Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[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

[written] p. 15 10

[typed] Gertrudes, San Jose May 29 - '96

My dearest Nannie--

I have a letter started to you telling all about the gayety of commencement week, but is is packed and I will finish is as soon as I can get at it, for the present I'll drop you a line to let you know that last night Theodora and I came down to spend the time with Gertrude till we can go home Monday. Our place looks beautiful, but needs a little weeding, and the screen doors painted. It will be so heavenly to be there again, I can scarcely wait till Monday. The Campbells are going to have everything, Monday noon as clean as possible without taking up the carpets. As far as we can tell yet they have been very good tenants. Packing was a diabolical business, with all the things we had. The books and everything that I shall need next year we stored in the dress-box and left in the room. The rest went into the three trunks and two telescopes and Charles is going to drive down to get them & bring them up to the house as soon as we want them. The bookshelves, tea-table, screen, reading stand, etc. we locked up in one of the closets that was at our disposal for the summer. Mr. Herme presented me with a flourishing house-palm that we brought up with us to make the house look pretty. We are resting in these transition days--Theodora putting on a binding to her everyday skirt, and I writing up the letters I owe. Last evening Miss McKimmon drove up with dear old Punch and the phaeton with a fresh coat of paint. Just imagine it! Did you ever hear of such a generous noble woman. It is her way of paying for the use of Punch and the buggy, of course we shall have him and the phaeton as good as new, through the summer, though we haven't quite planned yet how we shall keep him. This morning we drove around and engaged Mrs.Gay to come and wash all our heaps of soiled clothes that we brought up from Stanford. Next Tuesday. Mrs. Mann has moved into a pretty flat on N.First street, but has been very ill, though is better now, I Believe. After dinner I am going down to inquire about her. This morning we got quanities of exquisite pink sweet peas and pale lavendar ones from Gertrude's memorial exercises at school, and took them out to the cemetary, making it look more beautiful than I ever saw it. Mamma's and Papa's places we put great bouquets & crosses of the pink, and grandma's & the children's of the lavendar. We came home rested & at peace with all mankind, and with an enormous appetite too. Everything tastes very good here at Mrs. MacWilliams. Next week we will be making soda biscuits ourselves, Louise and the children come down Tuesday which we think is a very good plan. As dinner is not yet ready and I have extra page I better not wait for the chance of finding my other letter but tell you about Commencement. Friday afternoon (21st May) I cut ice cream at a pretty red trimmed table for the president's reception to the seniors and faculty. I wore my little party dress with laceguimpe & white ribbon collar and red roses. Each table had a certain color--pink or yellow or red, and each set of girls wore corresponding colors. The reception was very pretty & I had a beautiful time with Prof, & Mrs. Anderson, & cribbing icecream for the girls that didn't have the luck I had. Mrs. Anderson looked prettier and better than I ever saw her before. I called little Robert in & stuffed him with ice-cream & cake. In the evening Miriam Maclaren and I called at Prof, & Mrs. Powers and we had a most delightful, inspiring time. Saturday morning was the facultysenior baseball game. Mrs. Myrick came down for it, and Mr. Brunton came over for me to go; he is the champion track athlete, &