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] 17

[typed] cause it is a very sensitive point with her. So you see that we escaped joining a fraternity which was rather unpleasant because the Braly girls were so sweetly persuasive and Allis Cowen Alice Cowan was a great inducement as she is pledged. But they have all been just as lovely since we declined as they were before which speaks volumes in their favor and I shall never criticise girl's frats. again. Alice Cowen asked me to go out riding with her Wednesday so "alls well that ends well". Another event that I forgot to mention was...once a week Prof. Anderson in going to read to us from Browning, there is to be no outside work and no credit, he is simply going to read an hour to us. Isn't that lovely? It was so lovely of you to send on the Fr. Rev. syllabus - I will return the compliment as soon as possible. Prof. Anderson asked after you one evening when he came over to read Browning's "Saul" to the Roble girls at Miss Thompson's request. He read it magnificently. I got a beautiful letter from Helen Lathrop a week or less ago- she sent her love to you. She is still at the hospital with her father in St. Helena. She is preparing herself to do slum work - and is taking a course in trained nursing. She is going to enter at St. Luke's hospital in S.F. and take a two years course. At present she is taking a course in chemistry, physiology, massage and nursing. She is such a beautiful noble girl, just such a one that makes you better just to think of and whom it is a great privilege to know. She sent me two pictures of herself, in one she is looking down at her Mother's picture in her hands - it is so sweet and lovely that I am going to send it on to you, the other one I fear she did not intend I should keep, but only chose from. Prof. Heath went down to see about our pictures

[written] p. 21 b. 2[circled]

[typed] think he must be a great liberator to his race.

We have been having extremely warm days - Such warm weather for the latter part of November. I have had to take off my flannels which I had put on quite a while ago but have been perfectly miserable until I got out of them. There is a great deal of trepedations for fear this fine weather forbodes rain for the Thanksgiving football game. I think Rose would very much like to see it but it is quite unnecessary and consequently we will not take it in.

Have not had the first fitting to my collarette yet and thinking it about time I had written to Wallace jugging his memory a bit.

Monday

Theodora has left a sheet for me to fill and she claims to have given out of ideas..for my part I am possessed with one and only one and that is that I am reeling with sleep. Perhaps I can bring my mind under sufficient control to recall the one weekly excitement. I accepted an invitation of the Delta Tau Deltas to a dramatic evening and dance. I had such a funny time. I seemed to monopolize all the engaged or at least very devoted men - My first dance with Guy Cochran while Alice C___ sat it out, refreshments with somebody else who is very attentive to one of the girls, and my last dance and one other with another engaged man. The intermin were danced with various and usndry Taus etc. and the whole evening was one of the funniest medly imaginable. The farce was very cute and pretty as well as a dramatic recital by one of the boys. The Browning class is such a treat, never enjoyed anything more - and I love Prof. Anderson. Last Sunday

[written] 26

[typed] Short. By way of finishing touch I went out to see if I couldn't find just one rose to put by Mana' picture and then tried not to feel disappointed when I couldn't find one, but aided my search by making myself go for a walk with a conceited old school m'am who was discouraged over this morning's ex. When I came back what was my astonishment to find in the room a large box from Sherwood nersery directed to me, which upon opening I found contained the daintiest mass of pink roses and maiden hair with Helen Younger's card. I fairly squealed with joy. By that time it was luncheon and after that we went to Browning and had such a "soul cleansing" reading of the Blot of the 'Scuthceon" really- Prof. Anderson is one of the grandest characters to so fully interpret so grand a master as Browning and so grand a thing as the poem. He simply told us the history of its stage appearance, quoting the opinion2of various actors among them Brack all of who greatly admired it and then he read the interview between Mildred and Lord Tresham, with so much feeling. He said he could not read the curse nor most of it because of its overwhelming pathos. After Browning, I heard of an Anglo-Saxon ex. to-morrow in verbs and hurried home to dig with a feeling in my hear that maybe Gertrude might come on the afternoon train. When who should appear in a surrey but Gertrude and Miss McR..... both laden with suspicious baskets and boxes of which of course I was oblivious. they left their parcels, and went to hunt up Mr. McKinsion and Theodora. by half past four we four were in my room having such a Christmas of a time undoing bags and boxes - in one was the most exquisite birthday cake made by G. by your rule and with Rose in violets on the white frosting - then from Miss McK. basket - red carnations and a a dainty hand painted slender vase for Theodora and most

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[typed] We had such a lovely letter from Mrs. Bliss who has been traveling about in the West Indies. Theodora heard also from Cousin Mary Tuckerman, her family seems to be just the same as usual. Bishop Nichols confirmed a class in Palo Alto today. I didn't go down as I thot it would tire me and I couldn't afford the afternoon for resting. The lenten services have been twice a week in the afternoon just at the time I have gymnasium work, which I couldn't arrange at a different time. What a pleasant time visiting you have had, and now I suppose that you are roaming about Bunpey Hollow & the Lake road but you can't find a more heavenly place that this with its blue hills & green fields flecked with poppy gold. Have not seen Gertrude & not heard from her as I have been a scamp about writing. Mrs. Myrich dropped in on us the other day & stayed over night. She sent much love to you. Prof. Anderson is just the same old dear that he ever was. To-night Sankey sings in the chapel. Theodora & I are going to hear him--do you remember when she heard Moody in Chicago. That reminds me that we got got August Treder's wedding cards. There goes the dinner bell--

Bye-bye

Your Toodles

March 15 - '96 Roble Hall.