Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

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[typed] until the day was past! but Rose this morning tumbled the box of delicious nuts into my bed with your good letter and I was made very happy. And the dear little points - just what I have wanted and prettier than any of the girls wear.

O! I have had just the loveliest most unexpected kind of a birthday. In the first place all my lectures were perfectly enjoyable; But at French Revolution I missed Rose, and wondered where whe was, but when I went to our room at noon, I knew the reason. It was sweet with flowers. Two exquisite bunches of violets and ferns - one from Rose and another from Alice Colt,another dear girl. The pictures were decorated with the loveliest red grape leaves - beautifully autumned. Large white chrysanthemums in Rose's pretty vase and a most artistic sprawling bunch of small sun flowers, in the reading room. I was truly overcome - it was so unexpected and so like Rose. In the afternoon Mrs. Ballington Booth the Salvation army woman spoke in the Chapel to an immense audience. I was duly inspired - but always knew their work was a grand one. That was the 3rd treat. Afterwards I went to the library determined to study but my mind was too full of other things and I thot by the time I had had the walk over to the hall I could settle down to work there - but what was my delight to find Gertrude there. Wasn't it lovely of her! And she had made up into the handsomest bag - just as rich as Mrs. McGrens-the canvas she worked for me. The silk is a beautiful quality of heavy black corded silk and the change from the satin is a pleasant one. I was totally h happy with it for I have wondered how I was ever to get it made, and I needed it so much. Rose had gotten in Palo Alto a birthday cake and after dinner 8 of the girls came in and enjoyed it with me. And Mrs. Forte had sent each of us a delicious glass of jam so I dedicated mine to the occasion. When the girls had all gone except Miriam and Helen Younger ( one of the most attractice girls I have ever met)

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[typed] We had such a lovely letter from Mrs. Bliss who has been traveling about in the West Indies. Theodora heard also from Cousin Mary Tuckerman, her family seems to be just the same as usual. Bishop Nichols confirmed a class in Palo Alto today. I didn't go down as I thot it would tire me and I couldn't afford the afternoon for resting. The lenten services have been twice a week in the afternoon just at the time I have gymnasium work, which I couldn't arrange at a different time. What a pleasant time visiting you have had, and now I suppose that you are roaming about Bunpey Hollow & the Lake road but you can't find a more heavenly place that this with its blue hills & green fields flecked with poppy gold. Have not seen Gertrude & not heard from her as I have been a scamp about writing. Mrs. Myrich dropped in on us the other day & stayed over night. She sent much love to you. Prof. Anderson is just the same old dear that he ever was. To-night Sankey sings in the chapel. Theodora & I are going to hear him--do you remember when she heard Moody in Chicago. That reminds me that we got got August Treder's wedding cards. There goes the dinner bell--

Bye-bye

Your Toodles

March 15 - '96 Roble Hall.

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[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

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[typed] Roble--Nov.14 - '96 Saturday morning

My dearest Nannie--

A queer time to be writing letters isn't it? But why not? I have little preparing to do for Monday, and to-morrow Theodora is coming down to spend the afternoon and I shall have no time then. This has been a very quiet uneventful week and has simply flown. All exciting events were crowded into last Sunday afternoon. After I dined with Mrs. Peck in Palo Alto and read a few sonnets with her, I came back to the hall and Helen Younger, Alice Colt, and I went over to call upon Mrs. Stanford. She is apt to be home on Sundays as she is very fond of being here for service in the Chapel. Our object was to invite her to the Roble Thanksgiving dance or at least to use her name as one of the patronesses. After our cards had been carried in by the Chinese boy who came to the door, we were ushered through a little ante-room into the library; it was about twilight and the dark hued room with its heavy carved furniture was very impressive. Mrs. Stanford was writing letter at her desk in the bay window, and she received us very cordially and kindly. We talked for about an hour and I sat where I had a perspective of the library, ante-library, and the guest dining room where the table was set and made a very pretty interior. The funny part of it was Mrs. S. was so bound up in metaphysical though, in memories of Leland and her husband that I thougt it would be simply impossible to mention anything so mundane and frivolous as a Roble dance; the opportunity came at last, however, and Mrs. Stanford seemed very pleased & appreciative of the attention and said perhaps she might come tho' it was a great strain upon her to meet people and especially people so near Leland's age. When the lights were lit she showed us thru the rooms on the first floor and we followed her rustling silk-lined skirts with much admiration, she took us around the long veranda and showed us a beautiful glimpse through the trees and lawns, and was very hospitable when we went.. Before we found her, we had chaffed a good deal about seeing our cards in the museum etc., but after our call we felt ashamed of ourselves for she impressed us as being a very sorrowful, lovely, womanthough we had the feeling that she had been acclimated to her wealth instead of being brought up in satin sleeves. ----- . She dwells upon the personal thought of her loss so that she lives in a future world where her conditions will be just as they were on this earth before her dear ones left her sight; it it were not for her business cares I have not doubt she would be far advanced in spiritualism. She spoke so affectionately of Dr. Jordan, who evidently brings her no complaints or wrongs & also has her utmost regard & confidence.

Wednesday I had my first glimpse of Maggie Scott--What a noble woman she is? She came to my room after luncheon, and told to three or four of us her Brazilian life & the state of the school systems there which greatly interest us who look forward to strange experiences ourselves in the future. I have felt sorry ever since I wrote you about Prof. Hudsen's foolishness--he is very devoted to his wife but like most any artistic nature was sentimentally attracted by a pretty face and a bright mind. Grace Clark visited the university yesterday and seems just the same, gruff, stolid, & flattering girl that she was last year. There is so little to write this week--I am going to write to auntie Carrie, auntie Sere and Mrs. Allen today, just to let them know I often think of them. Dear Lolie is coming tomorrow for a few hours. We are looking forward to spending the Thanksgiving vacation together here. as many of the girls will be here & we are going to have Charles send us a couple of boiled chickens from the ranch.

Bye-bye my precious Nannie. Toodles.

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[typed] Sunday - - Nov.8 - '96

My dearest Nannie,

If I let Sunday go by there is simply not a second all through the week in which I can write to my Nannie and last Sunday I slept greatly to from my astonishment from luncheon to dinner. What a quiet election! Mrs. Rice who mothers the Sigma Rho Eta boys asked Alice Colt, Miriam & me to spend the day with her as she would be all alone for all the boys were in San Francisco. So we did and had a merry time. Mr Bronco stayed home to help do the honors and he and Mrs. Rice hired a three seater & we drove to Santa Clara & back in the afternoon & came back to a delicious chicken dinner; in the evening Stuart Cotton unexpectedly came back from the city & thought he had found a young ladies seminary - we played cards and went to bed quite late. In the morning we came up to the quadrangle about half past eight before any of the boys came back, and we heard the glorious news of McKinley's election. At about eleven-thirty it was announced about the quadrangle that Tom Reed was visiting the university and would address the students in the chapel. Mr Bronco & I happened to meet and he piloted me through the growing mob to seats in the choir and there we waited for Mr. Reed. In the meantime Dr. Jordan asked Prof. Powers, to give his news of the election as he has been conducting the class in practical politics & was a _____ Bryanite, the joke was very much on him & the students fully appreciated for they cheered & cheered him with shouts of McKinley. Dr. Jordan as usual said the right thing expressing his joy by saying that now he would make his trip to Washington to report on the Behring Sea commission in a sleeper instead of a tourist. He excused Mr. Reed who was at the stock farm as being too tired to give any more addresses, the students mobbed the[written] guadrangle entrance & got a few elevating words of wisdom from him. Since then we have been having tremendously heavy work in Shakespeare & Wordsworth to much more than take up our time.

The Jordan party was very pretty and my gown came in plenty of time - the dearest sweetest dress I ever had, made beautifully & fitting beautifully too. It is quite a baby waist with small puff caps & little __shing around the neck with a bow on one shoulder and the ribbon tied around my waist in another beautiful bow:the skirt plain with the under skirt turned in two ruffles with a knife plated foot ruffle underneath. It is simply dear, or dearly simple either way. The morning after I remembered it was the last chance I had to use the San Mateo commutation ticket and as I had a lot of clean clothes for Lolie I jumped on the train in great haste & surprised the dear child; we had a very happy afternoon together & I came home in time for dinner. I had a glimpse of Mrs. Jowalman on the quadrangle one day, she looked so beautiful; & told me about seeing you this summer. Did I ever tell you that the Sigma Rho Eta's were the old Tizia whom we dined with during summer school? They were dissatisfied with their original charter & have withdrawn forming themselves with a local fraternity & probably waiting their time before applying for a very best national one. It was a very wise thing for them to do. They have made the strongest laws for themselves that no smoking, swearing, drinking or chewing be allowed in their house beside several other commendable sumptuary lawsbesides not talking with the girls on the quadrangle!

The Saturday evening after Thanksgiving the girls in the Hall are going to give a very swell dance have Mrs. Stanford & everything very scrumptous to celebrate the game no matter how it turns out.