Correspondence (outgoing)

Grand Hôtel del Europe

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Bernascon

Aix-les-Bains (Savoie) le June 16th 1892

Dear Mrs Jordan.

Your kind letter is the second one to greet me on our arrival here, and never in all my travels have I ever felt so joyless so very depressed, even helpless as I do at present. My thoughts travel back to my very sick sister who does not appear to advance since my departure I fear it depressed her and she cannot rebound. Mr Nash on the very night of our arrival at Loudon had a severe

hemorrage from the lungs, we remained two days, but the Dr thought it desireable for him to keep quiet a few days longer we left him in the hands of a good Doctor and skilled nurse also my brother remained to keep him company. We have good news concerning him, he may be able to reach Paris to day and join us the last of this week - this place is en route to Nice where he will go for a months visit with his Parents.

I am pleased that Palo Alto has not lost its charm to you, I am always inclined to feel if one does not feel the influence of its lovely climate its beautiful mountain scenery, its heavenly evenings - that there is something lacking in their nature that would prevent their being happy in Heaven itself. I have yet to find a place that equals it in all points of attraction

We had the company of Mr & Mrs J. Hopkins across the Ocean and I am pleased to find he has great sympathy with us in our ambitions for the future of the University, and he will testify it by going in the future in a substantive way something to perpetuate the name of his benefactor Mr Moses Hopkins.

We find this place wet and cold it is high in the Mountains in a small ravine and the clouds envelope us almost completely. We are told this kind of weather is exceptional. We shall have intense heat and clear sun shine which would be more acceptable to us, for there is no provision for heating the building. We feel very far from home here, for the Hotel is immense and no one here that speaks English save a few English people who are strangers to us

all I can endure and even bless if the means we are using will be beneficial to Mr. Stanford if his life can be spared to carry out the grand ideas in relation to the University, he talks so little about his future plans to others that only I know what he can do by staying on Earth a few years longer.

You mention your dear children being so happy and enjoying their surroundings so much I can picture it all - for I well remember the joy the gladness that filled my darlings heart when we first went to that dear spot his happiness was as complete as it could ever be to one not in Heaven itself and when ill so far away in Florence how often he would say Oh! if we were at Palo Alto dear Mama" it was his last thought. Do you wonder the place is so sacred to us! Let your prayers go up for the blessing of our good God to rest on my husband that he may return with renewed vigor and length of days - I believe so sincerely in the good prayer brings to us, if I did not I could not have undertaken this long trip from all who would stand by me if forever came - Remember us kindly to the Dr and I ask as favor that he will send a dutiful letter to Mr. Stanford occasionally. Yours sincerely Jane L. Stanford

the things they are able and well fitted by experience and age to do. I am sure no one thinks less of you for what has transpired, your friends are very many and believe in you, and I doubt if the others can feel the same about themselves.

We shall start for Cal the 1st of April - for only a very short stay we'll be here again within the month if all goes well with us. I hope we will find you there to look at you both will be a pleasure, and I hope and trust Lydia is well by this time. I am greatly relieved about my sister, although I never for one moment thought there was anything malignant the matter with her, it was really a case of effect of mind over matter. I have had a sore anxiety and it nearly made me ill. We will go away for six weeks to Europe going June 1st. I want to get away from care, letters of distress and anxieties, we will go alone only Mr Nash and I am reveling already in the anticipated peace quiet restfulness of the voyage.

Mr Stanford is much better health than when we left Cal and while so very many here have been so seriously ill he has by Gods mercy escaped. Mr Blaine is very ill now with the Grippe. We have tried to live regular, and to avoid giving dinners I gave four luncheons that exempted Mr Stanford from

sitting up late or eating late and hearty dinners - we declined all except four dinner invitations out so you see we compared with others have been very quiet - We have had a most wonderful snow storm to day nothing like it all winter - I thought the winter was over here - the trees are budding out and yesterday the sun was so warm we had windows up and fires all out in heaters and grates - the roofs of the houses the trees and shrubs are laden and white with snow - this makes me pine for dear Palo Alto but I shall soon be there I am delighted that we are to go so soon - I got the Almanack this morning to count the exact number days before we start - I want to thank you dear May for your kind attention to my sister and for your letters to me, in regards to her condition - I am so thankful and grateful that this burden has been lifted from all - she had really become diseased in mind and it is just as bad as reality, to become a slave to the imagination. All join me in sending love and best wishes - I cant say all I want to in a letter but soon we will meet and then there will be time and opportunity to exchange thoughts yours truly Jane L. Stanford