" And, regarding the method of
beginning the relationship, she writes: "Sometimes 'flames' arise before
the two future friends have even seen each other, merely because one of
them is considered as beautiful, sympathetic, nice, or elegant. Elegance
exerts an immense fascination, especially on the boarders, who are bound
down by monotonous and simple habits. As soon as a boarder hears of a
day-pupil that she is charming and elegant she begins to feel a lively
sympathy toward her, rapidly reaching anxiety to see her. The longed-for
morning at length arrives. The beloved, unconscious of the tumult of
passions she has aroused, goes into school, not knowing that her walk, her
movements, her garments are being observed from stairs or dormitory
corridor.... For the boarders these events constitute an important part of
college-life, and often assume, for some, the aspect of a tragedy, which,
fortunately, may be gradually resolved into a comedy or a farce."
Many letters are written in the course of these relationships; Obici and
Marchesini have been able to read over 300 such letters which had been
carefully preserved by the receivers and which, indeed, formed the chief
material for their study.
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