Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[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