Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] p. 23 b XVIII

[typed] I don't know if you know about the collarette that Wallace was to make me. It is a great sucess. I got it yesterday and it certainly is a very rich garment. Your descritoion of your 14 mile walk was delightful. How strong you are.' I should be tired out with such a long tramp - 5 or 6 miles is about as much as I can stand. I have walked to Menlo and back which I thought quite a feat. The Stanford is or has been a gorgeous sight. THe leaves all turned red as the reddest wine. This is the most ideal place and we are so happy here. This morning I had a fit of cleaning though Sunday, but I didn't get back until 7 last night and so I feel it a necessity to get our room in order for the weeks work. Rose was busy yesterday over a dance which the girls had gotten up very suddenly. Rose enjoyed it very much. I am so glad she does. Tomorrow night we the Roble girls are to be given the Thanksgiving dinner at Encina. I would 100,000 times rather dine quietly here but I suppose we won't have anything here in anticipation of the event. O! whom do you think came down on the train with me but Harry Morrison! He gracefully gave his seat beside me to Mr. Wright about half way here and so I had a chance to ask of Mrs. W. She has been very ill. Pleurisy this time I think. She is up now after 3 weeks in bed. My pencil has gottes so dull that I shall resign in favor of Rose She read me the first of her letter which sounded so well that I was quite discouraged ere I began. Love to Aunt Clara and yourself. from Theodora.

[written] p. 33 28

[typed] Roble Hall. Evening. Thanksgiving - '96

My dearest Nannie,-

Can I ever settle myself to write a legible letter, 20 to 0 in favor of Stanford - Rah Rah, Rah, Rah Rah Rah, Rah Rah Stanford Really I could just jump up and down all through this letter I am so happy. 20-0 think of it. A quieter mass of students never left the campus, not a cheer or a yell, but a crisp, cold snappy morning with a team of well trained self-controlled, manly, fellows, that simply walked up and down the field, & Berkely tumbled before their fierce self possessed strength. Proud of them? I'd like to hug everyone of them! I tell you there is a staunch pride in this university that carrys it through every kind of crisis & brings it out triumphant, and it is the generous loyalty and love they & we all feel for our blessed Alma Mater and I wager there are lots of our men that do generous manly things for the Berkely boys to-day in their defeat.

It really has been a very happy day - someway, when I wasn't asleep Helen Younger and I were busy, and it speaks well for two persons congeniality, when they can put up with the other on a day of such suspense. She went to church with me early this morning and the walk in the sparkling frost was a ----- long; then we did some errands about Palo Alto for the dance next Saturday, and before and before we were through one of the bus men asked me to go down to Menlo Park to bring back the horses for him, as he was going to take the train & see the game. He couldn't understand our not going and even offerred us 10. He felt so sorry for us. We saw the long Flyer & the team near sauntering about the station as cool as cucumbers, some of them hailed us as we drove up. When we found ourselves in full possession of the respectable three seater & two horses coming home, we thought we would make the way a long one. So we stopped at the Sigma Rho Eta House where Alice Colt was spending the day with Mrs. Rice - we found Mr. Bruntors staying away from the game too so Mrs. Rice, Alice, & Mr. Bruntors got in with us & we drove around a little while and after taking them home we sailed back to Mr. Lund's stables where they seemed quite glad to see us, and said nothing about the length of the road back from Menlo being particularly long.

Afterward a package came from Charles, and what do you think it was! Two plump white boiled chickens, a chocolate cake, and a beautiful jar of canned peaches. I really think Charles is about the nicest man we shall ever know; wasn't that dear of him? This afternoon Helen & I read John Oliver Hoffe's "A Study in Temptations" and slept, till the glorious news came.

We haven't eaten of our good things yet but are waiting till Marylyn Maine gets home on the midnight train when we shall have our spread & celebrate. In the meantime we are going to bed.

Bye-bye Toodles

[written] 6

[typed] Sunday Morning - Jan. 23 - '97

My dearest Nannie -

There is just a few minutes before the Episcopal Sunday morning bus come and I will have time to begin my letter to my Nannie. After church I am to dine with Mrs. Gilman, Mrs. Cullin's sister in Palo Alto, and afterward Helen and I are going to call at the Anderson's in Menlo Park and then at Mrs. Stanfords. Mrs. Anderson has her paralyzed bedridden mother with her, also Prof. Anderson's mother and uncle. Prof. A. says she gets lonely with so many old people and far away in Menlo.

Oh' the Jordan birthday party was perfectly lovely. Dr. Jordan's 46th birthday. He did look so grand and handsome and for the first time actually appeared in a dress suit. He was a great big courtly gallant. Mrs. Jordan was very sweet and pretty in a becoming dark Washington gown with a good deal of crimson about it. Mrs. Stanford was there, Prof. & Mrs. Anderson, Dr. & Mrs. Brauner, Prof. & Mrs. Hudson, Prof, & Mrs. Murray, Prof & Mrs Smith, Prof. & Mrs. Lenox -the four bachelor profs--Mr. Allardice, Kellog, Campbell & Young. Mrs. Baker and few of the girls & boys - with some of the musical people to play, the Dully family particularly who have wonderful talent - two brothers play on the violin, accompanied by their sister. I felt wonderfully honored to have Dr. Stillman come up to me when I was talking with Prof. Allardice and one or two others and tell me Mrs. Stanford wished to speak with me. She was very lovely & gracious and was very appreciative of the call we made. In the middle of the evening Dr. Jordan ushered Mrs. Stanford into the dining room where there were three immense birthday cakes with forty-six candles ablaze around them. Edith managed the whole affair, and asked me to cut the icecream. Prof. Allardice escorted me home and ended an evening I shall never forget. One of the girls in the Hall had very seriously hurt her eye so I spent the rest of the night till almost three o'clock taking care of her, as her roommate was tired. The next night b was a screeching Pasmore invitation concert, and the evening after Mrs. Baker had the Zete boys & Prof. & Mrs. Hudson to dinner. In the evening we danced and made candy in Helen's chafing dish. Saturday morning there was a meeting of the executive committee of St. Agnes guild at Mrs. Faircloughs, and it was decided to have an informal meeting and tea for all the members there next Saturday. I have forgotten to say that the bus came for me yesterday when I was writing and that now it is Monday immediately after luncheon. After church Mrs. Gilman took me home and such a good dinner as we had! Just a roast beef dinner with best plum pudding I ever at. afterwards wine jelly, fruit, nuts etc - with claret that this Roble chicken greatly enjoyed. Mrs. Gilman has two splendid sons in their teens and soon to enter college - one is 6 4in. tall the other 6. 2+. The girl Mary is a healthy fourteen year old little beef eater. Mrs. Gilman's mother was also there. All are fine looking English people & Mrs. Gilman is lovely. Afterwards I met Helen in Palo Alto & we took a bus to Prof. Andersons. He has a lovely home just entering Menlo Park - a very large green house in the midst of a great field of oak trees and the most beautiful view of both ranges of hills. Mrs. Anderson could not leave her mother so we did not see her. But Prof. Anderson was so lovely. His mother helped him entertain us. She is a very old lady with a wonderfully sweet face & cultured voice and