Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] p 327

[typed] Christmas Day - at Roble - 1896

My dearest Nannie -

Thank you so much for the present - I am going to invest it when I see just what I want and need. I was so sorry not to get a Christmas letter off to you but I hope Theodora told you how rushed with exes I was - simply didn't have time to eat, sleep, or talk much less write letters, two set papers and four examinations in three days. But they are all over now and Theodora and I are enjoying our Christmas ever so much. There were lectures and examinations right up till noon Wednesday. And Wednesday evening some of the Zete boys came over and we made candy and played cards. Last night some of the Rho Eta boys - Mr. Holbrook, Mr. Will Thomas and Mr. Royce Strohn stayed after dinner and we repeated the performance of the night before. To-day all the girls are asked over to the Zete house by Mrs. Baker for five o'clock Christmas dinner which I think is very jolly. This morning we had a dear Christmas service and Mr. Prof. Fairclough asked me to her home for Christmas dinner but of course I couldn't accept, but Theodora and I are going to call there to-morrow, as well as at the Stillmans, Angels, Gilmans, Teggarts, Jordans, Thetas, Mrs. Bralys and the Kappas!

I hope you like the picture. The one in the center of the large group is Helen Younger, the three on the right side Jessie Haskel, Alice Colt, and I; the three on the left side are Miriam, Kathe Hadkell, and Marylyn Main, Marylyn sits corresponding to me. I was sorry we sent them to Cazerona but they will be there on your return from Rome. I sent the back view to show you how the little party gown was made that shows better than any of the pictures. I don't know as you will care for that view, if you do not you can send it back, if you do be sure and keep it the same with the big group.

We were delighted with the excellent picture of you in the GIsland group. It looks just like you. I am glad to see Elsie keeps her mouth open in a picture too, I simply cannot shut mine. We are going to spend New Years with Mr. Myrick which will give me a chance to get me a suit for the second semester, and have a change tool. In the meantime I can rest and mend. It really is very very pleasant staying here. Dr. Jordan is just home and we are all so thankful we hope to have the matron changed the one we have is too old and unintellectual to be in anyway competent.

It was so much fun last night to see the girls unpack their Christmas boxes - such quantities of lovely things and fruit cakes, candies, jams etc., I have eaten myself full several times which is a swell sensation for a Roble girl.

Prof. Anderson is such a dear darling old blessing I just love him; he is too nice and sociable for anything. So is Miss Daralu - my education instructor. Gertrude is spending her Christmas with Dean in Marysville.

I had a Columbia spectator come yesterday from Jack Reynolds, one of the twenty Stanford men who are at Columbia or in New York now.

Theodora is so enthusiastic and wrapped up in her work, she can scarcely wait to go to the Institute in San Jose next week - Think of it! She looks very well in her beautiful new tailor gown.

We are having delightful Christmas weather just enough sunshine to make the frost brilliant every morning. The Encina boys take their in Roble during vacations which is a pleasant diversion - as there are quite a number of the nice ones staying. The Sigma Sigma party was postponed till next term and is to very extra superfine. When it does come off. So I am still waiting to wear the dear Liberty scarf. Give

[written] 8

[typed] Saturday after luncheon Feb. 6 - 917

My dear darling, Nannie

Have just read your letters and of course must talk back right straight off. I wish to goodness I had made a record but the only reason people are so lovely to me is because they all have such a lovely recollection of Mamma, even Mrs. Baker who never knew her.

Yesterday afternoon Marylya Main and I went to call on the Judsons Jordans - Mrs. Jordan did look so pretty and Edith always appears well in her own home. Dr. Jordan came in before we left and he told us all about his writing the poem that I send you in the Sequoia, it is a beautiful thing, and he wrote it in the dreary little cabin of a British man o' war. He said it had been a dark cloudy day and just before night, a rift came in the clouds and snt a ray of light with into his little cabin. it fell on the picture of Mrs. Jordan on his wall and inspired himm with the poem he wrote a couple of days after. He said he thought it was a "good poem and he guessed he liked it better than anyone else would." He is so in love with Mrs. Jordan and her with him that no wonder all the world loves such two lovers.

In the evening we met them again at the Roble Faculty reception and Dr. Jordan is such an old dear when he wants to be, after he has made the prettiest kind of a complement he says "I can't do any better then that".

Today Helen and Alice Colt have gone into the city to do a little shopping and to see N.....in Marie Stuart. Next Saturday Theodora wants me to go with her which I am more than tickled to do tho' I don't know what she is going to get. This some evening some of the Sigma Rho Eta are coming here and we are going to have a little dance. Yesterday Mrs. Anderson was up in the quadrangele she was looking quite I thought, but her mothers life is really a question of days. she feels more resigned I think as her mother looked very philosophically upon death which is a great comfort to Mrs. Anderson. Theodora I think is very well and very busy - full of golf and making plans for making shirtwaists. I was glad to hear from Mrs. Start. Our week of rain is over as today is a lovely one. Am so delighted with the Shelley and the ribbon and the envelops and the four dollars.

Bye Bye your Toodles.