Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 1 (Rose) 1

[typed] Sunday- September the eighth 1895.

My dearest Nannie,

How I wish you could see us this morning in our cosy room. Everyone says "Oh, how homey" the minute they come into the door. But I am not going to describe it, so you will be surprised when you come down. The university has its same atmosphere of peaceful grandeur that it had in the summer even though there is a registration of eight hundred and six students. Last night there was a rush between the Freshman and the Sophs. The sophomores won. The Freshmen consist of the shortest youngest boys imaginable., and had but little chance against full fledged college men. By way of special disgrace the class of '99 was tied and marched in front of Roble and their faces lighted up by torches, it seemed pityful to see the poor little freshies so in the hands of the older men, but probably they thought it the grandest night of their lives.

Miss Thompson is lovely. The Hall is not very full and the girls are very nice. I had a letter from Helen Lathrop. She is not coming back. She feels that it is too expensive. Her father is better and she is with him at Crystal Springs.

Mr. Peete called yesterday in the Episcopal garb. He is delightful - such a courtly gentleman of the old school. He said Dr. Wakefield was expected home soon having been ill in Venice with the fever, and all his money stolen besides. It struck me as being perfectly ludicrous but I managed to be politely solicitous. How splendid it is that Mr. Foote is better. No doubt they enjoyed a glimpse of you so much. Do give so much love to Auntie Sue. Theodora was so glad to see her at the station the day she was in San Jose. To-morrow the classes meet for the

[written] 6

[typed] but thought afterward of a number of people but I had spent my extra twenty cents in balloons for Rob. and Gladys. On my way to the Valencia St. station I stopped off at Louise's , had a glimpse of the children- they both seemed well. I got on the train to find Miss Bessie Blossom who had gone down with us in the morning and also dear lovely Mrs. Jerohuan and Prof. Jerohuan. Isn't she beautiful? I told her about you and Aunt Clair and Uncle Lemson's going and she and Prof. Jerohuan asked Theodora and me to come over there, and they would meet us whenever we would let them know. And they promised to see us whenever they came to the university. The ride down was very short and I reached Roble just in time for dinner. Theodora and I accepted a Kappa Kappa Gamma (girl's fraternity) invition to go for a moonlight ride. About twenty girls went in the very long bus. The night was very beautiful and we rode beyond Redwood city and back, stopping at the Braly's for ice-cream and cake on the way home. The poor Braly girls are broken hearted over the loss of their pet dog- Sir Peter. Bertha was devoted to the little thing, and the other day when she was out driving she ran over it and killed. it. The shock has quite unnerved her. She didn't go on the drive nor we didn't see her in the evening. The drive was beautiful, coming home Miss Kitty Hasket (a Vassar girl) and I sat in the drivers seat and enjoyed it so much. The girls sang and made themselves lively.

( page six of letter missing)

....Would you like the syllabi for the course? I can get it for you if you do. Prof. Howard is such an ardent, interesting apeaker. I like Prof. Andersen sever so much but want to do so well under him that I don't do well at all. French is great fun, and Anglo Saxon very dry but highly beneficial. Sometime this week I want to go to San Jose to get the stiffening for my black sleeves, that is out at Mrs. Ballins and get Miss Smead to put it in order. If I were where I had

[written] Theodora p. 9 a VIII

[typed] Stanford University, Cal. Oct.13 1895

My dear Anni-

Rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, rah,--Stanford !! !! The second decision is rendered in favor of Mrs. Stanford and the University.-- Dr. Jordan was in San Francisco yesterday, and on reaching Palo Alto the boys had gotten a hack, decorated it with chinese lanterns and attaching a long rope to it, drew him and Mrs. Jordan to Roble--(as many as could get hold of the rope-) when he made a very enthusiastic speech, closing with the words - "The doors of Stanford University will never close "!

Rose and I missed it all except the bon-fire, for we missed the 5:30 train and had to come on the 6:40. I had gone up to talk with Fred a little. Rose to get her waist - which is very pretty - but won't be done until Thursday - Then having the rest of the afternoon, our idle brains cast about to see what we could do. "Tribly " is having a popular run now and many of the Profs. went up to see it - Doctor Jordan and wife included - so we decided if we could get cheap seats we would go. The seats were a 1.00 and a dollar and a half but we managed to get good seats in the gallery for 35¢ and there were all respectable people around us. It was in the 2nd gallery and we didn't know what ( at first) we were getting into ! but what was our astonishment to see a number of out Stanford friends among our neighbors ! It is a very strong play - and nothing improper in the presentation. Rose enjoyed every minute of it but we had to come away before the last act in order to catch our train and then missed it. Wasn't that prevoking?

Laura Clark sent me last night another picture of herself. She is devoted to her camera and takes very good pictures.

I am afraid you will be discouraged about our pictures - but expect to see Mr. Heath in the evening.

[written] 6 (Rose) 7 19

[typed] Nov. 10, 1895

My dearest Nannie.

Theodora went down yesterday to stay over Tuesday with the Mabury's and I didn't go because it was a dollars more expense than I wanted to indulge in. It seemes as if half the university were gone without Ora but your letter came and was as good and such a treat-I should just like as not eat you up. About the only excitement on hand is the preparation for a Roble reception to be given to the boys two weeks from yesterday. These receptions have always been very stiff and unpopular and now they are making a great effort to make them a success. I find myself on the refreshment committee and am determinded to have the poor youths well fed, so yesterday scoured Palo Alto for bids on ice cream and cake. The cake I know will be good because it is to be made at a home bakery in Palo Alto where I got Ora's birthday cake that was delicious, for extra emergency cakes I can get excellent 666666 walnut wafers from Pine Cottage, both places are run by women in need of work so I am going to divide the order between them. The ice cream is not yet decided upon. Friday "As You Like It " was given near Escondita Cottage. It was not so very good - the trees not being thick enough to give distance or protection to the actors, and the company were amateur. Rosalind was played by a Miss French whom I used to know when visiting Grace De L. in Sant Cruz. We sat right in the front row and she recognized me but I was so stupid as not to smile back. She did very very well though she did not remind me much of

It was very trying for the actors to be in the broad day light with usno footlights to set them off. The Stanford Glee club

[written] 23

[typed] I have walked to Palo Alto nearly every(day). I was on the refreshment committe for the Roble reception to the boys; rather I was the committee. I thought at the time that I would never act in that capacity again, but as the refreshments were better than they ever had befor, and there was more than enough for everyone and I didn't run them into debt I feel quite repaid for my trouble. We had strawberry icecream and pineapple ice with homemade walnut wafers. The reception was a great success. Theodora wore her lavendar and I my new waist. Next Monday Encina has invited Roble over to eat a Thanksgiving dinner with them. In the history of the University is only the second thing Encina has ever done, and it will be a very nice thing. To-day there are just twenty girls in the hall - two of them had boxes sent from home and they gave a Thanksgiving dinner to us all - chicken, cranberry, cake, nuts, fruit, cocoa and all the pretty dishes and silverware the hall could offer. One of the girls did the decoration with scarlet geraniums and massed in the center and honeysulckle spraying to the corners. The dinner cards were footballs painted on paper. Mr. Peete had service at eight o'clock before the train left, and Ora and I walked over to it. When we got back I curled up and finished Anthony Hope's "Prisoner of Zenda" Have you read it? It seems to me to be a very good blood and thunder fairy tale. Two more hours before we can hear. It is pouring yet. The figures on the museum have almost faded into the mist.