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-

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[typed] Stanford University, Cal. January 7th, 1896

My dear Nannie - -

My Sunday letter was very unsatisfactory to myself: there had been so much to tell you about that I know I merely mentioned the facts without expatiating on them at all. And now begins more to tell you about since we are back again in this cheery, lovely place. First of all, I got through in everything, and in history, my major unit--Dr. Howard my last examination was marked "Excellent" and he said it was one of the very best in the class of one hundred and twenty. I was so pleased. Rose got "Good"--which is very good when we found out little by little how many are conditioned.

The Campbells are willing to leave San Jose--but of course are bound to our place until June, hence they are looking for other occupants, subject to our approval. And another thing, I shall not rent books, table linen, bed linen or towels: for that means we must keep the house so supplied if we rent it with that understanding. I have first filled out a blank giving Mr. Mabroy a proxy to vote our Woolen Mill Stock. It is thought a dividend will be declared, and that the stock will come up if they put the tariff back on wool. Yesterday, when we got back from San Jose, whom should we find composedly reclining on our lounge but Mrs. Mynck who had stopped off on her way back from the farm. She gave us such a happy vacation, and when one doesn't hold all her shortcomings up to view, she is very much more lovable. And the judge, too, appeared so nice.

A letter tonight from Mr. Crosby asks us if we are willing to sell Punch. Mr. Polhemus wishes to buy him. Rose and I have decided that it seems the best thing to do--as if in the coming year we can dispose of the ranch, there will be no place for Punch and of course as he gets older, there would be less money value to him. I shall be so glad when things are settled and there are not so many goods and chattels to look after. This idea of re-renting the house perplexes me much. The books, I am going to store in the attic--I am not going to be so foolish as to rent them again, tho from appearances they look very well. Rose has not yet written to you this week so I have the privilege of telling of a little evening we had with a few of the boys last Friday. Rose had for some time wanted to have the boys over to make welch rare-bit--Helen Younger has a very pretty chafing dish and I had become quite expert in making them at Mrs. Mynck's and at the Maburys. I was quite aghast however when Rose Friday afternoon said she had asked Tarn McGrea - Stewart Cotton - Royce Strother and Philip Abbot (Rose says "bless him") so you see her sentiments. Well if you are acquainted with rarebits you know that they must be made of (can be made in fact - only of fresh Eastern cheese, and Rose had gotten the cheese at Mayfield instead of at Palo Alto because we could get no beer in Palo Alto--it being a temperance town. The boys all came (hungry they said) and we had a jolly kind of a time. They are all interesting boys--can sing and play and talk well. But the cheese wasn't good and wouldn't rarebit a little bit--it hung in one great heavy mass--Wasn't it horrid! but we had besides, fruitcake and tea and the boys ate the rarebit nevertheless and declared it was good. Rose the next morning only remarked that "boys were regular goals" to eat such stuff--which I thought a poor return for their inimitable politeness. They have been seen since on the "Quad" so we know that they aren't killed but I

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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] '96 p. 13 8 [typed] May

My dear Nannie--

This Fr. Revolution lecture is awfully stupid, even though it is the next to the last, and I am going to take the notes in paper transferable to you. You would laugh if you knew the way I write to you nowadays. In Eng.11--the short story class, we have had to write letters, so I always write to you except on theme paper, & then, of course I can't realize that you don't get them. Last night I dropt into the funniest lecture by a railroad official I fancy in the Canadian Pacific Railway. The lantern slides were beautiful & recalled vividly the trip home. But the lecture was ludicrous, nearly all dialect poetry. The past week has gone quickly--have been writing my Danton paper for Dr. Howard. I am sick and tired of it. Last week was Rose Carnival in San Jose. Stanford day was the great day, & of course we carried off the honors, beat Berkely etc. To-day there is fraternity initiation, and the boys are going around with white cotton gloves on, fishing in the middle of the dry quadrangle, patroling the arcades with mock uniforms & brooms and doing all imaginable nonsense. I think I have told Miss Hardy all your news but I musn't forget to tell you about the loveliest old bridge & stream right near--if only we had found it last summer. The days are perfect now & this morning is the happiest day since May. Poor Meriam Maclaren has had to go home with a carbuncle on her nose. I am afraid she will miss the Commencement week fun. Ed.Schneider is home with Edith Barfield. I haven't seen him yet out here he looks badly, having lost most of his hair.

Bye-bye Toodles.