Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 11

[typed] took the noon train for San Jose, as I wanted to go to the bank for money for my silk waist and fare to the city. I took luncheon with Gertrude and then we both went out to Allis Ballan's - to see Allis who got back from her trip Monday, and to get some millenery out there for a winter everyday hat. Allis looks thin but appears better- more composed and rational and prettier in white mull than I have seen her for a long time. Mrs. B. was as sweet and dear as ever sending much love to you. I took the 6 P.M. train home and got here in time for a late dimmer. Friday I studied and had an examination with Miss Mosher the head of the gymnasium. It was the "ancestory" ex. and I passed all right. Not having to go back farther than Mama and Papa. Saturday was the jolliest day of all. Theodora and I took the 8:30 train for S.F. We went first and got my cape which is repaired beautifully for $2.50 and looks as good as new - no new fur but old repaired. Then I went to Miss O'Strander's. The waist was not done, but lovely even in embryo state. It is to be finished Wednesday. Theodora talked with Fred who gives us a feeling of security. He advises we consult either Judge Myrick/or Judge Rhodes and is going to consult with Mr. Gosbey himself and investigate accounts with Theodora Thursday. Then Theodora and I had chicken pattie at the Women's Exchange. Then we did an errand or two and by way of "spontaneous variation" bought gallery tickets for 35¢ for "Tribly". I never enjoyed anything more in my life. The play was strong and well acted. It was most as much fun as discovering the Maitland house to go up and up the gallery stairs not knowing whether we would get in a smoking, gum-chewing mob or not but we found ourselves in the midst of fashinoable respectability and had such a good time. We left just before the last act to see Louise, but we missed the 5:30

[written] 19

[typed] March 29 '97 Monday afternoon

My dearest Nannie

Your dear good letter reached me this morning and I am so glad you are in New York feeling like a bloated millionaire; tho' I suppose before long you will be going back to . A week ago Saturday Theodora and I went to San Jose just for the afternoon to see about selling the furniture your dear precious letter was such a help and comfort. In my judgment it is by far better to dispose of those things that we nomads can now not afford to move with us or store. We did little in San Jose beside having a satisfactory wi talk with Mr. Gosbey whom I like very much. As you said, the things of Mammas are ones to dispose of as we choose and the proceeds do not go into the estate. The books, pictures, busts, grandma's chair, tea, chair and his d chair are probably all that we shall save.

Theodora went back to San Mateo and I here when our weeks vacation began. Sunday Mary Brunton and I were asked to dine at the Sigma Nu house where we also spent the evenling. The next day (Monday) the Sigma Nu's came for a number of us in a four-in-hand and we went into the hills for a picnic and home again by five o'clock. It was a lovely drive and we went through Woodside - the little village where the football men have secret practice a week before Thanksgiving and our way back was by Redwood City and the county road. The next Thursday Epsilon Chi invited Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Plate to go with us up to King's Mountain House in honor of Mrs. Haskell who goes home soon. We had a coach and four and started quite early. It proved to be a cloudy day but the drive was the most pleasant. We rode through such lovely woods and saw quantities of wild flowers - cyclamen, soap lily, tulium wild violets white and yellow and maidenhair. We reached King' mountain at about twelve and had such a great big dinner not to mention the view which was beautiful. The Mountain house is right on the summit and from its ridge we saw HalfMoon bay and the ocean. The fog began to settle into big drops and while we were at dinner it rained quite hard. I made things a little more exciting by losing my purse with a couple of dollars in it but Billy the driver found it, which made me feel very rich. We simply flew down the mountains in the way back and came home through Belmont reaching the campus about half past six very dusty, happy, and hungry after a forty mile lark.

Mrs. Rice was a Utica girl and went to Miss Kelly's school along in the fifties. She did not know Mamma but knew many people whose names were familiar to me. Saturday and I went to cheer up Lolie- it stromed the minute I reached San Mateo and I found her in the midst of her flock keeping demerit hour. She looked too pretty for anything in her new black taffeta shirt waist and was surprised out of her wits to see me as she didn't expect me till Sunday. We are enthusiastic about taking summer school work at Pacific Grove so many are going down and we can do it economically taking botany and possibly entomology. Kitty and Jessie Haskell with possibly their older sister Florence, Mrs. Beedy, Ida Wehner and her mother , Gertrude Payne, Lolie and I are the possible party.

I came back Sunday evening after having been at the service in the morning - it is such a pretty one, all the boys uniformed and gloved.

Kitty Haskell and I are enthusiastic about teaching. You see we take our degrees or rather finish our work Christmas so our experience begins at the same time. Dear Miss Darrah has asked us down to her home to talk schools with us - she is so lovely - one of the brightest women and an educational leader, she offered to write any letters I might needwhich will mean a great deal to me. The snow is way down in the hills and the wind is stinging cold but the sun is out and I guess the storm is over. Tomorrow Helen comes back and brings a plum pudding and pineapple jellyjust think of that. The Encina boys have been taking their meals at Roble as they always do in vacations, and some of them nearly always dine with us to make it jolly - there have been two or three pokey little dances too. Bye,bye my dearest nannie Your Rose. P.S. Miriam sends love so does Alice Colt and all of Epsilon Chi.

[written] 42

[typed] December 26, 1897

My dearest Nannie -

This paper isn't telling the truth for I am writing at Mrs. Myricks 2345 Broadway on the day after Christmas but this is all the paper I have with me and it is my last piece. I am so sorry that I didn't get a line to reach you on Xmas day as you did me, but Nannie - I never in all my life went thru such a cyclone of daily examinations and papers in my life - some of them lasting two and three or three and half hours. But they are all over now and I think all passed, with the best one and the best mark in a general review of English literature under Dr.Flugel and Prof. Anderson. The first time that such an examination has been given in the Eng. department, so I shall feel especially stuck up over my degree. They are not granted however till January 14th. There were several final festivities - an evening spent at the Bachelors playing all sorts of gambling games with Mr. Allardice, Mr. Nash, Mr. Snow, Mr. Young, Dr. Angel, Dr. Campbell, Mr. Peirce, and Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hopkins beside Florence Park, Kittie Haskell, Marylyn Main, Marie Markham and Mrs. Peirce. Then, there was a reception at the Theta House where the same little coterie met, an at Home and Mrs. Jordans, a dinner at the Zete house given by Mrs. Peirce with the Bachelors- by Mrs. Baker and best of all Christmas evening spent at Mrs. Peirce's with the Bachelors Mrs. Peirce read from the Birds Chritsmas Carol about the Ruggles family Xmas dinner, Mr. Campbell sang, we played twenty-one, prepartory to having an auction of 10cent Xmas gifts. It was great fun and we had mince pie refreshments - Kittie serving them and I made tea with the help of Mr. Allardice and Mr. Pierce. The next morning (Christmas) Theodora and I accepted Mrs. Myricks' invitation to come up here and we are having such a good time.

The Christmas dinner was so good and this morning Theodora and I went to St. Lukes to hear a sermon by Bishop Michols and a confirmation service. Kittie, Jessie and Fred Haskell are coming up to-morrow for a week and maybe Helen Younger will come too, so we are looking forward to a great lark and good time. I am going back to the university with Kittie Haskell to pack and make calls. I have joined the Teacher's agency and am overwhelmed with lovely recommendations. I applied for the English position in the Santa Cruz High School but that is not till next September. It is a difficult thing to get a position now and if I don't succeed I am going to go down to the University Tuesdays and Thursdays for Bibliography work - an Eng. History course and a general Eng. lit course. I love it up here at Mrs. Myrick's and am getting very fond of their little brown house round the corner.

Money matters are in a particularly encouraging state and oh I am so much obliged (Which doesn't half express it) for sending the letter to Mr. Gosbey about you paying Gertrude my debt. The family allowance is to be continued so I get twenty every month. I wonder if I told you about Mr. Peets death two weeks ago today. After the service in the evening an and an afternoon spent with St. Andrews brotherhood he simply fell lifeless in the lobby of the Palo Alto hotel. The day before Kittie had been with him to have such fine photos taken. She gave me one of the large ones for Christmas and I am so delighted. He was buried in the chancel of the church Bishop Nichols,Dr. Wakefield,Mr. Gassman Dr. Breuer officiating Judge Myrick sends love, and I am hurrying to finish before dinner.

Wishing you a happy New Year

Your Rose.