Page:The Life and Letters of Emily Dickinson (1924).pdf/61

Rh medical genius of the region, sang in a strikingly clear voice with a really artistic rendering "Oh, Summer Night!" And in effective contrast to her metropolitan culture and ease the sweet winsome "Oh, Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast," would follow, sung by Emily Fowler, granddaughter of Noah Webster, afterward Mrs. Gordon L. Ford, of Brooklyn, a wizard in person and power. There was the diversion of refreshments, with a refreshment-table, as it was called then, and President Hitchcock being strongly and frankly in favour of early hours, only intruders lingered after ten o'clock at his parties; though with unaffected hospitality the gentle host appeared to ignore the late mad hour as it approached.

Weeks before this climax of the year the young ladies were in a modest agitation over it; arranging becoming gowns with charming refinement and economy. As the Summer was so nearly over, to these same young ladies at least, there was a sort of collapse after the party and a little feeling of gloom in the earlier drawing in of evening with the sad-voiced crickets, and a rather pensive waiting for the return of the students. But never was the slightest utterance given to that effect, lest maiden modesty blush for such dependence upon these fascinating comrades. For many years the dress that satisfied feminine vanity was of the simplest. Soft merino dresses of gentle shades were worn entirely for all ordinary visiting, black silk for stately occasions of the elders. In Summer the young ladies wore sprigged muslins, not too prudish as to cut at the throat. As the season grew chilly, sashes of scarlet ribbon were added, with knots of red berries festooned on the shoulders and drooping gracefully from the hair. Often quite heavy wreaths of myrtle leaves were bound about the head, giving a classic touch, as of filleted martyrs or Parnassian victims! No one smiled over the simplicity of these toilets or coveted richer or more elaborate effects. The girls were so pretty and winsome they dominated externals. During the visit of some world-famous savants from Europe, the stony-hearted scientists became enthusiastic over the unusual number of beautiful and attractive girls they met there.

President Stearns's family were all intimately friendly with the Dickinson family and their entertaining was less