Sept.23, 1882 Afternoon
"Our study hours are from 9:15-12:15 am and from 2:15 to 4:30 pm. During this time we are not allowed to speak except between each bell and the tardy which rings 3 or 4 times after each, or to anything but study with 1 or 2 exceptions. Those are if a letter comes during study hours we may read it but not a paper and Miss Blanchard said the other day that she had been asked if we might go to sleep and she said if we felt very much overcome by sleep we might take a nap of 15 mins. but if we wanted longer than that we must get permission. From 7:30 to 9:45 in the evening are silent hours. That is we can do what we are a mind to as long as we don't disturb other people who may wish to study."

October 9, 1882
"One of the rules is not to speak above a whisper after the retiring bell. Last night just as a teacher was going around we heard some terrific snoring not far off & today at Hall, Miss Blanchard said she did not think that the girls were careful enough about that rule & it included a certain kind of breathing. She said she supposed that animals made such sounds and we did not want to be reminded of them."

Sept 29 1884
"Miss Blanchard also talked about the girls wear Mother Hubbard dresses. She does not wish them to appear out of their own rooms, with them not belted in."

October 10, 1884
Smith does not feel Ms. Blanchard has any right to assert control over whether or not the girls can use their own money to buy fruit. She wrote: "I don't think it is any of her business anyway. At least I think I am capable of spending mine without any of her assistance."

May 13, 1885
"Miss Blanchard is ransacking the girls rooms to see if they have any novels. If so she carries them off & at the end of the term if they wish to they can go & ask for them. They say it isnt the bad girls alone that she goes to. I believe she goes around & asks if she can measure the bookshelves & during the process spies out what she can. She had not been in here yet."

return to  "The Rules of Mount Holyoke Female Seminary"