Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] Sept 3 - '96 33

[typed] Saturday Night -

My dear, darling Nannie -

Rain, rain, has begun in earnest, Helen and I walked to Palo Alto about five o'clock and were caught in the heaviest kind of a shower, we were simply drenched. Saw dear Prof. Anderson there, his spirits were as undampened as ours and we stood in the pouring rain

. Poor Mrs. Anderson's mother is sinking fast and Prof. A. has been sitting up all night with her till they could get a nurse and he delivered excellent lectures at the same time. Thank you so much for sending the Shelley. I am so sorry I didn't stipulate sending it C.O.D. for I fear the expense will be quite heavy - I am dying for he letter to come. Am glad you liked "no.9". Have no recollection of anything extraordinary that has happened this past week. All the Zete boys were over last evening & we danced. To-day Mrs. Fairclough had a little tea for the St. Agnes guild, we had a very pleasant little informal time with delicious sandwiches and cake with our tea. Mrs. Nicholas was a very deaf, very sweet faced, quite middle-aged woman, and Miss Nichols about sixteen looked quite like her father, very large & well built.

Sunday Morning

It is a rainy, rainy morning and I am going to stay home and "catch up" instead of going to church. I didn't go to Theodora's, as they have measles there besides its being so stormy, changed my mind about it last night when I had a letter from her.

Have I told you the great good fortune that has reached us here at Roble. Mrs. Peasly the Bakery woman whom Helen & I dined with last term is here in the Hall in charge of the kitchen & dining room. She is as good as good can be and the food has suddenly become excellent & clean. The first day she threw away about half of the meat it was so bad. Sickness in Hall might brought about the change, I am proud to know I had some little share in getting her here. Next term it is very very probable that the Roble girls have Encina Hall. A large parlour will be thrown open, a reading room, too, and the beautifull diningroom will have good food & service. This is Dr. Jordan's cherished plan so no doubt it will come about. Of course all the girls in college will be expected to board there. and the boys will have to shift for themselves.

Sunday Afternoon September 5 - 1897

I am back here at beautiful Stanford (Oh! how I love it) and my room is prettier than ever, I certainly shall have a picture of it to send to you this year. I stayed in San Jose till Tuesday dividing Auntie Sue's time with Muriam who was alone while her father & mother were away. Ever since I came here I have been busy arranging my room and it is lovely - Mary Caldwell, my room-mate, came Friday. Helen Lathrop is here in the Hall and there is such a lovely class of Freshmen girls. The dining-room is wonderfully dainty and pretty all refurnished as to dishes and glassware, spoon & linen, with such good things to eat, today we had cream & oyster soup, chicken & real raspberry jelly with a dessert of ice cream. So you see we have nothing to complain of except that my time is so short & that all this didn't come sooner. I had a lovely long talk with Prof. Anderson the other

[written] 34

[typed] September 5 - 1897

day - it was yesterday afternoon, and after we had gossiped about the different professors and their courses we talked over my work, but I haven't come to any very definite conclusions except that I am going to take one or two seminary couses courses with Prof. Hudson & Dr. Flugel but I don't think I shall take his seminary as it is too technical to be practical with regard to my teaching. He wants me very much to stay another term but that is something I know more about than he does & of course I don't want to. I must write to all the dear people whom I have been with this summer and I don't seem to have much news. I have been absorbed mounting my little sketches & things and making my corner room so pretty. Auntie Sue seemed well & was ver much improved after her trip camping at Capitola. Mrs. Gates asked me to luncheon with her and I enjoyed it so much, she sent a great deal of love to you as did Auntie Sue & Auntie Carrie & Mrs. Start & especially Mrs. Schneider who loves you very much, like everybody else. Gertrude and I went out to the cemetary taking quantities of astors - pale pink & lavender ones - that Auntie Carrie gave me and making Mama's resting place beautiful with them, with roses & other flowers on Papa's & Grandma's & the other two places; it was so peaceful & full of rest there where it didn't matter whether the house were rented or not & nobody had to teach school. Everyone is so cordial & it seems so good to see everybody, though Helen & Muriam & Alice Colt I miss dreadfully. I saw Gilbert & enjoyed the dear boy so much he took me out driving & played whist frequently while I was at Mrs. Schneiders. I have mislayed your last long letter & know that there were ever so many things in it to answer that I probably am not thinking of. I am glad, you are having a free & happy time for a while in Canovia & hope that you will enjoy it to the utmost. The house isn't rented yet but I hope that it will be soon. Gertrude seemed quite rested after her vacation. I am feeling so well & am as brown as a berry yet; have not seen many of the faculty people yet, except Dr. Jordan who was showing a friend over the Hall & came to look at my room - I am going to wo mark with chalk the place where he stood, bless him -

Yours Toodles

I see I have another half a page & so will take it up in telling you that I am so well clothed this year, I seem to have a plenty of everything I need, & shall get me only a new everyday hat for winter. Laura is tutoring one pupil in English & Muriam is beginning her work in the Washburn school. How I wish you could see my room. Theodora is well & happy.

R.