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of equally soft color were worn entirely for ordinary
visiting -- black silk for larger occasions -- The young
ladies in summer wore muslins white or sprigged not
too modest prudish in cut -- As the season grew chilly sashes
of scarlet ribbon were added, with knots of red barberries
fastened on the shoulders and drooping gracefully from the
hair -- quite heavy wreaths of green myrtle leaves were bound
about the head giving a perhaps too classic touch as of
filleted martyr or ^Parnassian victors. no one smiled over the
simplicity or enforced economy of these toilets or coveted
richer or more elaborate effects -- The girls were so pretty and
handsome they dominated these externals -- I am sure I
do not lend them the enchantment of distance -- It comes
to me how fully I am confirmed in this memory by four
world famous savans from Europe (I think Lyell ^{the geologist} was
one of them) who were taken by Pres. Hitchcock to the
wedding reception of Mrs Davis' (our ^loved saint in the flesh)
These strong-hearted men were enthusiastic over the beautiful
party and spoke most warmly of the unusual number
of handsome girls and attractive women present --
Pres Stearns coming among us a stranger not an alumnus
of the college was never as closely allied as his predecessors
with the village people -- his invitations were a little less genial
than Pres. H.'s -- although welcoming ^{he welcomed} warmly all friends of
the seminar class and the few families whom they knew to
be in various ways connected with the college at the big
annual senior levee -- Few are still left in these latter
days to remember the grace and distinction with which
Pres & Mrs Stearns received their guests on these occasions
Theirs was the perfection of manner because no manner