Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 1 (Rose) 1

[typed] Sunday- September the eighth 1895.

My dearest Nannie,

How I wish you could see us this morning in our cosy room. Everyone says "Oh, how homey" the minute they come into the door. But I am not going to describe it, so you will be surprised when you come down. The university has its same atmosphere of peaceful grandeur that it had in the summer even though there is a registration of eight hundred and six students. Last night there was a rush between the Freshman and the Sophs. The sophomores won. The Freshmen consist of the shortest youngest boys imaginable., and had but little chance against full fledged college men. By way of special disgrace the class of '99 was tied and marched in front of Roble and their faces lighted up by torches, it seemed pityful to see the poor little freshies so in the hands of the older men, but probably they thought it the grandest night of their lives.

Miss Thompson is lovely. The Hall is not very full and the girls are very nice. I had a letter from Helen Lathrop. She is not coming back. She feels that it is too expensive. Her father is better and she is with him at Crystal Springs.

Mr. Peete called yesterday in the Episcopal garb. He is delightful - such a courtly gentleman of the old school. He said Dr. Wakefield was expected home soon having been ill in Venice with the fever, and all his money stolen besides. It struck me as being perfectly ludicrous but I managed to be politely solicitous. How splendid it is that Mr. Foote is better. No doubt they enjoyed a glimpse of you so much. Do give so much love to Auntie Sue. Theodora was so glad to see her at the station the day she was in San Jose. To-morrow the classes meet for the

[written] 17

[typed] cause it is a very sensitive point with her. So you see that we escaped joining a fraternity which was rather unpleasant because the Braly girls were so sweetly persuasive and Allis Cowen Alice Cowan was a great inducement as she is pledged. But they have all been just as lovely since we declined as they were before which speaks volumes in their favor and I shall never criticise girl's frats. again. Alice Cowen asked me to go out riding with her Wednesday so "alls well that ends well". Another event that I forgot to mention was...once a week Prof. Anderson in going to read to us from Browning, there is to be no outside work and no credit, he is simply going to read an hour to us. Isn't that lovely? It was so lovely of you to send on the Fr. Rev. syllabus - I will return the compliment as soon as possible. Prof. Anderson asked after you one evening when he came over to read Browning's "Saul" to the Roble girls at Miss Thompson's request. He read it magnificently. I got a beautiful letter from Helen Lathrop a week or less ago- she sent her love to you. She is still at the hospital with her father in St. Helena. She is preparing herself to do slum work - and is taking a course in trained nursing. She is going to enter at St. Luke's hospital in S.F. and take a two years course. At present she is taking a course in chemistry, physiology, massage and nursing. She is such a beautiful noble girl, just such a one that makes you better just to think of and whom it is a great privilege to know. She sent me two pictures of herself, in one she is looking down at her Mother's picture in her hands - it is so sweet and lovely that I am going to send it on to you, the other one I fear she did not intend I should keep, but only chose from. Prof. Heath went down to see about our pictures

[written] p. 12 7

[typed] May 4, 1896

Is it possible I have written a whole letter and not mentioned the maple sugar? A week ago when the expressman drove up, I watched him with a most[written] longing wish that by some strange chance he might have something for me, when lo--he did, and of all things the thing I love most. I took a saucer of it to Miss Thompson who is one of the poor girls in the Hall, and treated our end of the table, and there was enough left to make Theodora and me happy all through the week. It's all gone now but I never enjoyed a thing so much in my life. Thank you so much, my Nannie. And now I must sy bye-bye.

Oh--Miss Thompson is not going to be here next year for a friend of Mrs. Stanford's is going to take her place--a Mrs.Reed whom we are all most curious about. I only hope whe will be as good as Miss Thompson has been. Oh the Junior day Sequoia wasn't much good--this number had two or three of my things in it. So I'll send that if you want, too--They accepted that crazy little thing I wrote on the mountain instead of what I wrote for the occassion, and owing to the fault of the printers & the number of pages it didn't get in, I was happy to say.

Bye-bye Your Toodles.

[written] p 16

[typed] May 29 - '96

& geologist of the university. In the afternoon I saw Tom who has failed to take his degree. He is very crushed, & down on Prof. Anderson, but he makes me very tired, he doesn't deserve his degree in the university half as much as if it were offered in a cause of society life. I feel much more sorry for Dr. & Mrs. McGrar, though I fancy Tom is much like his mother. In the evening there was a little informal dance at Roble, that as usual stopped at 10:30 owing to going out of the lights. Sunday morning, I didn't go to the baccalaureate service, but to the dear little chapel instead, Mr. Abbott went with me, which was a great pleasure as he sings most beautifully. Monday morning was the Senior Farce, to which I went with Mr. Abbott as he was my partner for the Senior Ball & it is customary to go to both with the same person. The farce was excellent-- Old John had a part which he did well as he had to show off Encina to a tourist. He told some of his exagerations & brought down the house, & was encored so much he came back & made a speech. In the afternoon I slept, and in the evening went to the ball - I wore my same little dress with pink roses tucked in the violets & carrying pink roses. I had the best time I ever had in my life, for it was a beautiful party. It was in the Encina dining room, with lobby for a refreshment room, and the long stone veranda for a promenade. Tuesday, Mr. Workman asked me to go with him and his sister to the alumni lunch. It was an endlessly pokey affair, as the waiters went on a strike and we had to wait till they came back, but I enjoyed the honor of being in such distinguished company. In the evening was the promenade concert - it seemed like a corner of the world's fair - the quadrangle was outlined in Chinese lanterns and a large band in the center. It was not so great a success as last year, however, as it was a very warm night, crowds of people, and one couldn't hear the music well; the short arcades were enclosed and made booths of and in ours[written] we served refreshments and made it quite cosey with easy chairs, rugs and divans. The next day was commencement, and a large class of over 150 were graduated. Prof. Anderson read the address entitled "Hamlet the transition from the philosophical to the active life": from a literary and critical stand point, it was exceedingly fine, but it lacked approprietness to the occasion. Dr. Jordan's remarks were excellent to the point and wonderfully inspiring and noble; he always does say just the right thing. In the afternoon I made a little call on Mrs. Maitland & Mrs.Dunn, both inquired about you, and at Mrs. Dunn's I tried to see if satisfactory arrangement could be made to stay there next year, but found that they could not. The Hall is going to be under different management next year & Miss Thompson is not going to be there - a friend of Mrs. Stanfords is to be put in her place. Her salary is considered too large, and as it is partially paid for by the girls, Mrs. S. wishes it cut down. The girls and Miss Thompson are both sorry. In the evening there was a wind-up dance given at the Hall, but I thought I didn't care to go but my evening was engaged by a call from Mr. Abbott so I didn't accomplish much packing till Thursday, when we did about all of it and got off on the 5:20 train. Mr. Herme presented me with three flourishing house-palms, one of which I brought home with me the other one I left in charge of Lu.Brim who will there this summer. This evening I went down to see Laura and inquire about her mother, Laura looks tired but Mrs. Mann is a little better. L. missed all commencement fuss. The year has been a very happy one, but I look forward to another year more systematic in every respect and especially in writing to my dear Nannie, for that is my most sacred &[written] loving[written] duty. I feel q uite sure that my credits are all O.K. and they are the "outward and visible sign" of much

[written] p. 22 17

[typed] St.Mathew's School, San Mateo, Cal. Monday- Aug. 31st '96

My dearest Nannie - -

Your poor distressed letter came just before I left home and I feel like [written:] such a brute to think that [typed:] I have spoiled your summer pleasure. Just at present I am in a happy transition "all that's past is gone, you, know, the future is but a dream" and for the present I am staying a day or two with my dear Lolie at this most delightful place. She is so happy here and it is such a wholesome congenial atmosphere with good board, wonderful views and air and delightful people to make one happy, and I am in a very exuberant frame of mind at the prospect of getting back to dear old Stanford - that city of refuge from all that has ever been unhappy in my life. We left the house - it is no longer home - Friday at noon when the Toucoup took possession. I found an excellent man who swept the whole house so thoroughly and I saw to the woodwork and . Charles cleaned the yard and barns and porches and my man Friday washed the windows. In the course of two days all was[written] sweet and clean, and Friday & Saturday nights I stayed with Laura occupying the intervening day with paying bills and calls. Louise went to Santa Cruz for a month or so. I saw poor Auntie Sue - Mr. Minn died early Tuesday morning - he heard the news of a law suit that had been decided against him and that meant a few thousand as his loss and the business[written] worry combined with his great physical pain made life too great a burden for him and at about four A.M. Tuesday he went to the water, clothed in his stocking feet and blew his brains out. He made a deed of the homestead to Aunt Sue and wrote a note to the coroner requesting no autopsy and stating his suicide & the reasons for it. The funeral was Thursday afternoon. Poor Aunt Sue seems crused indeed but Maurice keeps as cheery and bright as can be. I went also to see Mr. & Mrs. Hazelton who have been so kind to us this summer in giving us practical advice and comfort. The rest of the friends I was too tired to call upon. I shall write to them but I know they do not understand how utterly impossible it has been to be social in the swift purgatory of the summer months - had there been time besides the house-work, sewing and business affairs to visit it would not have been so unpleasant but there was not time.. The allowance question is just as good as assured - a few weeks and it will be entirely settled, possibly in less time; then Theodora has turned over her twenty to add to mine which gives me forty a month and I feel like bloated bondholder at the very prospect. The Goodnough interest is due - an amount of 400, and there is a little coming in from the ranch in hay, dried fruit, vegetables, etc. I came here yesterday, stopping off between trains to unpack my trunks at Roble and get my dress box moved up to Miriam's room a corner room - southeast - on the second floor - I have a pretty view of the quadrangle and of the hills, three large windows and so much sunshine - the room is larger, pleasanter, airier and sunnier than the room last year - and I am resolved to keep it neat and be systmatic and I know it will be pretty. I still have Mr. Hermes fur rugs to give a Bohemian air to the floor. I caught a glimpse of the new matron, but could judge very little of her, she seemed to a moderately old woman with a bank of little gray curls on her forhead - not Miss Thompson's intellectual type - a commentary on Mrs. Stanford's taste. Theodora has just spent her half hour recess with me - her hours are so short and it such a delightful place that both of us are happier than larks. I must begin my personalhousecleaning now as everything from my hair to my nails needs a thorough overhauling - though so far I have discovered no moths! Got such a good letter from Gertrude which I enclose. Am going to have my party dress made when I need it - I believe I have never thanked you