Correspondence (outgoing) to David Starr Jordan, 1900 Jan - May 9

[left hand side] ill for a few days, I am now as well as ever.

I returned home by the Southern route in order to have the benefit of the mild climate. I found the trip intensely interesting, as I have not been over the Southern Pacific road in seven years; and the tropical climate was a perfect boon to me. On my arrival in San Francisco, March thirteenth, after spending but a few days at my home there, I came to Palo Alto, and have lived out of doors, walked all I could, and have rested and recuperated. Palo [/left hand side] [right hand side] Alto never was more beautiful! to me than it appears this season. Everything is rank, the birds seem so plentiful and so happy, the sun shines so clear; the sky is so blue, the moonlight nights so beautiful, it all together seems like an earthly heaven; and if I could feel assured that through all eternity I could have a duplicate of this, even that would be more than I deserve.

I am very busy indeed planning and carrying out my wishes, as you know I was obliged to plan a year ahead, and [/right hand side]

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[right hand side] lead. I however hope and pray that you visit east, and the contrast of climate - the sudden changes from temperate heat to excessive cold - will cause your heart to turn more fondly than ever toward Palo Alto; and when you get here I hope that our dear Lord will give us such perfection of weather that your heart will be satisfied and content with your home here.

Again let me say I shall be glad to see you at home again, filling the important position which none [/right hand side]

other can fill as you do.

Ever sincerely your friend,

Mrs. Leland Stanford

Palo Alto, Cal.

March twenty-fourth

Nineteen Hundred

May 9 1900

San Francisco, Cal.

Dear Dr. Jordan:

Your communication dated May 8th received.

I am willing to increase the income for this year to Two Hundred and Seven Thousand Dollars ($207, 000.00) as requested; but I am sorry that even with this increase of income you will

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of its students, but their spiritual nature through the influence and power of its atmosphere may be so developed that when they lay down this life, and enter the portals of that life beyond - which is eternal - they will have lain up for themselves such treasures as this world alone cannot give. The development of the soul is by far the most essential thing in life.

be only "fairly comfortable."

I am not particularly anxious for any increase of students for the present, because it would necessitate a corresponding increase in the number of professors, which we cannot afford while putting up the additional buildings required. I would rather send forth to the world a few grand students, than to have ten thousand students enrolled, and probably send forth no larger percentage of first class men and women.

You know my dear friend, my constant prayer is that Stanford University will stand preeminently ahead of all American Universities in furnishing the means for the development not alone of the mental and moral character