Correspondence (incoming): Me - Mi, 1890-1901

3.

St. Louis Misouri [sic]

July 5th/93

Mrs. Jane L. Stanford

Palo Alto, Cal.

Most estimable Madam

I write you this morning to ask you to be kind enough, to look agmong [sic] the recent mail addressed to your deceased husband, and you will find one from me, with which you will, also some very valuable papers belonging me, some of which I could not do with by any means should I ever be fortuneate [sic] enough to ever reach my home in Virginia again.

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I requested in the letter to your husband the return of the papers, which, of course he would have done had he lived. Sorry am I indeed, that I am thus forced to worry you so quickly, after such shocking bereavement. I hope you will forgive me.

I request of you further, to please, accept the thimpathy [sic] of one so humble in life, that there few who care to stoop to received a thimpathetic [sic] tear. Let me say to you, that you can only receive comfort in the hope and knowledg[e] that you will see your

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husband again soon. It is that hope and that desire that tells me plainly that the soul is immortal. Our God has so fixed it in our nature certain things, for which nothing but a soul can long.

My kind Madame: Please let me impress upon you again the importance of those papers to me, and ask you to give the matter a little personal attention

And oblige your most Humble Servant

R.H. Merchant

1316 Chesnut [sic] St

Ans

Card.

Mrs Leland Stanford

Dear Madame.

I hope that you will not deem it presuming that I congratulate you upon the recent decision in the courts at Washington - which means as much for you - for the University, and for the state as well as for humanity at large. Through the kindness of President Jordan I had the pleasure of instructing a goodly number of young lady students in piano and harmony at Roble Hall during the first

and second year of the university I have taught also irregularly since - until before Christmas of the present year. I had the honor of giving the first concert ever given at the University.

You were then in Washington, but Mr Woodruff the librarian at that time sent you programs I believe I also gave another concert in the Chapel on May 31 '92.

There are large numbers of students at the university who are desirous of studying music, but who can not really afford to pay the prices which the best teachers command. For them I hope for the early opportunity and privelege [sic] of a