Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 16

[typed] Saxon that nobody did well in and a Milton ex."sprung" on us by Prof. Anderson which was not very hard. Sunday was rainy and I studied. Saturday morning Theodora washed my hair so well and in the afternoon I helped decorate for the reception to the Faculty given by the ladies of Roble Hall. It was a very pretty evening and most of the faculty came. There was music and recitation by imported and home talent and we had an awfully good time with the dear splendid professors. Dr. Howard is grand - that reminds me - do not send the Fr. Rev. Histories for we have access to all the books we need in the library or in the Hall. It is so much fun to get hold of the professors outside of class when we can get even with them a little. Friday night Theodora and I stayed all night with the Braly girls and had an awfully good time. About all I remember of the rest of the week was being rushed by the Kappa Kappa Gamma frat. I contemplated it some because I didn't know but what it might be a good thing for Theodora to be thrown so closely with a number of nice girls, as they certainly all are, but my speculations were in vain because she was carried away by Mrs. Ballington Booth's lecture and paid her initiation fee to join the Salvation army auxiliary. It was funny because it was just to divert her religious tendency that I contemplated the fraternity for her. She is entitled to the Salvation army literature so I am going to turn it to profit and sell her "War Cries" at "Patsy Green's Sporting Palace" in Mayfield. Theodora and I have better and better times to-gether and we are growing nearer than ever before, her religious enthusiasm seems to react on me in inverse ratio but it certainly makes her more lovable and me more loving so I guess it is all right - don't mention it to her or to me be-

[written] 1

[typed] Stanford University, Cal. January 7th, 1896

My dear Nannie - -

My Sunday letter was very unsatisfactory to myself: there had been so much to tell you about that I know I merely mentioned the facts without expatiating on them at all. And now begins more to tell you about since we are back again in this cheery, lovely place. First of all, I got through in everything, and in history, my major unit--Dr. Howard my last examination was marked "Excellent" and he said it was one of the very best in the class of one hundred and twenty. I was so pleased. Rose got "Good"--which is very good when we found out little by little how many are conditioned.

The Campbells are willing to leave San Jose--but of course are bound to our place until June, hence they are looking for other occupants, subject to our approval. And another thing, I shall not rent books, table linen, bed linen or towels: for that means we must keep the house so supplied if we rent it with that understanding. I have first filled out a blank giving Mr. Mabroy a proxy to vote our Woolen Mill Stock. It is thought a dividend will be declared, and that the stock will come up if they put the tariff back on wool. Yesterday, when we got back from San Jose, whom should we find composedly reclining on our lounge but Mrs. Mynck who had stopped off on her way back from the farm. She gave us such a happy vacation, and when one doesn't hold all her shortcomings up to view, she is very much more lovable. And the judge, too, appeared so nice.

A letter tonight from Mr. Crosby asks us if we are willing to sell Punch. Mr. Polhemus wishes to buy him. Rose and I have decided that it seems the best thing to do--as if in the coming year we can dispose of the ranch, there will be no place for Punch and of course as he gets older, there would be less money value to him. I shall be so glad when things are settled and there are not so many goods and chattels to look after. This idea of re-renting the house perplexes me much. The books, I am going to store in the attic--I am not going to be so foolish as to rent them again, tho from appearances they look very well. Rose has not yet written to you this week so I have the privilege of telling of a little evening we had with a few of the boys last Friday. Rose had for some time wanted to have the boys over to make welch rare-bit--Helen Younger has a very pretty chafing dish and I had become quite expert in making them at Mrs. Mynck's and at the Maburys. I was quite aghast however when Rose Friday afternoon said she had asked Tarn McGrea - Stewart Cotton - Royce Strother and Philip Abbot (Rose says "bless him") so you see her sentiments. Well if you are acquainted with rarebits you know that they must be made of (can be made in fact - only of fresh Eastern cheese, and Rose had gotten the cheese at Mayfield instead of at Palo Alto because we could get no beer in Palo Alto--it being a temperance town. The boys all came (hungry they said) and we had a jolly kind of a time. They are all interesting boys--can sing and play and talk well. But the cheese wasn't good and wouldn't rarebit a little bit--it hung in one great heavy mass--Wasn't it horrid! but we had besides, fruitcake and tea and the boys ate the rarebit nevertheless and declared it was good. Rose the next morning only remarked that "boys were regular goals" to eat such stuff--which I thought a poor return for their inimitable politeness. They have been seen since on the "Quad" so we know that they aren't killed but I