Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 5 (ROSE) 10

[typed] Sunday evening, October 13, 1895

My dearest Nannie-

Theodora tells me she has written her second letter to you this week and reminds me I am lacking in my record. So doubt she has told you all important events of the week so I shall act as Bulletin Supplement. We are all excited over examination I in French Revolution next Tuesday and my mind is densely befogged in Feudal Rights and Incidents not to mention direct and indirect taxation. Last Monday was rather a gay day for me. Alex Cotton and Howard Trinecto two of Grace Clark's friends were down from the city visiting "Baby (?)" Cotton, and they succeeded in taking up the 2nd and 3rd hours Monday morning by"treating" at Rices - the ice-cream center, and in squandering time generally. I had gone to French the 3rd hour, when there was a knock and Prof. Davidson said some one wished Miss Payne whereupon I walked out to find Grace, Laura, and the three boys, plotting an impromptu watermelon feast to which I immediately went regardless of French. We are reading, by-the-way, "La Mare au Diable" by George Sand a very pretty little story. Monday aftermoon Alice Cowen asked me to go riding in her pretty dogcart, and of course I went as I missed two rides with her before. We had a lovely ride to Menlo Park and around the university. Tuesday, I think it was, that Theodora, Laura, Miriam and I went to an interclass football game. Don't be too shocked to hear that we are all enthusiastic, for the first time in my life I found myself madly applauding. The joke of it is I don't more than half understand the game, and always cheer for any but my own class. I don't remember much about Wednesday so guess I studied. Thursday, squandered most of my morning with Tom, who had just heard from his father. He felt very flush so we went down to "Rices". I

[written] p. 12 c XII

[typed] until the day was past! but Rose this morning tumbled the box of delicious nuts into my bed with your good letter and I was made very happy. And the dear little points - just what I have wanted and prettier than any of the girls wear.

O! I have had just the loveliest most unexpected kind of a birthday. In the first place all my lectures were perfectly enjoyable; But at French Revolution I missed Rose, and wondered where whe was, but when I went to our room at noon, I knew the reason. It was sweet with flowers. Two exquisite bunches of violets and ferns - one from Rose and another from Alice Colt,another dear girl. The pictures were decorated with the loveliest red grape leaves - beautifully autumned. Large white chrysanthemums in Rose's pretty vase and a most artistic sprawling bunch of small sun flowers, in the reading room. I was truly overcome - it was so unexpected and so like Rose. In the afternoon Mrs. Ballington Booth the Salvation army woman spoke in the Chapel to an immense audience. I was duly inspired - but always knew their work was a grand one. That was the 3rd treat. Afterwards I went to the library determined to study but my mind was too full of other things and I thot by the time I had had the walk over to the hall I could settle down to work there - but what was my delight to find Gertrude there. Wasn't it lovely of her! And she had made up into the handsomest bag - just as rich as Mrs. McGrens-the canvas she worked for me. The silk is a beautiful quality of heavy black corded silk and the change from the satin is a pleasant one. I was totally h happy with it for I have wondered how I was ever to get it made, and I needed it so much. Rose had gotten in Palo Alto a birthday cake and after dinner 8 of the girls came in and enjoyed it with me. And Mrs. Forte had sent each of us a delicious glass of jam so I dedicated mine to the occasion. When the girls had all gone except Miriam and Helen Younger ( one of the most attractice girls I have ever met)

[written] 27

[typed] perfect La France roses and a mounted glass covered photo of Reynolds Angels Heads for use, with a fried chicken, biscuits, butter, olives,and pickled peaches - what a feast. We had dinner in our room. Table decorations roses and beautiful violets and maiden hair from Theodora and Miriam Maclaren with slated almonds and box of Maskey's choisest for dessert - just think what those two girls did + its a lesson to humanity and they went on the 8 o'clock train, and afterwards Miriam, Helen, Alice Colt and Felice Cohn came in and feasted on the rest of the chicken, cake, olives, crackers, candy and nuts. After they went I studied my verbs and now it is midnight and I must say good-night but first with unexpressible love to and thanks to my Nannie and a prayer that I may become worthy of all the lessons the past twenty years have taught me not the least of which is you noble generous life. I must not leace out that we have a most cordial invitation from the to spend the holidays with them and also from Mrs. Myrick for Gertrude, Theodora and I to spend Xmas with them, both of which we may accept. And now I am going to sleep to dream of my good-fairy Nannie , of al the things I haven't been, and all the things I'm going to be and of one of the most surprisingly happy birthdays imaginable Your 20 yr. old Toodles.

[written] p. 22 17

[typed] St.Mathew's School, San Mateo, Cal. Monday- Aug. 31st '96

My dearest Nannie - -

Your poor distressed letter came just before I left home and I feel like [written:] such a brute to think that [typed:] I have spoiled your summer pleasure. Just at present I am in a happy transition "all that's past is gone, you, know, the future is but a dream" and for the present I am staying a day or two with my dear Lolie at this most delightful place. She is so happy here and it is such a wholesome congenial atmosphere with good board, wonderful views and air and delightful people to make one happy, and I am in a very exuberant frame of mind at the prospect of getting back to dear old Stanford - that city of refuge from all that has ever been unhappy in my life. We left the house - it is no longer home - Friday at noon when the Toucoup took possession. I found an excellent man who swept the whole house so thoroughly and I saw to the woodwork and . Charles cleaned the yard and barns and porches and my man Friday washed the windows. In the course of two days all was[written] sweet and clean, and Friday & Saturday nights I stayed with Laura occupying the intervening day with paying bills and calls. Louise went to Santa Cruz for a month or so. I saw poor Auntie Sue - Mr. Minn died early Tuesday morning - he heard the news of a law suit that had been decided against him and that meant a few thousand as his loss and the business[written] worry combined with his great physical pain made life too great a burden for him and at about four A.M. Tuesday he went to the water, clothed in his stocking feet and blew his brains out. He made a deed of the homestead to Aunt Sue and wrote a note to the coroner requesting no autopsy and stating his suicide & the reasons for it. The funeral was Thursday afternoon. Poor Aunt Sue seems crused indeed but Maurice keeps as cheery and bright as can be. I went also to see Mr. & Mrs. Hazelton who have been so kind to us this summer in giving us practical advice and comfort. The rest of the friends I was too tired to call upon. I shall write to them but I know they do not understand how utterly impossible it has been to be social in the swift purgatory of the summer months - had there been time besides the house-work, sewing and business affairs to visit it would not have been so unpleasant but there was not time.. The allowance question is just as good as assured - a few weeks and it will be entirely settled, possibly in less time; then Theodora has turned over her twenty to add to mine which gives me forty a month and I feel like bloated bondholder at the very prospect. The Goodnough interest is due - an amount of 400, and there is a little coming in from the ranch in hay, dried fruit, vegetables, etc. I came here yesterday, stopping off between trains to unpack my trunks at Roble and get my dress box moved up to Miriam's room a corner room - southeast - on the second floor - I have a pretty view of the quadrangle and of the hills, three large windows and so much sunshine - the room is larger, pleasanter, airier and sunnier than the room last year - and I am resolved to keep it neat and be systmatic and I know it will be pretty. I still have Mr. Hermes fur rugs to give a Bohemian air to the floor. I caught a glimpse of the new matron, but could judge very little of her, she seemed to a moderately old woman with a bank of little gray curls on her forhead - not Miss Thompson's intellectual type - a commentary on Mrs. Stanford's taste. Theodora has just spent her half hour recess with me - her hours are so short and it such a delightful place that both of us are happier than larks. I must begin my personalhousecleaning now as everything from my hair to my nails needs a thorough overhauling - though so far I have discovered no moths! Got such a good letter from Gertrude which I enclose. Am going to have my party dress made when I need it - I believe I have never thanked you

[written] p. 26

[typed] Sunday - - Nov.8 - '96

My dearest Nannie,

If I let Sunday go by there is simply not a second all through the week in which I can write to my Nannie and last Sunday I slept greatly to from my astonishment from luncheon to dinner. What a quiet election! Mrs. Rice who mothers the Sigma Rho Eta boys asked Alice Colt, Miriam & me to spend the day with her as she would be all alone for all the boys were in San Francisco. So we did and had a merry time. Mr Bronco stayed home to help do the honors and he and Mrs. Rice hired a three seater & we drove to Santa Clara & back in the afternoon & came back to a delicious chicken dinner; in the evening Stuart Cotton unexpectedly came back from the city & thought he had found a young ladies seminary - we played cards and went to bed quite late. In the morning we came up to the quadrangle about half past eight before any of the boys came back, and we heard the glorious news of McKinley's election. At about eleven-thirty it was announced about the quadrangle that Tom Reed was visiting the university and would address the students in the chapel. Mr Bronco & I happened to meet and he piloted me through the growing mob to seats in the choir and there we waited for Mr. Reed. In the meantime Dr. Jordan asked Prof. Powers, to give his news of the election as he has been conducting the class in practical politics & was a _____ Bryanite, the joke was very much on him & the students fully appreciated for they cheered & cheered him with shouts of McKinley. Dr. Jordan as usual said the right thing expressing his joy by saying that now he would make his trip to Washington to report on the Behring Sea commission in a sleeper instead of a tourist. He excused Mr. Reed who was at the stock farm as being too tired to give any more addresses, the students mobbed the[written] guadrangle entrance & got a few elevating words of wisdom from him. Since then we have been having tremendously heavy work in Shakespeare & Wordsworth to much more than take up our time.

The Jordan party was very pretty and my gown came in plenty of time - the dearest sweetest dress I ever had, made beautifully & fitting beautifully too. It is quite a baby waist with small puff caps & little __shing around the neck with a bow on one shoulder and the ribbon tied around my waist in another beautiful bow:the skirt plain with the under skirt turned in two ruffles with a knife plated foot ruffle underneath. It is simply dear, or dearly simple either way. The morning after I remembered it was the last chance I had to use the San Mateo commutation ticket and as I had a lot of clean clothes for Lolie I jumped on the train in great haste & surprised the dear child; we had a very happy afternoon together & I came home in time for dinner. I had a glimpse of Mrs. Jowalman on the quadrangle one day, she looked so beautiful; & told me about seeing you this summer. Did I ever tell you that the Sigma Rho Eta's were the old Tizia whom we dined with during summer school? They were dissatisfied with their original charter & have withdrawn forming themselves with a local fraternity & probably waiting their time before applying for a very best national one. It was a very wise thing for them to do. They have made the strongest laws for themselves that no smoking, swearing, drinking or chewing be allowed in their house beside several other commendable sumptuary lawsbesides not talking with the girls on the quadrangle!

The Saturday evening after Thanksgiving the girls in the Hall are going to give a very swell dance have Mrs. Stanford & everything very scrumptous to celebrate the game no matter how it turns out.