Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 29

[typed] Monday May 17 '97

Nannie dearest -

I haven't time for much of a letter. Am very fortunate in my this semester work - only one examination and that a snap - so practically my work is all done and that woithout any extra later. When I was a freshman I took it for granted that I had to do a great deal of sitting up of nights etc but now I take it for granted that the one thing to do is to go to bed and get plenty of sleep by way of preparing for an ex. counts more than cramming.

The borowine arrived beautifully and I shall take it just as prescribed even to not treating the girls which amused me very much as Miriams poor Presbyterian little stomach has just found out the comfort of a sip of port now and then.

The idea of your worrying about and lying awake nights ! That must be the inconsistency of love - 9 for here I am sleeping all night as well and happy as a clam and you bothering about me. Nonsense. I am afraid you haven't confidence enough in the heavenly Father.

I have just been talking withP Prof. Barnes and he has just offered to write me a letter of recommendation to a friend of his Mr. head man of the Fiske teacher's agency for me to send to him whenever I need it. Miss Darrah has offered also to write a letter for my disposal. Both are great boones and favours and I am perfectly delighted. I wonder what makeds people so lovely anyway.' Have written Mrs. Myrick to come down for the evening of the promenade concert. Have been writing a paper ion Antigione and Cordelia for Profl Anderson Also one on Browning's Columbes birthday. Bothe I enjoyed very much - only wish he would.

Theodora and I are going to go up to the Myricks for a week or so as soon as college closes. She has been spending a week here while her boys are at encampment.

Haven't time to write more - don`t worry - when there is a good time to I'll let you know

Lovingly Rose.

[written] 30

[typed] May 31 - '97 San Jose at Gertrudes

Nannie dearest -

Well, well, the very first Sunday after the routine was over I missed writing my letter to you- not that I did anything that day - but just luxuriated in my laziness from morning till night. The week has been such a full one and has ended by my finding myself here at Mrs. McMillans eating my head off at her excellent table. I don't know which end to begin but guess with this morning's happiness - for Gertrude, after she saw Theodora off for Stanford on the 8o'clock train, went with me out to the cemetery. We started a little after eight o'clock with Punch and the Phaeton and had such a happy cool ride and found the dear resting place beautifully kept. I had gotten the St. Joseph lilies from the altar at church the evening before that Miss Wakefield so very kindly offered and you can picture how pretty each mound looked with its two stalks of pure lilies. It is Memorial Day of course and before we left many people had begun coming out. We drove around town in the same old jog fashion and I had a satisfactory little talk with Mr. Gostey- just to let him know that Theodora had gone to the University for the summer work and could be easily reached by telephone. I like him ever so much and feel sure he is doing his level best for the Payne estate.

Of course, Theodora has told you about the day or two here and calling upon Aunty Carry and Auntie Sue and Mrs Ballou who are all well and inquiring about you. The last commencement days were full of utmost confusion a. The most delightful thing was the Promenade Concert - the night was just warm enough mild and bright with stars - the dear Quad was outlined with chinese langterns and San Francisco's best orchestra gave the most beautiful music near the east entrance - the whole reminded me more of the World's Fair than anything else - all of the short arcades were transformed into pretty booths where different sets of girls met their friends and served refreshments. Prof.Allardice gave a little dinner party just before inviting two Miss Risings-daughters of Prof. Rising of Berkeley - who were visitinging the university, Grace Barstow, a Mr. Stadmiller from S.F. Mrs Myrich for chaperone and myself. It was the most charming dinner I was ever at- deliciously cooked and so daintily served with Prof. Young passing the coffee or passing the champagne and Prof. Allardice carving the roast. It certainly takes men to entertain beautifully. I felt very honored to have my first and last promendde with Prof. Allardice and to have him escort me home.

In your last letter you asked about Mr. Pomeroy - he was assistant professor in law last year but is now practising in the city and is a great friend of the Myricks where I met him - he is the son of the great law text book maker and jurist - don't be alarmed about him he is harmless and likes to call and make himself entertaining. I find my most congenial friends among the youngn professors - though the boys are lovely yet their tastes grow toward freshmen girls as mine grow toward freshmen. the faculty.

Mr. and Mrs. Teggart asked me to tea during commencement and I found them spending a few last days in a dear little cottage before moving into another still dearer little cottage just newly built - the have the most rollicking sixteen month old baby - so intelligent and jolly - light like the mother, but with the father's features. The tea was deliciously cooked and served by Mrs. Teggart - Mrs. Maitland and her Helen were there and the table talk was so bright and entertaining - all about politics

[written] 38

[typed] November 27, '997 Sunday night

My dearest Nannie

Am just home from my "Thanksgiving jag" as the football song goes and such a good time I never did have before! In the morning of Thanksgiving day Edith Snow, Kittie Haskell, Mr. and Mrs Pierce (pronounced purse) Prof. Allardice, Prof. Young, Prof. Campbell and Mr. Snow took the special to the city. The coaches were all bedecked with red bunting and after the engine had tooted the Stanford yell, the fourteen cars set off. When we reached the city I found Theodora waiting for me and when the regular Flyer came in we met Helen looking more like a queen than ever. Mr. and Miss Snow,Helen, Theodora and I took luncheon at the University club and then proceded to the game. We had seats in the yelling section which was the most loyal Stanford place. It was certainly a "red" day and the poor Berkeley men could scarcely keep their feet before our invincible line. The brilliant colouring of the cardinal mingling with the blue and gold makes a never to be forgotten scene, with trumpeting, shouting and waving of ribbons and flags. No one was hurt and the score quickly mounted up though the U.C. men did well and they had one good player and runner but our team is the heaviest of any of the Universities in the east, and Brook our coach was sure that it could have defeated Cornell this year.

After the game Helen, Tedora, Mary Brunton, Fred Haskell and I had dinner at the Palace and then went to the vaudeville that is given each year. It was very poor but was redeemed by the speeches of the football team, of Dr. Jordan and the rest of the prominent men. I could have hugged Stuart Cotton our captain, and in fact I am not sure but what I did exchange embraces after the game with Mr. Searles and some of the old men whom I hadn't seen for sometime, not excluding Dr. Jordan who returned from Washington that day. Theodora and I stayed all night at the Myricks and early in the morning Lolie slipped out to catch the seven oclock train for San Jose where she had to see Mr. Gorbey. I found Mr. Young at breakfast and accepted an invitation from him to go thru chinatown with Mr. and Miss Snow and Mrs. Myrick and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce. It was such fun to go thru all the merchants shops and finally up stairs to a swell resturaunt. Tea was served in a long hall very oriental in its black ebony, settes and taberets. The tables were large and Round with tea set for the party and pickled fruits - oranges and plums, ginger and chinese salted almonds that were delicious. The tea was the best I ever had.

Mr. and Miss Snow came home with us to dinner and afterward we went to the theater to see the "Geisha" - a new Japanese opera that has been having a great run. The next morning Mr. Young took us all down to the water front to see the fishing boats and that was indeed a most picturesque sight, with such refreshing drafts of sea air. We all dined at the University club and in the afternoon Mr. Allardice took us to the Loan exhibit at the Hopkin's House. It was of the local artists and we saw many of Keiths and Jorgenson's that we liked. Edith Snow and her brother said goodbye to us there and I do not know when I shall ever see her again. It left me with a very lonely feeling for in her short stay here I have grown very fond of her. Mrs. Myrick soon went home too and Mr. Allardice and I visited Shreves, Vanderdices, etc enjoying the Xmas things so much, especially those with the Stanford seal on them. I went out to the Myricks very weary indeed and had a good nights sleep beginning immediately after