Three Vassar Girls

[Spencer Cholmar <ursus@panix.com>]

Regarding Wendy Bethel's request for information on the Three Vassar 
Girls, may I take this opportunity to describe the following:

Champney, Lizzie W. (Elizabeth William). Three Vassar Girls Abroad. 
Rambles of Three College Girls on a Vacation Trip Through France and 
Spain for Amusement and Instruction. With Their Haps and Mishaps. [6] 
ff., [15]-236 pp. With nearly 150 original illustrations by "Champ" (J. 
Wells Champney) and others.  8vo., 209 x 166 mm, original decorated 
publisher's boards.  Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1883.

This is the first edition of the first of the "Three Vassar Girls" 
novels. It contains the classic lament (p. 15-16) "Here I am, with a lot 
of money, and nowhere to go." The Girls venture not only to France and 
Spain but to Portugal and North Africa.  On their return the Girls 
received an enthusiastic welcome from their Vassar colleagues, who sang this 
song in their honor:

"...These pretty modern Eves have come
	This Class of '83
To pluck the golden apples from
	The one forbidden tree."

The novel evidently met with some success, and the series continued on 
to give accounts of the Girls' travels to England (1884), the Rhine (1887), France 
(1888), Russia & Turkey (1889), at home (1888), and in South America (1900).

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Laird
Bibliographer,
Ursus Rare Books