Stanford Student Letters and Memoirs

[typed] 3. Theodora. [written] p. 3 a IV

[typed] Stanford University, Cal. Sept.25,1895 Wednesday.

My dear Nannie,

I have a few moments here during my drawing hour and having just possessed myself of a new pad, I shall proceed to dedicate it. After leaving you Friday afternoon, Rose and I went directly to the station where we waited a full half hour for out train to start. We got to the University pretty tired young ones and thought of you already speeding on you journey. Did not feel very well Saturday or Sunday but Monday felt just like new and very ready for work. Yesterday [some letters in the following names have been written in] Edna BoWMAN? Kate STAbLER? and RoWEnA Beans were here. And Kate Stabler is all that my anticipations have been. Perhaps you met her and if you have you will know what a sweet charming girl she is. She with Rowena B. took luncheon with us.

Louise Clark sent some of her good amateur photographs. I am going to enclose them t anxious that you will return them when you have enjoyed them: she is the cleverest girl I know. Rose got a letter from Marguerite this evening telling how disappointed she was to miss us all and you especially since she had not seen you in asuch a long time.

Thursday.

Today found out that I passed in English 1b,-the papier that I wrote on "What I shall expect of my roomate". Knew I ought to pass but whether I would or not is always another question. The "French Revolution" is fast assuming a prodigious shape. There is a vast amount of reading to be done in it but it is very interesting. I saw Mrs. Wilson today. She was sorry not to have seen you but well understood how you were hurried. Caughlan sent down to Rose a most dowdy hatjust the kind she always makes to order. I ought to have remembered my trials with her. But tomorrow Marguerite is coming down to stay

[written] 3 b V

all night - then Rose is going back with her Saturday to be fitted a and return the hat. I think I am going to like mine very much. It is plain and therefore what I like. I succeeded in getting all your P.P.C.'s off by Monday, so this is all attended to.

Sunday evening.

I must confess to studying French Revolution nearly all day. We are to have an examination next week and the subject is so comprehensive!

Rose and Marguerite went to the city Saturday- Rose exchanging her hat for one that I like much better. It is a flat crowned and flat rimmed hat with cock feathers- black and white egrette-and black and white ribbon on it. Rose says her waist is to be a beauty. Kate Stabler went up to Miss O'Shanders and told here to do her best for us. But I have about decided not to have a silk waist. Iwill wear what I have and shall be much more content and happy about it if I don't have one. It is only another thing. Marguerite had a very pretty jacket with such pretty sleeves. No fulness at the top yet hung so beautifully full from the gores in them, ( My spelling is something eratic tonight). Miss MacKinnon drove down from San José Saturday to see her brother and spent the day at tbe University. I caught only a glance of her just as she was starting for home. She enquired for you and sent a great deal of love for you.

I received a paper containing the account of Uncle Lemson's passing on. Do give Aunt Clara our love and write to your girls soon.

Love from Theodora.

Last night we (about 20) went on a moonlight ride to Redwood City and back. Had refreshment at Mrs. Braly's on our return. Delicious ice cream and wafers. Bessie and Bertha did not go because Bertha ran over in her cart their pet dog in the afternoon killing him. They were inconsolable.

[written] 3. (Rose) p. 4

[typed] Sunday evening, September 29, '95

My darling Nannie,

Theodora is studying out loud with one of the girls, so if my letter is mixed up with the "tiers Etat" or any other French Revolutionary terms don't be surprised. This week has been a very full one- Sunday Alice Hayes and I went over to Palo Alto to church and had such a good sermon from dear Mr. Peete - He is a grand upholder of the church, and his simple service I already feel I cannot go without. Monday was a day of lectures and Tuesday I was astounded to see Kate Stabler, Edna Bowman, and Rowena Beans in the quadrangle. Kate had stopped off from a visit to San Jose and Edna had come with her. Edna leaves next month for Germany with Meda Bowman. Rowena Beans was as sweet as ever, and Kate was the same old Kate and more could not be said. She took luncheon with us, and regretted not being able to stay over night to hear Dr. Jordan's lecture on"War Times". Rowena brought a Irishman friend to call in the afternoon- a dear little Miss Bessie Blossom of the Beardsley type of girl, and I was delighted to make her acquaintance as I had admired her in the library. S The events of Monday have come back to me. I remember it was a very blue Monday. I had my first examination under Prof. Andersen and felt that I didn't put down all that I knew. A very crushing conviction as I knew anything short of that wasn't worth anything. My new hat came down and was hideous, it lacked just the indescribable air that made the other becoming. Of course, I was disappointed. Now to continue with Wednesday. I was sent to the blackboard in French, and as I had the corrected sentences I quite distinguished myself. That is all I remember of that day. Thursday I got a letter from Marguerite saying that she would come down Friday and stay over till Saturday with me. The whole day was a pleasure. Theodora and I spent the afternoon in studying French Revolution together, and afterward, as it was intensely

[written] 5

[typed] hot, we indulged in some sherbet as "Rices". Friday, I got my Andersen examination paper back, without any very serious corrections. Charlotte Phillips wrote a splendid paper and was very much and very justly lauded by Prof. Andersen. Another time I hope I'll not be so overcome by trepidition as to do myself so little justice. At noon I found Marguerite sitting in our room just where you had sat a week before. She had been waiting only a few minutes but had made herself very much at home in the meantime. She was looking very well in a pale green wool gown, and had laid a very stylish rough jacket and navy blue hat to match on the bed. Her first words were reproaches at not having been warned of your call. She regretted so not seeing you. The afternoon and evening we spent visiting, and the next morning (Saturday) we both took the eight-thirty train to the city. I took back my unsatisfactory hat, and found Mrs. Coughlin all "nods and becks (?) and wreathed smiles" - she showed me about a dozen of her choicest hats, and finally I decided upon a felt with beautiful cock feathers and rich crown. she put some of the black and white ribbon on it and a black and white aiggrette and made it a bit dressier. The result is a hat suitable for the street or evening, of more value that the first and for the same money. I see material in it for hats to come in future generations. Then we went to Mrs. O'Strandrs and I had a fitting. Afterwards we took my cape to be mended and Theodora's plate for another hundred cards, and reached the "Oliver" in time for luncheon. We found Mrs. Stabler and Kate very well. Mrs. S. so delighted at seeing you and Kate so disappointed at missing you. After luncheon we rested, and the Kate and I made another visit to Mrs. O'Stranders and I had a second fitting, very satisfactory as I had a glimpse of how lovely it is going to be when it is done. We had a glimpse of the lovely things in Vickery's window which was a pleasure in itself. I missed not having anyone to get a bunch of violets.for, but then we afterward of a million of people but I had already spent my

[written] 29

[typed] lighted and the carelessness of the night watch. Of course, the building is not in the least damaged but the loss of apparatus was quite discouraging. The weather has been enchanting, so bracing and cold, till last night we had a sudden storm. It was the Roble girls Sunday to decorate the altar at church so Alice Hays and I started early this morning and got some red fresh walnut berries and got them arranged in time for service. Theodora and I got such a lovely invitation from Marguerite to spend the holidays at Rancho Sutter and one from Mrs Myrick also from Gertrude. The first we have decided not to accept on account of expense, it would be almost $20. The second we are most in favour of because I have to go to the city to shop. My black dress has quite given out and I want to get me something to wear through the long semester - another black outing suit I think would be most satsifactory I theing think. Oh we got the proofs at last from Prof. Heath and such frights ! Perfect caricatures ( !) perfectly horrible. Theodora and I haven't done a thing for Christmas having neither time nor funds - I have finished up the bit of embroidery for Marguerite and that is all, as soon as we can had our pictures taken without going into debt we are going to but so far it hasn't seemed advisable. Mentally, I have spent my precious V. a dozen times, you know it has always been my ideal gift to have some money to do just as I wanted with, and it is especially ideal now. I am just waiting till I go to the city and see something that I think worth parting from my fiver for. Don't think I don't enjoy being poor and going without things, - it swells me so with a feeling of virtue that I never was so good natured in my life - you know if I were entrapped in a sluice-box I should be comfortable and think the view pretty. In Milton we are studying the whole puritan