Correspondence (Correspondence (outgoing)) with David Starr Jordan, 1904-01

[left page] made again to the "stone age", and that, (when it was over which would be in a short-time) such promises were made to the students as would lead them to think that they were on the eve of a new rebirth as to expansion and growth, for you cannot have forgotten the impressions which I have endeavored to give you,

[right page] [library mark up Sep. 10, '04 113.1]

Dr. David Starr Jordan Stanford University, Cal.

Dear Dr. Jordan:

That notice in the papers I had already seen, and was quite surprised to find that any ceremony was expected in laying the cornerstone of the new library. I should very much prefer

to have it done without any aid of any kind. I prefer to do what is to be done in a quiet unpretentious [unsatirical] manner. I have often wished that I could by a thought raise up the building as a mushroom grows in the night. One of the pleasures of adding to and beautifying the buildings is to do it without the blowing of trumpets, and surprise the students by an added gem here and there. Which will complete the whole in symmetry and perfection as my husband intended.

I was very sorry indeed to notice in a little article in our local paper that in your address the allusion was

as we can this best of friend Father, Love, I could not stay and find pleasure in earth life did I not know and feel this truth.

I am so glad to hear from you that the dear son "Eric and his little Mother are doing well" God singled you out for the gift of this son - he may be the joy of your declining years - he may be a staff for his little Mother to lean upon, our blessings come disguised sometimes. The next letter I write will be to Mrs Jordan. I write but few letters, I needed the absolute rest I am taking. I find this place full of the charm of old - climate about like ours only dryer. The Hotel is full of visitors from all parts of the world. I hoped to start next week for Wady Halfa the old temple

of [Aboo Symble] (should be) Abu Simbel is very wonderful this is at the second cataract - We will be six days by Boat making this trip. I will stop here again and remain a week, making three weeks in all - then go again to Luxor. Stay awhile, then to Cairo, remain two weeks - leaving for Italy the first or second week in March. I want to be in Rome April 3rd for Easter. I have not planned beyond this. I am very thankful to our Good Father that all goes on well with the work under your care. Trust the best friend you have on Earth our Heavenly Father, ask His leading, His help and Stanford University will be a bright and shining Light to the entire world and all will wonder from whence comes your knowledge of the requisit[e]s most needed to make grand good noble men and women whose influence for good surpasses the expectations of all, I pray constantly for good, honest, upright, truthful, results - and I have placed the institution in God's hands entirely. Give my love to Mrs Jordan - and to kindest Edith and teach Eric to love me a very

[vertical, right margin] little Your friend and [illegible] L. Stanford

on the Campus. I drove up to their house and they were all outside and came forward to my carriage, and the picture is very vivid with me still. The cable news came to us through the papers the day after it happened and it took away all joyous feeling we might otherwise have experienced, one could not but feel to the in[n[ermost soul, how many were weeping and wailing over the departure of their loved ones, the brutal manner which they went, it makes one feel thankful that God permitted the comfort of standing by the bed side and administering comforts that only loving hearts and hands can give as the soul leaves the body for the life higher and better beyond this. Yesterday I received the Paris Herald in which the entire list of dead and wounded are named, as many as four and five members of one family were destroyed, how dreadful, and that brings me the thought, what saved the sister of Miss Hillman from being there, with her sister, there is great cause for thankfulness that she escaped - There is nothing one can say to our friends bearing such a sorrow, but we can plead and pray to our Good Father in Heaven to encircle His loving arms around them, and breath[e] into their wounded hearts his tender comforting light and love, it can come only from this Source. Let them ever think