Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

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[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] p. 6 2

[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.

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[typed] March 24 '96 Roble Hall

My dearest Nannie--

Your letter came to-night and I simply can't go to bed before I write you even though it be on theme paper. You poor dear Nannie, I am so sorry we have been so bad about writing, there is no excuse for such naughtiness, and I am resolved never to do so again. We are having our weeks vacation now. Theodora has gone to San Jose for a day or two to see about affairs there, and I had decided to stay here, as I had my vacation a while ago, and have not been doing my heavy work all term. I shall probably go down to Mrs.Myncks for a change before the week is up. I find this a gay place in vacation time. There have been two dances already, and tennis to-morrow. The first--the dear divinity has very successfully figured at, and me for itself many compliments, thanks to its sweetmaker. Gradually I am making up what I missed when absent, had a very easy examination in W.Rev. under Dr. Howard last Friday in which I aspire to my sisters standard of 95o/o , Am now, working on a thesis for Prof. Anderson, on the last fourteen years of Milton's life in connection with the Restoration. This place is perfectly beautiful now, the fields are a cloak of gold, and the foliage of the vales so dainty and new, with the balmiest of weather to throw a haze over everything-- ! My Lenten dilema is over, as Said Pasha is postponed till after Easter, a week after the opera comes Junior day, which is going to be the finest day on record, farce in the morning in which Laura, Charlotte Phillips and I figure in one scene only, not being principal performers; In the evening is the Junior promenade which your niece is to lead with Mr. Herme--think of it, and in my same little organdy that Theodora brought from the Islands. There is to be a very fine edition of the Sequoia--the Stanford weekly, for which I have been asked to contribute a best effort, and for the illustrations for its center picture I am to pose. I am surprised at this req uest as I have never written anything that anybody ever heard of. As for the pose the face is not knowable when published, so I don't mind. My shirt waists have quite unexpectedly failed me, and I find I have but three to finish the term with, the winter has been so warm, that I have worn shirt waists entirely. Theordora has given me her three lovely pieces--two pink ones & one blue one and is going to see what Mrs.Brown a very good seamstress will make them for, as I simply must have them, and it is impossible to do any such thing oneself here. We are looking forward to keeping house this vacation, and then the sewing I am going to do! Without buying a single new thing but using the materials we have. Last week we mailed a transferancy, hoping it will be a reminder of the dear old quadrangle, and I do hope it will reach you safely and in time; we have not been able to get a frame for it in San Francisco, someone[written] suggested a ribbon frame as a substitute but did not know that you would like it. I think I could write to my Nannie, all night, but the lights are going out.

They are gone

Bye bye till morning--

Toodles

[written] p. 30 25

[typed] Roble Hall Sunday [written] Nov '96

[typed] My dearest Nannie -

Can't for the life of me think what date this is but it is a week before this letter reaches you at most and five days at least, so I'll leave the mathematical computation to you, as "sich like" isn't in my college course.

Ther is but one fact of particular interest to relate this week that I can at present think of. Lat Wednesday, Mrs. Angel called and invited me to an informal little card party for Friday evening-- with apologies for my being the only student there; of course I was flattered & tickled to death and accepted with utmost pleasure. By Friday it occurred to me I had not earthly means of getting there, and Dr. Angel said two bachelor profs were the only ones going from the campus. But I was pretty sure Dr. and Mrs. Fairclough - the Latin professor - would be going, and as I knew them a little from Episcopal affairs I mustered courage to call and ask if I might go with them. Mrs. Fairclough 5 a chirping little English woman was too lovely for anything and said she knew I was a well bred girl for not going alone and would be very pleased to undertake my chaperonage! So much for your niece! I wore my crêpe waist & broadcloth skirt and did so enjoy the pretty home lighted by candelabra & an enormous great flickering fire in the hallway. Of course they had to go & play six-handed euchre which paralized me as I never played it in my life, and of course I found myself speechless for a second time at the second table with Prof. Smith, Prof. Marx, Prof. Kellog & Campbell & Dr. Fairclough the only girl as all the female partners had progresses. I was in misery & was thankful when at the second bell Dr. Fairclough, Prof. Campbell & I were victorious enough to move on to the head table where we found Dr. Angel, Miss Peet (Dr. Peet's pretty coquetish blue eyed daughter) & a Miss Roberts. Refreshments interrupted our victory there, when Prof. Allardice appeared & we ate delicous fried oysters & sandwiches, black coffee & cake together while having a very jolly time - he is the brilliant Edinburgh mathmatician you know, who is just as nice as he is peculiar. Soon we went home; and Dr. Fairclough is about the loveliest man I ever met (including, I think, Charles) he cheered up my terrified introduction to euchre in the most considerate way & was so thoughtful all evening.

The lights are going out and I have thought of a million things I wanted to say - so shall anyway - I began by not wanting my Sunday letter delayed by procrastination which Wordsworth considered a legitimate excuse but the lights are combining with the clock to present in my good intentions.

The sigma sigma senior & junior inter-fraternity is going to give a dance either the 11th or 18th and Mr. Abbot asked me for it which I accepted as all the girls are going and it is to be a pretty party.

I missed the chance of my life to do the polite by Mrs. Stanford last Saturday by my laziness - she was visiting the Hall & asked to see some of the rooms - Mrs. Clements told her she would show her mine and of course I had just gotten up and it was kicking its heels so that by the time I had thrown things in order Mrs. Stanford was driving off - served me just right, didn't it? I am rooming alone now as Miriam is going to come & go every day for the rest of the term. She has shown a wonderful insight into the depths of her sorrow by her cheerful sameness of dress and manner just a jolly & bright as before a fact in itself which makes you know every minute how keen & deep the experience was.

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[typed] Nov. 29 - '96

My dearest Nannie -

Such a jolly time as we had last night at the dance! Theodora came down and surprised me about noon as she had said she wasn't going to come; she went to San Jose in the meantime & made an appointment with Mrs. Mann & came back on the six o'clock train bringing Mrs. Mann with her. Laura stayed with me too so it was all very jolly. I don't know whether I told you I was the chairman of the decoration committee, but I enjoyed the distinction for the last time I served my term which is expected from every one. The decorations were lovely - paper ribbons (Cardinal) fastened up to the chandeliers in the dining room the bulbs covered with cardinal tissue paper to give a cardinal light, & the chandeliers trimmed with mistletoe that grows in such quantities all about here. Mrs. Stanford sent me a wagon load of potted plants that we arranged in the lobby with great (red) berries & hung Chinese lanterns across the rafters. Up-stairs where refreshments were served we had the usual profusion of couches, cushions & screens collected from the girls' rooms & all the dancing was in the dining room lobby & lower hall. Such an easy place for entertaining was never heard of - plenty of men, plenty of room & plenty of very accessible decoration! Theodora looked lovely in her white gown, Laura wore a new beautiful lavender crystal silk with chiffon bodice, & I my little dotted swiss that I made over this summer & that was done up very fresh. Mrs. Stanford didn't come, but sent a very sweet little note with her head gardner which was very, very nice of her. All the spirit & enjoyment of the places seemed so heavily clouded by the sorrow that came to the Maclaren family on Thanksgiving day. The youngest boy - Forrest who was the pride & hope of them all was taken ill Wednesday night with some kind of stomach trouble, but was not considered dangerously ill. Thanksgiving morning Dr. Maclaren preached but at two in the afternoon, the child died. Dr. Miller was the physician and I don't know whether anyone else was called in or not but the trouble is not known. Mrs. Maclaren will be so unutterably lonely for, he was the delicate one of the two boys & the baby whom she was always with. I don't know what Mirriam's plans are as to her return; it is her first sorrow-experience.

The little glimpse of Theodora was so jolly, she looked so well & pretty.

I have completely run out of material to write about except don't worry about me expecially about my over working - for that simply is not in me, it is all together too easy for me to get along with high marks & a pleasant mixture of everything that the college life offers without making a record but as long as I have my work I don't worry and you can't study all the time. I am glad you are having such a happy time in Rome I know you will enjoy it. We have such a good waiter at our table now he does everything for us & rushes , the board seems quite endurable. The weather is simply delicious so frosty cold & bright--good enough to eat & drink.

Bye-bye Toodles

Roble Hall

Belle McMurtry has just been in and told about the sudden death of Mrs. Carrol Gates in Los Angeles. She was expecting to be confined in about a month and while up in the night to tendher little girl who was restless she suddenly dropt dead in the hall. The body was brought ...