Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 22

[typed] Saturday morning, April 10-97

My dear darling Nannie

I am just jumping up and down with delight. You are too dear for anything to send Lolie and me the shirt waists, and I was just thinking I never would have any more collars and I need them like fury - you act so sweet I am afraid your nieces will break you utterly - and the worst of it is I am standing on my head with joyful expectation of the box. Theodora is going to spend Easter with me so can the things down then. She will be tickled to death and I am so glad you sent the box to her 'cause it will be so jolly for her to get it. Of all things I wanted it was a petticoat - did I write you so or did you just know it? I was most out of those than anything. I hope the Mississippi floods have subsided for I can hardly wait.

Your letter was so interesting about being in New York. What a shame you missed Mrs Bliss but probably you have seen her by this time. I know th Catherine Adams the sister of the one who went with Marjorie Scott but never met Evangeline - doesn't it seem funny to think of going to Brazil just to sing ! Yes Theodora got the National Cloaks Cos. catalogue and we both liked the suits ever so much. I shall look up no. 21. Yes indeed isn't Maggie Scott magnificient? What a shame you should have been ill but it is a blessing you had such good weather to be sick in.

Summer has come here - it is a perfectly darling day - the air is so soft and caressing and the birds and the poppies look so happy. I was so amused at what you said about Waldo Williams. He is in the University now - when we had the last Shakespeare examination that was such a stunner I felt as if I should walk out of the room a la Waldo which expressed just the feeling all of the class had afterwards when we compared notes. I have a very vivid picture of the kind of a man Mr. Jackson is - I am so glad you have had such a pleasant visit. Gertrude is spending today with precious Lolie and tomorrow comes here to spend her vacation - of course I am delighted. I love to think of you in the heliotrope gown. How stylish it must be this year when that color is so much the thing. Epsilon Chi loves you ever so much and I am always forgetting to send the messages Marylyn Main, Miriam and the girls send.

Last night was the night of the Glee club concert in the chapel I believe I told you Mr. Pitcher called and asked me to go but I was so gladI didn't, for yesterday I accepted an invitation to subsitute for Kitty Haskell to go to a little welsh rarebit party at Mr. Nash's bachelor quarters in Encina. He is the librarian now, and was the Stanford's private secretary. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges - the architect and his wife - Marylynne and Kittie were invited but Kittie had a tooth ache and put a porous plaster on the outside of her face and let it stay too long so has been wretched ever since and could not go last night. So I went in her place although I know the Hodges very slightly and had never met Mr. Nash but we had such a jolly time. The curator of the museum Mr. Schlopbach - was the other gentleman. We played six handed euchre and then went into another room - the guest chamber of Encina - where a table set for six and we made rarebit and had patties, stuffed olives, fruit and candy till the lights went out. It was truly unique and very enjoyable, especially to as Mr. Schlopbach has not been in this country very long and has a strange and wonderful uncommand of the language which was very funny. He is the best curator the museum has ever had, and knows everything. He came home with us and told about his travels in a very interesting way. Mr. Nash is a fierce looking

[written] Oct 4 '97 37

[typed] delighted with the Thanksgiving day treat you have promised me - you don't know what an added zest it gives to the football practice every afternoon at 4:30. Out of the money you said you were going to send I think I can save enough for a Stanford photograph or two. With the birthday money, I am going to either get Mama's picture framed or get me a little Stanford pin (1.25) so you see I am as happy as a king with the dear pleasure my Nannie has promised. me. All the girls have been laughing and talking at such a rate that it has been most difficult to write down the words I wa nt to use and there are such millions of things that come flitting through my head to talk about.

Phil Abbott called last evening but it was rather of a bore, The girls all josh me as being the only person that can"jolly up" with Dr. Jordan - it. seems too easy for anything to have the wittiest kind of talks with him and he has done me the great honor of showing off my room to his distinguished guests. Gertrude made me a flying little visit a couple of weeks ago and was too lovely for anything - she told me about your letter to her and you know I am sure what a heartfull of gratitude I have. Kittie and I are hoping to get schools together though she is constantly talking about taking me home with her in Pennsylvania, as is also Miss Snow who plans to go to her home at Christmas, too. I must write to Trude and Lolie so

Bye bye Rose

I promise a better letter soon - before next Sunday

[written] 40

[typed] Sunday Dec. 12 '97

My dearest Nannie

Saturday morning bright and early my dear birthday letter from you came and I at once purchased two Stanford pins at a dollar and a quarter apiece one for Lolie and one for Rose and the rest is to go for Stanford photos to remember the dear old Alma Mater, nannie and my twenty second birthday by forever. And now I want to tell you what a beautiful birthday I had. For a week I had kept a little box in my lower bureau drawer without looking at it, supposing it to be a much desired Stanford pin. The night before I put it under my pillow with Mama's picture to be opened the first thing in the morning. All night I dreamed about my having a Stanford pin and having all kinds of dreadful things happen to it even to being stuffed in my punch. in the morning I woke up with a disappointed feeling and a wish that I were not so old that I could not be surprised any more and then sneaked down to the bathroom where to open my box by myself - when what do you suppose I found ! A most lovely pearl crescent pin and a tiny little pearl finger ring - just what I had longed for and always thought of as so far out of the range of the possible. Just imagine .' I haven't squeeled so since I used to hang up my stocking, I tore into Kittie's room to disply my pleasure and I think I never in all my life was so pleasedand I always shall be pleased anew whenever I see it and wear it - wasn't Lolie an angel? I am going to foward her little birthday note just to show you how dear she was.

The day was one of surprises - for later a box came from Mrs. Younger, Helen's mother, with two beautiful birthday cakes - prset- beautifully decorated with glazé cherries and fruits and oh they were so good .' A silver mounted crest came from Louise and a promise ofthe money for a purse from Gertrude with ever so many dear letters from the girls that happened to come on that day. So you see my cup was running over full and I am filled with a desire to be as good as I ought to be with such precious relatives. Yesterday evening was the faculty reception given by Roble, and Kit and I had a best time with the Bachelors and Mr. and Mrs. Pierce This afternoon Kit, Marylyn and I attended the Peirces smal usual Sunday afternoon gathering and had such a good time. Professors Allardice, Snow, Campbell, Young, Duninway and Dudley were all there. We wrote a composite letter of a line a piece to Mr. Allardice's supposed fiance - in which all of his idiocycrasies were detailed. Mr. Snow addressed it to Miss Milly Little Wit? Last change, Salt Lake Co., Utah.

This evening Phil Abbott is going to call - next Friday evening the Bachelors give a little card celebration to which Kit, Marylyn, Florence Pouts and I are asked. Next Saturday evening is the Theta girls reception and next Sunday Kit Marylyn and I are invited over to the Zete house to dine with Dr. and Mrs. Jordan. In the meantime I have my hands full of examinations, I suppose,although only one has so far been announced. Theodora comes down this week. Have finished the Choir invisible. Yesterday evening Mary Caldwell, Kit, Jessie Haskell and I spent the evening with Mrs. Peirce reading out loud and mending - later eating marmalade which Mrs. P. keeps on hand for my special benefit and fruit.

Thanks so much for my happy birthday

your Rose

[written] 42

[typed] December 26, 1897

My dearest Nannie -

This paper isn't telling the truth for I am writing at Mrs. Myricks 2345 Broadway on the day after Christmas but this is all the paper I have with me and it is my last piece. I am so sorry that I didn't get a line to reach you on Xmas day as you did me, but Nannie - I never in all my life went thru such a cyclone of daily examinations and papers in my life - some of them lasting two and three or three and half hours. But they are all over now and I think all passed, with the best one and the best mark in a general review of English literature under Dr.Flugel and Prof. Anderson. The first time that such an examination has been given in the Eng. department, so I shall feel especially stuck up over my degree. They are not granted however till January 14th. There were several final festivities - an evening spent at the Bachelors playing all sorts of gambling games with Mr. Allardice, Mr. Nash, Mr. Snow, Mr. Young, Dr. Angel, Dr. Campbell, Mr. Peirce, and Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Hopkins beside Florence Park, Kittie Haskell, Marylyn Main, Marie Markham and Mrs. Peirce. Then, there was a reception at the Theta House where the same little coterie met, an at Home and Mrs. Jordans, a dinner at the Zete house given by Mrs. Peirce with the Bachelors- by Mrs. Baker and best of all Christmas evening spent at Mrs. Peirce's with the Bachelors Mrs. Peirce read from the Birds Chritsmas Carol about the Ruggles family Xmas dinner, Mr. Campbell sang, we played twenty-one, prepartory to having an auction of 10cent Xmas gifts. It was great fun and we had mince pie refreshments - Kittie serving them and I made tea with the help of Mr. Allardice and Mr. Pierce. The next morning (Christmas) Theodora and I accepted Mrs. Myricks' invitation to come up here and we are having such a good time.

The Christmas dinner was so good and this morning Theodora and I went to St. Lukes to hear a sermon by Bishop Michols and a confirmation service. Kittie, Jessie and Fred Haskell are coming up to-morrow for a week and maybe Helen Younger will come too, so we are looking forward to a great lark and good time. I am going back to the university with Kittie Haskell to pack and make calls. I have joined the Teacher's agency and am overwhelmed with lovely recommendations. I applied for the English position in the Santa Cruz High School but that is not till next September. It is a difficult thing to get a position now and if I don't succeed I am going to go down to the University Tuesdays and Thursdays for Bibliography work - an Eng. History course and a general Eng. lit course. I love it up here at Mrs. Myrick's and am getting very fond of their little brown house round the corner.

Money matters are in a particularly encouraging state and oh I am so much obliged (Which doesn't half express it) for sending the letter to Mr. Gosbey about you paying Gertrude my debt. The family allowance is to be continued so I get twenty every month. I wonder if I told you about Mr. Peets death two weeks ago today. After the service in the evening an and an afternoon spent with St. Andrews brotherhood he simply fell lifeless in the lobby of the Palo Alto hotel. The day before Kittie had been with him to have such fine photos taken. She gave me one of the large ones for Christmas and I am so delighted. He was buried in the chancel of the church Bishop Nichols,Dr. Wakefield,Mr. Gassman Dr. Breuer officiating Judge Myrick sends love, and I am hurrying to finish before dinner.

Wishing you a happy New Year

Your Rose.