Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[written] 14

[typed] on the 9:36 train of San Jose. It was a beautiful morning and we walked to the Station as we had missed the 8:10 train and supposed we had plenty of time. Helen Younger, a lovely Santa Cruz girl went with us, when to my consternation we discovered we had only six minutes to make the last half of the distance in, we made it by running the last block. Good fortune seemed to follow us all day. I took my dress to a Mrs. Brown(?) a woman who makes all the dresses for one of the best clothed girls here. She generally goes into sew sew at $2.50 but said she would make my dress for 5 or 6 dollars at home and within the week. It is to be a plain dress with tartilin under-peticots made about like my dimity skirtthe neck is to have a ripple accordian pleated ruffle with bunches or rather bouquets of double violets on the shoulder and white satin belt ribbon. Miss Erkus(?) could do nothing for Theodora so on the recommendation of Meda mcMillian and Jeanie Mayberry whom we saw in the street she took it to a Mrs. Maxon who promises to remodel it within the week with white satin caps. I left an order for white evening gloves and will be fixed and so will Theodora for the future. That little white imitation ivory fan you gave me is just in style and I am going to use it. We took luncheon with Gertrude and what should she and Miss McKinnon (whom we met taking two children to a dog show]] do but get a surrey and horse and drive us out to Allis Ballon's in the afternoon - I got some whale bones and hooks and eyes out there, and Theodora had a little visit with Allis. We got back in time to take the six o'clock train back and get a seven o'clock dinner. After dinner Theodora, Alice Colt Alice Wheeler and I sat down to a game of whist. I was interupted and surprised by a call from a Mr. Royse Stroher (Figi) a very nice boy in most of my classes. Helen Younger took my hand at cards and

[written] p. 18 13

[typed] Sunday - June 28 - '96

My dearest Nannie,

Your dear good letter came yesterday at noon, and Lolie and I laughed at the "p Letitia" gratifying your most most justifiable envy in such a unique and satisfying a way, and we both most heartily agree with you on the collar-button question - certainly no patent device for the promotion of patience (or the profanity) could be invented. I have all my collars and cuffs made seperate from my shirt waists as it greatly saves washing - I buy very high white linen collars at men's clothing stores and like them very much as now I can get the highest in my size 13 or 13 1/2; so I am quite sure the shirt waist that is too large for you can be made all right for me by putting on one of my collars. I thank you a thousand times over for the shirt waist pattern it fits me beautifully, and this week Theodora and Louise have made me two beauties out of the pink dotted and the striped stuff Theodora bought some time ago. The Kerr's thread has been an equal blessing - I should speak in the past, present and future tense, the past referring to this last week. Mrs. Brown, the dressmaker has been here one day - Thursday, she was ill the first part of the week and Friday & Saturday Miss McKinnon wanted her as she has decided to spend her summer east and is going to start to-morrow I believe, & needed Mrs. B. to get her ready. Mrs. B. got my blue flowered waist almost done and with Theodora's excellent help almost finished the rough & ready skirt I told you of. There proved to be enough material & I know I shall like it hugely as it will be light will not show spots & will be very stylish as such rough goods are going to be the proper winter suiting. She cut out the lining for my pink crêpe waist from which I have gotten a very good waist pattern. Am actually going to let her plan that waist as I haven't any very good ideas for it & she has. That is about all she is going to make for me. The petticoat question for winter wear has settled itself as I told you in my last letter, but I was disappointed to find, after I had put in such a pretty trimming to my black silk petticoat, that it didn't have much wear left in it, and what do you think I have done! With the first intention of making a silk waist I ripped up and pressed Mama's precious little steel blue dress but found that the waist she wore needs only[written] new sleeves and refitting to make the prettiest and dearest waist in the world, with some of the Persian silk that matched for stock collar when I wanted to wear it hight; so I decided to take the best that is in the very full skirt and make me a petticoat of it and use the rest in caps for new sleeves. Do you think that a sacreligious use to make of it; for it will just help out the petticoat problem & make me such a dear waist? I have worn the gloves you sent several times I find them just what I want; I took the 6 3/4 size and 'though they are loose now they will wash all the better. Now we will drop the clothes subject for while. Ohl yes - I am retrimming my navy[written] blue Coughlin hat with the asters Mama had on her little black lace bonnet & blue quills - very stylish & pretty and I am getting so advanced in the milliners art as to contemplate sewing it as I find the use of pins conducive to much loss of plumage - pin feathers not being so very secure (rather flighty in fact)! Have just tried on the paper collar & find that is just the right size - but are you sure you can spare it (Imean the shirt waist) for I shall have three without it. Your blue sample is lovely.

You make my fingers itch to try and write something and I am every so much obliged for your criticism, it is just what I want. But I think have immense conceit to ever think of writing anything and I fairly hate myself for such audacity. Haven't nearly finished the N___ yet as I simply don't find time: we go to bed very early & get up early - when

[written] p. 23 18

[typed] Monday - Aug.31st '96

for your dear generous offer to contribute to the making of it. Five dollars would about cover Mrs. Brown's bill for the making and I think I save that out of my allowance besides money to get me a new spring suit. The board I think will be cheaper but do not know how much.

Bye-bye Your loving Toodles.