GREAT 1844 LETTER FROM MOUNT HOLYOKE SEMINARY STUDENT TO HER FORMER ROOMATE

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Lengthy, 3+ pgs. letter, approx. 7-1/2" x 9-3/4", datelined "Mt. Holyoke Sem., July 22, 1844 ", (Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, at South Hadley, Mass.), with the first 2-1/2 pgs from "Harriet", and the remainder of the letter from "Abbie", to Harriet P. Atwood, their former classmate, now living at home in Newington, Ct. Folded letter has red "SOUTH HADLEY/Mass." cds postmark, and manuscript "10" rate. Based on research, the "Harriet" who wrote most of this letter, was probably Harriet A. Smith, who died in 1849. The "Abbie" who wrote the remainder of the letter, was probably Abigail Fidelia Cowles, of Ct., who attended Mount Holyoke from 1843 to 1845, but didn't graduate with her class of 1846, as she got married to Rev. Joel Grant in 1845, and moved to Illinois. A well-written letter, with superb content, from these 2 students at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary to their former classmate, writing of school activities, another roommate who went crazy ("lost her reason" as Harriet described it, or as Abbie writes, became "deranged"), and had to be sent home. She also writes of various faculty members, of Miss Lyon (Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke) requiring the students to write notes about stealing, and Miss Webster, who thinks their section are "degenerates". Much more! Includes: (From Harriet's letter): "My dear Hatty, Pardon me for not answering your kind letter before this, but I have been quite busy since I received it, and have not found time to write my dear departed room mate....I was happy to hear that you had so pleasant time going home, and I now think of you as enjoying all its sweets. Is it thus? What are you busying yourself about? Wonder if you have puzzled your brain over Algebra or Euclid since you left the Sem. Hope you will not hurt yourself studying . You say you should like to know how I am getting along now a days. I will tell you. Just as well as it could be expected without you to see to me . I mourn your absence at times, but knowing that I must submit to providence, I endeavor so to do without murmuring. Since you left, Julia Edwards and Abby have had general permission to enter my room, and I enter Abby's room at pleasure, so you see I have not much chance to be lonely. Juliette Cooley slept with me until Cornelia left, and now Abby does. I love Abby very much. I have invited her to room with me. We stay together most of the time, either in 65 or 72. We have very pleasant times, or at least I do. I little thought when you left, that Cornelia would go home so soon. She is greatly afflicted in losing her reason. Hope it will soon be restored to her. Surely we ought to feel more the importance of employing our reason to the best of our ability while we have it under our control. I feel very anxious to hear how she is, now that she is in the quiet of her own home. Should think it would be better for her, as there were so many things here to keep her in a constant state of excitement. I hope Abby will not have to go home until the term closes, as we cannot get along without our Newington girl. I have just come from the hall. Dr. Anderson has taken Miss Lyon's place this P.M. He spoke of his visit among the Armenians. Our reviews commenced last Thursday. I shall have only 4 exams, as I have been excused from Ec.[Ecclesiastical] History, not being able to review it. The last week I did not go in exercises but very little, on account of sickness. I went to the sick-room from Sabbath eve until Thursday noon to meals. Did not go into but one recitation until Saturday. I could not but think of you, dear Hatty, as I lay in the bed and wished you was here. It is the first time I have had to give up studying this year. Julia Edwards took your place in some degree. Hope you will not think I was very sick, for it was not so. I was somewhat as I was the first of the year. I am now considerably better. Think I shall be well soon. Matters and things go on here about as usual. Miss Lyon has for some days past been giving us... read more

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