Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] p. 24 19

[typed] Stanford University, Cal. Sept. 4, 1896

My dearest Nannie -

How I wish you could see my pretty new room - every one exclaims "What a typical college room" who enters; you know I am rooming on the second floor with Miriam Maclaren; it is a corner room and very large sunny and airy. Every morning I wake up ecstaticly happy in my sweet cosy little bed; and every night I think I am about the most fortunate little girl in the world. My course is going to be the most delightful one I ever had in the university as for once in my life my hours do not conflict. Tuesday and Thursdays at half past eight I have German - (Faust), on the same days at half past nine I have a course in history which is European history from the Peace of Westphalia to the beginning of the French Revolution, I have this under Prof. Spencer whom Theodora liked very much last year. At half past ten I have a course in practical politics under Dr. Powers - it is a course consisting of the platforms of the present campaign considered from a historical stand point and their present issues. Wednesdays Thursdays and Fridays at half past nine I have Shakespere under Prof. Anderson (bless him!) nineteenth century poets Keats, Rossetti, Mathew Arnold & Tennyson under Mr. Hudson, and at half past eleven, Wordsworth, Byron, Shelly and Browning under Anderson. Friday afternoon I have Chaucer. This makes a program of sixteen hours a week for one semester - not heavy work. Please don't worry about me, if you knew how exuberant, jolly and happy I am every second of the day you couldn't worry if you tried. It seems so good to see everyone & this is such a dear old place anyway that one couldn't but be happy at "Mr. Jordan's school". Our new matron is quite a different type from Miss Thompson, she is an old Californian and a friend of Mrs. Stanfords, we miss Miss Thompson ever so much but we might have some one worse that Mrs.M. Redding-Clements. This morning Dr. Peet called. He is such a dear little old man, I shall be so glad to go back to his little church when I feel so much at home. The professors are all perfectly lovely - so cordial and helpful.

[Drawing of a room with parts written in: window, books, window, te atable, Books, screen, door, study table, salon, screen, dress box, window, wardrobe, bed, bed]

A very rough diagram of the room but is very artistic and Bohemian with the rugs Mr. Herme has given me to take care of for him and a beautiful palm on the reading stand. I have the etching that was over the library mirror at home,Hermes[written], and a water color of Lolies on my wall & they show off so well against the (diagram of room) blue plaster. The books and screens and tea table make it look very cosy, and I brought down some jelly to taste good. But it is nearly lunch time and I must say bye-bye.

Your loving, Toodles.

Laura is as pretty as ever - I wear shirt waists my duck or rough skirts & broad brimmed sailor hat - also my heavy tan shoes - round toed. Am going to have my pink underslip made up soon to wear under my white batiste or by itself - maybe next month or as soon as I get money enough - shall save the organdy for some swell occassion.

R.

[written] 3

[typed] Saturday Jan 9-'97

My dearest Nannie -

My dearest Nannie - I forgot I called you that once and absent mindedly have written it over again but I mean it a whole page full. Your letter came just about an hour ago and I have been grinning over it since and reading parts of it about the pictures to the girls. Helen Younger has been moving down from the 4th to the 2nd floor so we are near neighbors. She has been fixing up her room and I have been helping her. Her room-mate - Mary Caldwell a freshman & relative of Marguerite Sabler - has almost as many pretty things as Helen has, & their room has assumed already a very Bohemian & artistic air, it has been great fun, & we have fixed pretty studies by burning the edges into rich brown odd shapes - a trick I picked up from one of the boys at the Rho Eta House. This is such a glorious day. We certainly are having a heavenly winter! Last Monday I started out to make calls in Palo Alto in my new suit that I like immensely. I found Mr. Teggart was sick in bed, I suspect she is on the verge of enlarging her family. Mrs. Angel, Dr. Angel told me was in Boston and as he said had gone shortly after the ("Opera" or card party they gave. Mrs. Gilman - Mrs. Cullen's sister - was not at home neither was Miss Darrah the excellent Education teacher. In the evening Alice Colt and I called on Dr. & Mrs. Stillman & of all my list they were the only ones home. Tuesday we registered & made out our programs for this next semester and Wednesday lectures began again. We are beginning Hamlet. It is so far now most difficult & thorough Shakespere study. I am not going on with Hudson's class as it makes too many hours and though it is deserted devoted to Tennyson I think I can make a study of it myself some time. Otherwise my course is almost the same except that I take Renaissance Art History under Prof. Krieber instead of 18th cent. Hist. We begin with Giotto. The girls feel very sad at the thought of leaving this semester and I am happy in the thought that It is not my last quite yet. Mrs. Baker our new matron is lovely she knows so many people we know - the Cullens & the Lathrops & knew of Mama thru some of the faculty ladies here. Did I tell you of the lovely call I had on Mrs. Jordan. She inquired about you, & wished to be most warmly . Did I tell you about Mr. Delamater's death just before Christmas. It was the end of quite a long illness & feebleness. What do you think Theodora is doing! She wants & must have the 400 paid Louise as soon as possible and in order to do so we couldn't draw on our allowance. So Theodora is sending me 30.00 out of the 40.00 she earns each month, of course when I earn or get the money I shall repay her, but think of my sister sending me thro' college! My last letter from her said she was having a happy time with her little "tads" coming back. She is really fond of her work and got some useful hints from Miss Darrah & the teacher's institute. Oh the Sohrab & Rustum paper is not worth sending. It was written at the end of the term in a great rush & my main ideas was to get off my hands. Helen took more pains with hers, and if I can persuade her to let me send it I shall. Am going to call on Mrs. Fairclough this afternoon.

Bye-bye Your loving Toodles.