Correspondence (outgoing)

your dear husband. Now in this season of epidemic when many are falling like leaves from the forest trees it is so very much to be thankful for if our loved ones keep well. The epidemic is rageing [sic] all round us here, and I notice by telegraph news in the papers of to day, that S. Francisco is suffering and the death rate very much increased there. It is like a winter in Cal here, the grass green, the wild quince trees, the seringas in bloom, and many days a fire in the heater unbearable. The Doctor in N.Y. advised my going to a clear cold climate for awhile, as I did not feel at all well after being here a few weeks, so Mr

Stanford suggested Montreal Canada, and we found clear cold thermometer five degrees below zero, plenty of snow, we were out every afternoon for a long sleigh ride in an open sleigh, and we are both still enjoying the benefits of the change. Mr Stanford has been remarkably vigorous and enduring. I have just come up stairs from the Library leaving Mr Pixley there to have a good talk about things in general. Mr Nash has held his own well and the change has not been harmful, but he is now thinking of running over the water and spending a few weeks with his Parents, he will go when a lull in business will permit. When I saw your

Mother she was looking well, but she said she was feeling the effect of a fall which came to her a few days previous, it happened as she was stepping from the Hotel stoop to enter her carriage, but I never saw her looking better in the face, she spoke lovingly of you all.

Dear May, I want to thank you and Tim for your loving Christmas remembrance, which I found here on my return two weeks ago, how many times you have thought of me. I have now in this room the beautiful Mouchoirs case blue satin with pink satin rose and beads on top which reached me while in Vienna in 1884 - darling Leland was so pleased with the idea you thought of me and I handle it always with care. I wish I could send a more interesting letter, there is nothing of special interest here to tell you. The rush of society is in full blast, and it absorbs the minds almost completely of Washington ladies, but poor {Mr ?} Blain are crushed heart and soul, and it will be a long time before they will think the sun shines for them, God in His

[note at top reads] Mrs Stanford, 1890, Nov 19

My very dear friend Mrs Harvey

Your kind letter was a great pleasure to see I was pleased to know you had not forgotten the dear past, and that you held us dear to your hearts Still as we go down the vale of old age our loves grow dearer. We live in the past more, and amid the strifes, the wear and tear of struggles for success in our aims, whatever they may be, sometimes we find ourselves inclined to censorious, and look at life with some feelings of

disappointment, but we have had our hearts made tender and grateful by the mighty upholding of the grand people of the Golden State of the Union, And when the dear friends of the past send me such cheer as came in your letter, I feel to thank my loving Saviour over and over again that He cast my lives in such pleasant places.

I wish it had been possible to see you face to face before we leave the State again - it will be next Tuesday and every day has it good earnest work as we spend two of them at Palo Alto to go over

the University work. Remember me most kindly to the Dr also to your dear children - and I hope you will influence them to give us a little of their heart interest.

Ever Your friend Jane L. Stanford San Francisco Nov 19th /90

Washington D.C. Monday May 19th/90

Dear May

The photo of your precious child came to me to day. Your letter received a few days previous had prepared me for it but it had not prepared me for so good an one, it is so like her with its sincere earnest expression. She is changing very much, her face is filling out and she is growing more and more attractive. I am glad to know you are going away into another atmosphere, one needs such changes even if they leave a most luxurious house and face with plain homely things