Bartlett, I. Chapin. Letter to parents (October 31, 1858)

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Danville Sunday  Oct. 31st 1858 [October 31, 1858]

Dear Folks

Well here I am at last, feeling as well as ever after our trip. We experienced no difficulty on the cars, and had a very pleasant trip to Nicholasville, but there on account of school opening tomorrow was a great many students, as well as other passengers on their way to Danville. So that the stages of which there were two were as full as they could conveniently hold. I met Mr. Spillman there. On his way down he informed me that he was making preparation to move down. Danville is situated 22 miles from Nicholasville, and it is a delightful place. The houses are very handsome and [unclear: built a?] short distance apart. Most of the students that had not secured boarding houses stopped at the Hotel and there three fellows got on that boarded at Doct. Green's for the purpose of riding over to his house as it was raining when they learned that we were to board at the Presidents. They made themselves very agreeable. They are a very gentlemanly set of fellows, and paid us as strangers the greatest

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attention. We soon came to the Doctors house which is about as fine as there is, and were immediately introduced to Mrs. Green and her daughter Miss Julia (They are a delightful family) as far as we have seen. The doctor being absent to Crab Orchard for his health, will return in the morning. After supper which was a most magnificent one, especially to us who had not partaken of any thing except that bread & cake Ma put up for me since morning. There was hot light rolls most as good as those at home. Coffee, beef steak, and other things very palatable. After supper we adjourned to the parlor, to a comfortable fire, when Mr. Hunter and myself were very cordially invited to sing by Mrs. Green and Miss Julia, which we however very politely declined, as we were not exactly in tune. Miss Julia then played and sang a while, after which we went to our rooms very much pleased with matters so far. We found every thing there was convenient, a good fire among the rest. After taking out our night clothes we took bed and slept very soundly. This morning we were awakened by Jordan coming by to make our

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fire and bring our boots which he had taken down the night before. (They have six or seven servants, all blacks) We dressed [unclear: after?] was king in our Sundays and went down to breakfast, which good as usual. After that we took a ride in the doctors buggy, Jordan driving. We then went to church, and heard a most perfect humbug of a sermon by a man from St. Louis. From church we came home to dinner which was perfectly splendid. We had every thing you can think of, and thus matters have occurred since our departure, which I have reviewed up to the present time, which finds me seated in our [crossed out: writing] room [unclear: spinning?] what you now see. Students are not half of them here yet - will begin to come in tomorrow. Well I believe I have done for the present. Will write again after my examination which takes place tomorrow.

Yours [unclear: etc.?]
[name marked out: I. Chapin?]