing of the past for so long is to be revised and Zella is to print it herself without charge - the letters are to be sent some time during January of every year. As you value your good name don't forget it. After all that fuss and trouble when Mary Leach took charge of the letter Zella certainly was very gracious.

Lizzie Samuel is going abroad for two months - sails tomorrow. I don't recollect anything in particular to tell you about the others. We all had a perfectly delightful time - everyone was so glad to see everyone else. I had no notion it would be so pleasant. And we were charmingly looked after by the College and the one drawback to me was your absence and especially when I saw so many of the girls around with their old room mates. It is all over and I have been homesick ever since - Of course they all inquired for you and equally of course. I knew a lot to tell. Clara said some very sweet things about the friendship between you and me lasting as it had. I suspect she based her opinion upon the discovery she made that I must be fond of you and yours and reasoned that it wasn't and all give and no take between us.

I don't mean to say another word now and if I think of something very important will put it in my next.

With the same old love
Margaret

Westfield
June the twenty-third.

[Margaret Leavenworth was the only Margaret in the class of 1880, making it easy to identify her. Also, there another piece of 1880 ephemera for sale at the same time, which included her full name.]