Feb. 25, 1906.
My dearest Mary,I think my letter will be rather thick this week so I shall have to economize on my paper. Auntie's postal came yesterday, so I know there will be a nice letter awaiting me to-morrow or in a few days at least.
Tell Helen when she gets finally settled some where I will write her a litter [sic] but she flies around so fast I have no idea where to send me letter, if I should write. That romance is very interesting you wrote about I am sure though I don't know as it seems very sensible.
I should have enjoyed your ice-cream. We had some very good last Wednesday dinner as the Juniors of this house had their men to dinner that evening. The ice-cream was three layers of venilla [sic], strawberry and chocolate.
Well we have been having a gay time this week. The men began to come Wednesday afternoon in the rain and we didn't see much of any thing else (men not rain) till Friday noon. I didn't go to the Glee Club Concert as the tickets were 35 cents and I much prefir [sic] to hear Mary Howe. In fact I am looking forward to that concert very much. One of the seniors at the table last night said she is very fine. Mattie Parkhill is going to get our tickets to-morrow morning. The concert is Friday evening. Well I carried the mail up to the P. O. at half past nine and as I came back I looked through the door as they were playing their mandolins, so I got a very little of the concert. There were about a dozen fellows from Yale and after the concert was over they got together and serenaded the halls, but as I live on the back side of the building and it takes considerable to wake me up I never knew any thing about it till the next day. I wished I lived at the front of the house then.
Thursday morning Miss Woolley led the chapel service and gave a short address on Washington and the lessons we might learn from his life. It was quite a talk for the men for it was mostly on politics and influence of voting. We hoped they would be benefited [sic] by it. After chapel service I washed, then after dinner, which we had at noon that day I dressed for the organ recital, I wore my silk dress by the way, and went to that with Mattie Parkhill. My adjectives are entirely exhausted in describing his recitals, but I think that was the best one yet this year. I think the men appreciated it as they applauded him well. He played "March of the Magi Kings" and an "Andantino" of which I am very fond for encores. The Juniors had teas in the halls just before the Recital, which were quite swell affairs. They have been showered with flowers. I saw one girl's flowers out in the hall this morning. She is Margaret Lee of Lowell whom I met this last vacation and who has a very devoted friend over in Amherst "Aggie". Well there were red roses, white roses, red pinks, pink pinks violets and daffodils and another flower I didn't know.
Thursday morning many of the girls and their men took straw rides. I saw Helen Smith go by with a young man[.] He looked like quite a dude. I wish I knew his name, and whether he is the man who goes to Brown University.
I saw another beautiful Prom. dress. I think it was the richest and most bride like of any of the others. It was very delicate, and not very elaborate but rich. It was white chiffon, low necked but just a pretty depth and short sleeves. It was trimmed with perfectly beautiful white silk lace and the neck was edged with white perles [sic], and the sash, which was beautiful white satin, had a buckle of white perles [sic]. She looked almost like a bride in it. Indeed if she had had a veil she would have been complete as her man is the one to whom she is engaged. All the girls were quite wild over her dress, and when she was all dressed she came out and the girls all clustered around her and exclaimed and admired. So she stood there and laughed and turned round and round so we could see all sides then she danced off down the hall to her fiance who was sitting on the sofa waiting to take her to the Prom. I should think he would have been quite proud of her and I guess she can be of him for he is very fine looking and the girls all say he is fine. Her name is Mary Holden but the girls all call her Mame.
About twenty minutes of ten Mattie and I went over to the gym. to look on. We couldn't go in as only seniors and the faculty had tickets. It would make it so full if all were allowed to go so they limited the spectators. The decorations were fine. Yellow, the class color, and white bunting was draped across the ceiling and around the sides so it covered all the apparatus and smilax and daffodils, the class flower, were festooned about the boothes along the sides of the room. A large green basket hung from the middle of the ceiling filled with daffodils and after the dancing was, over, it was lowered and the men made a "mad rush" to secure then [sic] for their ladies. Their dinner which was served between the dances consisted of chicken patties[,] salad, coffee, ice-cream and cake and lemonade. It really was a very swell affair. They danced till half past eleven. There were some very fine and showy dresses there and swell dress suits, and a few fine looking men.
I finished my two collars perhaps you would be glad to know and wore one of then [sic] to dinner last evening, with my white waist and "P. K." skirt[.] The basket ball games begin next week, so I shall find need for my "P. K. skirt. I am glad it is clean.
I saw a girl with Inez at church this morning who I think was her oldest sister. I knew she was comming [sic] out here some time, and as this girl looked very much like Inez I think she must be her sister.
I have been wearing my new dress to-day. Mamma wanted to know if I had worn it much. I think I have worn it almost every Sunday.
This evening a Miss Annie Beecher Scovill, a grand daughter of Henry Ward Beecher spoke of her work among the Dakota Indians.
My cold is ever so much better I just have a little cough in the morning, but I can see that I improve every day. Miss Wallace told us that the "time for the singing of birds had come" and she spoke about opera glasses. What do you think I better do. Had I better get one here? She is going to send for some which will be about seven or five dollars she thought[.] I don't suppose I can get along very well without any and if I should get one I suppose they would be good for always. I wish you would decide about it as soon as possible and let me know as she wants to know by March 8th how many want to send for them.
I hope you won't have to pay extra on this letter. It is heavier than I thought it was going to be.
It has been raining all the evening. Do you hear how Mrs. Berry and Mable enjoy their visit?
Your very loving sister, Carrie.
