Earliest Years at Vassar: Personal RecollectionsWood, Frances Ann
History
Earliest Years at Vassar: Personal Recollections
Wood, Frances Ann
Vassar College
Rising 6.00 A.M.
Morning prayers 6.45
Breakfast 7.00
Arrangement of rooms 7.30
Silent time 7.40
Morning study hours 9.00-12.40
Dinner 1.00 P.M.
Recreation period 2.00-2.40
Afternoon study hours 2.45-5.45
Supper 6.00
Evening prayers followed by silent time 6.30
Evening study hour 8.00-9.00
Retiring 9.40-10.00
For a few years, chapel prayers were held both morning and evening.
Miss Lyman officiated in the morning, taking this occasion for her
wonderful talks to the students with such notices as were required for
the day. In the first catalogues issued was a long list of necessary
equipment, including a waterproof cloak, a long woolen garment popular
in that time. This article of attire was much in vogue at early
prayers, and I think it was her disgust at the sight of so many black
robed figures in the procession filing into chapel that caused the
change from prayers at 6.45 to directly after breakfast. So in '68 the
service was at 7.45--an adroit device we considered--of getting the
family up in time. How thankful many were for the fashion of trailing
princesse wrapper, and I believe no college inmate was without one.
The day of the short skirt for walking had not come, only very young
girls having that comfort and luxury. The grey woolen gymnastic suit
was "en régle" for excursions to Cedar Ridge and country roundabout,
but it was not considered quite proper even there or to be seen
outside the gymnasium.
Miss Lyman was very particular in matters of dress, insisting on
change for supper, as if going out for the evening. No one was allowed
to wear the same costume all day. "You may take off one calico frock
and put on a fresh one of the same kind, if you can do no better, but
some sort of change is essential." Also in the matter of gloves she
held us all up to wear them at every college function. It was thought
extremely elegant for even the one who was to deliver essay or poem on
the chapel platform to wear white gloves. Happily this custom was not
long lived. "If there is a student here who cannot afford white
gloves--even of lisle thread, I shall be glad to provide a pair." The
last year of her life she wore gloves constantly to conceal her
wasted, emaciated hands.
Now and then her edicts had no force, as when she gave out that no one
must go on the grounds after sunset without wearing a wrap. To the
general delight, that same summer evening saw Mrs. Raymond guiltless
of shawl, strolling around the flower garden with the President, both
bareheaded, so afterwards we pursued our way as we pleased.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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