Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[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